Blues boss Paul Jewell was pleased to finish the season with a win but was unhappy with his side allowed Doncaster back into a match he thought should have been settled inside the first half.

Jewell said: “It’s nice to finish on a victory but I wouldn’t say it was a high. I thought we were cruising at 2-0, and then they got back in it at 2-1 and I thought we were distinctly average in the second half, which shows you that we need to improve the squad.

“The manner in which we concede goals is just not good enough. We don’t do the simple things well enough.

“The problem is that when we get 2-0 up or start a bit of a run we start thinking we’re players and we don’t do the simple things that got us to that stage in the game.

“There are too many players who think they can flick it and give silly fouls away and I even saw one player today [Tommy Smith] give them the ball back for a freekick. I couldn’t believe it, I’ve never seen it before. We should win the Fair Play League for that.

“We just do too many stupid things. I’m really annoyed and angry today because at 2-0 we played well and we should have been out of sight. We had chances to go three or four goals up before they scored, we’ve got to kill them off and we don’t and we’re always susceptible to conceding goals.”

He felt the display was a microcosm of the campaign as a whole: “It sums up the season. For half an hour until we scored the second goal we were in control, we looked like we were going to score every time we went forward, but then we give teams a foothold in games because we stop doing the simple things, the unglamorous things that have got us into those situations. Once we think we’ve cracked it we’re nowhere near as good a team.”

Jewell was pleased to give 16-year-old Byron Lawrence his debut, while Jimmy Bullard came back into the team for the first time since February: “Byron was lively. When the keeper made a save, he was following in. We’ve been trying to get him into the team for a while and we just thought today we’d just give him 10 minutes after the goal.

“Jimmy’s had his difficulties with illnesses and other stuff, but Jimmy’s here next year and every team is picked on its merits, so there’s no one in, there’s no one out of the door. I think today highlighted the need for four or five players to come into our squad.”

The Town boss was delighted for Ryan Stevenson, who scored his first goal for the club: “It was a terrific goal. I think Chopra was disappointed because he put the rebound in. I don’t know whether it was over the line or not, I’ve not seen it again.

“In the first half we could have been out of sight. We had Lee Martin and Chopra against the goalkeeper and we don’t even score. We hit the bar and it’s come down and hit Chopra and bounced out. As I say, we could have been out of sight.”

Doncaster boss Dean Saunders, who felt Stevenson’s goal hadn’t crossed the line was disappointed with the way his team began the match: “We started the game sloppily and I’ve never seen us misplace so many passes.“

“We gave three goals against — penalty, a corner and 35-yarder off the bar, three goals. All the chances they got, we gave them.”

Photo: Action Images

Seasider added 18:07 - Apr 28 Another disappointing season is over and we are now the team who has been in this division the longest (10 years). Many managers have said its where team finishes is important ;15th twice in 3 years with 13th sandwiched between does not bode well for next season. I thought Jewell would be gone after 4-0 Burnley debacle and feared for his job half time at Oakwell;but the second half of the season had to be better and fortunately was. I do not think it is all PJ's fault however as he seems to identify good players, but cant seem to land any where there is serious competition.His comments this season implies that despite wanting to be more involved in transfer dealings it is still left to Clegg and more recently Marcus Evans to seal the deal and manager does not get past the initial stage.The CEO is not in a position to make a decision in most cases I am sure without his boss who has to run a group of companies with the headquarters in Dublin(Low Corporation Tax)and the Bahamas(Low Personal Tax),and offices in 30 odd countries. I feel that until this situation is sorted out PJ will continue to struggle to get the players he so badly needs.

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afrodids added 18:19 - Apr 28 After a gr8 march disappointing April! We all know what the club needs lets hope pj has learnt from his mistakes and brings in some quality. Roll on next season. Onwards and upwards. Coyb. Scum are 2-0 down happy days!
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algarvefan added 18:37 - Apr 28 He's good with the excuses.....just not so good at sorting the problems. I like PJ but am becoming bored with the same old lines being trotted out and then feck all happening to put them right. I have little faith it will be much different next season, we are a mediocre mid table side at best, lets hope PJ does not panic buy this summer like he did last!! As has been said, same number of goals as the Champions, but conceded 77, it's not rocket science to know where our problem is!!!

