Damien Delaney has admitted that he feared defeat at Barnsley back in December might have resulted in a change of manager at Portman Road.

Ipswich went to Oakwell on the back of seven successive defeats and boss Paul Jewell saw the home side establish a 2-0 interval lead.

But Town rallied superbly, scoring within seconds of the restart and going on to chalk up a 5-3 victory that no one could have possibly envisaged 45 minutes earlier.

Delaney, 30, was injured and missed the game but he said: “I was concerned for the gaffer. Any manager losing seven on the spin would be worried and I’m sure the same applied to our gaffer.

“Had we lost an eighth game in a row he may have been worried that was going to be it — but fair play to the club, Ipswich has a tradition for sticking by their managers and giving them every opportunity.

“You look at the number of managers they have had at this club — I had as many in 18 months when I was at QPR! I think the gaffer bought Keith Andrews a drink that day after his two goals.

“If we had lost eight in a row it would have been tough to recover from and you never know what might have happened. As it is we have all recovered and while things are still far from perfect, compared to where we were it’s not looking too bad at the moment.”

Although Town followed up their Barnsley success with another win at home to Derby, they suffered a further blip by going seven league and cup games without a victory, but the resounding 5-1 home defeat of then Championship leaders West Ham triggered their current run of just two losses in 12 outings.

Delaney recalled the bizarre experience of receiving text updates of what was happening at Barnsley, adding: “I was back home in Ireland and in a bar somewhere.

“The game was live on Sky that day but they didn’t have it on in the pub because there was some rugby game on. I received a text to say we were 2-0 down at half-time and I feared the worst.

“But then the texts came flying in — we pulled a goal back, then we were level and the next I knew we were 3-2 ahead, then 4-2 and 5-2. I was delighted for the lads — and the manager.”

Photo: Action Images

eunos added 07:23 - Mar 31 hmmm...wasn't concerned enough to find a Pub showing the match though??? I mean, if I was in Ireland and the town we're playing on telly, I'm pretty sure I would've been able to find a TV showing it! - you know to support my team, let alone support my colleagues, my freinds, my manager, my career, err the fans etc etc... There you go, it's just a job, I suppose. (albeit a pretty good one, oh that's quite well paid).

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ozzydog added 07:26 - Mar 31 “I was back home in Ireland and in a bar somewhere. “The game was live on Sky that day but they didn't have it on in the pub because there was some rugby game on. I received a text to say we were 2-0 down at half-time and I feared the worst. Love the commitment to the cause you really can see why we have been so crap for so many years now. Just to many players that really don`t give a sh1te

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eunos added 07:28 - Mar 31 great minds ozzydog!
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eunos added 07:32 - Mar 31 don't we have some sort of press relations / anybody with any sense to tell these idiots what to say any more? who the hell cleared this completely pointless story?? does anyone at Portman Road (Clegg etc) give a toss about this club anymore???
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Weekender added 08:01 - Mar 31 Great minds. Er no. So the players are no allowed time away then? What use or difference does it make if DD watched the game on sky or kept update up-to-date with text messages? As for Clegg needing to review every small thing coming out club what nonsense! DD is going honest opinion in an interview, some people always have to find something to criticise.
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solemio added 08:08 - Mar 31 No, not great minds. Similar minds incapable of any depth of thought.
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ozzydog added 08:10 - Mar 31 oh get you big boy
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strikalite added 08:13 - Mar 31 eunos and Ozzy - exactly what I was thinking too, if pubs have the licence to show Sky then you can be pretty sure most will have more than one screen! Injured, seven straight losses, back in Ireland, in a pub, not watching the game that is on Sky....hmmm, hardly doing a John Terry and supporting is he.. It was an incredible second half, hope they don't take revenge today..

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jas0999 added 09:02 - Mar 31 More pointless spin.
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Garv added 09:05 - Mar 31 Bottom line is footballers (bar the odd legend like Gerrard or Terry) are just employees of clubs, not fans. I think the actual fans find this hard to take, and there's nothing wrong with that. We'd like nothing more the image of DD sitting in a pub watching the game and celebrating like mad when each goal goes in, but it is unlikely.
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blrmy added 09:20 - Mar 31 Jeez, what "sugar coated Disneyesque" world do you people live in. And so happy to always wade in with negativity. My occasional reading of replies here reminds me why a rarely bother, congratulations, you've certainly reminded me again!!!
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Guthrum added 13:13 - Mar 31 Is Ipswich his team, that is, the one he supports, not necessarily the one he plays in? We are fans of Ipswich, he's an employee. Sure, he ought to be trying his best when at work, but during his time off, why would he do more than keep an eye on the score? Do you avidly keep an eye on the share price of the companies you work for (if you don't own shares), read all the press releases and financial reports when on holiday?

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jclark20 added 16:37 - Apr 1 well said guthrum! if he was back in irelend, then its most likely that his first concern was to catch up with friends and/or family over a drink - not to watch the town on telly. im sure most people would do the same if they spend long periods of time abroad and not much time back in their country. why does everyone try to give our players stick all the time?
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