Town boss Paul Jewell was again left shaking his head after more calamitous individual defensive errors handed Leeds a 3-1 win they hardly deserved at Elland Road. Jewell admitted that the mistakes against the West Yorkshiremen took things to a new level.

Jewell said: “I think we were in control of the game, then I don’t know what the goalkeepers were doing. You have to see it to believe it.

“For 70 minutes we were winning the game. We’ve restricted Leeds to very few chances, if any at all gilt-edged.

“One long ball and our goalkeeper decides he’s coming out for it and handles outside the box. With 10 men we were always going to be up against it but to give the goals away in the fashion that we did. I’ve said it so many times this season, but I think today is another level.

“We’re shooting ourselves in the feet time and time again,” he continued, clearly frustrated by more points having been thrown away after what had been a promising first half display.

“There was so much good about today, about the way we’ve played. We were good in all departments up until decision-making by Alex and Sonko that cost us the sending off.”

Meanwhile, stand-in skipper Sonko said sorry for his mistakes on Twitter: "I do want to apologise for today. My error cost us."

Jewell felt the goals were as bad as the red card: “The second goal is a long ball from the full-back that the goalkeeper should come and collect. The third one bounced on the edge of our box. They’ve scored three goals, and that’s why we are where we are.”

The Town boss is on the lookout for more defenders, having targeted Leicester’s Sean St Ledger and Portsmouth pair Jason Pearce and Joel Ward during the transfer window after a campaign blighted by similar capitulations by his backline: “It’s not just because of today it’s been because of the whole season.

“Having said that, I thought Tommy Smith did well and as a team we weren’t in danger for 70 minutes.

"Leeds were getting very frustrated. We passed the ball better than them, we created more opportunities, we looked in control of the match, we were controlling the tempo of the game. The gifts we gave them they haven’t had to work hard for. Again, it’s the same old thing.”

He says managers can’t legislate for the type of errors made all too regularly by his players: “As a manager, as a coach, there are certain things you can affect, but the decisions I’ve seen today, they’re just bad decisions which have cost us goals.

“I’ll always take responsibility as I pick the team but when people see the goals on TV they’ll scratch their heads.

“It wasn’t as if we were coming under severe pressure. It was just a long ball that our centre-half was going to deal with, he was going to head it back to Alex, and for some reason has decided to come charging out.

“It was windy out there, very windy and I guess even our goal was a mistake from their goalkeeper.”

Jewell says there have been no developments on transfers: “All the offers we’ve made have been rejected but we will be trying to bring in players, there’s no doubt about that.

“I don’t know about [improved bids] yet. We’ll have to sit down and speak about how far away we are from the other clubs’ valuations."

He says he doesn’t expect anything to happen regarding Sean St Ledger, who is back in Leicester’s plans, at least in the short-term, while there are no offers for any members of the current squad: “There are no enquiries for our players. We’ve made lots of enquiries and are pursuing other targets. It’s the same old boring lines I’ve got for you.”

Leeds boss Simon Grayson admitted his team had gained their victory largely by taking advantage of Town’s mistakes but felt the match was not dissimilar to the one between the teams at Portman Road earlier in the season: “That’s what can happen in football matches.

“We were poor in the first half, we never really got going. We would liked to have made a better start in terms of possession of the ball, closing them down and working them.

“We went a goal behind to a soft goal, it took a slight deflection but Andy Lonergan holds his hands up, he should have done better with it, and I think we were fortunate to be only one down at half-time.

“But in the second half we got to grips with things, changed it around a little bit, spoke to the players and gave them the belief that we could go and win the game, never mind draw it because we had to do a lot of things a lot better. We knew that we could still create opportunities and maybe win the game.

“The sending off obviously changed the game and it mirrored the game at Portman Road earlier in the season.

“For part of that game we were the best team, the sending off changed the game and Ipswich went and won the game.

"We’ve won the game off the back of the sending off and we’re delighted to have done that.”

