Boss Paul Jewell was disappointed after what he felt was an untypical performance as the Blues ended their home campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Millwall.

Jewell said: “It’s really disappointing. We had lots of the ball and didn’t do a lot with it. We were very laboured. But in the last 18 games we’ve lost four games.

“We were slow today, lethargic and even the games that we’ve lost I thought we were unfortunate but today we were a bit laboured and laborious, those words I’ve used when we were really struggling reared their ugly heads again today.

“But put things into perspective, we’ve done OK in the last 18 games, it’s the fourth defeat. I think we’ve got 30 points out of whatever it is, it’s just the last thing the supporters see at home is a 3-0 defeat and we accept that it’s not acceptable.”

The Blues boss admitted that it wasn’t easy to come out for the annual post-match lap of the pitch: “It was difficult but we owe that to the supporters that stayed to show our appreciation.

“It’s embarrassing a little bit, but if people and young kids have stayed we want to show our appreciation to them. We would have liked it to have been on a happier note, but you’ve got to bite the bullet.”

Jewell felt the early goal set the pattern: “Goals change games and we were 1-0 down after three minutes and that changed the complexion of the game.

“We’ve got to give Millwall some credit, they came here and sat back and counter-attacked us. Take your hats off to them, they did that very well.”

The Liverpudlian says there was nothing on show that he wasn’t already away of: “We are where we are not because we’ve been unlucky but because we haven’t been good enough.

“At one time we were looking at a relegation fight. We got over that, but today we’ve been caught by a sucker punch, and we gave away bad goals. The defence over the last 16 or 17 games has been pretty tight but today all over as a unit we were second best.

“It’s horrible getting beaten at home like that but we can’t go away from here thinking that’s the end of the world.

“We didn’t play well today, we’ve been punished by a team which has come and done a job on us, but since January we’ve played really well and we’ve shown top six form.

“Today we’ve been beaten 3-0. That’s the Championship for you. We’re not happy about it and the reason we are where we are in 15th with 58 points is that we haven’t been good enough in too many games.

"The second half of the season has been acceptable but we’re paying a price for the first half.”

The Town manager dismissed suggestions that one or two of his players might already have been thinking too much about their summer holidays: “No one said that on Tuesday, and I know that in training we haven’t taken our foot off the pedal at all. That performance was most unlike us, very unlike Ipswich since the turn of the year.

“We know people will go home disappointed but that’s been a one-off. Even when we got beaten by Leicester we were well in that first half. That’s the first time we’ve been beaten where I’ve felt we’ve deserved to be beaten. “

Jewell felt there wasn’t the opportunity to give 16-year-old Byron Lawrence his debut: “We couldn’t really get him on. It would have been difficult for him to go on with the team 2-0 or 3-0 down and chasing the game. We didn’t want to knock his confidence but he’s one for the future.”

The Town boss, who confirmed that Aaron Cresswell suffered a hamstring injury which will see him miss next week’s final game at Doncaster, says he and his squad will now start preparing for the trip to the Keepmoat: “This is gone now, we’re disappointed for our supporters but next week’s another day.”

Millwall boss Kenny Jackett was delighted with his side’s victory: “It was a super result. It looked like we’d slightly let Ipswich into the game, but I didn’t think it was a penalty, I haven’t seen it again, but I thought it was a harsh decision.

“But it was a great save by my goalkeeper and then on the counter-attack we got the third which finished the game.”

Photo: Action Images

gypo added 18:32 - Apr 21 I'll say it again and I've said it before why oh why did we get rid of trotter for feck sake
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MathieandMarshall added 18:36 - Apr 21 Before the calls for Jewell's head or for evans to sort it out lets just take it as it is. A bad day at the office
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bluestu71 added 18:39 - Apr 21 Worst performance I've seen in a while, thought Millwalls counter attack when Cresswell was injured was disgusting.
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sudburyblue16 added 18:39 - Apr 21 We didn't get rid of Trotter, he was offered a contract by RK. Trotter wanted to leave!!
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fourth added 18:40 - Apr 21 If you can't finish you are a push-over
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walberswick added 18:41 - Apr 21 If we have qany more games like this, fans won't even bother to call for PJ's head or for ME to sort iy out.
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Ipswichbusiness added 18:43 - Apr 21 A disappointing season limps to a poor end. We really need three or four quality signings, but probably won't get them. No points and no youngsters given a chance, so nothing achieved.
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martleshamitfc added 18:44 - Apr 21 Hopefully today will highlight to PJ and ME what needs doing over next few months to build a team for next season. Obviously several new faces required. At least they won't go into the summer break complacent!!
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TimmyH added 18:45 - Apr 21 'Untypical' - I'd say it's quite typical of this club to lose to a club like that, we get 6 points from West Ham but zilch against teams like Millwall and Watford and it sums up how we've been over numerous seasons. Nice send off for the home faithful too!
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gypo added 18:46 - Apr 21 I'll say it again and I've said it before why oh why did we get rid of trotter for feck sake
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MintyHalfWit added 18:47 - Apr 21 That performance, this season were horrible, awful. Blackadder would says it rhymes with trucking fight. The best part of the year has been Steve Foley, who described today's gutless display as a damp squid (sic). Nice one, Steve, and thanks, mate.
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Knightsy added 18:47 - Apr 21 Untypical.....Typical Ipswich....I'm Glad to see the back of this season
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righty added 18:48 - Apr 21 Fans say bad day at office 1 win in 8 against poor sides says it all if you think this clown can get Ipswich any higher than this season you are deluded
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PSGBlue added 18:54 - Apr 21 As usual during the past 8 seasons we as Ipswich fans are given a brief glimpse of hope with a few wins (even 4 on the bounce). But todays defeat has burst the bubble yet again and we now head into the summer with little hope for next season. But still a long four months of no Town competive football lies ahead. The Euro 2012 and the Olmpics will be over, as will the wet summer. The end of August will see us all turn up again wearing brand new tops (Blue or white) with this 3-0 defeat long forgotten. So cheer up Ipswich fans - even if next season starts badly, at least Jewell will gone by Christams. Who next Mr Evans?

