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

Lightningboy added 17:49 - Apr 26 Personally I don't think the majority of players these days care enough..most of them are on their 2 year contracts and are looking at their next money-spinning move,hence they don't really care for the club that they're playing for. Not saying this of all,but it's fairly obvious that football has changed over the last 10 years or so especially since the Bosman ruling giving players more power,which is why so many are totally overpaid and very few stay anywhere more than 2 or 3 seasons these days. Probably explains why the Premiership & championship have become so poor in recent seasons..when you think back to when we were always in the play-offs under Burley,there only ever seemed to be maybe 4 or 5 teams capable of winning the title,nowadays it's as many as 12 to 15 and virtually anyone in the whole of the division capable of getting a play-off spot.

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broomfield123 added 17:55 - Apr 26 Praise God someone has said a little bit of how we feel and how crap we are. We will never get anywhere with the attitude many of our players have. To exepect the fans to have expectations next season will be a big ask for the best of salesmen
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fourth added 17:56 - Apr 26 It seems to me that building successful interaction, moves which become ingrained result in confidence. Supplying ball to the right foot in the right place. In addition to which we need a team every member of which understands his role (including defending) so that we don't turn into a 8 man team at difficult points of the game. It's very early days!
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oldmanblues added 19:23 - Apr 26 Can't blame PJ! Came to the club and inherited Keano's awful signings!!
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Mark added 19:44 - Apr 26 It has been a horrible week, but we shouldn't overreact as we are 18 points ahead of the relegation zone and aside from the last two matches our form has been good since Jewell arrived. Imagine how it would have felt if Norwich's victory pushed us towards relegation! The reason we lost to Norwich was KEANE'S POOR SIGNINGS! Lambert spent £0.6M on Holt, Keane spent £1.7M on Priskin. Lambert bought Jackson for £0.6M whereas Keane blew £0.8M on Scotland. Going into the Norwich match we had the dreadful Keane loan O'Dea at left-back and no right-back at the club. Keane messed the side up, and Jewell is trying to do his best with a poor side. Next season will be different, I am sure. In will come young, hungry players from the lower leagues as well as a bit of experience where it is needed.

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WickedBlue added 20:18 - Apr 26 @whoppit only muppet I can see is you....................
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BrandonsBlues added 20:53 - Apr 26 To many journey men not interested in the club. We must get players with desire, from lower leagues, youth who want to play for the club, and top quality players like Bullard or similar with desire still in their hearts who want to play football. Sadly there are not many like him left. Unfortunately If Norris and Mac do not sign I will not be bothered because it proves they are not interested in the club. Also if we keep to much of what we have, how an earth are we going to progress next year. If they cannot motivate themselves for a derby game, then they are no going to be any better next year because it will be more of the same. Unfortunately RK could not see a decent player if it was tagged, and we are left with his poor decision making and JM cast offs. We need more like 10 new players from somewhere, and getting rid of the spineless fools. For the last two games please PJ play the fringe players. Who cares if we lose the last two, so long as I see desire from the fringe and reserves, youth getting a chance to shine and prove what they can do.

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