Blues boss Paul Jewell says he will look to sign a holding midfielder over the summer to try to take the pressure off his defenders next season. The Town manager feels his backline is often left exposed when opposition sides break, particularly at Portman Road as was the case in last night’s 3-3 draw with Middlesbrough.

Jewell said: “It’s about being in the right areas at the right time. We’ve not really got that holding midfielder, that defensive midfielder.

“The team’s done smashing, I’m not here to rip them apart because we’ve had a bad night defensively, but we need a big, strong holding midfield player who is going to make it easier for our back four lads.

“If we’re going to play that system we’ve got to have someone who is going to sit in there and stop the flow of attacks. Certainly at home, it doesn’t seem to happen away from home.

“When we’re at home, we’re quite open, we want to attack, we want to get forward and that system at times leaves us vulnerable to counter-attack with the personnel we’ve got, as well as they’ve done."

Up until Boro netted twice in a minute just before half-time, the Town boss was happy with how the game was progressing: “At 1-0 I thought we were comfortable, we’d played some good stuff. Young Carson again looked quite lively but we needed the second goal. Then, defensively for 15 minutes just before half-time we went to pieces.

“I think we panicked a little bit. For the first goal we didn’t close their throw-in down, Damo slashes at it, it hits the bar and all of a sudden the whole atmosphere of the game changed.

“I thought we’d been quite comfortable. But let’s be fair to their two front players. The lad who came on, Andy Halliday, and Scott McDonald caused us problems all night. Give them a bit of credit.”

Meanwhile, left-back Mark Kennedy looks to be a doubt ahead of Saturday’s game at Bristol City after coming off with a tight hamstring towards the end. The veteran Irishman is likely to be replaced by Darren O’Dea, who took over from him last night.

Photo: Action Images

Lightningboy added 15:52 - Apr 13 Would love to see Hyam given the chance over the remaining games in that holding role but for some reason Jewell doesn't seem to want to play him or Jaime Peters which I find quite baffling?!..not going to start criticising the new messiah though. Maybe even Mark Kennedy could fill that role - he was excellent against ARSEnal there.
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ReusersTown added 15:56 - Apr 13 So Jewell's pretty much just described Trotter!!!
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bluelady added 16:05 - Apr 13 I suspect Murray going on loan has something to do with a contract he has yet to sign.... give him a taste of what life could be like if he leaves
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blue_em_away added 16:10 - Apr 13 ???????????^^^^^^^^^^^^ Bit off topic girl....
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robdaful added 16:49 - Apr 13 Hyam or Kennedy there for the rest of the season as they both have done a good job there. If Kennedy is used there then Shane O'Connor can be used at left back again. Any news on why Peters hasn't been playing? And why doesn't Jewell use Fulop? Is he injured or ill?
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Blueknight85 added 17:03 - Apr 13 Hes not heard of Luke Hyam then.....?
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HolbrookBlue added 17:25 - Apr 13 We definitely need a holding midfield player, someone like Eustace at Watford who is capable of frustrating the opposition by breaking up attacks. There seems to be a fair bit of experience needed for this role, hence we need a fresh face - together with 2 full backs, a centre back and a forward (all experienced players). If success is to be achieved next season then it cannot be based around players of potential.

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pablo098 added 17:29 - Apr 13 We have Hyam and Jewell would realise his contribution to the team if he gave him a chance. What has he got to lose eh?
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bluelady added 17:41 - Apr 13 Blue em away previous poster had said about bringing him back from loan. Jewell spoke about jp sounds like he sees him as jack of all trades master of none........ as before like hyham but to really challenge need experience in this position, derry would have been perfect hope club learned there lesson.
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:44 - Apr 13 i like Hyam,and O'Conner,but i think its a job for an experienced player,someone who wont flap under pressure.The two lads will have their day in due course.
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SchancheITFC added 18:01 - Apr 13 Mikele Leigertwood, easily the best player in that position in this league. Possibly available at end of the season.
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Mark added 18:27 - Apr 13 Hyam had a great start to the season, but then Keane "rested" him and we haven't seen him since. I would like to see him given another run in the team, but if both Keane and Jewell have chosen not to select him then perhaps he isn't ready and perhaps he won't make it at all. Hyam will be 20 in October and if he can't get into the team now (end of season, safe from relegation and needing a defensive midfielder) then maybe he never will.

