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Jewell Expecting Electric Atmosphere
Jewell Expecting Electric Atmosphere
Thursday, 21st Apr 2011 07:47

Town manager Paul Jewell is expecting an electric atmosphere at Portman Road for tonight’s near sell-out East Anglian derby. The 46-year-old, who watched November’s 4-1 defeat at Carrow Road while away watching the Ashes in Australia, will be experiencing his first Town-Norwich game as Blues boss.

Jewell said: “It’s going to be electric. I have to say that the support since I’ve been here has been magnificent. We went to Bristol City on Saturday for what was in essence a mid-table game and took 1,000 people, which was terrific and it’s appreciated, certainly by myself and the staff. It’s great to see.

“We’d love to see Portman Road sold out for all our home games next season - that would mean that we are doing OK.

“They will have a huge part to play, whether there are 30,000 there or 10,000. There is no club without the supporters and it would be nice to give them something to cheer about against Norwich.”

The Merseysider says he knows what derbies mean to fans having been a regular at Anfield as a child, but says as a manager he is ultimately looking beyond just the one match, as important as it might be: “I know what these games mean to fans, having grown up as a Liverpool supporter as a kid, but at the same time our plan is longer term than that.

“It would be wonderful if we could beat Norwich, but my job’s about trying to get Ipswich in the position where they are next season. We’d love to beat Norwich, not because it’s Norwich, but because it’s the next game.

“I know that the first thing that the fans do when they get the fixture list is look at the two derby games, I’m aware of that.

“I’m not cold and think it doesn’t mean something different, it does. It means more to the fans and probably a little bit more to us, but we only get three points for it and they only get three points if they beat us and we both want to get the points.

“Without being cold about it, we’ve got to be up for it but keep a clear head at times in the game when you can let the occasion get to you.”

Jewell, who was joined for his pre-match press conference by coach Sean McCarthy, says he watched the away game, in which the Blues fell to a heavy defeat after Damien Delaney had been controversially red-carded, with no idea that he’d be in charge the next time the sides met: “I didn’t dream that a few months later I’d be the manager. I was out in Australia watching the cricket in a barmy army pub somewhere.

“The game was slipping away from Ipswich. Every mistake we made we seemed to get punished for. It obviously hurt the supporters, obviously hurt the players and also the manager at the time. People say we owe them one but we owe ourselves as much as anything.

“We’ve got four games left and if we can finish the season on a good little run it will put us in good stead for next season.”

The soon-to-be Town manager spent time in Brisbane and coincidentally played golf in the town of Ipswich close by before doing some coaching down the Gold Coast.

Jewell says the early part of this week was spent resting after Saturday’s exertions at Bristol City and that the management team began to look at Thursday’s game more in depth — including talking about the Carrow Road match — yesterday.

“The last two days have mainly been recovery because in the heat against 10 men it was a sterling effort. We’ve been trying to give them a bit of rest and today we’ll start preparing for Thursday,” he said.

“We’ve got one or two injuries and we will speak about what went on at Carrow Road and how we can avoid it this time. “

Grant Leadbitter could still play despite suffering a head injury at Bristol City on Saturday, while Mark Kennedy is back training with the physios after his hamstring problem and is in contention but appears unlikely to replace Darren O’Dea at left-back.

Leadbitter and Kennedy will be assessed this morning along with a couple of other unnamed players who have minor niggles, one perhaps Gareth McAuley who hurt his ankle in the first half at Bristol City. Lee Martin is suspended.

As of last night Town had around 300 restricted view seats left, available on the phone and to personal callers to the Ticket Office from 9am on a first come, first served basis. A crowd close to 30,000 expected at the first evening East Anglian derby for 13 years.


Photo: Action Images



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Eggroy added 07:50 - Apr 21
Im expecting to be able to see some yellow tears when we stuff them for 5!
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Back_The_Boss added 08:01 - Apr 21
C'mon PJ as it looks like another bog standard season, and certainly not by any fault down to you, this is what the Town fans will judge you and the team on. A tight 2-1 Town win but a good win nonetheless. COYB! Beers from 11 o'clock onwards!
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JewellsRimet added 08:02 - Apr 21
Let's hope it's a cracker under the lights, three points and trouble free.
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Suffolk_n_Good added 08:12 - Apr 21
Come on Town!! we have been a different team under PJ, lets serve up some stuffed canaries for Good Friday!!
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gypo added 08:21 - Apr 21
I know he's a fecking cheating diving budge tw@t but keep off holts back remember nugent and Sharp and what they done when the north started abusing them !!
But then again when that snipper takes him out I'll most probably be the 1st jumping up and down wanting to do things to him that you would only find on a saw movie.
COYB BOYS WIN WIN WIN
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Karlosfandangal added 08:35 - Apr 21
QPR play Cardiff tomorrow so its a must win game for us,
Still think we will meet Norwich in the play offs.

