Town manager Paul Jewell felt his side never recovered from conceding Ben Marshall’s freekick moments before half-time during their 2-1 home defeat to Leicester City. Jason Scotland had put the Blues in front four minutes before Marshall’s injury time goal with David Nugent netting the winner for the Foxes in the second half.

Jewell said: “In the first half we played well, we were in the ascendancy and were the far superior team — lots of crosses, lots of shots.

“Then to go in at half-time after the manner that they equalised was a right kick in the teeth and in the second half we didn’t seem to recover from it. We were laboured, we got stretched and we went out with a whimper really.”

The Blues boss wasn’t quite sure how Marshall’s freekick made it beyond the wall but thought keeper Arran Lee-Barrett ought to have saved it however it did so: “It took a deflection, I’m not sure whether it went through the wall or by the side of it.

“If it went through the wall, it’s disappointing and if it did so the keeper should save it, it’s a long way out.

“It was a cheap freekick we gave away. As I say, that kicked us right in the teeth. It was almost the last kick of the first half.

“It’s the worst time to concede a goal. It gave them a lift because I thought we were decent in the first half. Second half they came out, made a couple of changes and picked up the tempo.”

Jewell admitted that it wasn’t the first time his team had faded after the break in recent matches: “In the first half against Watford and against Derby were excellent and today was excellent.

“But in all those second halves we haven’t performed, but you’re never going to be on top of a game for 90 minutes.”

The Liverpudlian made four changes to his starting line-up which he says was to give a few players rest with games having come thick and fast recently: “We’ve kept the same team for quite a while. I know they kept their same team from Saturday, but I thought the lads needed a bit of a breather, one or two have been a bit jaded of late. So I made a few changes, it didn’t work but after 45 minutes we were looking good.”

Jewell was pleased with debutant Ryan Stevenson: “He was absolutely knackered, that’s the only reason we brought him off.

“I thought he showed great tenacity and great endeavour but that’s his first game since December and he had to come off as he was in danger of pulling something.”

The Blues boss says Leicester are a decent side who he expects to reach the Premier League before too long: “They’re a good team. If they don’t go up this season, I feel they’re certainties to go up next year with the squad they’ve got - not just the team, the squad. They’ll think they’ve got a chance of getting there this season.”

Jewell is well aware of David Nugent’s record against the Blues: “You always fear when the crowd boo him because players like that thrive on it. He was always going to score.”

Foxes boss Nigel Pearson was pleased with his team’s display which leaves them three points from the play-offs: “We’re still hanging in there. It was a great result for us. We certainly played a lot better than we did on Saturday.”

Pearson made two changes at the break as he thought his side seemed jaded in the first half: “I just felt that we didn’t really look to have the energy levels that we needed, so it was a case of making a couple of changes to inject some fresh legs into the team.

“I thought Paul Gallagher had an immediate effect in terms of what he brings to the team quality-wise.

"I thought it was a good second half for us and I never felt we were in any danger. I thought we could have won it more convincingly.”

Sub Andy King was booked for a dive, a decision his manager thought referee Tony Bates got wrong: “Not particularly happy about the booking of King but you’ve got deal with decisions like that during a game.

“The player couldn’t understand what the referee was talking about. We felt that there were a number of incidents which were a bit odd, but that’s life. We didn’t let it affect us.”

Pearson said he wasn’t aware of Nugent’s record at Portman Road and against Town: “I never look at stuff like that.”

Photo: Action Images

bluelady added 23:28 - Apr 9 I do know what you mean poggie, and second half was very poor. I went to the UEFA cup games so I started at the top too. My point is I guess they either have a passion for the game or not. My son lives and dies footie and still wants to go to every home game, even though we have a good old moan now and then, my daughter comes infrequently the football bug clearly not striking her. I started at the top have seen some poor and very poor teams and now accept maybe we never will be the team we once were. I still pay my money and I still pray we will one day! I back the manager in charge unless like Keane at the end they are beyond redemption then like anyone I will beg for change. I give PJ to Christmas, not top half of table then just maybe its time to move on,just not sure who realistically.

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TractorBoy666 added 23:37 - Apr 9 Why are we playing Bowyer PJ? What in gods name do you see in him?! Drury not even on the bench is an absolute disgrace. Bowyer is NOT the future of this club. Yes we need experience too but Bowyer is beyond past it now. Really can't understand why Hyam's still not getting a start let alone the bench. Hyam = tackles and wins the ball. Play him.
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Keaneish added 23:44 - Apr 9 BORING! Glad i've got another 2 weeks surfing in Mexico! Bowyer's not good enough, Bowyer is good enough, Carson played badly, Carson played well....PJ this about defence, PJ that about Goalkeeper...blah blah... Pointless reading some of these posts as it's the same old dross. Can someone who's posts i actually value let me know how it was today? Bluelady, Karlosfandangal, Dozzell'sBobblehat, Garv amongst others... Sounded very lacklustre to me. Maybe time to throw in Ainsley, Whight and a few others for a few games before the end of the season.