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alfromcol added 19:28 - Apr 28 On the plus side we scored the same number of goals as Champion, Reading and only 4 teams in the division scored more. Very positive for next season if we can continue to score goals AND defend just slightly better. For those that have watched recent games, we have scored numerous goals AND made many more chances. Roll on next season. COYB
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Mark added 19:38 - Apr 28 Oh well, at least we ended with a win. Yes, it was a disappointing season and we hope for a better one. The two consolations are that at least we were comfortably away from the relegation zone in the end, and we did manage to score 69 goals in a season which was more entertaining that the Keane era.
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billlm added 19:45 - Apr 28 i agree with are these the days was awful on the whole, a few good results some sparkling moments by a few players but mundane and lack lusture for most from all quarters, we have no divine right i know and are competing with some big and big financial teams but we have spent an extreme amount of money by itfc standards and nothing to show in 4 years im very dissapointed and so should marcus evans be

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tractorboy2434 added 19:52 - Apr 28 I will say it again, just why are we chasing a player like Coppinger who is 31 and past his best when Posh are prepared to sell George Boyd who is only 26 and not only makes goals but can score them as well, I really doubt Jewell's judgment
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Garv added 20:00 - Apr 28 If you were there, I think you'd agree today was a good day. Good atmosphere, not too tense as obviously both teams had nothing to play for, just a decent game of football and a good laugh had by all (apart from the moody old sods!) I don't really care that we conceded 2 bad goals again. I expect it now, its in our blood. Fact is they scored two but we scored three! Very good to see Bullard and he definitely made an impact, retained possession well and was energetic. Lawrence didn't really have an opportunity to do much but he looked keen, seems to have good feet and had it not been for some good last ditch defending he would have had a great poacher's goal! Scotland also looked good (as someone has said three times the player Chopra is) and must be signed! Great turn for what led to the penalty, though I'm not sure it was...dive? JET irritatingly quiet. Need to give him the ball more I think, don't let him relax. Stevenson looked very impressive. What a hit! Well done to the blue army! Great following and some of the chants during the game and the atmosphere at the end made me proud to be blue.

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bluetown added 20:03 - Apr 28 I don`t get to to many games but today i seem to have been at a different match to some. The only thing sonko did all game was kick the ball out of the ground, which was quite a feat. We just did not look like a team that had any real guile, the back four did not look comfortable all game. The midfield huffed and puffed, i thought Drury worked hard, Jet was up against an academy full back and didn`t get past him. Jewell has a lot of work to do, he`s going nowhere but i don`t think there is going to be the money he wants to get the players in he would like.

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TimmyH added 20:05 - Apr 28 Good to see the this poor season off with a win all be it against a relegated side. Need to stop conceding goals, alot to be done in the summer but the defence must come first!
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Blue041273 added 20:07 - Apr 28 Typical end of term performance by two teams with nothing to play for. PJ obviously wanted more from us but with the carnival atmosphere created by the Ipswich support it was not really surprising that it was not a 'cup tie' performance. Drury and Martin stood out for me. For most of the game the back 4 was a shambles and against a better team we would have been tanked. Still a fun day out.

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scooterblue added 20:21 - Apr 28 Should have been 4 or 5 up in the first 30 mins then did our usual switch of for the next 30. My wish list GK, 2 CB, mobile CM and a football minded CEO(not one who only knows about athletics).
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Keaneish added 20:51 - Apr 28 I would have been excited about this a couple of seasons back but not any more. Still a good player but i'd rather Boyd. Coppinger is now in the same bracket as a McSheffrey type player for me. We need to be creative in this transfer window and Coppinger at 31 who reputedly dismissed a move away from the North isn't one to take us to the Premier League. I'm not an anti 30+ player i'd just like to see a left sided mid who can really get by players for the next 3, 4, 5 seasons, whip great balls in the box and defend really well. Being able to play at left-back as cover would be a massive plus!! If we sign Coppinger it'll be on a 2 year contract and we'll be in the same position at the end of next season with regard to contracts and looking to the market to find a replacement...