O to beat them in the play off and get promoted.

I can dream
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das_bones added 08:38 - Apr 21
Budgiegeddon! COYB!!!!!
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Matteo_Sereni added 09:06 - Apr 21
Im on the 2pm train from Liverpool Street to Ipswich....beers on the train! Bring it on!
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tractorblue99 added 09:10 - Apr 21
ITS AN OMEN!!!! The last time we had nearly 30,000 people in the stadium was for the Arsenal game. Where I believe that we put in one of the best performances that I have ever seen. Same again please!
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StowTractorBoy added 09:26 - Apr 21
I may be in the minority but personally I hate these games and the fear of losing to them is too much to take for me. If we lose the tele does not go on for fear of seeing their goals and all those chirping Norwich fans celebrating. I have in the past disappeared for two hours when we have played them away for what good it does as disappearing does not change what will happen. It never used to be like this but the hype now pulls you along. Come on Town just don't lose.
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lezoad added 09:33 - Apr 21
does anybody know how many tickets have been sold
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Matteo_Sereni added 09:34 - Apr 21
well seeing the article says 300 left.......
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poggie added 09:36 - Apr 21
Can't wait!! Hope it has all the excitement of last night's north London derby ... but with a better result - ie all 6 goals for us please!!
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TimmyH added 09:36 - Apr 21
lets hope it's as good as the London derby last night - Norwich have more to lose than us, as long as the team gives it 100% and our fans do their bit you can't ask for anymore, maybe a female stripper before the game would be good too! (Can't ever remember one at Portman Road).
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ITFCed added 09:39 - Apr 21
Not all seats are sold due to some seats being unsafe. Anyway let's stuff those budgies tonight and get 3 points off the playoffs
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dirtyboy added 09:40 - Apr 21
Let's make sure we make ourselves heard, no point having 30,000 if it's only the few thousand away supporters you can hear huh?

COYB!

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Matteo_Sereni added 09:47 - Apr 21
very true dirtyboy...come on!
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SouperJim added 09:50 - Apr 21
I would usually agree with Gypo, but on this occasion I think we should draw attention to the fact that Holt is a diving cheat of epic proportions.

Du, du, du, Holty is a diver! Du, du, du, Holty is a diver! (conga)

He's gonna dive, he's gonna dive, he's gonna, Grant Holt's gonna dive! (3 lions)

Grant Holt is a diving cheat, Grant Holt is a diving cheat, Grant Holt is a diving cheat, Grant Holt is a diving cheat! (go west - pet shop boys)
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itfc1981 added 09:54 - Apr 21
COME ON YOU BLUES! get the win anyway you can!
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LollITFC added 09:58 - Apr 21
10-0 to town of course (can but dream) ..... COYB :)
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tallguy6767 added 10:48 - Apr 21
STOWTRACTORBOY. Grow some balls !!!
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Lightningboy added 10:59 - Apr 21
Best of luck tonight guys..wish I could be there to see it.

PJ & co..to get us so close to the play-offs has been miraculous..nice one.

*Note to R.Keane...Just goes to show that any "half-decent" manager can get a team into the top half ;o)
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broomfield123 added 11:03 - Apr 21
Was the last time we played um on a night game was it the megson own goal
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dobbie73 added 11:19 - Apr 21
Finishing work at midday, pub by 2. Can't wait, I'm buzzing like a cheap Russian lighbulb!

COYB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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TotalBlue added 11:24 - Apr 21
Info from bbc Holt is a doubt also
Ipswich

* Ipswich and Coventry are the only teams to have registered as few as three home draws in the Championship this season.

* The Suffolk club are three goals away from their 2,000th in the second tier.

* David Norris is set to make his 100th league start in an Ipswich shirt

Now 3-0 would be perferct
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