Manager Paul Jewell wasn’t getting carried away after Town’s 3-0 victory over Sheffield United at Portman Road on Saturday, despite it being the Blues’ third league win on the trot. The Town boss says confidence is the biggest factor which has seen Town get back into winning ways.

Jewell said: “I’m obviously delighted with winning matches but I think it’s important to keep our feet on the floor and realise that we’re still a fair distance from where we want to be.

“The lads have been terrific with their effort and what we’re trying to get them to do, they’re trying to do. It’s not easy all the time, especially in windy conditions.

“Winning matches breeds confidence and you can see the same team two weeks on and the confidence in the side makes them unrecognisable from the team that you first saw.

“The team we played at Millwall, they tried hard and there was no less effort, but we looked bereft of confidence and winning matches just gives us that.”

Jewell had praise for David Norris, Gareth McAuley and Damien Delaney, all of whose Town terms are up in the summer: “I think the players deserve great credit. If they were all out of contract we’d be all right, wouldn’t we?

“I’ve spoken to the players which have been mentioned, I’ve told them straight and they’ve responded brilliantly.

“They want to stay at this football club, no doubt about it, and I’ve said to make it even more difficult for us not to keep them. I’m comfortable and they’re comfortable with the situation, I’ve been straight with them and they’ve responded in a brilliant way.

“Not just those three, there are a lot of lads out of contract and the response in training every day has been great.”

The Blues boss is pleased that Town are up to 14th, 10 points from the relegation places, and ideally would prefer to be at the other end of the table, but stresses the importance of taking things slowly: “I’d like to be looking down on the rest of them, to be honest with you.

“What are we on, 37 points? No one ever stayed up with 37 points as far as I’m concerned. There are a lot of points to play for yet and we’ve just got to keep our feet on the floor.”

Photo: Action Images

bluelady added 10:28 - Feb 7 dont you love his attitude. maybe if youd been here a little earlier PJ we would be looking down on the other teams! however 9 points in four games, compared to Keanes 3 from 9 wasnt it??
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Smithy added 10:35 - Feb 7 Feels like I'm supporting a different club to the one I was supporting a little under 4 weeks ago. No longer Roy Keane's Ipswich, just ITFC, thanx PJ.
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hampstead_blue added 10:35 - Feb 7 A breath of fresh air. The players where actually smiling and laughing during the game this weekend. Great to see.
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Jacktor_boy added 10:37 - Feb 7 I have to agree with you bluelady, it's early days but things are looking up. It's nice that Jewell shows faith in the players and seems to have some common sense unlike Keane. Happy days!
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TotalBlue added 11:05 - Feb 7 Booked my Hotel for wembley play off final in may here we go!! It sounds like an impossibility but look atthe league win our 2 games in hand and we would be 5 points of the play offs all to play for
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dirtyboy added 11:07 - Feb 7 I'm like you Smithy, i've long sat in front of the radio on Saturday afternoons and given up 2/3rds of the way through, managed a solitary home game (which we lost) and went home feeling utterly depressed. Hadn't been a regular since the Burley days, easing off during the Royle era (finances/time). I wanted to get back, but the style just didn't cut it for me, I go to a game to be entertained, if we win, that's the bonus. PJ coming in has been a massive lift, there really seems to be a buzz around the Town supporters, and there are glimpses of the style of football we're aiming for, and I like it. And i've witnessed two home wins on the bounce. I'm seriously considering a season ticket again for the first time since 1994/95 season! Just a shame knowing we're not going to have Bullard for another season.

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rosseden added 11:23 - Feb 7 Just a shame knowing we're not going to have Bullard for another season. what makes you say that, i think there might be some closed season surprises if we keep on the current team spirit etc.....
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tractorboy2434 added 15:07 - Feb 7 He is only on loan and there is no way we could get anywhere near the 45k that Hull are paying him, and he has another year on those wages, it would be unrealistic to expect us to sign him permanently, but it shows where the problem was, we had no creative midfielder and he has made a huge difference.
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Blue_Fred added 15:32 - Feb 7 REALISTICALLY for Jimmy Bullard he can't expect 45k/week on his next contract but maybe 25-30k. So... IF Bullard wants to play for PJ, and IF Hull are prepared to let him go on a free to get rid of his wages, MAYBE without a transefer fee we can offer him £1m signing on fee (20k/week ish) and the wages of 10-15k/week. just a thought..... and then MAYBE we can sell Leadbitter to help finance the deal? just a thought.....

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bedsitfc added 16:51 - Feb 7 Manager of the month award goes to paul jewell
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Suffolk_n_Good added 18:51 - Feb 7 PJ has been exactly what we (the fans) & the players needed, it is early days, but as others have said, you can't help but feel a change in the mood.....!!
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Worcester added 20:11 - Feb 7 bedsitfc If he gets it for the month of feb that might mean we won 7 games? I'll take the MOM curse if that's the case!
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RexCarr added 20:54 - Feb 7 Don't ya just love him ?
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bobble added 21:07 - Feb 7 looks a bit too heavy to be carried away unless we get some hydraulics involved
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