Boss Paul Jewell says no one at Town is mentioning the Blues’ very much outside chance of gate-crashing the play-offs. Instead, everyone is fully focused on Thursday’s local derby with Norwich City at Portman Road.

Jewell dismissed his side’s chances of making a late burst into the top six as “highly unlikely” with only four games remaining: “I think I preferred the relegation questions!

“We know we’ve got a massive game on Thursday. It’s a local derby and people have been telling me since I got here that the atmosphere’s going to be sensational.

“We’re not even mentioning the play-offs. We’ve got a very tough game against a really good team in Norwich and it’s a game which we’re really looking forward to.”

Overall, the Blues manager is happy with recent results and performances: “We’ve been on a decent run. I think our away form has been really, really good. I think we’re difficult to beat.

“But we’ve got a very tough game on Thursday, a big game for the fans as well as the players against Norwich and all our energies and focus must be on that not looking back.”

Meanwhile, keeper Arran Lee-Barrett, who spent time with the Norwich academy after being released by home-town club Town as a schoolboy, says he’s yet to formally be offered his new contract: “I spoke to the manager last Wednesday. He said there will be an offer and that’s the way it has been left. But I would like to have the offer. I haven’t seen it yet.”

Photo: Action Images

OnlyOneSirBobby added 17:47 - Apr 18 to me this is simply the media making something out of nothing.....from how i interpretted what clegg said, was simply that the club would not be held to ransom, not that he was saying that anybody was, just that the club would not. i think this could well have been taken out of context by the media, and therefore angered the players, although sounds like PJ has reassured them with his post-match comments. either way, i dont rate clegg at all...think he is useless when it comes to getting players to sign....as much as roy was disliked he was always honest, and so when he said he had players wanting to come to us and then not signing, that falls on clegg!

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Garv added 17:51 - Apr 18 The first game was on bbc
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bluearmy4life added 17:58 - Apr 18 Good to know PJ Is focused on the big one. I'm going for a two nil home win. I don't want the scum to score hearing the norfolk herd cheer is like hearing a bunch of cows in the field.:)
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Vexorg added 19:08 - Apr 18 Clegg = Army Boy. Yes sir, no sir, no questions asked. All goes back to ME ...
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blue_beats_yellow added 20:28 - Apr 18 Norwich have been in fine form all season, they're in that mind state of winning matches, they have been for almost two seasons now. I'm hoping we win it like everyone, we're in great form atm. imagine if we finished 6th and Norwich 3rd haha.
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choprawontcome added 21:27 - Apr 18 what does this tell you about the bloke who obviously had some say in keanes appointment????,most of 'his' players signed deals and hes let it get to this point,sorry but we need a change mr clegg and its you that should be having your contract terminated,the only decent thing youve done is help bringing jewell in and thanks for that,everything else you are a disaster.COYB stuff the budgies and lets leave the politics for now shall we.....full credit to the players and the manager for performances of late which have pushed us away from trouble,to even be contemplating the playoffs now is quite some achievement.

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CraigForrestGateau added 21:50 - Apr 18 Wouldn't want to get into the playoffs in some respects because I dont think the squad is strong enough for it. On the other hand I guess you just never know. But I'll take an exciting game thursday with a victory over the scum and a party atmosphere in town afterwards please! Otherwise It'll be straight home and a cup of ovaltine!
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nobbyclark added 22:15 - Apr 18 Hi Guys,greetings from New Zealand. Is the Derby game live on Thursday where i can watch it on the net???
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whoppit added 22:50 - Apr 18 I have a good feeling that we will win against the scum very comfortably. And may I just say that Jewell has done a pretty good job and I think we are looking good for next year !!!!
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StochesStotasBlewe added 22:55 - Apr 18 COYB. Talk of the play offs is squit, but!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! £90 million potentialy in the richest outcome of a game, do me a favour, we would take that ready or not surely. Club made for life financially, etc etc.
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h32 added 23:18 - Apr 18 ..... that lot from Carrot Road will be more than a bit squeaky about coming here right now - so we have every opportunity to make the most of it, and must attack them from the start. The ability is there to beat them - all it needs is the attitude to do just that. NOT impossible by any means - and I expect it to happen.
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Tractorog added 01:12 - Apr 19 Is Grant Holt going to be able to take a break from his role in the Village People Tribute Band to play on Thursday night?
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KnightZ_87 added 02:07 - Apr 19 Lets try to win all our remaining games, and look at the table then. You never know. I would like to see town be top of the league next season, but IF we made the play offs and went up. Regardless of ready or not, i dont think anyone would mind the financial windfall of making it there. Its a 50/50 situation. We would probably get crushed every week, but the bottom line is we would get there, get money, and still have money if we were relegated and have a better financial position for mounting a real return the following year. Its so slim though. Lets worry about crashing the scums automatic promotion party first! (One more thing though, back to the 'What if' imagine Town v Scum playoff final?)

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michaeldownunder added 07:32 - Apr 19 Lets hope we can talk about playoffs after Thursday night I think it's going to be a tighter game than we think/hope for Saying that if our 'teen's' play well we should get a few goals Nobby Clark cannot see the game being shown downunder on any tv stations so far in sunny Briz-Vagas
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bobble added 08:34 - Apr 19 this must be the most unlocal derby game in england surely ' the distance between the 2 clubs is further than the width of some small countries isn't it ?
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TimmyH added 16:29 - Apr 19 we'll take Narrddggee right out on thursday, they've looked pretty good all season but our fans and players will be right up for this one! 2-1 I reckon.
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h32 added 22:08 - Apr 19 .... at em' boys - from the whistle and don't let up.
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comeonthegoodtimes added 08:57 - Apr 20 I believe it will be a draw, Both teams are on form but Norwich are good away from home and always score. 2-2. I'd take that, I'm not to bothered if Norwich go up this season as i hate to say it but they have played some good stuff. Don't get me wrong there's only one team in my heart and i will be supporting the blue and white of the mightly town although you have to take your hat off to the budgies up the road, IF they go up then you have to say they deserve it.

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