Photo: Action Images

stoofer added 23:25 - Jan 21 WISH SONKO WAS AT THE AFRICAN NATIONS CUP !
0

PSGBlue added 23:27 - Jan 21 There is talk of some sort of protest, but why should we miss the best game of the season against Wet Spam! I remember seeing a PSG game, can't remember who against - but PSG were having a bad time (bottom 4). The fans protested by not entering the stands behind the goals for the first 15 minutes of the game. The game kicked off in an eerie silence befoe the PSG supporters returned into the stands chanting "PSG PSG!" to show their loyalty to club, if not for the management or the board. Needless to say I seem to remember they lost 2-1! But that sort of thing would put the club into the media spotlight, something ME wouldn't like.

0

bobble added 23:28 - Jan 21 eventually after much chopping and changing we have found the right goalkeeper to take us down,we should congratulate all involved on their perseverance in this long drawn out process.
0

NoelTheDub added 23:38 - Jan 21 same old story,pj u bring in a keeper we need a team.players are coming to our club that have premier league experience but for some reason dont perform there ur choice pj .players u are tryin to get in are deciding to go to smaller clubs instead of us.our club is been damaged over the last few years and mr evens an clegg has to act.dury our best player the last few weeks was not in pjs plans a month ago what the hell is going on.....

0

TractorBeezer added 23:48 - Jan 21 PJewellisaGod, a thoughtful post....how would you like the job? We have played so well for the first two thirds of recent games and then...well you couldn't make it up if you tried. As I have stated in previous posts we have some good players but need a proper and permanent consistent spine....GK, CB, CM plus Scotland and then bolster the rest of the defence...RB and another CB......meanwhile keep developing Tommy. You have suggested similar positions to strengthen and also as you suggest we have the other players. Also hopefully Chopra, Bullard and Bowyer will have much to offer. It's a cup half full approach but in my opinion worth trying. Lets get the motivation and inspiration going, stop the stupid mistakes and get serious in this transfer window.

0

ClassyCranson added 23:55 - Jan 21 The only positive I can take from the game today is that Leadbitter didn't play. It's the first Ipswich game at Elland Road i've missed since I can remember, a good choice for once on my part. Pleased that Drury scored his first goal for the club, he deserves more chances than he has been given by Jewell. The defence clearly messed up on mass today and that's acceptable if it is only once in a while but it is every week. The club is sinking to new depths every week. Did Clegg really praise Priskin like I think he did in the week, or was I just having a bad dream? Either way Jewell, Clegg and the board of directors brought in by Marcus Evans have to go. Since when did the football club have bunch a directors as faceless as people like Martin Pitcher, etc? Turning to the owner he has got 10 days to save the Town. Jewell and Clegg have to go and quality defensive players have to come in. Every time Jewell and Clegg open their mouths, they seem like circus clowns who have no idea about anything related to proper football and the magnificent traditions of the football club. The team as a whole I think can play and we should be near the play off positions, says alot about the manager that we are not anywhere close. If the last 3 months are replicated over the next 3 months we will be relegated.

0

Michael11 added 00:28 - Jan 22 I wasn't able to make the game today so i thought i'd watch the highlights before commenting, can't believe what i've just seen...the keeper catching the ball 30 yards out but it was Sonko who really threw it away today his poor header dropped the keeper in it and he gifted the first two goals too! Hes been very poor lately and shouldn't look to him as a permanent fix! Time for Jewell to go now, how much more dignity does the man want to lose, just leave now while there's time for a new manager to bring in a few players and give us hope.

0

buryblue77 added 00:30 - Jan 22 Wasn't at the game as I don't get to many nowadays do to work commitments and just seen the highlights (if you can call them that) what was going through Sonkos mind, two really bad errors, it just doesn't make sense that a professional could make two such stupid errors. I like PJ and hoped he would succeed, but I think his time is up.
0

Warkys_Tash added 00:30 - Jan 22 @PSG BLUE: How about the North Stand lower doing the POZNAN but without the jumping up and down bit for the first 15mins off the West Ham game as a protest?
0

smithy91 added 00:32 - Jan 22 Just seen the goals- horrendous defending from sonko. Wtf was he doing for there 1st goal, trying to pass back to alb?? Jewells time is up for me, put warnock in charge temp til end of season with a view to permanent if he does a good job. And please get 2 cbs and a rb! Oh and like the idea of de vos as a defensive coach
0

smithy91 added 00:35 - Jan 22 Also for me coaching side of itfc is a significant part of the constant underperformingfor me. This needs serious looking at when jewell goes
0