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Notts_tractor added 21:39 - Apr 28 A match between two very poor teams, who both treated the ball as if it was a stick of dynamite. It's difficult to see how things will improve much next season to be honest. The frustrating thing is that there are some quality individuals at the club but they rarely all "turn up". Bullard could be the dominant force in midfield he was when he first came on loan. Chopra looked superb early season, but the last few games has been awful. JET is clearly a talent but has to be in the right mood. Perhaps the most frustrating of all for me is Martin, who would be so much more effective if he just did the simple thing when required. Today he attempted some ridiculous flick and just gave the ball away and looked a plonker. Someone tell him - he's NOT Ronaldo or Messi. But yes the main thing we have to resolve is the defence, including GK.Sorry Carlos, but I want to see a proper right back, and also a vocal skipper providing real leadership on the pitch. Finally: the fans today. Yes, nearly 1300 turned up today, but only the ones in the corner were making any real noise. So many people seem to just sit and offer nothing. There is a responsibility on the fans' part to get fully behind the team, both home and away. Just being there isn't enough. I'm an old git, but I still sing and chant - why can't these other zombies?

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IvorFeeling added 22:09 - Apr 28 A meaningless game but glad we finished on a positive. A season that will not go down as one to remember for the right reasons. The table doesn't lie and we have be truly bad as a team defending, however, we finish the season as the team with most shots on target in the division. For this reason I believe we have something to build on. There is not a lot of difference to be made up on the playoff places for next year but having a settled and meaningful pre-season is a must. This means getting most of the transfer business done early. We all know were we would like to see the team strengthened and I for one want to see more signings like Cresswell and no more than 2 loanees in the squad.

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jas0999 added 22:25 - Apr 28 Good win today. BUT whether people like it or not - after a season and a half in charge - PJ has delivered a terrible season. Knocked out of both cups at the first attempt. Two places and one point worse off than last year. Then there is 9 of PJ's signings leaving or have already left. Progress? I really don't see how. Nor will there be with PJ in charge. Disappointing.

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buryblue77 added 22:43 - Apr 28 Jas, I agree with you on most of your post, it has been a bad season with some good performances and results thrown in for good measure. Places and points wise were are worse off, so that you are correct is not progress, however progress has been made within the season but it probably shouldn't have been such a bad start. I believe that there was such a mess to clear up that Jewell multiple,senior player signing just couldn't work, too many all at once. Although I'm slightly fearful that we're in need of too many players again this summer. You say that we'll never progress under Jewell, but I will disagree there on the basis that we don't know what the future holds and getting the 'right' players in during the summer could see us in with a shout. As people may know if they've stopped to read my posts I am pro PJ, but will pass judgement about 1/4 to 1/3 of the way into next season, if no progress has been made then I will probably change my pro PJ stance, reluctantly as I would like to see consistency in our managers.

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BuckieBlue added 22:45 - Apr 28 Just had a check at league table before the WHU home game. Then we were 15 points off play offs...now we end, still 15 points off, so we've matched play off standard for 18 games (despite some naf results of late) so we can't be far off with who we've already got- so with some good signings & a decent start we must be in with a good shout next year.
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u960176 added 22:46 - Apr 28 Perfect day here in the USA.On work trip wake up to Ipswich having won and then get to watch Suarez score for fun against Norwich.Icing on the cake was i was with a Norwich Supporter!!
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bobble added 23:24 - Apr 28 as bertie o hern said a few years back before totally destroying the irish economy " a lot done , more to do"
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buryblue77 added 23:29 - Apr 28 Completely off topic, but check out Suarez 3rd goal against the Nodge, what a goal!!! Brightens up the darkest days of being a Town fan that one will!
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Garv added 23:43 - Apr 28 buryblue - it would, but it was suarez. And he is scum also.
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bedsitfc added 23:58 - Apr 28 garv - whats suarez ever done to you
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ThailandBlue added 00:07 - Apr 29 Mr Jewell (Quote) "Thought we were distinctly average in the second half, which shows you that we need to improve the squad". EEhh... Did you not bring in 13 players to Improve the squad this season !!!!!
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Notts_tractor added 00:14 - Apr 29 bedsitfc - you seem to have a serious case of amnesia. Patrice Evra? Racist abuse?
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