Town boss Paul Jewell was delighted to be speaking to the press about a youngster other than Connor Wickham after Josh Carson netted his first two senior goals as the Blues beat Crystal Palace 2-1 at Portman Road.

Jewell said: “It makes a change talking about another 17-year-old other than Connor Wickham! It’s a great day for Josh and it’s hopefully the start of plenty of goals for Ipswich Town.

“He’s not fazed by playing in the first team, I think you could see that. He’s one of those lads who enjoys it. I was delighted for him.”

Jewell also had praise for keeper Arran Lee-Barrett: “I thought our goalkeeper kept us in the game at vital times.

“We’ve won three games in a row and I’m delighted, but as always we want to get better. At 2-0 again it should have been over, but we let teams back into games at the moment and that’s a habit we’ve got to kick for next season.”

The Town boss had no doubt that Carson’s first goal had an element of fortune about it: “It was definitely a cross! Absolutely no danger, it was a cross, but it won’t say that tomorrow morning in the paper.

“He deserved that little bit of luck because he was a thorn in their side for the first hour and once the goal went in you could see the relief from the lad.”

Midfielder Carson, who has a season remaining on a two-year professional contract he signed last summer, added Town’s second from a goalmouth scramble, the type of goal Jewell says he’d like to see more of from his side: “We don’t get enough goals full stop, but we certainly don’t get enough of those scruffy goals where the ball’s knocking around the box.

“He’s got an eye for goal, there’s no doubt about that and I’m really pleased for the lad. He cleans my boots but I bet he forgets on Monday, because that’s all he ever does. He’s the worst apprentice I’ve ever had!”

The Blues boss revealed that loanee Kieron Dyer will be returning to West Ham: "I spoke to West Ham about Kieron on Friday with the intention of trying to keep him on loan until the end of the season.

"I received some encouragement but then Kieron came up after training and said that Avram Grant had been on the phone and told him he wanted him back at West Ham.

"He's needed there because he's going to be involved over the rest of the season. We wish Kieron all the best for the future, wherever his future will be."

Palace manager Dougie Freedman thought the result was harsh on his side, who he believes are too good to be five points from the relegation zone: “I think if you want to go on the statistics - chances, possession and opportunities - I thought we deserved something out of the game.

“Performance-wise we’ve been fine. I’ve been saying for a month that we’re looking up, I don’t care what happens behind us because I know the guys in the dressing room are devastated because the performance from them today was fantastic, as it is most weeks.

“I believe we’ll start picking up a few results away from home because you can’t keep performing like that week in, week out and not pick up results. I’m happy. I’m pleased we created chances, we looked solid defensively and we move on.”

Photo: Action Images

Mungo added 18:24 - Apr 9 Well done Josh!
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fourth added 18:42 - Apr 9 Gosh Josh Whatever next?!
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harlingblue added 19:16 - Apr 9 Exciting to see another young crowd pleaser, well done Josh, and also ALB...you made sure the points were ours today!
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Barnesy added 19:24 - Apr 9 8 more Josh's is what we need but Priskin can score against Norwich!
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TimmyH added 19:30 - Apr 9 Looks like he was heads above everybody else today bar our goalie, other than that looks like we played pretty average going by the ratings?
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bluelady added 20:49 - Apr 9 Can we break the voodoo and win four in row!!!
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TractorJed added 20:53 - Apr 9 We were average today at best but we need to win more games like that when we are not at our best. ALB was outstanding today. Carson was a breath of fresh air, allowed to hug the touch line and given the opportunity by his teammates who sprayed numerous balls wide to him. Palace were a threat right to the final whistle and may feel they should have at least a point from the game but there you go!

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bluelady added 20:58 - Apr 9 Would like to say how refreshing it was to see us,using width some super long passes to the wing so much better than keanes and in many ways jims narrow style. Not brilliant performance but signs are good, with a decent fast strong striker and giving the ball away less cheaply we could be a real force.....
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Garv added 21:23 - Apr 9 Palace didn't look a league one side but man they didn't mind giving us goal kicks did they? Some terrible misses towards the end, they could have won it! I think we playd better than some are suggesting ^^ but not superb, great goal (seemed to be) by josh carson and was awesome all day! We weren't creating all the time but we were more patient than in years gone by which was nice to see, long passages of passing that didn't necessarily always have to turn into a clear cut opportunity - what I mean was it was nice for a change to see a team chasing us round the field trying to get the ball back. Tought leadbitter had a better game today actually, although when Bullard went off he again proved he is useless from the dead ball. Carson man of the match for me, hugged the touchline all game which is what you are tought from the age of 7 in football (yet the likes of keane couldn't realize this), and then cut inside and caused numerous problems for palace. Lee-Barret a close second, some great saves. He definitely deserves a new contract!

