Town boss Paul Jewell admitted that his side never looked like scoring at one end and gave away silly goals at the other as they lost 3-0 at home to Watford. The Blues manager again bemoaned his side’s lack of penetration.

Jewell said: “I think at the end of the day we gave goals away for fun, silly goals. In between the boxes, I think we probably had more possession than them, but did you think we were really going to score a goal?

“How many crosses did we have flashing across the box? How many freekicks did we have? How many corners? We just haven’t got anyone who wants to get on the end of them, it’s as simple as that.

“You can dress it up which ever way you want. You can dress it up any way you want. We had plenty of possession.

“The second goal summed us up. Pretty passes, then we get brushed off the ball in midfield and the next thing we’re picking the ball out of the back of the net. We’re not ruthless in either box, it’s a simple as that.”

The Blues boss felt the early Watford goal was comical series of errors: “We tell the players to make sure when the ball goes out of play to come alive. It was a silly corner we gave away, the next thing, there’s two-v-one and it was a catalogue of errors.

“From there we were always playing catch-up. We did all right, we had freekicks and hit the post but when it comes out off the post I don’t think anyone was going to stick their head in and get a cut eye.”

Jewell says there’s much to be done before he gets the side he wants: “You can see we lack a bit of pace in the team, even going forward we can’t get beyond players and behind teams, so we’ve got a lot of work to do.

“Against Portsmouth we opened them up for fun but we couldn’t score. But tonight, I was looking at the game at 2-0 down with 15 minutes to go and do I really think we’re going to get back in the game? And the answer is no. That’s eight or nine home games we’ve lost now this season, which tells its own story.”

Watford boss Malky Mackay was delighted with the result and with the early goal: “We started off very well, we highlighted the fact that if we got a short corner we might be able to get the two-v-one.

“We put a great ball in and it starts us off with a great platform and allows us to suck Ipswich on to us and catch them on the counter, which we did well.”

The former Canary inevitably had praise for striker Danny Graham and said there was a row in the dressing room about who scored the first goal: “There’s a big debate down there as to whether that first goal was his or Troy’s. They’re both claiming it!

“I think tonight you could see why Danny is what he is - he’s a total team player. He’ll run a back four down on his own.

“He’s a threat in behind and he’s a threat when he comes short. I think he had an awful lot to do on the second goal and it was a quality finish.

"But the measure of the boy is that he’s a team player and that’s the centre forward that you want in your team - someone who’s not just a poacher but is a team player, and he’s certainly one of those.”

Photo: Action Images

bobble added 05:01 - Mar 16 we are safe thats the important bit ...everyone knew that the majority of keanes players are useless like the man himself its all groovy man in the offie we will boot out the deadheads and get some super duper good looking types in who will take us to europe............ its sunny in europe yes indeed we will live like kings drinking fine wines and munching the best of crayfish while the newboys go about the business of destroying barca ........yahoooooo

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gypo added 07:00 - Mar 16 We've got someone who can sniff around box and stab the ball in and that's Scotland but on his own up front no he's not effective its not his game. Play him and wickham up front or even wickham and kieron. I think the reason we play 4-5-1 is to protect our defence MAC and dealany I think two or three times in the game went for the same ball and these two want to stay !! The first goal was a joke I personaly don't blame Kennedy for his header that corner came from ,he got caught out by a quick throw in but who passed the ball straight out of play when trying to pass to Kennedy from 20 odd yards it was bullard who was at fault for there second goal it was bullard being brushed of the ball to easy. WEAR A IPSWICH TOWN SHIRT WITH PRIDE IF NOT THEN FECK OFF

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bluelady added 07:31 - Mar 16 Cobbold Neil yes were you?
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bluelady added 07:40 - Mar 16 Jas didn't I say how poor or strikers were? Not only that poor supply too. but he hast has chance to sign strikers Jan bad time to buy over inflated process and he didst know what he had and no decent strikers available for loan if there good they will be playing, I just hope he has two lined up in the summer if not its middle table at best next season. when I said we could have three or four up front and not scored I meant strikers not goals.!!!

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DiamondGezzer added 07:52 - Mar 16 I feel really deflated this morning. Yesterday on a high, Dyer back to weave magic, at home, and then that. They all seemed to be waiting for one another to create something, in the end, no one did. What happened to Leadbetter [ that was unfair, I should have put - any of them ] Drury at least tried ! I had that old feeling in the Tum, and sadly it was proved right. I'm not even looking forward to a game that I in my stupidity was thinking should be a formality. Sorry all, just as choked as everyone I guess, but feeling like this ain't pleasant and makes it hard to look beyond the next game. Second season on the bounce I've wanted the season over early so that we can buy and re-group, and that's not like me. I used to enjoy every kick of every ball.

