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Jewell Looking for Town to Bounce Back in Front of Cameras
Jewell Looking for Town to Bounce Back in Front of Cameras
Friday, 19th Aug 2011 16:27

Town boss Paul Jewell is looking for his side to bounce back to form when they visit Peterborough United for this season’s first live TV game on Saturday evening (Sky Sports Two 5pm, KO 5.20pm). Despite their poor home performances, the Blues’ only away trip so far this campaign yielded a 3-0 opening day win at Bristol City.

Jewell was struggling to explain why his side had been so defensively poor during the 5-2 defeat to Southampton straight after the match, but says he, his staff and the players reviewed the performance on Wednesday: “When you give a press conference 15 minutes after a defeat like that you are very raw and you’re hurting.

“But we came in the next morning and went through the DVD and it was some very, very poor defending, there’s no doubt about it, and we got punished for that.

“We got back in the game at 3-2, you were thinking that if we got a point or even three points out of the game it would be a terrific comeback. But unfortunately we’re getting punished every time we make an error, whether defensively or when we miss a chance.

“It’s like everything in the game, you’ve got to cut out the basic errors, and if we do that, we’ll be all right.”

The Blues boss says the issue is not just with much-criticised central defensive pair Damien Delaney and Tommy Smith but with the manner in which his entire team defends: “There’s a lot of work to do here, there’s no doubt about it.

“We’ve got to defend better as a group, it’s as simple as that. It’s been our Achilles’ heel since I’ve been here; at home when we attack we get caught on the break. It’s happened time after time.

“We work and work on it, but we still make the same mistakes. We know we have to cut them out.”

The Blues boss is expecting the usual tough Championship encounter against a Peterborough side which has won one, drawn on and lost once since promotion via the play-offs after one season in League One: “I saw them the other night against Millwall when they came back from 2-0 down.


“They’re a very good footballing team, Darren Ferguson’s done well there. It’ll be a very tough game. I think the results the other night, when Bristol City won at Leicester, Brighton went to Cardiff and won 3-1, after Cardiff had gone to West Ham and won, show that there are no games in this league that you can call. There are no ‘gimmes’ in this league.”

Jewell may well be tempted to return to the 4-5-1 formation which served his side so well at Ashton Gate, having switched to his favoured 4-4-2 against Southampton. However, with Peterborough lining up 4-4-2 he may choose to match Posh like-for-like rather than reverting back to a single striker.

Either way, with no injuries aside from central defender Ívar Ingimarsson, who is out for two weeks with a thigh strain, David Stockdale will be in goal with Aaron Cresswell and Carlos Edwards likely to be the full-backs.

With no new defensive addition to the squad, the Blues boss again faces the choice of whether to bring Jack Ainsley — mainly a right-back rather than a centre-half - in for his full league debut on the right of Damien Delaney at the centre of the defence. Jewell though, may well again go with the greater experience of Tommy Smith, who like the Irishman is more comfortable on the left rather than the right.

Academy second-year scholar Joe Whight is understood to have impressed at centre-half for the reserves in their behind-closed-doors friendly against Luton in the week but is also left-sided. However, the 17-year-old could well be in Paul Jewell’s thoughts for a role on the bench. If he does get a surprise first team debut, it’s more likely to be at full-back, allowing Cresswell to push into midfield.

If Jewell starts with a midfield four, he will have to decide between skipper Grant Leadbitter, Lee Bowyer and new signing Keith Andrews for the two central roles. Veteran Bowyer might be the man to drop out of what would be his third game in a week. Mark Kennedy also seems likely to switch to place amongst the subs.

Lee Martin and Josh Carson could take up the wide berths with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas behind Michael Chopra up front. If Town go with a midfield five, Emmanuel-Thomas could well be on one flank with Bowyer probably keeping his place in the centre.

Posh boss Darren Ferguson is expecting a Town side stung by Tuesday’s heavy loss, a match he attended: “I’m never sure how to view results like Ipswich suffered on Tuesday. Southampton were very good and Ipswich didn’t play very well, but teams tend to react positively to defeats like that.

