Boss Paul Jewell was delighted with the three points as his side defeated Sheffield United 3-0 at Portman Road, their third league victory on the spin. The Blues boss compared striker Connor Wickham’s brilliant third with a Thierry Henry goal from years gone by.

Jewell said: “At the end of the day, let’s not kid ourselves, it’s an important three points. The first half, with the windy conditions and the lively pitch, it was never a classic.

“We said at half-time that if it was going to be ugly again in the second half, if we have to win horrible, we have to win horrible.

“As a footballer the worst conditions are those gale force winds and I don’t think you can appreciate how bad it was at pitch level.”

Even so, the Town manager felt his side performed much better after the break: “In the second half the game opened up a little bit, certainly after we got the second one and we looked a different team.

“That belief only comes with winning matches, scoring goals, keeping clean sheets and all the stuff you need to do to be successful.

“To win three league games on the bounce at any level is very difficult, so a big credit to them, but now we forget about that, try and learn from it and move on towards Barnsley next week.”

Jewell hailed Wickham’s goal, the youngster’s best for the club so far: “It was a great goal, if anyone else had come on the pitch he would have gone past them as well! It was a great goal and it should do bundles for his confidence — and his price!

“He’s got that in his locker. In a 17-year-old player you’re going to get inconsistencies, he’s going to be up and down. He can do that and we’d like him to do stuff on a more regular basis but we have to be patient with him because he’s just a young player.

“It was just a brilliant goal, it was like Thierry Henry’s against Tottenham all those years ago in a north London derby where he picked it up went past everyone.”

Blades boss Micky Adams was honest in defeat: “Can it get any worse? I hope not. You have to be fearful that it could. We’re disappointed. It’s hard to think of any positives at this moment in time.

“Taking away all the goals, the two sendings off were ridiculous from our point of view. I’m not complaining, there’s no need for Lee Williamson to get involved, I can’t condone what either of them did really.

“Kozluk was upset with the tackle on him and I could see why he was upset, but it had gone. He’s experienced and he should know better.

“Having said that, the game was already over anyway. We’re having a problem when we get to the final third, we either don’t deliver the right ball or because confidence is so fragile at the moment, we’re looking to set people up rather than pull the trigger ourselves.

“We have to defend properly and obviously the first two goals were killers because we haven’t defended two set pieces, which is disappointing. Things that can be avoidable, we got wrong today.”

Photo: Action Images

corshamblue added 18:28 - Feb 5 Delighted, so was I !! Happy Days. Wickham wonder land at last . . .
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rayman_10 added 18:31 - Feb 5 Great game! Only way Is up! Please please please sign mcauley, Norris and delaney up! Well done jewell and the boys, up the league we go! COYB!
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Hereford_Blue added 18:31 - Feb 5 Cracking win, the thing that struck me the most was how happy the players looked when they were celebrating, like they were genuinely pleased for each other and pleased to be playing for the Town. COYB
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GreenwichBlue added 18:32 - Feb 5 What a goal but, more importantly, what a team performance. Great to see Luca back and get a great reception. Good also to wave goodbye to the Norwich of the North. We still need a right back but we can start to look upwards rather than fearfully back. COYB
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Eggroy added 18:32 - Feb 5 Its great to see us doing well again however I wish players like Norris will sign their contracts soon.
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VILJOEN67 added 18:41 - Feb 5 proper passing, proper entertainment, a wonder goal and a class midfielder in jimmy bullard. at last a saturday afternoon to enjoy. More of this and the attendence will soon improve. Well done the whole team, well done paul jewell
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Garv added 18:43 - Feb 5 Superb. Such a good day! Bullard a class act, Martin hungry and showed real quality, Edwards linking up from behind worked very well. Norris brilliant again, Leadbitter had a decent game. Defence as good as always. Priskin wasnt too effective but almost had a quality goal hitting the post and still a good asset, and Wickham...take a boo son!
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harlingblue added 18:44 - Feb 5 Thank you PJ and team...so good to see some entertainment at PR after 4 or 5 barren years. At last a midfield player (Bullard) who wants the ball and can deliver in all directions and bring all players into the game. Well done Lee Martin, on your return, I was one of your hardest critics as you were very poor under the Manager who bought you here...PJ has obviously given you the confidence to play and start to show your full potential.

