Boss Paul Jewell says the manner of Thursday’s 5-1 defeat to Norwich deflated everyone at the club after a more positive mood had been created in the early months of his time at Town. But the Blues manager refused to blame the after-effects of the derby loss for Monday’s subsequent 4-1 reverse at Swansea.

Jewell said: “We’d built up an awful lot of goodwill that we were making progress but the manner of the Norwich defeat really deflated the whole club, the supporters as well.

“I can’t see that [the Swansea defeat] was a hangover because for the first 10 minutes we played well.”

The Town manager was disappointed with the goals conceded after that bright start: “I’ve seen the goals and they’re poor defensively.

“And if you give good sides who are on a roll goals, you’re not going to come back. I want to get to the situation we had when we were at Bradford or at Wigan where when we went a goal down you actually felt on the bench ‘it doesn’t matter, we’ll score two or we’ll score three’ and I want the players to feel that.

“I can see the players don’t feel that at the moment. In either box we’ve been shown up in the games against the top teams.”

Jewell was at pains to point out that he wasn’t laying into his squad but merely outlining the reality of the situation: “I’m not having a pop at the players, they’re facts. If the players are as hungry and have as much desire as me to get in the Premiership, they know that.

“I told them that they can make a nice living mooching around mid-table, but that’s not what it’s about. This club is a brilliant football club and we need to get a bit of steel and a bit more desire into it.

“I’m sure I won’t be the first manager to say that, but I think that’s what lacking for us at the minute. It’s nothing to do with effort, I think the effort’s there, but a lot of it’s misguided.”

The Liverpudlian says that despite having done well against the division’s champions elect, there’s currently a gulf between a mid-table side like Town and those challenging for the automatic promotion places: “We played QPR and they beat us 2-0 but for long periods of that game we were quite comfortable and the better team.

“But against Norwich, Reading and Swansea you always felt that they had better footballers than us - quicker, stronger.

“That’s not an indictment of the lads, they’re facts. They’ve said that themselves in the dressing room after the game — as a group we’re not mentally tough enough and we’re not physically tough enough.

“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.”

Photo: Action Images

Superfrans added 15:40 - Apr 26 Jewell talks a lot of sense. It would cut more mustard though if one or two of the players put themselves up to the media - a couple of them coming out and apologising for the terrible performance vs Nodge and perhaps demonstrating that they know what it means might help.
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bontcho added 15:40 - Apr 26 "It's nothing to do with effort, I think the effort's there, but a lot of it's misguided.” That's an interesting quote. What does Jewell mean? If he means our players too concerned with ensuring they look ok, keep contracts etc, and are not too worried about the team's results he's probably right.
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whoppit added 15:41 - Apr 26 That really helps you scouse muppet. But most of our fans are sheep sio they won't give you too much of a hard time. Happy Days !!!!
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pazelle added 15:44 - Apr 26 Roy Keanes curse will disappear in the summersunshine and we'll hopefully sign a few foreign players and start next season champing at the bit - players in england arent that passionate about the championship lets get some clueless scandinavians and dutch players to pump some pashion in it
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Lovetown added 15:46 - Apr 26 I'm so fed up with our team, all we need is five good players in three different positions then we can at least think about a push for promition. It annoys me though how much lack of effort we have on the bloody side! combined in two games we've lost 9:2 in two bloody games!!
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chripswich added 15:51 - Apr 26 a media mans carefully planned words..not going to make the same mistake as keane and promise anything...so jewell gives himself another year and a few more quid before he walks...this time next year eh rodders?? rapidly becoming the del boy of the championship..
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TractorRoyNo1 added 15:52 - Apr 26 a team that can beat the gunners and win several away games irrespective of the previous manager should have been able to at least got a draw with nobitch
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Ipswich24 added 15:53 - Apr 26 Everyone keeps saying if we get four, fiv, six players in we will be up there that is absolute rubbish! You need two or three years together to build good side like Swansea, Cardiff, Norwich and Reading. If you look at these sides the majority have been together at least two whole seasons all we do is swap and change every year never getting any consistency. You got to remember that when QPR and Norwich go up and one other probably Cardiff or Swansea you still have one of them two plus Reading, Burnley, Forest Boro will be better, Leicester who have loads of dosh. You also have the momentum with Brighton, Southampton and one other plus the relegated teams still with premiership money. We have no chance and that is me talking as a real supporter!!!!

