Town boss Paul Jewell admitted that the Easter period couldn’t have gone any worse after the Blues lost 4-1 at Swansea in the wake of Thursday’s 5-1 home defeat to Norwich City.

Jewell said: “It couldn’t have gone any worse, results-wise. I’m just grateful that we’ve got enough points not to have to worry about the next few games affecting our league position because if we didn’t, we’d be in a bit of a sticky situation.

“When we got here, the remit was to keep us in the league and luckily the lads have done well enough to get enough points

“But, and it’s not a kneejerk reaction and they’ve said it themselves, they’re not good enough as a group to get us in the top six and that’s where we want to be next year. There are no guarantees, but we need players to come in and help what we’ve already got.”

The Town boss admitted that having Connor Wickham unavailable due to a rib injury suffered during the Norwich match and Jimmy Bullard out with knee and shoulder problems had an effect: “It was a blow and if you look at their bench and you look at ours, it shows that the lack of strength and depth at the moment .

“We’ve got to make sure that if we get a couple of key injuries next season, we’ve got almost like for like replacements. That’s ideally what we’d like to do.

“It’s difficult to sit here after you’ve lost by five and then four to try and justify it, but we’ve done OK to get here, but OK isn’t enough for me. I’ve said to the players that mid-table where they've been for the last two or three years isn’t good enough.

“This group of players isn’t good enough as a group. There are some in that group who definitely are good enough, but we need some players to help us take us forward.”

Jewell felt his side had begun the game OK before showing their frailties: “We started very well, we passed the ball very well and we were neat and tidy. But it’s synonymous with us — we concede a goal and we can’t really come back from adversity too often.

“I thought we’d got over that to a certain extent but in the cold light of day we are where we are and it’s not as if I’m going to come back on the first day of pre-season and think ‘what do we need?'. I’ve known for a while what we need and the last two games have just clarified that.

“It wasn’t a great day at the office for us. We were a bit ragged but give credit to Swansea, they’re a good team. They and Norwich have been the best teams we’ve faced since I’ve been here, two good footballing teams, and that’s where we’re aspiring to be next season.

“As a group we’re not mentally tough enough and not physically tough enough and if we can try and improve on that and add a lot more quality to the squad next season, hopefully this time next year we’ll be talking about a good Easter and looking up rather than being a bit depressed.”

The Blues boss says there have been no new developments with contracts: ”We haven’t spoken to the players about it. Maybe some of the players should hurry up and sign them.”

Jewell confirmed that Gareth McAuley suffered a groin injury and Darren O’Dea was subbed at half-time with a turned ankle.

Swansea boss Brendan Rodgers was unsurprisingly delighted with his team’s display: “We were outstanding. We took a bit of time to get going and then - apart from when we switched off on the Ipswich goal - we were absolutely magnificent today.

“It was a brilliant performance against a team who are very good away from home of late. They’ve gone away and got some terrific results at Burnley and other places, so we knew it was going to be a difficult game for us.

“But I thought we had good control of the game and both offensively and defensively we were top class.”

Rodgers revealed that on-loan Town striker Tamás Priskin has been ruled out for the season due to his knee injury and will be returning to Portman Road for treatment. The Hungarian joined the Swans on loan in March with the possibility of the move becoming permanent in the summer.

Photo: Action Images

Smithy added 18:51 - Apr 25 Paul if they don't want to stay just tell them to do one, its not as if we are going to miss them. Therefore please just don't play them, lets see how much they want to be in the team and play for OUR club. None of the players are irreplaceable infact I'd be quite happy if they all refused to sign and we start with a clear out and a clean slate, roll on the summer.
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bluearmy4life added 18:53 - Apr 25 Really, Really poor. Simply not good enough. Conceding sloppy goals and not scoring enough is a reciepe for disaster. we do need summer clear out: two new full backs, 2-3 midfielders, and 2-3 new strikers as well as a better team in depth. PJ Has steadied the ship away from relegation but has had a very average team to work with. Just goes to show how poor the appointment of Roy Keane was and the players he brought in but part of the blame lies with ME&SC. For me it's time they start earning there money.

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jas0999 added 19:02 - Apr 25 Honest enough, but there can be no excuses. Tactics and performance wise the last two results have been abysmal. Sending Priskin out on loan back-fired. Now he's injured, he can't even increase his sale value. Really poor negative tactics by PJ has to be turned around and quickly. Fearing poor attendances next year. All the best PJ. Really hope you have a plan up your sleeve. Thanks for keeping us up - but very worried if that's all we will get from PJ - a manager who grinds out results - enough for mid to bottom half of the table. A massive Summer, where the entire management team simply have to perform.

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mantreeblue added 19:04 - Apr 25 nils petersen next season please,
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leewheel added 19:05 - Apr 25 A string of terrible decisions - I'm afraid you were an interim Mr Jewell - fair play - you did your job , but you need to leave no
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fourth added 19:08 - Apr 25 The team needs to enjoy challenges. Playing at home is demanding. Expectancy is high. We don't seem to manage it. I hated watching Mr 0 IQ Keene taking the lads off to pre-season training with the army and trying to fit square pegs in round holes is foolish. In my experience, changing behaviour is a lifetime job with no certainties. We need a BACKBONE, not a hope that individuals will see light on the road to Emmaus.

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bluelady added 19:14 - Apr 25 Leewheel who on earth would come here who we can affairs who wants to manage a mid table team eh? Managers don't grow on trees and don't say curbs he is hardly queing up to get back into management!!
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PutYaBootsOnKeano added 19:16 - Apr 25 fair play to Jewel, he's done a great job since coming in. tough to do the impossible with this squad.. sounds like he's going to be given an arsenal of cash to do some deals in the summer. truth is we're reliant on some 'better' players who aren't good enough or, are good enough, but don't have the mentality: such as gm. still think we're a couple of seasons away. our squad needs 5 more players of bullard calibre, to go up. we also need to shed our whinging, lacklustre support culture. it's pretty pathetic & helpless.

