Town boss Paul Jewell was happy enough with his side’s first half performance during the 1-1 draw at Southend but was less pleased with his team’s display after the break.

Jewell said: “In the first half I thought we played very well. We had a little look at a different system that we might play next season in certain games.

“In the first half hour we were certainly very good. In the second, it was like chalk and cheese really, it was a disappointing performance in the second half but these pre-season games are all about getting fit.”

The Blues had a tendency to fade after the break during 2010/11, something the Town boss says they need to overcome: “It’s a trait of ours that we had last season that we’ve got to put right — when we come under a bit of pressure we give possession away too cheaply. They made the pitch big, whereas in the first half we were in complete control of the game.

“In the second half we didn’t start off right and if you don’t start off right it’s always going to be difficult.

“It was a decent tempo, fair play to Southend, they were the better team for periods of the second half. We had a couple of chances which we should have scored but we didn’t.

“These pre-season games you can get false aspirations one way or the other, but I think we all know we’re at least a couple of players short.”

Jewell confirmed that strikers Michael Chopra and Tamás Priskin are not suffering with serious injuries: “Michael just hurt his ankle in the first half and obviously we don’t want to be taking any chances. It was nothing serious but we whipped him off straight away. It was just a precaution.

“Tamás got a knee in his back yesterday and it was a bit sore and a bit stiff this morning, but nothing serious.”

Photo: Action Images

BotesdaleBlue added 22:21 - Jul 22 Keep the faith and don't panic
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Suffolk_n_Good added 22:27 - Jul 22 "Tamas got a knee in his back yesterday"..... bet that was PJ trying to gee him up a bit!!
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pazelle added 22:32 - Jul 22 When those 2 get back from injury they must start together at last! I'll drive to Portman Road to watch that! Good to see that this is just a formation we will use sparingly. 442 against Bristol City though please Paul - let's go for it! But 451 when leading by 2 away or to the really strong teams away from the start. That made sense.
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pitseablue added 22:35 - Jul 22 Agree with P.J. I thought we did play some good stuff first half, cracking goal by Martin, who I thought played well all night. Drury also impressed when he came on. Fair scoreline and good game for a pre season friendly.
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jas0999 added 22:37 - Jul 22 Need to get players in soon. Disappointing their appears to be little news. Good news the injuries aren't serious. Here's hoping PJ will not be playing a 4-5-1 at PR as there can be absolutely no excuse for it - the Norwich at home game last season should be a reminder why it's not acceptable - in fact let's hope he has a change of heart and doesn't play it at all.
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legoman added 22:43 - Jul 22 Me to Pazelle
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Mark added 22:55 - Jul 22 I hope we do sign a new striker, as surely then we can put 4-5-1 to bed forever! Okay, it may occasionally have its uses away from home but at Portman Road and against lower league sides away we should be more attacking. It's fine to experiment in pre-season though, and good to see Hyam get a game. There is lots more to do before the season starts. We've been very prudent so far. £2M spent well I think, but we will need to invest in some younger players if we are to do anything next season and beyond.

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phumph added 23:12 - Jul 22 Just got back from the game. I was so looking forward to the start of the season, but now im just resigned to watch the same rubbish as last season. Yes, I know it was a pre season friendly, and chopra came off early, but I sat and watched nothing new. No new ideas, just a few new players in the same old role. We know Scotland can't play upfront on his own and he couldn't score in a brothel with £100 in his pants. We know Edwards is not a full back, we also know Smith is not a decent CB. This performance just highlights how short we still are. No new ideas or any real creation. Yes Lee Martin looks fit and ready for the season ahead, but we can't rely on his pace alone. PJ still has alot of work to do. And he had better do it soon. I hope I am wrong and at the Col U game it will all come good. Here's hoping.

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Karlosfandangal added 23:28 - Jul 22 Jewell needs to spend this transfer budget that Clegg said he has. We have lost the 4 best players from last year and and only replaced 2 of them really. (Chopra for Wickham and Bowyer for Bullard) Ingarmarsson is always injured and Ellington is not better than Scotland We are a weaker side than last year, we need another class striker and midfielder and 2 new CB plus a right back and not keep looking at old men who are free. sorry but its hard to keep the faith, too many years of poor football and cant see it changing this season Jewell will need 2 or 3 years to build a team and if we keep letting are best go then we have no hope (Wickham's and McAuley's)

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robdaful added 00:34 - Jul 23 Need to get the defense sorted. Hope Chopra isn't out for long.
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fourth added 06:31 - Jul 23 Need a defensive coach. Is PJ missing a trick? You would hope that he'd be able to improve performance at half time
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WonkyZombie added 09:21 - Jul 23 Karlos - There is no way we're WEAKER than last season. Maybe not much better but Jewell has had the whole pre-season up to now to cement his own ideas with the how Town used to play. For starters he seems to be getting tonnes more out of Martin and Drury already. Things are starting to shape up in my eyes. In short, Bugger Norris and Mcauley. That's old news. Slightly worrying that we haven't replaced them yet, especially Mcauley's spot but it will get sorted. Have the faith!

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Leoipswich added 10:36 - Jul 23 Im sure we will get better by the season the team just need a bit of time but by august 6th we will be a good team!
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town1983 added 13:15 - Jul 23 Are we fit enough? No fitness coach.....
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paulnstar added 19:02 - Jul 23 went to the game and southend were well up 4 it ,some crunching tackles but they had a lot of pace throughout their side something ipswich didnt seem to have a lot of apart from martin ,town just play keep ball but there never seems to be an end product .Cant see town challenging this year especially if scotland is playing he is dreadful
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