Blues boss Paul Jewell was delighted with his side's 3-0 home victory over Bristol City. Goals from Michael Chopra - his sixth in six matches - Tommy Smith and Andy Drury saw his team to a comfortable win.

Jewell said: “I thought we played really well. I thought from start to finish we played at a really good tempo and created numerous opportunities.

“My only concern at half-time was that they were still in the game. We should have put them to bed and we had to rely on Alex to make a really good save to keep it 1-0.

“We had 17 crosses and 14 attempts on goal in the first half and I thought some of our play and closing down was great.

“We went out there in the second half and didn’t play as well as we did in the first, but we scored two more goals.”

Goalscorer Tommy Smith added: "I think we were on top for the majority of the game and in the end thoroughly deserved the win.

"The lads performed really well and David James has pulled off a couple of great saves from Chops, so we could have scored a couple more.

"I was delighted to score and I thought I was going to score another, but unfortunately my header came back off the bar, but to win the game and perform so well was the most pleasing thing and it sets us up nicely for Tuesday's trip to Southampton."

Bristol City boss Derek McInnes kept his players in the dressing room for some while after the final whistle and admitted they were well beaten: "Clearly the best team won. Ipswich were the better team in the first half and we were fortunate to only be 1-0 down.

"But we kept their better players quiet in the second half, got the ball forward quicker and the game was more evenly poised.

"It was a case of whoever scored the second goal. When Ipswich got it, it was always going to be difficult for us.

"One point from six games is poor form from our point of view and we need to generate confidence and belief."

McInnes was unhappy that referee Andy Woolmer changed his mind with regard to the corner which led to Town's second goal, initially awarding a goalkick before correctly reversing the decision on his linesman's advice: "We all expect an honesty in these decisions, but I just find it astonishing that he can allow himself to be overruled by his linesman who is 60 yards away.

"He's got the decision right, but he's wrong to allow himself to be overruled."

Former Blue Jon Stead tweeted his thanks to Town supporters for welcoming him back to Portman Road: "Thanks for the warm reception from #ITFC fans, always nice to see. Good luck for the rest of the season, beat the others round us please!"

Photo: Action Images

eunos added 18:26 - Mar 3 great win! just what we needed after last weeks debacle at Brighton and then the JB / Chops shenanigans. I for one am glad PJ didn't suspend Chops - talk about cutting your nose off to spite your face! Chops is on a great run at the moment and works his socks off all over the pitch - quality signing and a F****** bargain at a mill. COYB!
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mschultz76 added 18:28 - Mar 3 Great game and all had good games. JET, Martin, Chopra all played well but to me Drury and Leadbitter controlled the midfield brilliantly. Would people in the Cobbold Stand please get off Leadbitter's back. He had a great game.
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davetheblue added 18:48 - Mar 3 well done the lads,good comeback from brighton result ,COYB!! PS.any one know what happened to hyam today?
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Mark added 18:51 - Mar 3 A very one sided game in Ipswich's favour, although all the time it was 1-0 Bristol could have come back into it and McCarthy made some decent saves. Still, we could have won by several more goals and we looked a constant threat going forward as we usually have over recent weeks. We've scored 53 league goals now, which is more than West Ham who will probably win the league! If Jewell can sort the defence out we could have a chance next season. Let's get those season ticket renewal packs into the post...

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Dissboyitfc added 19:42 - Mar 3 only positives from me on this today, we can go over and over whats wrong, cant we? but lets look at all the positives. Bristol are a very poor side, but so often in the past we have made poor sides look good, today we made a poor side look like a poor side. SO thats progress in my book. Jet is going to be an outstanding player for us if he continues like he is. And i want to clear this up, i am not a leadboots fan, was disappointed to see him in the starting line up, but he had a very solid game and actually showed some passion for the cause, dont think the captains armband should ever have been given to him. Bristol had very little goal threat about them, a clean sheet , 3 goals and three points. I still cant help feeling there will be the usual negative posts on here, probably from people who did nt go, but still have far too much to say on the negative front. This is a fact, we are playing some very attractive attacking football, best for some while in fact, never ever was attractive under Keane. In recent weeks i have complained about jewell, but today he gets the credit he deserves... coyb