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michaeldownunder added 23:55 - Apr 9 Posted before the game that the fans should not boo Nugent, they did and he scored the winner Forget about a defensive coach or a fitness coach just bring in a fan coach and we would have drawn this game. Being a football boss is so simple
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walberswick added 00:04 - Apr 10 Jewell: We Never Recovered From His Appointment. Still we have till 18th August 2012 to come up with another plan, We have the luxury of 4 games to try young ones out and a whole summer to sign a few decent players. It is important to realise that there will be lots of speculation and disspointment. At this time it is action that speaks. So a lucky consequence is that no-one has to give much notice to ITFC for the next 4 months, WE are released from this dreary soap-opera for most of the summer. Lets make a break for it, leave them alone to get on with things. Then By August we will know what Kind of entertainment might be on offer at PR. At that point we can continue, or tell them to stuff it . Or instead continue with the other fun things we found during the long hot summer. So we've 18 weeks for ITFC to get themselves in order and for the supportters to be freed from this daily propaganda. And so come back fresh and enthusiatic. Good luck, PJ. Don't bother me for 4 months. I'll check you out in August if your stil here. and see what you actually done. and who you've sighed. Then it's up to everyone to back him or walk away. All the best ITFC>

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Garv added 01:43 - Apr 10 @Keaneish How was it today? Pretty good first half, Stevenson was playing the Martin role really well I thought, maybe just lacked a final ball or a bit of vision (Martin is often guilty of this). Scotland a breath of fresh air compared to Chopra, he actually showed a bit of energy, strength and a nice turn - all things Chopra lacks (I STILL don't see him as much more than a poacher). Carson okay, final ball poor though, not strong enough, needs to slim down a bit. Goal was nice. Good patient build up followed by great work by Scotland and a decent finish, better goal than I thought at the time actually having watched it back. Leicester didn't really get going, although weren't terrible. I'd love us to have a player like Beckford (bar reported attitude problems obviously). But second half - and I've tried to forget as much as possible - we just had no clue to be honest. No plan, no movement or one touch passing. Just side to side, and the amount of times the ball was passed back to the keeper from halfway or even further was embarrassing. This was often down to the fact Martin hasn't got enough pace to get past decent full backs so had to keep turning back, got pressed by Peltier and had no other option. He shouldn't have been on the wing. Leicester put some pressure on. I think Gallagher coming on at half time helped them pass it and keep it a bit better, but their goal wasn't anything special. Cresswell jumped for a ball he was never going to win (Delaney should probably have been there), leaving Gallagher wide open, back inside to Nugent, shot saved, crossed back in...goal. In the end it was near impossible to defend against, but it shouldn't have got to that stage. As for (you'd have thought) our fight back, pretty non existent. Chopra utterly anonymous when he came on, JET tried but was never going to turn it on in those situations, especially up against probably the best left back in the league. I wouldn't have dropped him to be fair, but the masses wanted Carson instead. We had a lot of the ball, but as I said we did next to nothing with it. Edwards kept coming forward with the ball on one of his jinky runs, but when faced by Leicester players he had no options and so back/sideways it went. I probably shouldn't be so disappointed as I know we are much more creative with Drury and JET when they start games, which they have been, should do and will do, and today was obviously a chance to see what some fringe players could do...but I was just so annoyed at the lack of ideas coming from the team. Whether it was down to lack of instruction from management, or poor execution from players, I'm not pointing fingers.

