Blues boss Paul Jewell wants to see more “magic” Portman Road nights like Tuesday’s 5-1 thrashing of Championship leaders West Ham United. The Town manager was delighted with his side’s performance and the atmosphere created by the club’s support.

Jewell said: “One swallow doesn’t make a summer but it’s what we want to bring back to Portman Road. The atmosphere was terrific and there’s a bit of magic about this place when it’s like that.

“All credit to the players. They’ve taken a bit of stick, we’ve all taken stick, and quite rightly so and we’re not trying to say everything’s right now.

“But you could see [an improvement] in the game against Blackpool and certainly at Leeds until we had the goalkeeper sent off we were in complete control of the game.

“Against West Ham, we knew we had to be at our best, at a high tempo, we had to try and knock them out of their stride because they’re a quality team.”

Having praised central midfield pair Andy Drury and Luke Hyam, the Blues boss also said he was pleased with centre-halves Ibrahima Sonko and Tommy Smith, who he felt benefited from the workrate of those in front of them: “Sonko even tried a drag-back at the end for the fifth goal, I don’t quite know what he was doing!

“We want our centre-halves to defend but we want the whole team to defend. I think against West Ham, what was going on in front of them made it a bit easier for them to defend because we were closing them down as a unit from the front, to the midfield and at the back.”

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas scored his first goals since August, continuing his recent run of improved performances, with England U21 scout Alan Cork reportedly present, although West Ham's Henri Lansbury, a regular in Stuart Pearce’s side, was probably the reason for his visit to Portman Road.

Jewell was delighted for Emmanuel-Thomas, who he says is making significant progress after a slow start to his Town career: “As I’ve said before, he goes from a world beater to a panel beater in about five minutes.

“But he has got it in his locker to open the door. He’s got unbelievable feet and he’s getting a bit more of an understanding of the game.

“I’m really pleased for him. I’m really pleased for the players because it’s been a tough time for us here and we want to use this as a springboard going into Saturday.”

Meanwhile, recently departed Blue Shane O’Connor last night tweeted his intention to prove Town boss Paul Jewell wrong in no uncertain terms: “Can't wait to get started now, hopefully be successful, get back to England and prove all them doubters wrong #c***jewell! I'll be back ha :-)”

The Irish U21 international later said the message was an error: “For what it's worth that hash tag was by mistake. I actually have great time for a lot of people at that club and the fans!”

Later adding: “In all seriousness [he's] not my most favourite person but have respect for him, so wouldn’t have put that out on purpose, good banter.”

O'Connor is understood to be interesting various clubs in England in addition to hometown side Cork City, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers in Ireland.

Photo: Action Images

itfc1981 added 09:23 - Feb 2 What a Dundalk
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Bleedingblue added 09:24 - Feb 2 So do we!!!
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bluemonday added 09:26 - Feb 2 Show us some magic then Jewell and dissapear !!
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KnightZ_87 added 09:29 - Feb 2 If we can play like that every week you would have magic Saturdays too!
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JewellintheTown added 09:33 - Feb 2 O'connor sounds like a right #tw*t. The hash tag was "by a mistake"? Yeah, right, I just fell on the keys and they happened to spell a swearword - oops, sorry ITFC and all fans. No wonder PJ got rid. Bad apple, sour grapes.
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cornishnick added 09:42 - Feb 2 Best get Paul Daniels in then
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WoodfordTim added 09:49 - Feb 2 Attitude problem. Now we know why Shane O'Connor is no longer at the club & back in Ireland.
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oldelsworthyfan added 09:52 - Feb 2 If we play like a team again, with players supporting one another (and not like a bunch of individuals), who knows....we can beat any side in the Premiership. It was great to see some of PJ's 'signings' come good as well as players PJ has (at last) given a real chance - like Hyam.
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yun added 09:54 - Feb 2 Our defence gets sawn in half regularly and some of our star midfielders seem to do a disappearing trick a bit too regularly. Who says there's no magic? At least Andy Drury is starting to get with the pace. I'm beginning to think he could turn out to be our end-of-season saviour...
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stoofer added 10:05 - Feb 2 at least o`conner isn`t bitter.
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suffolkpoker added 10:09 - Feb 2 love this quote;- “As I've said before, he goes from a world beater to a panel beater in about five minutes. quality!
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DiamondGezzer added 10:20 - Feb 2 True colours Mr O'connor ? Shame, I thought at one time the lad was a prospect.
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Keaneish added 10:24 - Feb 2 Ah, so that's why we let O'Connor go! Sounds like one too many beers and then a few regrets in the morning! Shame, quite liked him as a player but sounds like a bit of a penis. Goodbye O'Connor!
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pazelle added 10:38 - Feb 2 Play the same XI our kid!
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algarvefan added 10:43 - Feb 2 Not many have an insight into the real goings on at PR...but from O'Connor's unlikely accidental tweet, perhaps that's the real measure of the lad, no doubt Jewell was not impressed, now I can see why. As capt Mainwaring would have said "You stupid Boy" Perhaps some of these young footballers should let their football do the talking instead of Tweeting!!
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Frase1987 added 10:44 - Feb 2 thanks for clearing that up O'Connor, I was wondering why u didn't feature more..
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Doctor_Albran added 10:48 - Feb 2 O'Connor trying the usual Twitter excuse - it was a mistake - the only mistake you made was engaging your thumbs rather than your brain. So it seem that not only too many tweets make a tw*t, some people can do it in one!
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MaySixth added 11:06 - Feb 2 #shaneoconnorwhatabellend
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Taricco_Fan added 11:19 - Feb 2 Enjoy the Airtricity League, O'Connor.
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SuperReuser added 12:27 - Feb 2 anybody know what his twitter name is, i want to follow him
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mightytown added 12:52 - Feb 2 hope he sees this. o'connor you 5 star mong
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Marcus added 13:10 - Feb 2 @ShaneyConnors
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itfc4eva added 13:26 - Feb 2 look forward to be seeing them. Shame about o'connor, i liked him but jewell didnt. Wouldnt be surprised if o'connor goes and has a good career. most of the players that have left us have done really for their next club. Jordan Rhodes springs to mind.
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Karlosfandangal added 13:44 - Feb 2 Come on you fans who were on Jewells back for not playing and then releasing him, time to eat humble pie and say sorry. Jewell holds his hands up to mistakes so man up (or women up) and do the same. O'Connor has shown his true colours, Never the players fault always the manager
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newboy added 13:47 - Feb 2 PJ treated O Connor badly he has been professional and kept quiet alot wouldnt - this club will never be anything with that idiot in charge. Only those who are not wanted by anyone else will be desperate enough to sign for him again. And while the only player PJ brought in was scottish and for the last few weeks everyone has been slagging off scottish football on her we dont exactly have much to shout about do we

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