TractorBoy666 added 00:36 - Jan 22 Woah, 160 comments. Most i've seen. Oh Jewell do you think the play-offs are still possible?
0

arablue added 00:49 - Jan 22 Wonder what ME would do if his CEO/Business Managers at his companies continue to produce such poor results similar to those at Town? Would he sack them?
0

Keaneish added 00:51 - Jan 22 Kipper - is there a saying if we call for the whole inept regime!?
0

zebra added 01:18 - Jan 22 The first game I watched was Ipswich v Torquay in 1956 [I think, or 57] whilst we were in Div 3 South. We won 6-0. I thought every game would be like that, so I was a bit disappointed when I realised that that wouldn't be the result every game!! I've seen some wonderful games in some wonderful stadiums under brilliant managers and owners, but I've seen a few pretty dire ones too. I bought shares in the club when we had our administration problems and have been a supporter through thick and thin, as should be the case for all real football club supporters. But, here's the rub. I can't ever remember our club being in such an awful state as it is now. It's rotten from top to bottom, with a few notable exceptions. It isn't just the manager, or the CEO or the faceless owner, or just the players or just the coach. This malaise seems to have permeated every level. How Mr John must be spinning in his grave. Unfortunately we have to accept that league football today is not a sport. The days of Ted Phillips and the like going stone picking at the Cobbold's farm during the off season have long gone. The paternal family that nurtured Ipswich Town has long since disappeared and with it the pride and respect of playing for the manager, the owner, the fans has gone too. Unless we can recapture that wonderful warm family club atmosphere again then we will have to accept the likes of Mr Evans and Clegg. The Cobbold days have gone, and more's the pity for that. I hold myself really fortunate that I have lived through those days and realistically fear that they will never return. I hope I'm not alive to see us play the wonderful Needham Market at Bloomfields!! But that's the way we're going I fear. Keep the faith -COYB

0

singtown added 03:44 - Jan 22 Dear Editor, please rename this article as "PJ slams Himself". Poor defending? PJ you assembled this team Yourself!!! Stop nonsensical comments and get to work PJ! Wonder if anyone else feels Magilton was doing a more decent job than this? RK is crap anyway, PJ is not far either.......
0

nerdys added 03:49 - Jan 22 So Far we have managed to get 8pts from 45 and we have conceded 54 Goals. Enough Said !!!!!!!!!
0

airliner added 06:16 - Jan 22 This is just a shambles through and through. No new signings, looking rudderless and the same old tripe comments coming out week by week. ME either sack PJ or get your bloody check book out and spend some of these elusive millions. If neither happens we really are going down to league 1.
0

irishtim added 08:10 - Jan 22 Bring in burley with mattie holland till end of season save us from the drop, Also get russell osman & warky in as defensive coaches. Players who love the club is whats needed.Not warnock.
0

Suffolk_n_Good added 08:18 - Jan 22 Didn't post yesterday as I was so peeved my comment would have been removed!! How much longer can ME let this situation carry on for? All this backing PJ that came out last week only makes me fear that we have got to put up with more of the same. In our situation no right minded player is gonna sign for us, even if we do offer them a great package! & there lies the problem for us, we need shed loads of quality players, that are elusive, without the players we are destined for League 1, the only way we can "get off" this mad roundabout is to change the manager who can hopefully rebuild the team (again!)

0

ian_marshall added 08:46 - Jan 22 Please jewell for the love of god just f@ck off!!!!
0

goodtimes81 added 08:53 - Jan 22 NOT FIT TO WEAR THE SHIRT!!!!!!!!!!!!
0

bluearmy4life added 09:03 - Jan 22 If gutless EVANS Doesn't sack PJ I really fear we will go down. If I was manager of ITFC And only won 2/16 Or 8pts/45pts I would resign. If PJ Is hurting and the so called board what about us fans? This is killing me as a fan, With Narwich doing so well this is probably there wildest dream coming true. It's time to make are voices heard to save our club, bring banners, let's bring ITFC Back. PAUL JEWELL GET OUT OF OUR CLUB.

0

richnblue added 09:03 - Jan 22 disaster....
0

airliner added 09:06 - Jan 22 We as fans will have to protest at next match or just not turn up let them play in an empty stadium that will get some attention
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls