Town manager Paul Jewell was delighted to get his first Blues win under his belt as goals from David Norris, Connor Wickham and Carlos Edwards saw his side to a 3-2 victory over Doncaster Rovers at Portman Road.

Jewell said: “I’m delighted with the result. Given the situation we’re in, we needed the three points. As for the performance, in the first half we were edgy, so I said to them at half-time to try and have that belief.

“It’s easy for me to say that, it’s easy for people to say ‘Have confidence’, but I think they showed great character - they came out for the second half and were on the front foot. We changed our system a little bit because they’re a good team Doncaster, they are as good a footballing side as there is in this division, terrifically coached by their manager.”

The Town manager felt his team, who are up to 19th in the table, reacted well to Doncaster’s second goal: “We went 2-1 up, created a few chances, but they’re always going to be a threat with the likes of Billy Sharp and James Coppinger and the kick in the teeth was when they equalised after 10 seconds.

“You could see the players’ character, heads might easily have gone down, but they took the bull by the horns, kicked on and got a great victory.”

Jewell said his players grew in confidence as the game wore on: “At half-time I said to then to have that belief in yourselves. We were having an extra touch in the first half, which happens when you’re down the bottom, every manager will say the same. The game looks difficult for you.

“Second half, they played with great freedom. It’s easy for me to say that, but I think it’s all down to the players.”

The Blues boss says getting the first win of his time at Portman Road is important: “It’s nice and you can feel the confidence within the club, not just the players but also the supporters.

“But it’s only one game, we’ve got to go to Arsenal on Tuesday and then Derby a week on Tuesday. It’s just a start, but I want the players to take the credit and take the positives from today and what we’ve learnt that we can do better into the game on Tuesday.”

Asked if and when there could be additions to his squad, Jewell said: “I would think so this week.”

Doncaster manager Sean O’Driscoll felt the result and performance was a microcosm of his side’s campaign so far: “It’s been the story of our season. If the season stopped at 45 minutes we’d be top of the league and on the second half we’d probably be near the bottom.

“Despite the [5-0] scoreline at Wolves [in the FA Cup in midweek], we thought we did OK, we just let poor goals in, but we continue to let poor goals in and it was the same pattern here today — we were OK until we conceded the goal.

“It wasn’t even a goal which put the opposition ahead, it was a goal which put Ipswich back in the contest, but from that moment on the control we had in the first half disappeared and then it was almost ‘flick of the coin football’; we might get into it, we might not.

“We’re not a physical team, so if we have to rely on thumping the ball forward or long throws or corners or freekicks, then we’re going to struggle. We need control, sometimes control of the football is a little bit different to passing it, it’s just being under pressure, being nice and organised and disciplined, which were in the first half.

“Second half, any ball forward it looked like they were going to score, which you can’t quite comprehend to be honest, although we’ve had defensive frailties all season.”

Photo: Action Images

corshamblue added 18:53 - Jan 22 .. Nearly as Delighted as me .... Big Fat Pauls Blue and White Army !
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steed added 18:54 - Jan 22 A good second half performance from town. Plus thought martin had a good game for us today some good crossers and nice to see some width for a change .
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corshamblue added 19:05 - Jan 22 Norris played like a man in a shop window!!
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Mark added 19:06 - Jan 22 In the first half it was the "same old Ipswich", out passed at home and 1-0 down to another Championship team. Rather than having a go at the players and making two or three substitutions, Jewell told the lads to have confidence and believe in themselves and it worked a treat. He didn't even make any substitutions in the second half and that must have helped the players to gel and gain confidence. Everything Paul Jewell has said and done so far has been absolutely right, and I think he could be a superb manager for Ipswich Town. It feels like the excitement is back at Portman Road already and I can't wait for the next match!

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corshamblue added 19:09 - Jan 22 well said Mark. COYB
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bluelady added 19:15 - Jan 22 Agree mark the difference a word or two of encouragement makes. Norris playing for a new contract, sign him up!!
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fourth added 19:18 - Jan 22 Here in the South west of France we sleep well. Thank you!
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come_on_blues added 19:20 - Jan 22 Well done boys now let go beat Arsenal you can do it.
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michaeldownunder added 19:25 - Jan 22 Well done Ipswich Made sitting at computer at 2 in the morning worth while Glad to see he gave Martin a start and Edwards at full back, are they the wide man and full back we have been waiting for all season?. I feel sorry for Peters being left out again.
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tractorblue99 added 19:29 - Jan 22 Well played. Haven't seen us this positive in a long time. Jewell has given them the belief that they can win games like this. Now lets put together a run over the next few weeks and try to haul ourselves away from the relegation zone. Must bode well for tuesday saying doncaster are 'the arsenal of the championship'. COYB
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nkotb_sect5 added 19:30 - Jan 22 corsham blue and mark ... about norris and pj you took the words out of my mouth. I watched football this afternoon - it felt good
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wellyblue added 19:34 - Jan 22 1-0 down against a bottom three team we'd have bottled it under Keane, hopefully we've turned the corner now, happy days ahead! COYB FOYB!!
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jas0999 added 19:47 - Jan 22 Looked like two Ipswich teams - first half awful;second half excellent.Hopefully we build on the second half showing!
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colonel added 19:57 - Jan 22 Good result & entertaining afternoon both on & off pitch. 3 points from a tricky encounter. Reassuring to see that the management team were able to take stock of the situation at half time, create a counter plan which the players were then able to implement successfully. Still loads to work on but a big step in the right direction. Would be good to see some of the abstainers under Keane returning to cheer the boys on. COYB

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StochesStotasBlewe added 20:19 - Jan 22 Well done mr Jewell & the boys. Nice to see we now have a plan B when needed unlike the previous incumbent. Width, pace, hard work, & intelligent attacking play in 2nd half. More of the same please. Had a smile as wide as the orwell on walk home. Now we need to get more fans down to PR so how about more cheap offers on tickets etc to entice supporters back & help cheer on the boys. Messrs Clegg & Evans take note, a near full PR is almost worth a goal start. COYB.

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brockleyblueboy added 20:21 - Jan 22 I have to say first half was woeful and it was such a change to see the team come out in the second half and battle for a win. Great comments above and I agree with them We have to give norris a new contract, he will be instrumental for us. Lee martin good first game back I can see this lad go from strength to strength. We may not make the play=offs but if we continue this form we will have a lot of say in who does. One last thing well done to the 17thousand there today, the support is coming back to Portman Road :-) Well done Ipswich town

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dirtydingusmagee added 20:30 - Jan 22 good result, was worried first half,thought here we go Lge 1,but second half major improvements.Good to see PJ held his nerve and resisted subs ,shame we were caught out after going 2-1. ,Entertaining game for a change,and supporters giving voice.Still concerened at quality of ''corners'', and hope someone can get it into Wickhams head that its not an achievement to get a red card ,so stop trying so hard.He is no doubt very tallented but he is very prone to doing silly things that could cost the team .3 points ,and smiling faces WELL DONE PJ AND TEAM .COYB .

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Eye_Tea_Eff_See added 20:35 - Jan 22 @Wellyblue, you're joking aren't you? they're higher in the league than us. Much better 2nd half as other comments say, great to see CW back scoring. COYB
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Garv added 20:36 - Jan 22 Great game!
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WREXHAM_BLUE added 20:40 - Jan 22 Well done PJ and the boys. Roll on Tuesday!!
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mdsblue added 20:41 - Jan 22 3 points was the main thing today, confidence will bring the performances, was this the team that Keane said didn't have 3 goals in them? Great home start PJ.
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bobble added 20:48 - Jan 22 shine on you crazy diamond............
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I_AM_GOD added 20:49 - Jan 22 Proving my concerns about being our manager wrong - and I for one am glad to be proved wrong and hopefully see us moving up the table and onwards!!!
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bobble added 20:51 - Jan 22 hes no fool that mr jewel........
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costadelblue added 21:02 - Jan 22 the first of many win under jewell i hope. ive heard we are signing charlie austin anyone know if this is true? is he any good?
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