Town boss Paul Jewell admitted he was struggling for ways to describe how bad his side’s defending had been during their 5-2 home defeat to Southampton.

Jewell said: “I’m struggling for words really because some of the defending we’ve seen tonight, I don’t know where it’s come from. We look frightened to death, absolutely frightened to death.

“They looked like cutting us open all the time on the break. We defended desperately and looked frightened to death.

“We gave them too much space to play in, certainly in the first half, and once it goes to 3-2, you’re thinking we’ve shown a bit of character, the fans have given everything they’ve got, but then we gave a goal away.

“Defend as a team, attack as a team. People were running from midfield but once their forwards get the ball down and play, you’re always going to be susceptible to midfield runners. They’re playing under no pressure. It was like the Alamo at times with them running from midfield and we couldn’t deal with it.”

The Blues boss was disappointed that the second half fightback fizzled out: “It was a bit of a cameo performance, 20 minutes in 90 isn’t good enough. At 3-0 down at half-time we were looking down a barrel.

“We started the second half on the front foot but even on the fifth goal we’re trying to play little balls. There are not enough of us that want to do the ugly things in football.

“I’m sick and tired of telling certain players that when we’ve got the ball they’ve got to mark.”

Jewell says the difference in the mentality of the two teams was all too evident: “They’re full of confidence, we’re scared to death to play at home, you could see that in the first half.

“Why that is I don’t know because the crowd here are terrific. We get to 3-2, everything is going our way and then the bubble bursts and we end up collapsing.

“For 20 minutes you think we might get something out of the game but once it goes against us, it goes against us. We just don’t seem to be able to stop that tide.

“We don’t seem to be able to grind anything out for 10 or 15 minute periods in games. When the opposition are on top, they create opportunities. It’s very worrying. The Norwich game was very, very similar.

“Mentally, we can’t get over the fear of playing here. And we’ve got to do it because this is the best place to play, this our home ground. We’ve got too many people going across the line completely lacking confidence the moment."

The Town manager says the Blues' continuing bad form at Portman Road is getting to him: "We lost 10 games at home last year, we let in five goals against Norwich, we lose by five tonight. It really hurts me. I'm not sure it hurts some of the players enough. We'll have a look at that video tomorrow. It won't be nice watching."

Jewell says he’s hopeful that he can add to his squad before Saturday’s visit to Peterborough United, with two bids having been made last week.

Southampton boss Nigel Adkins was unsurprisingly happy: "The first half was very pleasing. We continued what we've been doing and that's playing fluid football with lots of movement.

"We had a goal threat throughout the game and to be three-up at half-time was excellent.

"Ipswich made a couple of changes and that made it a hell of a game. We had to work very hard to keep a grasp on it and we played some exceptional football.

"We've got a winning mentality but it's very important we keep our standards and principles high. We've got a group of players who are very honest and hard-working professionals. We give them a framework to express themselves.

"We're only in the first week of the season and lots of teams - ourselves included - will have aspirations. But it's going to be a very demanding campaign and we've got to keep our principles high.

"We've got to keep working hard and give our fantastic supporters plenty to cheer about - then we'll see where we are at Christmas."

Photo: Action Images

brittaniaman added 08:16 - Aug 17 No wonder Marcus Evans left early, watching his money float away again. Southampton was like watching Norwich again, what is up with these league 1 teams, they seem to surge forward in numbers and we had no answer for it.
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GetSereniBack added 08:19 - Aug 17 Some of you 'fans' on here are unbelievable. We win 3-0 at bristol and everyone starts getting a little optimistic about the season, a few defeats on the trott and instantly everyone starts slating the managers, players and the owners etc. Jewell is working on a team that will get them promoted in a couple seasons. The problem is that everyone wants success instantly. The amount of pressure on the players to peform at home is unbelievable. For what ever amount of money in the world that they are on, they still don't want to get humiliated for 90 minutes. In Jewell we trust.

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Legend added 08:21 - Aug 17 Jewell has stated that it's "Work in progress" Have patience, it's a mararton not a sprint.
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das_bones added 08:22 - Aug 17 Dross
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brittaniaman added 08:27 - Aug 17 I can see Martin Jol looking at this result and saying what the hell is happening to my goalkeeper, I had better call him back to stop his humiliation, because I did see that it was beginning to affect him.
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MickMillsTash added 08:34 - Aug 17 It seems that our best 2 players are JET and Cresswell so you have to give Jewell some credit there. From this observation / fact I hope he learns that hungry young players are the ones we should sign and not premier flops or has beens. Really I do think that the given 2 new centre backs we have the makings of a good solid side, not one who will play like Norwich or Southampton but one who will be good enough to challenge for the top 6 I would never employ a scouser or a fattie (typically lazy people) but we have to give Jewell our support .

