Paul Jewell admits that there are likely to be a few nerves if the Blues go into the closing stages of tonight’s game at Burnley holding a slender lead, having turned 2-1 advantages into 3-2 defeats in their last two games.

Jewell believes there’s only way to overcome those jitters: “We’ve just got to get over the line. We’ve just got to win the games.

“Footballing life is about little hurdles and at the moment if we’re 1-0 up or 2-1 up with five minutes to go, it will be in the back of our minds. The only way to get rid of that is by winning the match.”

He says Town will have to work hard to end their run of five defeats: “Nobody in this game gives you anything for nothing, so we’ve got to earn that right.

“We’ve got to get blocks in, we’ve got to stop balls coming in our box, we’ve got to stop giving silly fouls away. It’s just over-eagerness and a bit of anxiety has crept in. We won’t be any different to any other team that’s had a bit of a spell.

“I spoke to [Chesterfield manager] John Sheridan [on Sunday] and his team is exactly the same. The only way to get over it is by winning matches. Once you win a game, your confidence grows. There’s no pill, there’s no magic formula - it’s just hard work and graft.”

Jewell has faith in his team and feels there’s still time to turn the campaign around, particularly when the division is so tight: “We’ve got good players in the squad, it’s just not happening for us at the moment.

“We’ve still got a lot of time left in the season, we’ve got a lot of time to climb the table but we also aware we’re at the wrong end of it, we’re not kidding ourselves.

“We’ve been so close in the last couple of games, it’s not as if we’ve been played off the park. We haven’t played well, we certainly didn’t play well on Saturday, but we could easily have had six points out of the last two games and everything would have been rosy.”

Photo: Action Images

Photo: Action Images

osborne1nil added 09:42 - Nov 29 Dear Santa, 2 tall and effective central defenders and Jordan Rhodes Thanks PJ 2-0 Town win tonight
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brittaniaman added 09:46 - Nov 29 I appreciate your optimism !!!!!!!!
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yorksblue added 10:03 - Nov 29 Jewell and Sheridan have a lot in common. They're taking their respective clubs down a division.
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Basil_Smallpiece added 10:14 - Nov 29 Have you seen the Burnley goalkeeper at work? He's hopeless. Could well be a Town victory tonight.
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Lesta_Tractor added 10:16 - Nov 29 my xmas list: A defensive midfielder, a right footed aaron cresswell and a centre half who doesn't get injured..
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JimmyJazz added 10:18 - Nov 29 The Burnley keeper is very suspect
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nitroblue1970 added 10:21 - Nov 29 Burnely keeper may well be dodgy but so is our defence! If we are 3 goals up by 90 minutes I will be confident of victory!
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raycrawfordswig added 10:21 - Nov 29 i wouldn't worry burnley will be out of sight by half-time
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bluelady added 10:22 - Nov 29 so is our keeper....
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nitroblue1970 added 11:15 - Nov 29 All of them?....
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AlanMahon2011 added 11:21 - Nov 29 If were getting relegated lets get relegated in style!!!
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PJ_Needs_Duncan added 12:37 - Nov 29 Jewell out
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TractorBeezer added 14:10 - Nov 29 Yes confidence (or lack of it) is a factor but Paul there are some things that we can influence e.g. getting the basics right especially when leading towards the end of a game.
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churchmans added 18:48 - Nov 29 jewell out
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jas0999 added 19:11 - Nov 29 Answer: Stop your preferred negative tactics PJ and tried to score more goals to close out the game. I am actually optimistic about tonights match and can see us getting a result.
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sirburley added 19:18 - Nov 29 overcome late jitters?Ive got pre-match jitters!!Got a bad,bad feeling about tonight,aint been this worried since norwich home last season,hope im proved wrong
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chorltonskylineblue added 23:14 - Nov 29 Had to laugh at the Burnley keeper comments. We'll never know because he wasn't troubled at all tonight
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