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Garv added 01:43 - Apr 10 @Keaneish How was it today? Pretty good first half, Stevenson was playing the Martin role really well I thought, maybe just lacked a final ball or a bit of vision (Martin is often guilty of this). Scotland a breath of fresh air compared to Chopra, he actually showed a bit of energy, strength and a nice turn - all things Chopra lacks (I STILL don't see him as much more than a poacher). Carson okay, final ball poor though, not strong enough, needs to slim down a bit. Goal was nice. Good patient build up followed by great work by Scotland and a decent finish, better goal than I thought at the time actually having watched it back. Leicester didn't really get going, although weren't terrible. I'd love us to have a player like Beckford (bar reported attitude problems obviously). But second half - and I've tried to forget as much as possible - we just had no clue to be honest. No plan, no movement or one touch passing. Just side to side, and the amount of times the ball was passed back to the keeper from halfway or even further was embarrassing. This was often down to the fact Martin hasn't got enough pace to get past decent full backs so had to keep turning back, got pressed by Peltier and had no other option. He shouldn't have been on the wing. Leicester put some pressure on. I think Gallagher coming on at half time helped them pass it and keep it a bit better, but their goal wasn't anything special. Cresswell jumped for a ball he was never going to win (Delaney should probably have been there), leaving Gallagher wide open, back inside to Nugent, shot saved, crossed back in...goal. In the end it was near impossible to defend against, but it shouldn't have got to that stage. As for (you'd have thought) our fight back, pretty non existent. Chopra utterly anonymous when he came on, JET tried but was never going to turn it on in those situations, especially up against probably the best left back in the league. I wouldn't have dropped him to be fair, but the masses wanted Carson instead. We had a lot of the ball, but as I said we did next to nothing with it. Edwards kept coming forward with the ball on one of his jinky runs, but when faced by Leicester players he had no options and so back/sideways it went. I probably shouldn't be so disappointed as I know we are much more creative with Drury and JET when they start games, which they have been, should do and will do, and today was obviously a chance to see what some fringe players could do...but I was just so annoyed at the lack of ideas coming from the team. Whether it was down to lack of instruction from management, or poor execution from players, I'm not pointing fingers.

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Garv added 01:43 - Apr 10 @Keaneish How was it today? Pretty good first half, Stevenson was playing the Martin role really well I thought, maybe just lacked a final ball or a bit of vision (Martin is often guilty of this). Scotland a breath of fresh air compared to Chopra, he actually showed a bit of energy, strength and a nice turn - all things Chopra lacks (I STILL don't see him as much more than a poacher). Carson okay, final ball poor though, not strong enough, needs to slim down a bit. Goal was nice. Good patient build up followed by great work by Scotland and a decent finish, better goal than I thought at the time actually having watched it back. Leicester didn't really get going, although weren't terrible. I'd love us to have a player like Beckford (bar reported attitude problems obviously). But second half - and I've tried to forget as much as possible - we just had no clue to be honest. No plan, no movement or one touch passing. Just side to side, and the amount of times the ball was passed back to the keeper from halfway or even further was embarrassing. This was often down to the fact Martin hasn't got enough pace to get past decent full backs so had to keep turning back, got pressed by Peltier and had no other option. He shouldn't have been on the wing. Leicester put some pressure on. I think Gallagher coming on at half time helped them pass it and keep it a bit better, but their goal wasn't anything special. Cresswell jumped for a ball he was never going to win (Delaney should probably have been there), leaving Gallagher wide open, back inside to Nugent, shot saved, crossed back in...goal. In the end it was near impossible to defend against, but it shouldn't have got to that stage. As for (you'd have thought) our fight back, pretty non existent. Chopra utterly anonymous when he came on, JET tried but was never going to turn it on in those situations, especially up against probably the best left back in the league. I wouldn't have dropped him to be fair, but the masses wanted Carson instead. We had a lot of the ball, but as I said we did next to nothing with it. Edwards kept coming forward with the ball on one of his jinky runs, but when faced by Leicester players he had no options and so back/sideways it went. I probably shouldn't be so disappointed as I know we are much more creative with Drury and JET when they start games, which they have been, should do and will do, and today was obviously a chance to see what some fringe players could do...but I was just so annoyed at the lack of ideas coming from the team. Whether it was down to lack of instruction from management, or poor execution from players, I'm not pointing fingers.

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WarkyWonderLand added 07:54 - Apr 10 When we played west ham we saw 2 players come into the side in the names of drury and hyam who gave us passion, energy and shape. They were the platform of our winning run and possibly saving us from a relegation fight. In leadboots and bowyer they have both been part of our worst performances and run of results. Why play them PJ when they are not our future. I don't want to pay good money to see them. It's a funny way of building for next season and getting people through the door. People have supported you PJ at Portman road but keep doing what you did yesterday and we will be struggling to 15000 in PR. For the remaining games play people who will be definitely at the club next season, not leadboots, bowyer and Murphy. Coyb

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MathieandMarshall added 13:19 - Apr 10 My view, for what it's worth: First half we looked decent enough. Was impressed with Stevenson and Scotland. Dont think Carson really did enough. Looks low on confidence - didnt really run at anyone and the one time he did try a trick to take on the full back he pretty much tackled himself and lost the ball. Also gave away the silly free kick just before half time. Not sure how the shot got through the wall but the ball was definately moving in the air and Nugent was dancing around in ALB's eyeline to distract him - although i still think he should have done better! Second half had a feeling of hanging on for the most part! The "big guns" off the bench made no impact at all. I think my main issue was the middle two. I cannot see why you would play Bowyer and Leadbitter together? It just doesnt work. never has! and with no other central player on the bench we had to watch Bowyer miss takles and give the ball away for the whole 90 minutes! Oh well. i still dont think we are far off being a decent side... Always next season!!

