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Jewell: We Would Have Lost Earlier in the Season
Jewell: We Would Have Lost Earlier in the Season
Saturday, 1st Oct 2011 18:21

Town boss Paul Jewell believes that earlier in the season his side would have lost their home game with Brighton once they had gone a goal behind. However, the Blues have been a different proposition in recent weeks with two stunning Michael Chopra strikes and a header from Ibrahima Sonko securing another three points.

Jewell said: “We played well. I think it was a good football match, both teams tried to pass the ball.

“We went a goal down after probably dominating the first half and, having had plenty of chances and opportunities, we would definitely have lost that earlier in the season.

“But there’s a bit of resilience and belief about the team and the club at the moment and hopefully we can go further.”

The Blues boss felt Chopra was unfortunate not to score with his volley in the first half: “I think you have to say that it was a fantastic save. It was a great cross, great technique but it was a brilliant save from the goalkeeper.

“That’s the third time in three games that the opposition keeper has made a great save from Chops, so you start wondering whether it was going to be his day.”

The Liverpudlian was delighted with the summer signing from Cardiff’s display and said he has deserved his goals: “One I think hit the post and has gone in and the way things have been going for him things have been hitting the post and going out.


“He was terrific. He doesn’t hide. The whole club and all the players you could see were really pleased for him because it’s been a long time since he’s scored, but he’s still contributed to the team.

“He’s a clever player. He’s got a great touch, good awareness about him and hopefully he can now go on a bit of goalscoring run.”

Jewell says he thought his side could have been more ruthless in the first half: “At half-time I was a bit annoyed. We weren’t clinical. We had good opportunities but we didn’t make the keeper make enough saves for all the possession and shots we had. In the second half we probably had fewer chances and scored three goals.”

Jewell admits to being slightly concerned when his side went behind and felt the crowd played their part: “When you go a goal down in the second half you start to fear the worst, but the crowd definitely lifted the players and the players responded.

“The fans can see that the team’s trying and is playing well and I think today we deserved the win.

“But give Brighton credit, they’re not an easy team to play against, they frustrate you, they keep the ball and I think at times in the first half the players were glad of the rest when their goalie had the ball because it was so hot out there.

“I’d rather not go a goal behind but in two out of the last three home games we’ve shown character coming from a goal behind to win games.”

Jewell was pleased with Sonko’s goal but feels he ought to have scored before: “He should have three by now! He missed one at Blackpool and he missed one at Middlesbrough.

“Set plays are very important, we work hard on them. They can win you games but they can also cost you games. It’s always nice when they go your way.”

Brighton boss Gus Poyet admitted his side were inferior to the Blues: “I think for the standards that we’re trying to achieve we were second best.

“I said before to colleagues that I didn’t think we were strong enough physically, mentally, technically, on 50-50s, not strong enough mentally when we conceded the first goal. And when you’re second best you’ve got no chance.

“Saying that, we started well in the second half, it was a bit more open and we were braver on the ball which we weren’t in the first half - we were too content with the scoreline at 0-0. But then you need to hold that and you need to be strong, but at the moment, we are not.”

Poyet confirmed that, as reported earlier, his assistant and former Blue Mauricio Taricco has hung up his boots: “He’s not playing any more, it’s bad news for football. He’s retired.

“At the moment he can’t cope with 90 minutes every game and I cannot keep changing at the back every three games because Tano plays or otherwise.

“It was his decision, I’m not pushing. If you give me the option, of course I would push him to train and play five reserve games, go crazy and make sure he’s unbelievable. But he’s 38, nearly 39, and you need to respect age as well.”


Photo: Action Images



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Jesney_Havoc added 18:29 - Oct 1
Never mind. I'm sure our chance to lose will soon come !

Well done today Blues !
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s6blue added 18:34 - Oct 1
fantastic come back -- well done lads
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nerdys added 18:34 - Oct 1
vintage performance today..Long may it Continue..COYB
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havinit69 added 18:35 - Oct 1
Jesney, pathetic post, we were superb today, get behind the boys or do one.
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bluesman added 18:41 - Oct 1
Town are back! It's my birthday tomorrow so thank you boys! I am starting to think our dark days are over...
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Suffolk_n_Good added 18:44 - Oct 1
Superb today, Sonks & Collins awesome, Edwards had a cracker, Bullard was everywhere (looking fitter by the game), Chops well deserved his brace, hasn't scored for a while, but has still been playing well. Also a word for Ellington, thought he looked really ahrp when he came on, Well done Town, Well done PJ.
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Tractamatt added 18:46 - Oct 1
Feeble minded and pathetic Jesney is'nt it past your bedtime.Absolutely bouncing after this one today I'm a bit hacked of about the international break interupting our momentum but after todays game in the heat it was played in it's probably no bad thing to have a break.Could any one tell me,what was the atmosphere like today I couldnt make the game but it sounded quiet during the reports on BBC radio.COYB
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tomisamos added 18:47 - Oct 1
I wander how many more swallows pmason is expecting before he posts again on here...
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Frase1987 added 18:49 - Oct 1
Ipswich are better than everybody.
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tractorboy1961 added 19:01 - Oct 1
I agree earlier in the season we would have lost this but PJ has got this team playing with belief and freedom. What a difference a few weeks make. Thought the Duke looked good when he got his chance which proves what a good squad we have. It may still be work in progress and we all know the dangers of building a side with to much reliance on loanees but let's enjoy tonight....This makes up for a lot of earlier results and Brighton are a very good side so let's not under estimate what we achieved today.....And the scum lost as well....Happy Days !
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fourth added 19:04 - Oct 1
Early days. Very early days.