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DiamondGezzer added 07:54 - Mar 16 Sorry for the depressing post^
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muhrensleftfoot added 07:58 - Mar 16 I probably don't know this game of football very well, but if goal scoring is a problem, shouldn't you play with 2 strikers at home? Wickham is the only striker that has shown any goal scoring attributes since Jewell took over, so why on earth does he keep playing him wide midfield? One win in the last 7 is evidence enough that the current 4-5-1 is not working. He says we lack pace - we have pace on the bench in the shape of Peters. O'Connor should also be given a chance. Dyer might be an ITFC hero, but he looks like he needs a month of pre season before he's capable of anything. He'll just about be getting fit when he's got to return to West Ham. Jewell was like a breath of fresh air when he arrived after the dark depressing days of Keano, but the honeymoon's over. Return to 4-4-2 which PJ says is his favoured formation. Wickham up front with Scotland, who I still think can score goals, but not when the ball is being pumped up to him from deep. Peters wide right & Martin wide left, that will give us the pace. Norris & Bullard centre midfield. Edwards McAuley Delaney O'Connor across the back.

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My_TFC added 08:01 - Mar 16 Got to earn new contracts, not expect them. Only player who was really wearing the Town shirt last night was Bullard, and he's on loan. Same as Portsmouth game and Reading game, the difference between sides that are going somewhere and sides that aren't is a decent striker who will run and harass and take a gamble, saw none of that. Silly mistakes and another negative result. Much work to do for next season.....if we don't get dragged back down into the relegation fight on current form.

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PSGBlue added 08:06 - Mar 16 Bluelady - you are so generous! By all means drive Scotland back to Wales. But boot out before you get to Swansea in Cardiff City centre. He should then get some exercise with all that running through the streets that he'll need to do!
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KirbyStriker added 08:10 - Mar 16 The 2nd half JP plays Scotland and Dyer both small men and our other players feel the need to pump the long high ball to them against a man mountain. The best formation would be Connor and another with Dyer on the right Martin on the left. Connor must have been gutted when he saw Dyer come on and play upfront. I didnt get why Martin was taken off. I have a little concern over Fulop, great shot stopper but unsure about the rest of his game.

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bluelady added 08:16 - Mar 16 Psg see next post I said I'd make him run behind to get fit !!!!! Boy do we need a billy Sharp badly, here us hoping we can finally get a striker this summer if not next season will be same old same old....
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DJ_Kesgrave added 08:36 - Mar 16 ITFC players have major pyschological problems, not to mention lack of football talent. How come this team can never achieve? All they serve up is the minimum. They think they've avoided relegation and so they've given up. Even the thought of not having their contracts renewed doesn't motivate them. If the team had kept their early run going we would be alongside Watford in the table and have some games to play for. we could be promoying itfc as a club going somewhere for next season and improving our ability to attract some quality young players. How we can still think a 17 year old with 6 goals is the person to rely to get our team going is not fair on the kid or logical. Our home form is broadcasting that we have major problems with players who aren't committed or up to it, and that we need a have a major clearout. We wiil pay a high price as we will find it even more difficult and costly to put things right. There was nothing much wrong with Keane or PJ we've got a squad who think they are on easy street.

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roytheboy added 08:41 - Mar 16 We've all known that we needed a quality Striker for several seasons and with respect to Paul Jewell, does he not know how much of an asset Jamie Peters is to his squad ? presumably Jamie will disappear before too long as surplus to requirements, without perhaps giving him much more time on the pitch, if any !
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stinkiusminkius added 08:44 - Mar 16 My only concerns re PJ are his refusal to use 4-4-2 more, (although I suspect he will do when he gets his own players in as that's his favoured system), and his refusal to use players such as o'connor and peters (youth and enthusiasm can often be better than tired experience). But in general, he's still done most things right since taking over, and he's only been here the blink of an eye so far and has all keanes mess to sort out. He indicated in the short transfer window that a RB and striker will be sought after (but when there's more time and choice), and I think his scouting network and eye for a player are infinitely better than keanes. And jas0999 - are you Roy keanes love child? You're very quick to be all down and negative about PJ who has hardly been here, but still stayed all positive about keane even after 18 months of embarrassing abject failure. Come on, with time to get his own team and sort out keanes mess, PJ will take us forward.

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Karlosfandangal added 08:56 - Mar 16 I dont agree with we need a 25 a season goalscorer. We need a 50 a season goalscorer as he will need a hat trick every game as we ship in so many goals Think we need to sell Wickham as it looks like we need £20 million to build a new team (not saying Wickham is worth £20 million) I said about a month ago that Jewell knows who he wants to keep and is just trying to get us through this season. He will re build in the summer and i expect he has a few targets in mind already. If you take Dyer and West Ham, They are edging their bets, get Dyer fit and if we need him re call him, However he wont be a West Ham player next year, they will let him go. In the summer there will be players looking for a club and hopefully Jewell will be able to bring them in.