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corunnaviking1759 added 22:45 - Apr 9 Well having just got back to Guildford after my epic bike ride To the game, lol. I must say the lad did well, ran at them and was always wanting the ball, looked busy all the game and lively! Well done. One to watch. What the heck did Scotland bring to the party?
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Garv added 22:57 - Apr 9 ...nothing, is the answer to that question 'corunnaviking1759'. Probably rather have had 10 men, could've used the space upfront.
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Hungry_Badger added 00:07 - Apr 10 Surley he is now worth £10 million as well as Wickham- better goals to game ratio than him :L But in all seriousness well played young man good prospect for the future!
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bobble added 06:12 - Apr 10 is he the son of the jockey ? blueskies nothing but blueskies............//;,,,/lll//,
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DiamondGezzer added 08:11 - Apr 10 As already stated, ALB certainly worked for his new contract today, and give Mr. Carson the first prize, worked his little socks off and reaped two goals into the bargain. More of the same, if you please !
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howthecow added 13:29 - Apr 10 Just a thought, but if we win our last 6 games isn't there's a chance we could still make the playoffs? I've been doing some research on the number of points that have secured a top six finish in recent times: 09/10 - 70 points 08/09 - 74 points 07/08 - 70 points 06/07 - 75 points 05/06 - 75 points 04/05 - 73 points Mean number of points over last 6 seasons needed to make sixth spot = 72.83 (73 points) If town win last 6 we finish on 73 points. Dare we dream?

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Rayner_ITFC97 added 13:44 - Apr 10 Looks like a quick clever player with potential, he is the future. How can people already be giving him a price tag?!
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WREXHAM_BLUE added 13:48 - Apr 10 For me, we were better than average and it was a decent game against a side who will surely stay up. We could have scored more yet could easily have conceded more too so we'll happily take the three points which on the balance of play, I think we just about deserved. ALB was excellent and made crucial saves while Leadbitter was excellent too. Carson obviously shades the MoM for his goals and overall (terrific) performance but very pleasing to keep the mini run going. Roll on Tuesday.

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carsey added 17:03 - Apr 10 Nice to see Mstr Carson staying wide and really wanting the ball - great prospect. ALB was excellent and won us the game IMO. Scotland is an enigma he's there on the pitch but doesn't actually contribute anything. He is clearly overweight and seems to be unfit or unwilling to put some effort into the game. Wouldn't it be funny - to say the least - if we squeezed into the playoffs and ended up playing The Scum in the final? ****Ah well we can dream****

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Upbeat~ added 04:17 - Apr 11 Very good first half. Exciting play, Leadbitter pinging the ball around beautifully. Norris getting stuck in as always. Bullard had orchestrated the play relatively well - wasn't his best game mind but he was still a good watch. Carson was excellent in the first half especially - didn't see as much of the ball in the second but in the first he ran their LB ragged at times. Scotland is off the pace for me but there you go. Wickham had a tidy game - nothing special but was pretty solid (heavy touch at times and not on song shooting-wise tbh). Defence excellent (Delaney's unnecessary punts when there was no pressure at all did make me chuckle but he was very good defensively on the whole as always - could have been sent off mind for two challenges deserving of yellow cards) and ALB made some great saves, plus his kicking was very good. Admittedly Edwards was wasteful - had a good strike though in the second half and he's got quality -it's just that consistency that's lacking. Second half petered out after they scored. We became more narrow, lost all urgency in our play and walked over the finish line it must be said. Still, all in all a good win and nice to see some more strength-in-depth with Carson now appearing on the scene. Kennedy was also solid, McAuley a rock. Two attacking players in the summer for me - a pacey striker and a pacey LW/Striker if at all possible. As for Connor Wickham, I really hope he lives up to our expectations. So far he's had shots and touches of great quality and has put in several top-quality performances. He's still a youngster though and for me could do with improving most areas of his game. For his age he's a cracking prospect. However, currently he is still just a good championship player. Newcastle, Cardiff and Arsenal spring out as games where he seriously made the difference. He's still honing his skills though (touch heavy at times, shooting wayward more than occasionally, running with the ball still not tight enough to make the push into the Prem yet imo). I'd be very surprised if he wasn't playing for us next season. Don't mean to get on a downer - obviously delighted he's at our club and backing him to hit the big-time in the near future. In all honesty though, I reckon people who seem him day in day out will agree that he's still some way from the finished article at the moment. COYB

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Upbeat~ added 04:24 - Apr 11 Agree Garv, we were Spain-like at times in the first half. I've no problem with Leadbitter's horizontal / backwards passes at times when there's nothing on. Sometimes we're too hurried to get the ball forward and then lose possession - better to play keep ball and then wait for the right opportunity. Also, few could honestly criticize Leadbitter for not being attacking-minded today - he was always looking for that forward pass whenever the opportunity arose, especially in the first half.

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DiamondGezzer added 07:23 - Apr 11 Upbeat Blue 92 :- Agree with your points, especially about Leadbetter, much better game. For me, Carson has that wow factor, the excitement and bags of surprising ability for a 17 year old. What a joy to watch. Remember the dark days at Portman Road, praying for a spark of crowd pleasing ability - folks, I think it just arrived!
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Lightningboy added 15:42 - Apr 11 Give him a decent contract now or we'll be losing him for peanuts in a year.
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