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alfromcol added 19:57 - Mar 3 Mark good point; "We've scored 53 league goals now" and gets overlooked. We are a class act going forward, Just 1 or 2 signings for next season and we will be in with a shout.
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TownOnTheUp added 20:17 - Mar 3 A really good, professional performance from us, admittedly against a team sliding into League One. Drury, Murphy and Smith were magnificent, yet again. It's unbelievable that Drury could have gone from Luton to us and Smith from being awful for Colchester and our 5th choice, to being two hugely important players. JET was great 1st half, faded 2nd, Martin ran his socks off and looked dangerous, Chopra was thwarted twice by fantastic James saves. My only two negatives, which some/most may disagree with. 1. McCarthy - he made a great, instinctive save in the first half and fielded one or two long range efforts, as well as making some catches. However, his distribution is very, very poor and he'll need to sort it if he's ever going to become a decent all around keeper. 2. Leadbitter. People saying he was solid, I perhaps agree with that to a certain extent. However, I'd say that he was largely anonymous, despite doing what he had to do well. Picked the wrong pass once or twice as well and didn't break things up as effectively as I would have liked. He didn't have a bad game, it's just that I think we have better players at the club. Oh and a quick note on Stevenson; looked very sharp, had a hand in number 3 and if Scotland had looked up, could have scored. Would maybe have liked to see him and Scotland have longer on the pitch, particularly as JET fizzled out.

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camposlocks added 20:19 - Mar 3 Good win. I agree Leadbitter may blossom without the captiancy, some players can't handle it. Well done Chops I have been very critical at times but but he has proved me very wrong. Sort the defence & goalkeeper in the summer then it looks promising for next season.
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bluelady added 20:23 - Mar 3 Diss with you totally! Off to hit the town with big smle on face!!
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bluelady added 20:25 - Mar 3 Diss with you totally! Off to hit the town with big smle on face!!
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kozmik added 20:28 - Mar 3 I heard that Scott Loach was coming in at the end of the season
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Blue041273 added 20:40 - Mar 3 Enjoy yourself Blue Lady. I myself shall indulge in a bottle of celebratory Red. Hope we both remember the details of the game tomorrow. My only concern about today was the use of subs. PJ does not use subs for tactical purposes, only for injuries or other necessities.
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1Finshefki added 21:05 - Mar 3 Good to see you too, Steady. Trust we will oblige you with that.
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AndyStannard added 21:17 - Mar 3 Great performance from town all excellent!!! !!! Jet was very good 2 cracking efforts at goal!! Drury was very good too!!
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Ipswichbusiness added 21:57 - Mar 3 I wasn't at the game but I understand that we played well and, as Dissboyitfc says, we made a bad side look bad. That is all to the good. However, if we are going to have a credible run at promotion next season (I think this one has gone), then our progress will be measured by our performances against the better teams. I posted on here after the Cardiff match that we would better be able to assess progress after the next four games (home to Bristol City and away to Brighton, Southampton and Hull). So far it's mixed; we beat the team (Bristol City) we had to beat to keep us away from the bottom, but have lost to one of the leading clubs. At present it looks like we're a good mid-table outfit, no less and no more.