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Mungo added 18:51 - Apr 13 PJ has said he wants experienced players for every position next year. I'm not suire he has anything against Luke Hyam or anyone else, he just wants the youngsters to supplement an experienced squad and not build a young less experienced squad. With regard to the end of this season, I suspect PJ wants to finish as high up the league as possible. This will bring it's own benefits...

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harlingblue added 19:35 - Apr 13 David Norris out, runs about chasing lost causes, leaves his post, Hyam, Healy longer term or a fit Kennedy short term could easily fill the the vacuum in front of the back four leaving Bullard and Leadbitter to create? We must have a player that stops our two centre backs looking so poor when attack at pace on the ground.
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jas0999 added 21:32 - Apr 13 Disappointing. TWO strikers is what's needed in a 4-4-2 at HOME. Please PJ, show me that I am wrong and that you favour the two up front!
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Ginger_Blue added 21:42 - Apr 13 1 of my mates at school is in the academy and he knows somebody who has connections to Hyam, apparently Keane called Hyam a C*** when he got sent off, and that he wouldn't play for him ever again!!! Bit mad if you look at Keane's record??
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Blue041273 added 22:21 - Apr 13 This is crackers. Good defensive midfield players are at a premium. Our chances of acquiring a solution are remote. Of course everyone will have their own ideas as to who could do the job, but the concensus here is that Luke Hyam is the solution. I'm sorry but I don't see it. Historically you don't have young defensive midfield players. It's a role that requires experience. A good young midfield player may well evolve into a good defensive midfielder given time but it's starting to look like that young Luke may not be given that opportunity. As a final thought, we are told that the favoured formation for the future is 4-4-2. I would love this to be put into action but realistically it will be difficult to accommodate a sitting defensive midfield player in such a formation. In modern football we would be overrun in midfield and the defensive midfield player would be quickly isolated. In fact instead of the defensive midfielder protecting the defense the opposite would be true. Finally, finally we shouldn't need to protect the defence, IF they did the job properly. This requires a properly honed defensive unit, not a haphazardly compiled back 4. Yes, WE NEED A PAIR OF BESPOKE FULL BACKS not journeymen jacks of all trades. Sorry Edwards & Kennedy are not full backs. They may still have roles to play but not as part of the defensive unit.

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Worcester added 22:53 - Apr 13 holding midfield = one up front either 4:5:1 or 4:1:4:1 You don't see 3:5:2 anymore do you.....probably cos it's cr@p
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bluecrossy added 23:23 - Apr 13 Gavin McCann. Defensive midfielder with bags of experience. Probably will be released by Bolton at the end of the season. Worth a punt?
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JayT added 23:38 - Apr 13 Guy Moussi is good and he was out of contract about a month ago but forest may have sorted that out. Also mikele leigertwood is good as someone has said and he has been on loan all season so may be able to buy.
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poringlandblue added 01:29 - Apr 14 thought leadbitter played the holding role based on the times he gets forward to score!!!!!!!
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Surco72 added 08:03 - Apr 14 Jas0999 stop with the two strikers talk ,we are scoring goals for fun playing with 1 striker ,9 in last 4 games not good enough for you seeing as your messiah Keane said we this squad didnt have more than a goal a game in them ? Hardly anyone is playing with 2 upfront they play 4-5-1 that switches to 4-3-3 when attacking and we need to do the same
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brian_a_mul added 09:09 - Apr 14 If we use def mid next season its hard to rely on a kid over a full season. An experienced head is required and someone Hyam can learn from. If Hyam is given first team spot and he gets suspended/injured etc we are screwed. He is an able back up player at the moment but he still needs to learn his trade. I see a possible loan for him next season if we do get an experienced def midfielder in.

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