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blaggers added 19:17 - Apr 25 Emmaus? Or do you mean Damascus?
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OrkneyBlue added 19:19 - Apr 25 just not good enough. major clear out in the summer needed is the one thing that has come out of the two easter games. It should've been a good chance for the players to say look at me why go and buy a replacement i can compete with the best teams in the league. Instead PJ has alot of work to do if we want to compete next season or thereafter. It really frustrates me that we spend so much time, effort and money (4 flights, 2 hotels, 3 train journeys and 2000 miles this trip)for a performance like the two we have seen this weekend. For those who can go week in week out, good effort. Oh well, on the train back to London before flight home tomorrow. Stick with it folks, See you next season!

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Nunn_the_Wiser added 19:21 - Apr 25 Leewheel.... You are a total tool. My God there are some morons on this site.
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adamisablue added 19:25 - Apr 25 hahahaha leewheel, (and a select few on here) you do make me giggle. wanting jewell out now after 4 months of steadily improving results? after making possible the most effective january signing in the league in jim bullard with a whole summer in front of him to get the players he needs? after a poor derby game and 1 poor result (with effectivly noting to play for?) id love to see your reaction when a manager does poorly....

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bluelady added 19:26 - Apr 25 Nunny spot on mate...
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martleshamitfc added 19:39 - Apr 25 Leewheel , time for you to go more like it! Lets see how PJ performs in the summer in the transfer market before judging him...
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mickeyjb added 19:44 - Apr 25 I'm not going to slate PJ, however my god look how far we have slumped as a team. From being one of the favourites for promotion (yes we was) to being happy with not being relegated. Whoopi do!
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leewheel added 20:00 - Apr 25 Jewell's first victory as Derby manager came in the second game of the 2008—09 season when a hat-trick from Nathan Ellington helped his side defeat Lincoln City 3—1 after extra time in the first round of the League Cup.[18] He recorded his first league win as Derby manager after 10 months in the job when his side defeated Sheffield United 2—1 on 13 September 2008.[19] Despite leading Derby to their first League Cup semi-final in 40 years by defeating Stoke City,[20] newspapers continued to report Jewell's job was unsafe.[21] He resigned after the final game of the 2008 calendar year after his side lost 1—0 to Ipswich Town, which left Derby in 18th place in the Championship table.[22] For a third time, Jewell was replaced by his assistant manager Chris Hutchings, this time as caretaker manager

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whoppit added 20:06 - Apr 25 5-1 against the scum. 4-1 against the Taffs. Good job Jewell - keep up the good work. Most of our fans are happy enough with the progress so go out and buy a new car. Your job is safe !!!!
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GTRKing added 20:11 - Apr 25 Look PJ Keep carson Murry Dury wickham murphy fulop & maybe keep garth & delany & ledbitter & Defantly Buy jimmy bullard common please buy him!!!! but need new midfild & defence & one striker. Also that's why I can't win on fifa 11. 2004-2005 was last good team we can be alot better
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peachyboy added 20:15 - Apr 25 I cant see why paul jewell , had to keep lee-barrett in goal , after shipping in 5 goals againts the budgies and then 4 against swansea. Fulop only made a handful of mistakes and he disgarded him. But at least Fulop is a experianced keeper and seems to be alot better in the bigger games. But at least Mr Jewell has come in and was given a task of keeping us in this league , An he and his back room staff have done wonders and kept us safe, so i think it is only onwards and up wards for next season , and let all hope and pray that mr clegg can get the contract of any new players paul has in mind , and tie them in to a good contract , but ultimatley that mr evans gives jewell all the funds he needs to do this , magilton and the dark lord (keane) were all given funds. Lets all hope and pray for next season is the one.

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pazelle added 20:16 - Apr 25 Sell em all and buy dutch players!
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corunnaviking1759 added 20:24 - Apr 25 The Jewell bubble has wel and trult burst!! As I have said before I think ME will/is reluctant to give more funds out as he gave alot out to Magilton and Keane with No return!!! Some shrewd work and deals over the closed season I think ! COYB BTW stick your hand in your pocket ME!!!
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bluelady added 20:27 - Apr 25 Lee can you give the same stats for wigen and bradford just to have am ounce of credibility..... playing alb was a mistake as was not playing o Connor or peters, but I unlike some vulchers on here am going to wait for the meat to be dead before I go hurtling in, I give him to Christmas to prove he has the makings of a decent team and two seasons to gain promotion, fail either and I will be agreeing with those anti jewell, but not till he has been given a fair shout, under the dark lord I fear we would have gone down so for me mid table obscurity is fine thank you very much, top ten next year top two year after!!!!

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sheepdags added 20:36 - Apr 25 Blame Keane not PJ whose worst mistake (of many) was off-loading JR, the very player we've been crying out for this season. Just read this: "Huddersfield striker Jordan Rhodes scored two first-half goals to keep his side in the hunt for automatic promotion following their eighth win in 10 matches. Rhodes took his tally to 22 goals for the season by netting a tap-in and then scoring with a glancing header." What would he be worth now?

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Worcester added 20:37 - Apr 25 Nunny, bluelady. You are giving the wally oxygen. Snuff them out by ignoring them
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bluelady added 20:39 - Apr 25 Ww very true..... hopefully when we start winning again they will crawl back into their holes and take the muppet whoppit with them!!!
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