“I know Ipswich manager Paul Jewell very well and there’s no way he will accept another performance like that so I’m expecting them to be very difficult opponents tomorrow.

“It could be that they are better suited to away matches anyway, so we will have to wait and see what happens. I do know we are full of confidence after our start to the season.”

Centre-half Gaby Zakuani is a doubt with a toe injury and striker Nick Ajose is in a similar position due to a hamstring problem. Left-back Ben Gordon has signed on loan from Chelsea.

The last game between the sides was in February 2010 when relegation-bound Posh deservedly came from behind to beat the Blues 3-1 at London Road.

Daryl Murphy’s third goal in three games put Town in front with the Blues comfortable before the break but having missed chances. However, in the second half the Posh hit back with goals from Liam Dickinson, Lee Frecklington and Craig Morgan.

The 0-0 draw at Portman Road earlier that season had been the first league match between the sides.

In cups, the teams have met on five occasions with Posh winning three times, the Blues once — an FA Cup victory in January 1972, still the Blues’ only victory over the Cambridgeshire side - and one game ending in a draw.

The most recent of those matches came in August 2010 in the second round of the Carling Cup at London Road when Peterborough came from behind to win 2-1 after Tamás Priskin had netted his first goal for Town and had also missed a penalty. Lee Frecklington and George Boyd scored for the home side.

No current Town player has appeared for the Posh and no member of the Peterborough squad has played a first team game for the Blues, although defender Ryan Bennett was released at 16 by the Town academy.

Saturday’s referee is Graham Scott from Oxfordshire, who has shown 12 yellow cards and one red in three games so far this season. Scott’s only previous Town game was as a late replacement in the 2-1 loss at Watford last October when he booked only David Norris.

Squad from: Stockdale, Lee-Barrett, Edwards, Cresswell, Whight, Delaney, Smith, Ainsley, Kennedy, Leadbitter, Bowyer, Andrews, Emmanuel-Thomas, Martin, Carson, Healy, Drury, Chopra, Scotland, Ellington, Priskin.


Photo: Action Images



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Lightningboy added 16:43 - Aug 19
Seriously - why are we persisting with edwards at right back?????

The guy cannot defend.

Should never've let David Wright go.
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TractorBoy added 16:49 - Aug 19
Going to be a tough game.
I live in Peterborough so am not looking forward to seeing how our defence do!
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BrettenhamBlue added 16:49 - Aug 19
More worryingly,- Smith and Delaney again. Posh must be looking forward to this one. If I were a Striker (and I am at an amateur level)- I would be looking to score as many as possible against these 2....undoubtedly the weakest defence in the Championship.
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whippet added 16:52 - Aug 19
I think we will score 2, but concede 4 or 5.
Bambi on Ice at the back. Awful, plain awful.
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itfcjc added 16:53 - Aug 19
Let's kick some arse
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ErikaTractor added 16:54 - Aug 19
Time to be humiliated on TV again. Can't believe these 2 (Smith and Delaney) will play again. Looks like we have no other choice. Worst partnership I have ever seen play in an Ipswich shirt. No pride.
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Bradders612 added 16:56 - Aug 19
COYB :))))))))))
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Matteo_Sereni added 17:11 - Aug 19
Am going tomorrow so lets make some noise and come away with a precious 3 points!!
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pazelle added 17:16 - Aug 19
Priskin in the squad! Didn't play for the reserves! Could we finally see Priskin and Chopra?!?!?!

I flippin hope so!
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Karlosfandangal added 17:18 - Aug 19
Bottom 3 here we come

sorry COYB we are a great team we will walk this league champion's champion's

still dont believe it we are rubbish
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locksheath_blue added 17:34 - Aug 19
At least we've got away advantage !!