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scooterblue added 08:37 - Aug 17 if you keep telling certain players to mark the opposition and they don't, drop them then- whoever they are.
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BrettenhamBlue added 08:42 - Aug 17 britanniaman- You are probably right- but Jol's thinking a little differently about this. If anything- the ideal situation for a manager is to loan a goalkeeper to a team that- (a) Plays him week in/ week out and gives him good diet and fitness etc (b) Gives him plenty of target practice (i.e. has a dodgy defence so will really test the keeper). Jol is (most likely) perfectly happy with how things are shaping up. Stockdale is certainly heavily involved in all our games. His fitness and sharpness is being tested to the utmost and it will give Jol a good chance to test out his psyche. As for last night....still can't believe how bad the defence AND midfield were. I blamed Delaney and Smith last night (and still do)- but our midfield really should have come back to help and done the old "backs against the wall" routine. You can't rely on D & S to defend- they are simply not good enough. Even teams like St. Albans would ghost past our cd partnership like they are not even there....the midfield needs to get a grip and learn to help them out. Thought 3 of the new signings (Cresswell, JET and Chopra) played well. They must be looking at their new team mates though and shaking their heads in disbelief....we need to keep the morale of these players up immediately by- (a) Signing a new CB with experience (not Ingimarrson- he's unfit and was always injured last season) (b) Getting in a player who can bring something extra to midfield. When you think about some of our midfielders in the last few years (Garvan, Norris etc)- one thing they could do was pass the ball accurately to a striker AND then support them. (c) At least draw with Peter Utd so we can have some pride in our team. Its time to invest a bit more money in the transfer market. Maybe a couple of players from Liga Portuguesa or something....?

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thechangingman added 09:02 - Aug 17 So: "Jewell has stated that it's "Work in progress" Have patience, it's a mararton (sic) not a sprint." With the very greatest of respect, WHY should we have patience? Why should any Town fan have to exert the blind faith required to believe that our beloved team will inexorably rise out of these current ashes, even though pretty much ALL of the evidence suggests otherwise? In my opinion (which by the way I am allowed to have...) is that Ipswich Town Football Club is broken. It has been for some time now and anything short of a root-and-branch reform will, I believe, result in us limping along like this for the foreseeable future with only the prospect of slow, gradual decline, relegation and the humiliation of seeing our once-great club washed up on the shores of league obscurity. Now, my fellow Town fans - before you call me negative or cynical (or worse!) please think carefully before you respond to these comments. Don't just say - "keep the faith", "believe" or "get behind the team". I am asking WHY so take the time to give FACTUAL reasons as to why we should give our time, effort, money and love to this franchise (because that is exactly what it is...) I absolutely LOVE ITFC, I always have and I've been going to PR for nigh on 40 years. I want my club to succeed - I am just being honest about my deep concerns about our present and our immediate future... What do you think?

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Pessimistic added 09:17 - Aug 17 Where did all that money from Connor Wickham Go? We bought Chopra for 1.5milllion and Emmanuel Thomas did not come cheaply but that only accouts for a fraction of it. I can only assume only players wages? If Marcus Evans really wants a team that is challenging for a Prem birth then he must dig deeper.
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John added 09:19 - Aug 17 couldn't agree more changing man!!! I wish it was as simple as getting in a couple of CH's.
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PunchNoHopers added 09:29 - Aug 17 Well if Jewell is struggling to find ways to explain defending, here's a few clues! i) team selection was wrong from the start ii) team lacked width in the first half, iii) team lacks pace. iv) Centre backs simply aren't good enough at this level, v) we don't have a right-back! Plain for everyone to see, I would have thought or am I missing the obvious!
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jas0999 added 09:30 - Aug 17 As I said before his appointment, PJ is not the right man for this club. Bluelady et al have continue to talk about him being an attacking 'proper manager'. I urge you all to look at our home results under PJ and can anyone tell me their reaction if Roy/Jim had delivered this rubbish. In fact, lets look at out last few results going back to the Norwich game Ipswich 1 Norwich 5 Swansea 4 Ipswich 1 Ipswich 2 Preston 1 (were playing well with a 4-4-2, PJ changed to a 4-5-1 and we were lucky to hold on!) Leicester 4 Ipswich 2 Bristol 0 Ipswich 3 Ipswich 1 Northampton 2 Ipswich 0 Hull 1 (boring) Ipswich 2 Southampton 5 Add to this defeats at QPR, home loses to Watford, Reading and Pompey. Please NO EXCUSES. PJ is WORSE than Roy and Jim. THREE straight home defeats and still people say it's not PJ's fault? There are some deluded people. The board have a tough choice, because Paul is not right for this club. Attendances will fall with him as manager and he has completely failed to get the right players in the right positions (exception of Chopra and Cresswell).. The whole club is a shambles. JEWELL OUT.

