Manager Paul Jewell believes Saturday’s opening day 3-0 victory at Bristol City will have given his squad a major confidence boost but says his players weren’t getting carried away in the dressing room afterwards. The Blues boss has said he needs to instil a winning mentality in the squad after a number of underachieving seasons.

Speaking after Saturday's game, Jewell said: “There’s nothing like winning matches to get that mentality. I can talk all I like, we can say all the right things, we can have all the psychologists you want, but winning matches is the best remedy for it.

“We’ve only won one match and if you go in the dressing room here, there’s no whooping and hollering from the players. They know that we can always improve and I want us to improve.

“We’re a new team, we had six or seven new faces today. It’s going to take time, so I don’t want people getting carried away and thinking we’re going to run away with the league. It’s not going to be like that. It’s a very a difficult league, but we’re delighted with the start, but not satisfied.”

Despite the Blues’ three-goal margin of victory, Jewell was still a livewire on the touchline, but says that that was nothing compared to some games, even if he thought he might have done himself an injury: “That wasn’t agitated, although I think I’ve pulled my hamstring!

“You want a clean sheet and there are no easy places to go in the Championship. There will be results up and down the country all year which will surprise people, but that shouldn’t be a surprise because everyone is capable of beating everyone else.

“Today was our day, but the home game against Hull next week will be totally different. Every game is difficult. Bristol City are a good team but today was our day.”

Saturday’s star man was two-goal striker Michael Chopra, who the Blues boss believes gives the side something it didn’t have prior to his £1.5 million arrival from Cardiff: “What we’ve lacked since January when I came here is that ball over the top where you can get a striker on to it quickly. They’ve got [a striker like that] in Maynard, he’s a constant threat to the back four.

“Although it was a terrific ball by Mark Kennedy, what Chopra does is make decent balls out of balls that maybe last year would have been defended comfortably.”

Photo: Action Images

bobble added 07:36 - Aug 8 wouldn't want a bunch of naked blokes getting carried away in the dressing room now would we ? not unless i am invited that is.
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Mark added 07:39 - Aug 8 Jewell says exactly the rights things again. Well done to him and the team Saturday. As for Chopra, we have missed a quality striker like him since Darren Bent left in June 2005. For some reason both Magilton and Keane spent more on other areas of the team than the attack and left us goal-shy, but it looks like that has changed now with the likes of Chopra, JET and Ellington coming in. Here's to an exciting season!

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LancsBlue added 08:19 - Aug 8 Mark - I think you'll find that Keane spent rather a lot on Priskin and Scotland!
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bedsitfc added 08:31 - Aug 8 i think the win will help in selling the club to transfer targets. i know it is only one game but great result.
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Pessimistic added 08:31 - Aug 8 Yes, I too am feeling very confident this time around but not overly so because this will be a long hard season with peaks and troughs along the way. The Town faithful who travelled the distance to Bristol perhaps deserved this more than most of us. Congratulations to you all!
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urbanblue added 08:36 - Aug 8 Yep, so far so good. One of the most pleasing aspects for me is the form of the much maligned Leadbitter. Sounds like he had a great game. Hope it continues as it will be like having another new player as has happened with Lee Martin. Lets keep it up eh !
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Back_The_Boss added 08:47 - Aug 8 Great start to the season, with 3 standout summer signings impressing, those being Cresswell, Chopra and Bowyer ( with the latter deserving a goal late on in game)
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OsborneOneNil added 08:49 - Aug 8 Leadbitter played ok, he didn't have a 'great game'.
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bontcho added 09:01 - Aug 8 i'm glad Chopra's granny wasn't playing for Bristol City. No one wants to see that.
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hb_bill added 09:17 - Aug 8 Bontcho that was as good a comment as Towns performance on Saturday. Nice one lol.
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ryan added 09:32 - Aug 8 Hull will be the real test, Bristol city never start the season well.
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robdaful added 09:59 - Aug 8 Good start. We are top of the league. Say we are top of the league :)
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sonian_blue added 10:36 - Aug 8 I was also delighted with the win, but not satisfied with the £35 parking ticket on arrival back at the car!!! Still it didnt wipe the smile off my face and agree with other comments on Chopra, its great to finally have a striker that makes things happen. His two on Saturday were classic poacher goals. James cocked up but Chopra forced the errors (especially the 2nd) and was there to capitalise. Good solid performance all round and I think the signing of Bowyer could be a real coup.

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Surco72 added 11:35 - Aug 8 We were excellent all over the pitch ,solid through the middle with flair and pace on both flanks with a finisher in the middle . The sun was shining and our fans in great voice the team look unified already and up for the season something we have not had for a long time ,we have a system and direction and will be knocking on the door come the end of season
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ITFC4daprem added 11:42 - Aug 8 Hopefully 5-0 Tuesday COYB
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