It's not just us losing our home games - most teams in the league are doing it.
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StowTractorBoy added 17:36 - Aug 19
Not looking good for tomorrow then, if Smith and Delaney are the centre backs but then we really have few other options and is a predicament that the Manager should have sorted by now. Lose tomorrow and there is a strong possibility that we will be in the bottom 3 and 9 points behind the top Clubs in the division. This was unthinkable after the Bristol City performance and would I am sure been different if Ingimarsson had stayed fit as he is a leader and an organiser. Personally I would give Kennedy a go at the back with Delaney as at least Kennedy has a brain.
London Road not a happy hunting ground for us so we have to do better than of late otherwise its another defeat I'm afraid.
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tractorboybig added 17:43 - Aug 19
How far have we declined?
Now talking about the fact PETERBOROUGH could beat us.
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bluearmy4life added 17:46 - Aug 19
We need 3 points quite urgently otherwise the league table tomorrow could look ugly again with us deep in the bottom half. PJ And us fans need a reaction and certainly a much better defensive performance is required.
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Mark added 18:01 - Aug 19
As Joe Royle once said, to improve the defending you need better defenders! Cresswell is learning to step up to this level, Delaney's passing is awful and he needs a good man beside him, Smith's confidence is shattered and he doesn't look up to this level, and Edwards is a winger. We need to sort this out ASAP if we want a decent season.
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IvorFeeling added 18:26 - Aug 19
I believe it is going to take 2-3 months for the side to gel. I am also assuming it won't be until the transfer deadline that we know the defenders we will have going forward.

Keep the faith but in the current form an ugly 0-0 would do for me. Would be suprised if we don't revert back to a 4-5-1 tomorrow.
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Ebantiass added 19:11 - Aug 19
As stated three is a must though after recent display most wouls settle for two. The back is a real worry but away from home ther is less expectation and that could work to our favour.
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jas0999 added 19:13 - Aug 19
How the club has fallen ... just read that someone would be happy with a 0-0 tomorrow! talk about a lack of ambition. We need to win this game and in actual fact I think we will. No doubt returning to his favoured 4-5-1 (A system he has consistently played for almost 8 MONTHS), we will probably go there looking to bore and frustrate the opposition. On current form however, any win will do.
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Mark added 19:25 - Aug 19
I don't think we go places looking for bore the opposition, indeed since Jewell took over we have scored a few goals away from home. 1 at Millwall, 2 at Derby, 1 at Barnsley, 6 at Doncaster, 0 at QPR, 2 at Cardiff, 0 at Leeds, 2 at Burnley, 1 at Bristol City, 1 at Swansea, 2 at Leicester and 3 at Bristol City. That's an average of 1.8 goals a game away from home. Not bad, is it?

Under Keane last season we scored 11 goals on the road in 12 games. That is an average of 0.9 goals a game.
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Daleyitfc added 19:30 - Aug 19
Delaney looks like he's a take-no-prisoners kind of guy (I've seen him up close!) , but he seems to be more of a shall-I-go-for-that-no-can't-be-arsed-let-smithy-get-it kind of guy on the pitch. Doesn't really seem to give a toss. And he's not the only one. Get rid.
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chepstowblue added 19:45 - Aug 19
Against a team who are relegation fodder(mark my words) i wont be happy with anything other than 3pts, tho my negative vibes are telling me its a cast iron 2-1 defeat. Really hope we go for it 2mrw and let them worry about us.Whether we can do this whilst protecting the back 2 is questionable but the rousing 20mins in the 2nd half on tuesday night means its our best policy as i dont think PBoro will pick us off quite so easily as Southamton.Lets hope we can talk about something other than Delaney and Smith on sunday morning.
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runaround added 20:05 - Aug 19
A lot of commentors seem to suggest playing Kennedy alongside Delaney or Ainsley.
I'm not sure he can play centre-half and as he's left footed playing him with Delaney wud be just as bad as Smith.
I would personally give Ainsley or Hyam a go as Smith's confidence looks shot to me
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4-4-2 added 20:17 - Aug 19
Always thought that priskin was a mssive confidence player, just like lee marting who is now showing what we payed for. Lets hope jewll can get priskin firing on all cilinders. I think those two might have what it takes to make the best front line since bent and quqi. (fingers crossed anyway)
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Pip50 added 21:06 - Aug 19
We will probably do ok like Bristol Peterborough are Sh..t
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dirtydingusmagee added 21:17 - Aug 19
nice collection of positive comments !coyb
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