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tractorboybig added 09:49 - Aug 17 well paul if you cant explain it I can. Your team is cra*. You have been here six months, money to spend and we are getting worse performances than last year. If this is the best team you can put out then we are in the s**t.
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randomblue added 09:53 - Aug 17 Thanks for last night - I work in an office of Budgie fans - it's going to be a hell of a day. New defence (except Cressy), new captain. I don't get this whole scarred, panic mentality! Do you think the likes of rugby players get scarred of playing - behave! If I under performed in my job like they did last night I would be out the door quicker than a bullet out a gun!

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Premiertown added 10:01 - Aug 17 I don't think there is any more money. Sunderland have wickham on hp so we are broke in more ways than one. Why else would we contemplate letting expensive wages Leadbitter go?
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algarvefan added 10:04 - Aug 17 jas0999 you can't lay all the problems at PJ's door, you can trace the demise of ITFC to when Marcus Evans took over and we became Marcus Evans PLC. The club is sick from top to bottom and the damage Roy Keane did to the squad was immense and will take several years to put right. Will PJ do it...to be honest I want him to but am beginning to doubt his tactical ability. Whatever his faults he's much better for the club than Keane ever was. He has to be given this season to try and start to turn it round.

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NSL added 10:05 - Aug 17 What I saw last night was a joke team and an expensive joke at that. The league has changed since Paul Jewell took Bradford and Wigan up and he is clearly out of touch. Jesus.
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Drew added 10:09 - Aug 17 Mr Jewell, bring in two centre backs from league 1/league 2, players who are hungry and have something to prove, not the dross we have or players who just want an easy pay packet from the prem. also, get a decent right back, whatever happened to Adam smith from Spurs?
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StowTractorBoy added 10:21 - Aug 17 Drew I may be wrong but I believe he has gone to MK Dons on loan.
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Fuzzydoodle added 10:23 - Aug 17 I was going to put an interesting and thoughtful post on the board but then 'Smithy' beat me to it. Sometimes I wonder if managers are too close to the situation to see the blatantly obvious. The captain needs to be a leader by example, who motivates his team-mates, I'm not sure GL is the right man, especially if he's played out of position. No player should be played out of position unless a squad is injury stricken, it never works on a consistent basis. Eight new players need time to gel - I don't think the result against Bristol City actually did us any favours, it led to false expectations. The comments from PJ regarding the defensive issues mirror that from the Keane days so we know its a personnel problem. Do we have a good enough defensive coach? I wonder? PJ is definitely the right man for the job but he can't keep making the same tactical and managerial mistakes over and over again, otherwise the fans support and patience will wear very thin quickly. Look towards to lower leagues and get some hunger and confidence back into the team.

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blueherts added 10:25 - Aug 17 Yep Adam Smith off to MK Dons - he is the sort of young hungry player we need plus 3 or 4 others - Creswell proves that young hungry kids wanting to impress far better than a Bowyer - This is now a test for Jewell and his backroom - lets see where we are in 7 games , then we can really start to celebrate OR take action
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50yearsablue added 10:30 - Aug 17 A lot of sense written here and also a great deal of nonsense fuelled by angry emotion. After Saturday, this was hard to take and we have a right to be angry. Having said that, our biggest problem is overtly in central defence (doesn't take Einstein to spot that) and Paul Jewell has tried to address that; without success I admit. A few comments have rightly also observed that it is far too easy to get through our midfield and at the central defence. Southampton are a decent team and got their tactics spot on but we were defensively (as a unit) awful. I feel the crowd did their best to rouse the team after the break and if only Leadbitter had scored with a free header at 3-2, who knows? I'm mystified why we didn't test Davis again after then as our rally petered out and we allowed them to regain control with inevitable results. Some positives, yes, but still a long long way to go.

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TrueBlue1983 added 10:52 - Aug 17 A disgraceful performance. I can't believe we played 4-4-2 and started with all centre midfielder in midfield. Lee Bowyer looks terrible, he has only come down here for a pay day and poor old Leadbitter is no right midfielder. Smith and Delaney were poor and we badly need a centre half and a right back because Carlos Edwards is not the answer. Why not give Priskin upfront with Chops, he will run all day and support him unlike useless Scotland. You need to sort it out quick Paul Jewell or we are going to end up battling against relegation. Rant over....... Lets hope they play better on Saturday when everyone can watch them on Sky lol

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Kammy added 10:55 - Aug 17 How many knee-jerk reactions have been posted on this site in the last 12 hours?! It is clear we need at least 2 new defenders, and a creative midfielder. The club will string some results together, and we will make the playoffs this year. Give Jewell credit for the players he has bought in, and have faith that he is a quality manager, sees the players in training every day and has got 2 teams promoted in the past. If there is anyone more qualified than him to turn a team around, then i'd like to know. I for one hope he gets two seasons at least to stamp his mark on this team. COYB

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