New manager Paul Jewell wants his team to play with smiles on their faces and without fear. The Liverpudlian’s Town era starts this afternoon when the Blues face Millwall at the Den.

Jewell said: “Everyone talks about playing with a smile on your face. You don’t want to play with a smile on your face when you’re getting beaten, but I think we want them to have the confidence and to play with no fear, which is easier said than done.

“That game on Wednesday will take a lot of fear that they’ve had of late away from them. Whatever’s gone on in the past is nothing to do with me. I want the players to come in and enjoy training.

“It’s a great job, they should enjoy working and trying to improve all the time. I don’t think I’m any different to any other manager in that way, every manager wants that.”

The ex-Wigan and Bradford boss says confidence is the key: “When you’re losing games, there’s always a fear factor. You have that extra touch, that lack of confidence and it’s really hard to get out of it.

“Everyone talks about confidence. If you could put it into a magic pill you’d be a multi-billionaire, never mind a millionaire because we all suffer from it at times. When you’re losing football matches, the team suffers from it and people are naturally down.

“The best way to get up is to get results, but if we don’t get results is to dust ourselves down and are ready for the next one.”

Photo: Action Images

the_gospel added 15:05 - Jan 15 breath of fresh air.
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Bluetone added 15:28 - Jan 15 I can see clearly now Roy Keane has gone.
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Back_The_Boss added 17:51 - Jan 15 Come on PJ! Show us all what you have to offer!
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StowTractorBoy added 18:02 - Jan 15 Difficult to play without fear the predicament we are in.
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tom_the_blue added 17:28 - Jan 16 He is saying all the right things, lets hope he can succeed at this club like he did at Wigan and Bradford.
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TractorRoyNo1 added 20:50 - Jan 16 sadly the supporters left the new den without the smiles
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