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bluearmy4life added 09:06 - Mar 16 Agree with many posters with getting rid of Priskin & Scotland they are simply not good enough. We will never ever make the play-offs in the future with that strike force. We need a decent sort out in the summer PJ will be very busy hopefully. Also the defending for all 3 of the goals was poor school boy stuff so we need to strengthen this area also. In my opinion we need 2 new full backs, 2 midfielders, Ie bullard, and 2 new strikers as well as cover for all the postions.I'm dreading the Naarwich game anyone else?

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JewellintheTown added 09:22 - Mar 16 ok, we're all understandably a bit upset, but one week we love them, next we hate them. They're not all crap, they have good weeks, and bad weeks. Last night was the bad week and most of them had it at the same time. Lets have a bit of positive eh, we've seen what they can all do when they're focussed and positive, we just need to give Jewell a bit of time to re-adjust their attitudes. And if they don't, well I'll be first handing out pitch forks and baseball bats if they play like that again?

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Lightningboy added 09:32 - Mar 16 The sooner Priskin's gone the better..apart from the Arsenal goal the guy has been almost as big a waste of space as Keano The Clown...would rather see Pablo called back for the remaining games. Scotland's obviously past it too. Let's just make sure we stay up then have a rebuid in the summer. At minimum we need a proper right back..a decent left back..a never say die captain and 2 decent strikers...along with keeping Bullard. Hope Peters gets back in the team for the remaining games too..I love his attitude,not enough like him in the team at the mo.

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StowTractorBoy added 09:36 - Mar 16 I have not looked forward to the last two home games and it seems neither did the players. They all look flat and think the season is over and our crowd over the past two games has reflected their attitude but who can blame us. The players have given us nothing v. Reading and Watford and the Club should feel grateful that nearly 18000 turned up last night. The Club must now make sure that season ticket prices are attractive with some incentives otherwise it will be 13 and 14 thousand crowds next season. As for last night I can only sum it up in one word - SHOCKING.

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chripswich added 09:38 - Mar 16 two months average set of results from an average manager...the words could have been keanes.. we got ourselves out of trouble a month ago because we DO have a good squad..we need someone to play them correctly.. this media man will take us nowhere..neither down nor up..he is a mouth on a little fat stick.. and anyone who doesnt think the Dyer thing is a scam to get a few more people thru the door for meaningless games is simply in cloud cuckoo land wake up and smell the roses and dont look through your glasses that are tinted with blue ones!! average!

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nitroblue1970 added 09:58 - Mar 16 I can see a lot of unhappy comments on here, we do not have a god given right to be challenging for promotion, Sheff Utd, Portsmouth, Middlesborough are all thinking the same....we are an AVERAGE TEAM IN AN AVERAGE LEAGUE!!! thats were we are!!!...yes we have some potential but then so does every team in the championship!...we ahve suffered from bad luck, bed management signing the wrong players and playing people out of position, the striking problems has been there for 4 YEARS!!!!...thats Jim, Roy and noy paul Jewell, none of them have seemed to have solved it...all have tried!..im as frustrated as anyone else on here but we do need a dose of realism.....were average mid table dross!

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nitroblue1970 added 10:00 - Mar 16 Obviously that should say "bad management" ...although maybe they could find some success in the NHS!!!
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Basil_Smallpiece added 10:09 - Mar 16 Don't worry. They'll beat Scunthorpe Saturday and all will be well again.
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TARGET_PREM added 10:13 - Mar 16 so we are looking for a summer of rebuilding, thats the 4th summer in a row then!! i will holding back on renewing my season ticket until i know who has come and gone over the summer, i have little faith that we can attract the players, and if we do i have even less faith clegg will get the deals done. i can't stand another season like this one. we have to realistic, dyer and bullard will not be here next season, so out of the players on show last night who do we want to keep? McAuley is the only one for me, and I doubt we'll keep him.

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BlooooCD added 10:30 - Mar 16 Wow! What a shocking, lazy, unprofessional, slow, lack lustre load of dross! I cannot believe how poor the effort, attitude or ability of our squad was last night.. I am speechless (almost) I thought I would reflect my thoughts after a nights sleep and a few coffee's! BUT that performance (and I use the word loosely) was absolute sh*t... where was the passion and the pride.. a few players did ok - Big Mac, Drury, Bullard and Martin but this is a team game and some of those so-called professionals need to look at themselves and either change or foxtrott oscar! I mean what on earth was Connor doing??? Had he been to cheltenham drinking all day?!?! And our strikers... what a joke they are! They looked like a couple of clowns hired for the day.. couldn't hit a barn door! I like PJ and have faith in him as a manager as I believe his eyes are wide open to our shortfalls, thank god we have so many plumbs out of contrcat - good riddance! This summer will be a huge test for Clegg (who I'm afraid personally I have little or no faith, I sincerely hope to be proven wrong) Can't wait to see what incentives they bring out for the new season tickets... I will be there renewing mine but I expect the figures will fall - who wants to pay over £30 a game to watch that... I love our club! And I yearn for the good times to return without the journeymen.. Keanos awful reign still rings around us just now! COYB's! Bloooooooooooooooooo Army!

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