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MintyHalfWit added 18:57 - Apr 21 And next week's another week, not another day.
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jas0999 added 18:57 - Apr 21 "But in the last 18 games we've lost four games" Equally: - we have failed to win in our last 6 away - we have taken 1 point from last 9 at home - we have failed to win in 5 - we have won just 3 out of last 12 - we have LOST twelve games this season conceeding at least an incredible 3 goals each game - we have conceeded SEVENTY FIVE goals. This is NOT promotion form. In addition we need to look at the season as a whole - we sit 15th. We CAN NOT even equal last years points tally. We have NOT built for the future. Loanees will go/gone. Injury prone has beens have been paid off, contracts not renewed or are just poor. JET and Cresswell are the only pluses - as even Chopra has caused a LOT of problems for our club. PJ is out of touch. We will not progress under PJ. I am not interested in the deluded few who want to take the mick or offer abuse towards me ... if you don't like me, simply skip my post in future, as frankly if you can't see that we have not improved under PJ ... then you are deluded. Today, should tell everyone what they need to know. PJ is not good enough. More mid to lower table last year if he is in charge. Still, at least he tried the youngsters .... PJ OUT!

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BROTHERBLUE1974 added 19:03 - Apr 21 Your a joke jewell, this seasons been a joke. Today was a shambles, and when you hear that chopra and Murphy were on the lash yesterday. That sums today up. No youth and upcoming players on the bench. I do wonder why 1 u are still here and 2 why did I renew my season ticket. Now we no why they do the so called earlyoffer bird.
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Garv added 19:03 - Apr 21 Jas its a good job no real youngsters WERE out there today. Now that WOULD have shattered their confidence.
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SHUblue added 19:03 - Apr 21 on a different note...i wonder how david norris is feeling right about now...
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beerhelps added 19:07 - Apr 21 4 defeats in 18 or 1 win in 8? Whichever, 58 pts and 15th with one game to go seem like a massive under achivement for an expensive squad. Lets not forget that our wage bill is running at an unsustanable 98% of income, the playing squad have badly let down the fans and ME (thier paymasters) and only a few should be holding their heads high tonight. However, IMO PJ has bought the worst offenders to the club and fear he may have to pay the price.

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Steelmonkey added 19:07 - Apr 21 Thanks ITFC for such a resounding last home match of the season, can't wait for the new season to start. Well done to you all. If we are able to attract any new players, i expect they will only be those that no one else is interested in as per last season (Cresswell/Drury apart). Please PJ can you let someone else take the penalties, think that is three he has missed this term now.Snooner he has gone the better. Not that we deserved one today, never a penalty from where I was standing. Nice to hear a loyal fan base, put us to shame. What were we all singing at Arsenal - Football in a Library. Sorry for the sarcasm, but today I think it is deserved.

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Notts_tractor added 19:09 - Apr 21 Don't get to many home games, but when we do it's always dire. The atmosphere at Portman Road is zero and the football is garbage. Something deeply wrong with this once great club.
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Essex_Tractor added 19:16 - Apr 21 I wish you 'supported' someone else jas0999 Even if some of those stats are true, just reading your constant moans every day makes me feel ashamed to support the same club as someone as negative as you. We are all disappointed with another poor season we just dont blaim every single story or problem on Paul Jewell - perhaps you need to clean your home in Norfolk or buy another canary to take your mind of how Jewell has ruined your life.

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jas0999 added 19:21 - Apr 21 Garv - other side of coin ... what IF they were and we won?! We'll never know, but just saying! The effort may have been more ... I simply can't agree with you ... as you can't with me ... I think PJ has been poor this season - but respect your opinion.
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fourth added 19:24 - Apr 21 We could do well to bring in a Barcelona ball boy as manager. Gus Poyet to get the lads going; then all we need is a goal extended to 15 meters, issuing compasses to Chopra and co and a welcoming defence to help them put it in the net, or even arrive at the ground. We could be The Best. But really need to have at least 90 IQ management. I'm not at all convinced that putting a 5 foot Liverpudlian with ancient qualifications (what qualifications?) gives immediate, exciting drive to the legs and minds of our players. I truly believe that this management team is covering less than 20% of the complete job

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