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BLUEBEAT added 15:54 - Apr 26 what frustrates me about the current team is the lack of fluidity. often pausing play for a crucial split-second. that's what separates us from the likes of norwich/swansea/reading/qpr... they're always on the move...
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PhilTWTD added 15:56 - Apr 26 Superfranz Re players commenting post-derby, the club puts players up for interview rather than the players volunteering and I think only Jimmy B has been put forward since Thursday.
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bedsitfc added 15:58 - Apr 26 Whoppit - shame we can't transfer list you.
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bluelady added 16:02 - Apr 26 bedsitfc ignore him, like a bad smell he eventually goes away!
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TimmyH added 16:03 - Apr 26 I personally think we've got to start pushing our youngsters through - Carson (will do well next season) O'Connor, Murray etc. combined with some astute signings, get Bullard signed up (if he's not asking ridiculous wages) a 20 a season goal scorer and take a close look at our defense, get Tommy Smith back into the frame. That shouldn't cost millions and have a 2 year plan from next season, and if that doesn't work start supporting somebody else.

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tractorblue99 added 16:04 - Apr 26 I say give him a couple of years to really build his own squad. I can see a 7 or 8th place finish next year which I will be more than happy with. I think we are all overeacting slightly. We were going to have a slump at some point and it was just unfortunate that it happened now.
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blueherts added 16:09 - Apr 26 Hey - we got some good yoof coming through - Jewell is a proper manager and he will find players( and attract them) this summer - Oh and it is interesting to see how many of the Successful clubs this year had a spell in Div One to re build get confidence and come back STRONGER ...
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daniel9624 added 16:09 - Apr 26 Agree with Timmy, not sure many of those youngsters will be ready to push next season, but keep them together for a couple of seasons, add some quality along the way, and hey presto a team capable of getting us promoted. New GK New RB Troy Brown,T,Smith, O'Connor Carson, Hyam, Bullard, Martin/Civelli/Peters (any of them will do!!) Wickham New CF doesn't look too shabby! Stick with them, back them to the hilt and they will eventually blend and form a solid team capable of challenging.

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Lovetown added 16:12 - Apr 26 How do you access and change your playing ratings ANYONE?!
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daniel9624 added 16:15 - Apr 26 just considered for two minutes buying two tickets for the game on saturday £86, what a joke for a now meaningless game. Surely someone somewhere, has to be thinking about getting bums on seats!
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Garv added 16:41 - Apr 26 For just 2 tickets? Can't be right...
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tractorboybig added 16:54 - Apr 26 Lets face it, Norwich are better than us in every department on and off the field. They deserve to go up. and jealosey will get us now where. I am not sure deflated is the correct word, total humiliation near the point?
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StowTractorBoy added 16:54 - Apr 26 Ipswich 24 I agree with you. Some people need to get real as the Championship is going to be even stronger next season make no mistake and we have no devine right to make the top six. 23 other Clubs will be saying they are aimimng for the top six. I think supporters expect too much. This year after the threat of relegation I am chuffed as nuts thay we have stayed up just a shame we have tailed off now.

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TractorBeezer added 16:56 - Apr 26 Good question Bontcho. In the context of effort, much as it is hard to admit, the Carrow Road gang keep going hard to the very end which has resulted in several last minute winners. We must build that attitude into our culture as well as getting the basics right. The fact that some of our senior players including the captain haven't signed contracts yet (what happened to the deadlines?) is not exactly motivating either.

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WorcesterBlue added 17:07 - Apr 26 Been said already but what these results have done is show how important the likes of Bullard and Connor are and how average certain of our other alleged better players are and I include Leadbitter and Edwards in this. I have faith in Jewell but do worry that the likes of O'Connor, Hyam and Peters, all of whom impressed and tried to play football even when Keane was in charge, have not been given a chance when other "senior" players have shown little to justify their place. And ALB is Ok as a reserve but is not a first choice keeper. But relegation has been avoided, we have some great youth in our ranks, surely Bullard will want to stay and it is clear where we need to improve so bring on the Summer.

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Karlosfandangal added 17:22 - Apr 26 Sorry to say this guys We have let in 70 odd goals this season and yes we do need a right back, McAuley has played well this season, However if he is so committed to the club and wants to stay why has he still not signed his new contract. Are Delaney and McAuley the ones to take us forward at the back? the Championship will be very tough next year and there is 3 very good sides from the prem coming down. Why is Fulop not being used as he is better than Lee- Barratt and why is Peters, O'Connor and Hyam not being given a chance. Feel next season the club will be up near the play offs if get 5 or 6 good players, but think we will struggle to get them, so think it will a couple of years before we are anyway near the Norwich, Swansea, Cardiff, Readings

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Vic added 17:36 - Apr 26 PJ is saying exactly the same things as RK used to say and has openly admitted that he's lookinf for the same sort of player. Yes, I know RK didn't do very well, but it shows he wasn't wrong on everything. It's why he tried to get Shaun Derry N Chopra. I just hope PJ has more success is getting the players we've needed for a couple of seasons
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