Blues boss Paul Jewell wants to see more “magic” Portman Road nights like Tuesday’s 5-1 thrashing of Championship leaders West Ham United. The Town manager was delighted with his side’s performance and the atmosphere created by the club’s support.
Jewell said: "One swallow doesn’t make a summer but it’s what we want to bring back to Portman Road. The atmosphere was terrific and there’s a bit of magic about this place when it’s like that.
"All credit to the players. They’ve taken a bit of stick, we’ve all taken stick, and quite rightly so and we’re not trying to say everything’s right now.
"But you could see [an improvement] in the game against Blackpool and certainly at Leeds until we had the goalkeeper sent off we were in complete control of the game.
"Against West Ham, we knew we had to be at our best, at a high tempo, we had to try and knock them out of their stride because they’re a quality team.”
Having praised central midfield pair Andy Drury and Luke Hyam, the Blues boss also said he was pleased with centre-halves Ibrahima Sonko and Tommy Smith, who he felt benefited from the workrate of those in front of them: "Sonko even tried a drag-back at the end for the fifth goal, I don’t quite know what he was doing!
"We want our centre-halves to defend but we want the whole team to defend. I think against West Ham, what was going on in front of them made it a bit easier for them to defend because we were closing them down as a unit from the front, to the midfield and at the back.”
Jay Emmanuel-Thomas scored his first goals since August, continuing his recent run of improved performances, with England U21 scout Alan Cork reportedly present, although West Ham's Henri Lansbury, a regular in Stuart Pearce’s side, was probably the reason for his visit to Portman Road.
Jewell was delighted for Emmanuel-Thomas, who he says is making significant progress after a slow start to his Town career: "As I’ve said before, he goes from a world beater to a panel beater in about five minutes.
"But he has got it in his locker to open the door. He’s got unbelievable feet and he’s getting a bit more of an understanding of the game.
"I’m really pleased for him. I’m really pleased for the players because it’s been a tough time for us here and we want to use this as a springboard going into Saturday.”
Meanwhile, recently departed Blue Shane O’Connor last night tweeted his intention to prove Town boss Paul Jewell wrong in no uncertain terms: "Can't wait to get started now, hopefully be successful, get back to England and prove all them doubters wrong #c***jewell! I'll be back ha :-)”
The Irish U21 international later said the message was an error: "For what it's worth that hash tag was by mistake. I actually have great time for a lot of people at that club and the fans!”
Later adding: "In all seriousness [he's] not my most favourite person but have respect for him, so wouldn’t have put that out on purpose, good banter.”
O'Connor is understood to be interesting various clubs in England in addition to hometown side Cork City, Dundalk and Shamrock Rovers in Ireland.