Boss Paul Jewell says no one at Town is mentioning the Blues’ very much outside chance of gate-crashing the play-offs. Instead, everyone is fully focused on Thursday’s local derby with Norwich City at Portman Road.

Jewell dismissed his side’s chances of making a late burst into the top six as “highly unlikely” with only four games remaining: “I think I preferred the relegation questions!

“We know we’ve got a massive game on Thursday. It’s a local derby and people have been telling me since I got here that the atmosphere’s going to be sensational.

“We’re not even mentioning the play-offs. We’ve got a very tough game against a really good team in Norwich and it’s a game which we’re really looking forward to.”

Overall, the Blues manager is happy with recent results and performances: “We’ve been on a decent run. I think our away form has been really, really good. I think we’re difficult to beat.

“But we’ve got a very tough game on Thursday, a big game for the fans as well as the players against Norwich and all our energies and focus must be on that not looking back.”

Meanwhile, keeper Arran Lee-Barrett, who spent time with the Norwich academy after being released by home-town club Town as a schoolboy, says he’s yet to formally be offered his new contract: “I spoke to the manager last Wednesday. He said there will be an offer and that’s the way it has been left. But I would like to have the offer. I haven’t seen it yet.”

Photo: Action Images

blue_em_away added 12:28 - Apr 18 Too right. We wont make the play offs and its silly suggesting we will. Stuff the scum and enjoy the summer.....
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dan_itfc55 added 12:38 - Apr 18 i'll go for a 2-0 town win! Carson double! COYB
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Pessimistic added 12:49 - Apr 18 Is Clegg daragging his feet again? It would not surprise me because he must be the most inept Chairman in the history of the modern game.
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bluecrossy added 12:57 - Apr 18 Very uncomfortable with Lee-Barrett in goal, especially against a team like the scum. Fair play to him though he has been very good recently but I just feel there is always a chance he could do something which costs us a result. However, you could say the same about the other two..
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BryngwynBlue added 12:57 - Apr 18 Very interesting inept comment - especially since Clegg isn't the Chairman!
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Hungry_Badger added 13:06 - Apr 18 Play-off would be nice (very,very unlikly though) but just imagine that we actually got into them, do we really want to go up this season? Do we really want to be getting stuffed every week at the bottom of the PL? Why not enjoy next season instead because lets face it this season has been pretty bad (expecially 1st half), so why dont we enjoy going up next season, by sitting top of the league from start to finish and thrashing everybody we play (Y).

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dobbie73 added 13:10 - Apr 18 Forget the playoffs, stuff the scum 3-2, lovely jubbly! COYB!!
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Garv added 13:11 - Apr 18 Read my mind BryngwynBlue
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brian_a_mul added 13:25 - Apr 18 The focus has to be game by game at this stage. Norwich game will be very tough (as it would be anyway) with both teams on good form. No point looking beyond Thursday with ifs & buts. If we take our eye off the ball we could get stuffed. We can see what the situation is on Friday morning regards playoffs.
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Lightningboy added 13:27 - Apr 18 Can't believe those twannies at Sky haven't put this one on...massive game for both clubs,instead they're wasting their time showing the likes of Brighton vs Colchester at the weekend.
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stringtheory added 13:33 - Apr 18 Mine too Gary!
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TheHanwoodTractor added 13:35 - Apr 18 Wait It's not on sky? Is it on anywhere?
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broomfield123 added 13:40 - Apr 18 Lets be honest we arent quite ready to go up this season. But i give um credit and PJ and his managment team for what they have done since they came in. It should be a entertaining game on thursday . So lets go and enjoy a good evening get behind the team and have a trouble free night. Its good to see the area getting recognition for some of its teams doing well
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itfc1981 added 13:45 - Apr 18 Clegg for godness sake treat the players better.
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Town22 added 13:49 - Apr 18 The first game was on Sky and they don't show both derby games. Not even the Manchester Derby. This is our cup final for the season. Beat the scum to ruin their chances of automatic promotion and watch them get beaten in the play off's.
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SouperJim added 13:49 - Apr 18 Win all four of our remaining games and there's a slim chance, but we'd need 6 sides above us to do worse, including Leeds failing to take 6 points from their last 4. When was the last time we won 5 straight games, or won 8 out of 9? Still, it's a huge credit to PJ that we're even able to dream. I'll settle for not losing on Thursday and finishing in the top half of the table.

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clive_baker added 14:30 - Apr 18 Thw whole 'not ready for the premiership' argument is such a non debate. Who is ever 'ready'. We've been in the Championship for 9 years how much longer are we expected to wait. Blackpool are above West Ham and Wolves - who was more ready for this season in August? And if they do come down they will be a lot better for it having had a good year in the big time. We also have an owner who wants his club there. If we get there he will invest. That said, it wont happen this season, too many clubs between us and 6th. Top 10 and beating the scum would be a fantastic first few months to Jewell's reign. COYB

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TotalBlue added 14:47 - Apr 18 I do think playoff is a tough ask but if we win all our remaining games(Biggest part of the tough ask) It is possible look at remaining fixtures we have an easier run in agter thursday would not want Leeds run in all Top and bottom teams and this is the time of the year bottom teams WIN. Would love a playoff run beat the scum in semis then who knows and I believe WE are ready, PJ is ready, and most importantly M.E. is ready and willing also woud not be supprised for it to be the end of Cleggy as long as he is not replaced by Compo or Foggy

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Marshalls_Mullet added 15:02 - Apr 18 IS THIS ON SKY?
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Gerryrg added 15:09 - Apr 18 Here's hoping we stuff the scum and keep them in the playoff zone. I'd love to see them lose the playoff finals... Scum are you feeling the hurt yet? If not you soon will do!! COYB!!!!!
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:46 - Apr 18 i fear we wont beat them Gerryg but im with you in hoping they get left in championship.COYB
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DiamondGezzer added 16:21 - Apr 18 I think Thursday is going to be a lot harder than some people think. Hope I'm totally wrong - me, I'd love Connor and Josh to score a hatrick a piece, but there's a part of me that doubts that very much ! But what do I know, when we went down to ten men I thought there was a chance of a spanking ! COYB.
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Lightningboy added 16:21 - Apr 18 Not saying we're gonna get promoted anytime soon,but if we are to have a succesful season either by getting a top 2 spot or play-off place,I think i'd rather do it from the off in august rather than sneak in at the last minute after a shockingly bad first 5 months of the season..PJ has done a magnificent job to get us anywhere near a play-off place..i'll be content with a win over the canaries & a good stab at promotion next season when we've got a "proper" settled team to enjoy supporting.

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beanyboi added 16:30 - Apr 18 lets destroy the scum, finish top ten and finish top next year with a settled team. COYB!!!. also have a brill time, on tour in holland
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bluetoba added 16:53 - Apr 18 We can finish above Leeds and Forest no prob. It will be Hull that gets 6th.
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