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Pabloisgod84 added 13:22 - Apr 10 PJ was forced in to playing HYAM and DRURY
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Pabloisgod84 added 13:24 - Apr 10 PJ was forced into playing HYAM and DRURY because of injuries and suspensions to others. these boys saved our season and long losing run, PJ cant take credit for this and now the others are all fit he drops them, PJ is a total clown. Also heard a rumour that a few tidy players had talks here but were put off once that met that massive **** CLEGG. CLEGG OUT!!!!
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Pabloisgod84 added 13:25 - Apr 10 PJ was forced into playing HYAM and DRURY because of injuries and suspensions to others. these boys saved our season and long losing run, PJ cant take credit for this and now the others are all fit he drops them, PJ is a total clown. Also heard a rumour that a few tidy players had talks here but were put off once that met that massive **** CLEGG. CLEGG OUT!!!!
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del45 added 14:23 - Apr 10 PJ keeps saying poor second half again, but it is his job to change the plan as it looks as if the manger of the other teams change theirs to stop us playing time and time again.
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40yearsablue added 14:47 - Apr 10 That garbage yesterday, especially in the second half, was apalling. As far as CARSON is concerned it was 'men against boys'. Nowhere near good enough!!! BOWYER was so short of pace - why wasn't he subbed? Why did he even start? ALB will make a serious mistake every game - its not enough to just be a decent shot-stopper. Yesterday he was totally brainless several times. DELANEY's passing skills are shockingly bad. LEADBITTER lost posession in the middle yesterday so often and still cant get his corners over the first defender!!!!! Thank God we've got SCOTLAND, CRESSWELL, SMITH, JET, MARTIN, DRURY, HYAM and yes even EDWARDS to build a squad around..... Cost me another £125 quid to watch that cr*p, in another embarassingly silent crowd. So, so depressing.

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Keaneish added 16:13 - Apr 10 Thanks Garv! Very comprehensive and good to read a post i can actually get a decent understanding of the game with rather than all the normal 'PJ out' one liners!! My gravest concern after the defeat against Leicester is not necessarily the abject performance of some players like Chopra given the amount of ground he's covered up front on his own all season and his relatively decent goal return or the lack of creativity coming from some quarters of the pitch but the fact that in 4 games against Pearson, PJ hasn't come up with the answer to beat a manager like Pearson. I make it 3 defeats and a draw against him across both his Hull and Leicester tenures. If we're to challenge next season, PJ and Hutchings need to seriously do their homework over the summer as sides like Leicester will be challenging. This season is petering out but it would be good to see us at least emulate the points total of last season and finish the last 4 games strongly. 5 signings for me need to be made in the summer to breath some life into the side. I think the nucleus is there and we all know the areas that need strengthening. Take your point on Beckford, although i think we'll move for Ched Evans or Darius Henderson to be honest as Jewell want's more of a presence up front...especially from set-pieces. No idea what's going on with Carson. He's been training all year and he's still overweight!! Cheers for the report!

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bingboast added 17:55 - Apr 10 After a lucky mid season spell - it has been proved that PJ has very little idea of what, where or how to manage a football team - his press comments are full of contradictory statements & only follow the events of the match. Until he is replaced the dour displays will continue, no season ticket for me for 2012/13
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h32 added 18:01 - Apr 10 Dozzells Bobblehat - speak for yourself, I don't need your opinion for any reason at all.
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h32 added 18:19 - Apr 10 The saying is that 'water will always find it's level' - we are most definately on the slippery slope of finding ours - based on what the Club has become. We don't deserve to be mentioned in the same sentence anymore with those down the A140 - and that REALLY hurts me personally - but it's TRUE. Before the usual wag tells me to p##s off down there - start getting a bit more of your own expectancy / ambition back for OUR Club - IT MAY JUST HELP. Something needs to radically change - and soon.

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Garv added 18:33 - Apr 10 H32, and others... you have to stop comparing us to 'them'. Them being good and doing fantastically with a good manager in the league above doesn't make us any worse than we are. To say "look at Norwich, we should be just as good' is wrong.
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 18:57 - Apr 10 h32 - wasnt asking for your permission, you post your thoughts so i posted mine.
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Tomairyn added 22:28 - Apr 10 Hyam has a bad half and is dropped, Drury is frequently rested due to looking tired. How then, when looking completely knackered AND playing extremely poorly, can Bowyer keep his place ???????
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