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bluelady added 18:46 - Feb 5 Fullop summed up the renewed passion for me running full length of pitch to celebrate goal. We were shaky at times but showed also moments of brilliance, mote of those and we will be able to take on the best. A way to go but the passion is back for player and fan, masive grin on my face good times around the corner, ME in jewell you have found a diamond
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ITFCkezza added 19:04 - Feb 5 Man of the match - Luciano Civelli by milessss
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BlooooCD added 19:04 - Feb 5 Superb performance! Really entertaining football... The good days look like they are on the way back! Woop woop! Makes me realise why it's true and right to be blue and White! Coyb's! Bloooooooo army! Now for a cold beer... Aaaaargh!
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julesbda added 19:05 - Feb 5 How good is life after Roy Keane !!!
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Blueulster added 19:07 - Feb 5 What a difference it makes to your weekend, a town vicory and no stupid roy keane media clips to listen to. Wonder what him and triggs think about 3 wins in a row! PJ what a legend.
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Garv added 19:13 - Feb 5 And Bullard bluelady. I said after the game its like they're all mates again actually enjoying themselves. Bullard is a breath of fresh air.
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s6blue added 19:19 - Feb 5 jewell and hutchings stood on the touchline the whole game, shouting and encouraging --- keane never once did that and i notice adams never did that for sheff utd today at all...says it all
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oddball added 19:20 - Feb 5 Awesome 3rd win in a row, Bullard class, shows what a true quality player can do no matter what age, Fulops run to celebrate goal shows how much he cares.
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bedsitfc added 19:32 - Feb 5 Great win today boys, s.c this is the right time to offer contracts as all the players will be on a high.
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ClassyIpswichLass added 19:36 - Feb 5 Ridiculous smile on my face right now. When was the last time Ipswich won and Norwich and Man U lost? Well done all you fans who were there - you deserve this!
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roytheboy added 19:48 - Feb 5 Absolutely delighted, I shall always remember Wickham's goal, one of the most impressive solo performances by a very young man that you could ever hope to see from an ITFC player, Priskin's strike was bang on target from where I sat behind the goal in Sir Bobby's stand, it was driven into the post by the strong wind, I am convinced that it would have been a goal but for the wind, Bullard controlled the midfield in a most impressive way.

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ErikaTractor added 19:56 - Feb 5 Brilliant Game. Bullard in particular was sensational. It now feels like we are being entertained at Portman Road after 2 years of hellish football.
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brittaniaman added 20:08 - Feb 5 Great show today town, there must be something in the Kesgrave Kitchen tea to get them all believing in themselves. I mean 3 wins on the trot lovely 9pts. What with Fulop running the whole length of the pitch to congratulate Wickhams goal, also Bullard jumping up out of the dugout and running to congratulate Wikham as well, there certainly is a great harmony among the players now, they look as though they are enjoying the football now as we are !!!!

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casanovacrow added 20:12 - Feb 5 proper football, playing with freedom and playing with a proper team mentality. Nice to be looking up the table instead of down.
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tractaboy added 20:13 - Feb 5 Big smile on face now after being bedded down with man flu today and missing the game. Conner's goal even made Sky news' sport bulletin. Great stuff. looking forward to the next time I can get up to Suffok for the Portsmouth game. Jewell has made some great decisions since he joined. Lets get those boys signed up and push on up the league. Also good to see Naaarwich getting a taste of their own medicine today conceding in the last minute.

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southcoastblue added 20:13 - Feb 5 So so nice to come on hear and see so many positive and happy posts and long may it continue = PJ has been the proverbial breath of fresh air. COYB
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TractorMan added 20:19 - Feb 5 Great, great game and Bullard showed why he is paid so much over the years. He is a class footballer, always looking for the ball and surprised he didn't take the penalty. He had a good record at Wigan for them. 2nd half was great entertainment and while we will have bad days still, next season is looking more hopeful! :)
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