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Jewell: Focus on Derby Not Play-Offs - Ipswich Town News

Boss Paul Jewell says no one at Town is mentioning the Blues’ very much outside chance of gate-crashing the play-offs. Instead, everyone is fully focused on Thursday’s local derby with Norwich City at Portman Road.

Jewell dismissed his side’s chances of making a late burst into the top six as "highly unlikely” with only four games remaining: "I think I preferred the relegation questions!

"We know we’ve got a massive game on Thursday. It’s a local derby and people have been telling me since I got here that the atmosphere’s going to be sensational.

"We’re not even mentioning the play-offs. We’ve got a very tough game against a really good team in Norwich and it’s a game which we’re really looking forward to.”

Overall, the Blues manager is happy with recent results and performances: "We’ve been on a decent run. I think our away form has been really, really good. I think we’re difficult to beat.

"But we’ve got a very tough game on Thursday, a big game for the fans as well as the players against Norwich and all our energies and focus must be on that not looking back.”

Meanwhile, keeper Arran Lee-Barrett, who spent time with the Norwich academy after being released by home-town club Town as a schoolboy, says he’s yet to formally be offered his new contract: "I spoke to the manager last Wednesday. He said there will be an offer and that’s the way it has been left. But I would like to have the offer. I haven’t seen it yet.”

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