Boss Paul Jewell was disappointed to concede a second late equaliser in a week but felt that Town’s performance was as good as any during his time in charge at Portman Road.

Jewell said: “We conceded a goal like last week but I thought the performance, certainly until we scored, was really good.

“I think the three games in a week caught up with us a bit and we looked a little bit tired in the last 15 minutes and that’s why I tried to make a few substitutions.

“It was a good game of football, I thought we deserved to win on the balance of play, but there’s only one stat that counts and that’s the goals. I think we’re making progress and that’s the most important thing.”

Despite conceding the late goal, Jewell was very pleased with the overall display: “I thought that’s as well as we’ve played since I’ve been here, certainly football-wise.

“Doncaster had 406 passes on Tuesday, we had 280 and we won 6-0. Domination and possession are great but it’s what you do with it.

“I thought we were terrific really, the only thing that was lacking was goals. Some of the football we played in the first half especially was scintillating.”

Debutant Andy Drury impressed, particularly in the first half, something which came as no surprise to his new manager: “I’ve been telling people he’s a good footballer, he tired and we were just about to make a substitution when they scored.

“It was a pleasing debut for Andy and we’re all disappointed in the dressing room that we haven’t won the game.”

Jewell confirmed that Aston Villa right-back Habib Beye had decided against moving on loan but says his search for additions continues: “He’s decided he doesn’t want to go on loan and I’m delighted that we know that before he gets here because we don’t anyone here who doesn’t want to be here, so I’m quite happy with that.

“We’re always looking to improve. We’ve been on a good run, but it’s a long-term thing, I think we’ve got to look forward to the rest of the season and beyond, and I’m always trying to improve my squad, like any other manager.”

Hull boss Nigel Pearson thought that his Town counterpart wouldn’t have thought that the scoreline was a fair reflection of the game: “I bet Paul doesn’t think it was. In the first half, they had a lot more possession than us and I thought today it could have been one of those nearly days for us.

“We had a lot of promising situations but were a bit careless in possession. Although we always looked fairly dangerous, we didn’t quite do enough in the first half to warrant causing them too many problems.

“In the second half we passed the ball much better and we’ve got players who are always going to look dangerous and I suppose in the end it’s a good point for us.

“Maybe it took us going behind for the players to believe they could get something out of the game or possibly win it. I’m really pleased for the players that we got something out of the game.”

Pearson was impressed with Jay Simpson’s equaliser and his attitude having been out of the team in recent weeks: “It was a very clever header and it’s been frustrating for Jay being out of the side. It was a good response from him.”

Photo: Action Images

TractorBeezer added 05:05 - Feb 20 Yes, disappointed that we didn't hang on to three points, but so pleased to hear that we played well for most of the game. Also pleased that Andy Drury had a good game and Lee Martin continues to perform well. These are indeed much better times.
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gypo added 07:54 - Feb 20 Drury great game but my motm is Healy unsung hero held it all together in the middle even leadbetter looked more relaxed. I like Norris for his work rate but football wise no I'm sorry I can't see him walking straight back into the side. As said in previous post I bet that 2 year deal he turned down is looking more attractive now !!
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DiamondGezzer added 08:34 - Feb 20 Just a note to the moaners, would you not have accepted the change in the Town six weeks ago - Yes that's all it is, six weeks ! We're like a new team and there are loads of positives if you'd like to see them. Sorry - rant over ! Chins up lads, sky's the limit NEXT SEASON. As Guthrum says, we're not ready for the playoffs, its work in progress. Sorry to divert away from main topic.

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hogster1970 added 09:02 - Feb 20 well what a game, super first half, some great passes runs, postional play making attractive football and creating chances something we havnt had for several years, and again for 150K drury looks a steel, i have seen 2-3m players not play like that or players who take a while to settle in but for his first 90 mins in this league then what a belter. every pulled together and covered each other ,edwards how ever some of his crosses were woefull, and again leadbitter should be more aware of players in space eg martin when he is on the ball a few times during the 90 martin had achers of space and all he had to do was look up but chose to move the ball on else were, its passes like this which can make a huge difference during the game. second half there close that half a yard they gabe us plu we staterd to tire in the midfield which i think made the difference as our midfield worked so hard in the first 45 so to be expected. pity about there goal but was a good one to be fair, and in a way prob a good thing as showed we need to find our second wind, think norris would have gave that today though but hey ho. still had a good feeling even after the result that we are at last playing some great stuff and i feel renewing my season ticket wont be such a bitter pill to swollow unlike the the last renewel. so come on boys lets try and atleast get a draw on tuesday

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brittaniaman added 09:35 - Feb 20 Great game lads !! Drury did not take long to settle in,I thought he would as I saw him in the reseves last Wed. Glad to see Jewell has got his feet on the ground with his ambition for this season is to get 50 pts. positive thinking HEY.!!!
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fourth added 09:35 - Feb 20 And now for a brilliant game against QPR. I feel it is THE test which could really confirm self-belief
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village_blue added 09:47 - Feb 20 agree with most people that Drury looks a very good addition to the squad,thought his dead ball deliveries were almost as good as Bullard's. I would only tinker slightly withthe team for QPR match only two changes would be Bullard for Leadbitter and Priskin for Scotland as he is not mobile enough to be lone striker and he doesn't jump for the ball and like a certain Spainard spends a lot of time on his backside on the green stuff with arms in the air appealling for freekicks.

