Town boss Paul Jewell felt his side’s 3-3 home draw with Middlesbrough could have ended seven each with both sides having plenty of chances in addition to their goals. The Blues manager was less than impressed with his team’s defending, which he thought was uncharacteristically poor, but was pleased with their spirit as they came from 3-1 down.

Jewell said: “We started the game really well, went 1-0 up and we could have been in front before we went 1-0 up. The goal took a bit of a deflection, obviously.

“Then we made two mistakes and they were right back in it. We looked so nervous and in the end it could have ended seven-all. Our keeper’s made two vital saves at 3-1 down and their keeper’s made three great saves at three-all.

“From a defensive point of view it wasn’t a great night but from a character point of view we’ve come back from 3-1 down and got a point from an end to end game.”

The Blues boss said Damien Delaney and Gareth McAuley had an unusually difficult evening: “The two centre-backs have been brilliant since I’ve been here. Tonight wasn’t their best night, their two front players caused them a lot of problems after the first half hour where we were comfortable.

“Then one mistake led to another, which led to another and you could feel the nervousness and the edginess throughout the team.

“We’ve had a decent defensive record and that’s not just the back four, but the whole team as a unit are defensively a bit loose.

“It’s something we need to address in the summer. Teams break on us a bit quick, certainly at home, and that’s an area where we’ve got to try and knuckle down.”

In the end Jewell was hoping his side might even grab a win: “At 3-1 down you’d take a point all day, but in the end I was a bit disappointed. When we got to 3-3 we’re thinking that we could win it and how the freekick from Jimmy doesn’t go in I don’t know. That’s in no textbook I’ve ever seen!

“[Boro keeper Paul Smith] made a brilliant save from Connor, a great save from Damien and it was all end to end action and either team looked like they could score.

“I’m pleased the way we’ve come back and I think supporters have gone home happy that the team have given everything they’ve got. They could have thrown the towel in at 3-1 and hidden but they didn’t hide, they kept going.”

The Town manager was unhappy that Connor Wickham had his goal ruled out at 3-1: “It’s so far onside it’s unbelievable. It’s not even close. He comes from just past the penalty spot to tap it in. It’s a ridiculous decision.”

Middlesbrough manager Tony Mowbray thought his side were flagging towards the end: “I think they were a tired team at the death. We had a massive game at Sheffield United on Saturday which went right to the end. We had a five-hour trip here and I think it showed at the death.

“Great credit to Ipswich for keeping going and getting themselves back in it from 3-1. They showed great desire not to get beaten.

“The bottom line is that both teams are now in positions where they aren’t threatened from behind any more. It was an open, attractive game of football.

“We can talk about bad defending and yet there were six good goals and there could have been another six.

“There was a bit of everything in the game and hopefully the supporters enjoyed it. It’s a decent point for us but obviously we’re frustrated because at 3-1 we had three one-on-ones with the keeper and Joe Bennett could have had a hat-trick from left-back.

“But to clarify that, our keeper made two or three great saves as well. It was a good game of football.”

Mowbray had no complaints regarding Town’s penalty but revealed that defender Seb Hines broke his jaw in two places and will have to stay in hospital overnight to have an operation.

Photo: Action Images

My_TFC added 18:15 - Apr 13 Defence was poor, wouldn't be massively bothered if they went to a 'bigger' club because at their ages they won't be first choice there forever. but did anyone else think that the game passed Norris by? Other than the Burnley away game, he has been poor......
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jas0999 added 21:37 - Apr 13 If we had have played a 4-4-2 I think we would have won confortably. Wickham is very clearly a striker - what possesses PJ to play him wide left is beyond me!! Let's hope PJ has finally learnt his lesson and we no longer see Scotland leading the line by himself. Overall: must do better - particularly defensively, if we wish to push next year. However, there is certainly improvement under PJ and hopefully the summer will be a very interesting time, with PJ attracting several outstanding additions to the squad.

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bluelady added 22:17 - Apr 13 Jas we scored three goals playing four up front wouldnt have helped it was the woeful defence that let us down. One up front with two decent wingers works well just not fat boy slim as he isn't a loan striker....
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bluelad7 added 20:51 - Apr 14 Mogga - Still a legend
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