Perhaps this is a high scoring team with prospects of promotion? It's a matter of improving as the season goes on as other teams try to block the system and try to negate the high quality of players by possession play. Actually I suppose that was precisely Brighton's position today!It seems very early for Chops to be getting 2 in a game.
Well it's VERY pleasing.
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CraigForrestGateau added 19:04 - Oct 1
I thought the atmosphere was very good. Great performance town, makes the money spent on the season ticket seem a lot more worth it now!
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nosamp added 19:08 - Oct 1
""I wander how many more swallows pmason is expecting before he posts again on here... ""

When the seagulls follow the trawler, it is because they think sardines will be thrown into the sea
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Mark added 19:09 - Oct 1
Jewell has quickly build an exciting Ipswich side full of quality and done it without spending big money on transfer fees, so he deserves a lot of credit. It is a pleasure to go to Portman Road these days, and such a refreshing change to see Ipswich dominate large parts of matches once again. Brighton are a well-managed team too and it was a real game of football today, thoroughly enjoyable.

Super strikes from Chopra who reminded us he is one of the best strikers in the league. Scotland didn't have such a good match, but Ellington showed some good skill when he came on and I think he looks a useful player.

Good to see Sonko score and he was strong at the back as always. Time to ask him to sit down, put a pen in his hand and a 3-year contract in front of him I say. What a real bonus to get such a good centre back for free after losing McAuley. I definitely wouldn't swap back!
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Garv added 19:10 - Oct 1
Cresswell again superb, Collins and Sonko solid. Andrews quiet by his standards, Bullard did what he does, Bowyer so so. Scotland fairly quiet, but Ellington I thought was quality when he came on! Chopra - what can I say?! Not at our best today as they passed it and frustrated us but nice to know we have someone like Chopra who can come up with a bit of magic (or two)...can't think of the last time we scored such a good goal from a corner, and from a defender. Rarely saw McAuley do that. Follow the boys and Sonko!

P.s Wabara looks promising.
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tomisamos added 19:12 - Oct 1
Shows how often I pay attention to him... Oh well, great result!
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ncharles added 19:13 - Oct 1
Terrific performance, haven't seen a performance like that from a town team for years. Crowd 19k+ were really good, great day out in the sun! Atmosphere getting back to play-off days just need a few more to turn up.

Brighton were a decent side, anytime we took our foot off the gas they looked dangerous and took their goal very well.

Bullard hugely influencial and was everywhere despite the heat.

Sonko and Collins are so good together, needs to be permanent.

Etherington look really good and very sharp when we came on. A good team and a good bench.

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Adrian_Paz_Uses_Daz added 19:19 - Oct 1
Tidy all over the park, all subs looked sharp aswell.

Taricco always a legend.

Craigforestgateau - you're my favorite!
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brittaniaman added 19:29 - Oct 1
Well done lads GREAT !!!! Marcus Evans enjoyed it as well.just perhaps it is now coming together for him.
Did not expect us to be playing in those temperatures in Oct.
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bluearmy4life added 20:03 - Oct 1
Great come back, We are looking good. Ipswich are back!
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alfromcol added 20:06 - Oct 1
Great to see how Town set themselves up in the first 30 minutes to stop Brighton playing the ball short across the back. Chops and Scotland did a lot of running to negate the normal Brighton strategy of building from the back, you could sense the confusion in the team who had no Plan B.
Another great performance, we have no one to fear playing like this.
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OrkneyBlue added 20:07 - Oct 1
3-1 cracking result, but the way that we won was even more pleasing.

Up until a few weeks ago both the players and fans panicked when we went one down, especially at home. Not today though.

I could only listen via Ipswich Player but i have to say when we went one down the crowd seemed to get behind the boys and the result was instead of there nerves transmitting on to the pitch as has been recently it was the positivity.

The players though seemed to all of a sudden just clicked, 10 points from the last 12 is fantastic. It is early days right enough as a few have said and we could do without the international break but I am one happy blue right now.

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StowTractorBoy added 20:11 - Oct 1
What a difference a couple of weeks make for at last Ipswich Town have a team again. Of course there is a long long way to go and there will be setbacks along the way but we look to have a strong unit now and a strong looking bench as well. So pleased for Chopra as things have not been going for him over the past couple of games and it looked that way again when Ankergren made a superb save from a terrific volley in the first half. Feared the worst when Brighton took the lead and it looked as though there slowing down of the gane tactics were going to work. Then along came Chops and 'superman' Sonko to seal the points. Not impressed with the Referee today and the watching Ray Clemence will not be impressed with a couple of flaps from Stockdale. Don't agree with an earlier post that Andrews was poor as I thought he did a terrific job today. To be honest cannot really fault anyone today and at last we have cause to be optimistic. Look forward to my break in South Wales in a couple of weeks now.
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Sebastian added 20:16 - Oct 1
Great couple of games lately. As soon as Sonko got in the squad things started to happen. Keep it up!
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TimmyH added 20:18 - Oct 1
Great result - again! I think that the 2 new defensive pair have installed some confidence into the team knowing that at the other end there is more of a wall!
Nice to see Chops back in the goals - keep it up! COYB!!
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