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tractorboynathan added 11:32 - Feb 20 Agree village blue. People are saying drop drury because bullard will come back into the team? But drury was terrific yesterday! And leadbitter has been one of our poorest performers all season! Play healy, drury, and bullard all in the same team- and go and attack qpr because there not great at the back! Coyb.
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fourth added 17:02 - Feb 20 Yes, TBN, perhaps Leadbitter needs a bit of honing up on the putting-it-in-the-net front in the reserves. QPR could be an amazing match.
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h32 added 19:08 - Feb 20 BluedanW - you're obviously one who doesn't care about losing or dropping points - as long as we play well. Sorry but I totally disagree with you - as I've said many times before ITFC has many with similar views to you. In terms of club AMBITION I don't think that's particularly healthy. I would prefer to see good teams come to Portman Road, outplay us, if it HAS to be that way, and WE WIN by the odd goal. Of course if we play well, and win, that's even better.

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h32 added 19:24 - Feb 20 People still refer to 'the moaners' - may I suggest they look up the meaning of the word before using it. All I've seen is people passing sensible praise, and comments, on progress thus far - but some still use the word 'moaner' for anyone who dare to question the fact that we continue to give away late goals, and in doing so drop points, etc; for instance. We look for continuous improvement - and what's wrong with that? - whoever the Manager is.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 19:41 - Feb 20 Diamondgezzer. Totally agree with your comments this morning sir. Six weeks ago, this was a game the team would have comfortably lost. The transformation of our fabulous club is underway, but i believe the rest of this season is about consolidation and gelling of the players for a promotion push next year. As Mr Jewell said, some of our football yesterday was scintillating in the 1st half, a massive improvement on the previous incumbents tactics etc. So many more positives to take into our forthcoming difficult fixtures than before so lets all dispense with all the negative comments. Rome wasn,t built in a day. COYB.

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Garv added 19:45 - Feb 20 Agree village blue and nathan ^^. Leadbitter has to go, who gives a monkey about the vice captains armband?
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power19 added 20:54 - Feb 20 Does anyone else believe that the PR crowd has far more of a role we could play we our performances at home - the old 12th man analogy? I certainly do! I saw half a dozen games this season under RK and could understand the lack of enthusiasm by ITFC supporters however now that we are playing some half decent football, I think that the level of support and enthusiasm needs to improve as well! Hopefully, as the crowds will start getting bigger the noise and atmosphere will increase too!! We need to play a part in our resurgence and not only create a bit of noise when we take the lead!!!

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Back_The_Boss added 08:17 - Feb 21 Decent performance, a shame to concede late on! I hope this doesn't happen too often!
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naa added 12:23 - Feb 21 h32: not sure what you are saying really. Firstly, I will admit to being one that would rather watch a good game of football over a scrappy win. I will accept scrappy wins on occasion, but not as a general style of play - which is What Keane was trying to do. You say "I would prefer to see good teams come to Portman Road, outplay us, if it HAS to be that way, and WE WIN by the odd goal. " But what dictates it HAS to be that way? For a start Jewell has already shown that playing a bit of football and trying to score goals is generally a better tactic than grinding something out. Hull didn't try to play much on Saturday, so how were we supposed to play against them? Were we supposed to sit back too? Just not sure what you're saying really.

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h32 added 14:15 - Feb 21 naa - my point is that some people will be satisfied that 'we played well' - but didn't win, and gave away another late goal, thus dropping two points. That is not me. Points are awarded for winning - nothing for 'playing well'. We played well enough to take all three points against Hull, and we should have. Hull were pretty awful and did NOT impress at all - but shared the points - which means they came away from this match with the most satisfying result - we didn't. Although, before someone points it out, and no doubt are queuing up to do so, 'we didn't lose'.

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naa added 15:02 - Feb 21 h32: fair enough. Not sure what you mean by 'satisfied' though. I'm happy that we played well but disappointed that we conceded a late goal against a team that didn't deserve it. I'm sure all of those who advocate watching us play good football feel much the same. However, I don't feel this means I have a lack of ambition for my club nor do I think that we are playing the wrong style of football. Keane's comments about fouling people and kicking the ball away in the final few minutes were utterly despressing to hear. We're going the right way. Trying to play good football is already reaping some rewards so I don't see what you think needs to change. Sure, some people might be happy with a draw after playing some good stuff, but that's probably because they are glad to see anything other than poor football and another defeat under Keane. If we were going for the play-offs/promotion and we got the same kind of result then I suspect that people may have a slightly different opinion. But we were almost in the bottom three only a few weeks ago, so expectations are a little lower at present.

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Mother_Hogster added 16:18 - Feb 21 This is my very !st post!! I've supported The Town since a child in the 1950s.Had my !st season ticket for 35 years last season and very woeful it has been.Hope to see mor entertaining games like Saturday, so can enjoy coming to PR again.
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