Blues boss Paul Jewell conceded that Town’s 4-5-1 formation may be more suited to away games after Town’s 1-0 home defeat to Hull City. However, the Liverpudlian felt Saturday’s result was more down to his players not being at their best.

Jewell said: “It may possibly be a formation which works better away from home but we’ve got to have the personnel.

“However, I think whatever formation we play, we’re entitled to create more chances at home than we did against Hull.

“We had a few players who were off the pace, no doubt about that. We can talk formations all day long, it’s about 11 players really.”

Speaking ahead of the game, the Town manager said his side sometimes find it harder at home than they do away, something which again proved to be the case against the Tigers: “Teams often come at us when we’re away from home and at home the onus is on the home team, that’s always been the way in football. That’s why the first goal is vital.

“We hit a couple of diagonal balls in great situations and we either mis-controlled the ball or didn’t get a cross in. We’ve a newish half-a-team there. We’ve got to get better and we will get better.

“I wasn’t getting too excited last week and, although I’m disappointed, it’s not as if I’ve just woken up and thought ‘bloody hell! We’re not going to win the league!’. It’s a work in progress.”

Jewell says Saturday’s match illustrated the tightness of the division: “It is a tough league. Nothing comes easy in life. The team which will get out of this league will be consistent.

“Everyone thinks Leicester will run away with it because they have more spending power than anyone else.

“I was speaking to Nigel Pearson before the match and he was saying every game is the toss of a coin - the teams are really, really evenly matched.

“Everyone thinks they should be in the top six, everyone thinks they are dark horses, that’s the way it is. This time last week I was saying ‘we’ve won 3-0 but let’s not get too excited’.”

Photo: Action Images

thechangingman added 17:22 - Aug 15 More inspirational insights from the man at the helm...
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jas0999 added 19:52 - Aug 15 AT Last! PJ has finally realised that 4-5-1 doesn't work at home - sadly almost 8 MONTHS too late. The damage has been done - terrible performances playing bitterly negative football against Norwich, Watford and Reading has meant attendances are very low - the reason is because lots of people don't want to watch us play with an isolated striker and holding midfielder at HOME. Sure, it probably does work away. It took 29 MINUTES to have a shot at goal on Saturday - it's not good enough. I know there are one or two deluded folk who still think PNJ is an attacking manager, but sadly little evidence of this in his reign so far. Things must improve before he loses us even more fans. No point PNJ making excuses about not having the personnel, after 8 MONTHS that's his fault.

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Umros added 22:43 - Aug 15 4-5-1 = get the ball out to the wide men using the whole pitch NOT lump the ball up in the air down the centre de-motivating a striker in form...........
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bobble added 02:25 - Aug 16 the dark lord always played 7-3-0 and look how well that worked
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