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sexyjimps added 22:13 - Mar 3 Ipswichbusiness, I have to disagree with you. Yes we lost to Brighton 3-0, but it could have gone either, and PJ was right about not drawing anough games! But today we showed that whether its top six Cardiff or bottom six Bristol, we bring the same attitude to the game and play our best! Bring on Southampton away! COYB
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buryblue77 added 22:14 - Mar 3 davetheblue, I think Jewell had said earlier in the week that Hyam was possibly in need of a rest after having played a lot of games recently, that and he didn't have the best of games against Brighton. Delighted with the win and performance, thought Leadbitter had a really good comeback game, if he can perform like that week in, week out (like we know he's capable of) then he's worth a starting place in the team and a new contract too. In fact apart from a couple of 'Delany moments' and Edwards being caught high up the field (something he's always going to be guilty of given his natural attacking instincts) I thought the whole team played really well, McCarthy made some god saves, Smith was a rock at the back, Drury was creative, Martin and JET showed a quality on the ball (JET especially) that a lot of other players at this level just don't have and Chopras movement on and off the ball was exceptional. I think we can do a job against Southampton, at least a draw. COYB!!

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Dissboyitfc added 22:56 - Mar 3 Bluelady i hope you had a good evening and kept the smile. I just got home, still wearing mine, good to go out in diss when we win and the scum lose...they hide up when they lose,,coyb
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ClassyCranson added 23:10 - Mar 3 Good solid performance against a poor team. Not sure why McCarthy replaced ALB. Leadbitter had a good game but he did so against Bristol City earlier in the season and has done nothing since. As an experiment I would like to see Cressy moved to left midfield and Tommy moved to left back.
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Daleyitfc added 23:29 - Mar 3 Jewell's treatment of Luke Hyam is as despicable as it is predictable. He clearly doesn't rate him, but has had to grit his teeth and keep him in the team because results were going well. As soon as we have one poor result, Hyam is out on his ear : and out of the 16 not just the starting 11, so that Jewell can bring his little silent friend Leadbitter back into the team. Forget today's result : we continue on a downward spiral while a has-been manager goes through the motions at a club for which he has no respect. Get rid.

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MVBlue added 23:54 - Mar 3 Daleyitfc you are so wrong
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lscooper23 added 00:39 - Mar 4 Daleyitfc doesn't know what he is on about! Won 5 out of the last 6 and we are still on a downward spiral :S okay then!!! On todays performance we looked very impressive, moved the ball around well and movement was good! Every player had a good game, Chopra was good as always, Martin was class he runs and runs, JET had some very good efforts at goal and looks. A very good player for the future and Smith was solid! My only concern was the substitutions, I think possibly JET should have come off earlier for some fresh legs in the midfield! Tuesday's game will be interesting!! COYB!!!!!!!

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eunos added 00:49 - Mar 4 Daley I'd like to 'get rid of you'. Are you angry 'cos your team got beat at Stoke today? You haven't got a clue what you're talking about - I think I'd trust PJ to know who needs a rest, and when to bring in squad players to cover them, rather than you, thanks. Given that we WON 3-0 (fairly easily) it makes your pathetic comment look pretty stupid. Good point earlier about the 53 goals - I honestly think we are only a goalie and a couple of defenders away from a decent competitive top 6 side, add another 1 quality midfielder to replace both JB and Bowyer and a good young striker to replace Ellington and we should be there or thereabouts for promotion to the promised land. I'd say that's not too bad after the dark days of the 'Irish one'. I'm glad we stuck with PJ and didn't panic, I admit I was tempted to join the boo boys, but now I'm really glad I didn't. In PJ we trust - COYB!

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Garv added 01:07 - Mar 4 Is it so hard for people to work out that Hyam needed a rest? And if he's not starting, there was little point in him being on the bench ahead of two more creative, forward thinking players in Stevenson and Bowyer. Today was never a game where we would need Hyam to come on. We were always comfortable. Had we been losing, Hyam would've been a nothing option from the bench as he offers little going forward, and if we had been comfortable (a couple goals up), which we were we would've simply wanted to go forward and score more, like we did, and again Hyam wouldn't really have aided us in this sense. City were there for the taking. Why are people complaining about Hyam being dropped? We won 3-0 without him. They are a very poor side but you can only beat the team in front of you. Best to keep Hyam ready for the silly amount of games coming up this month.

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bluelady added 02:30 - Mar 4 Diss, head will hurt tmw but cracking night and smile kept intact even when I read daleys depressing garbage! What no Jas?!!!
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