Town boss Paul Jewell again bemoaned his side’s tendency to concede “calamitous goals” after Doncaster left Portman Road with a 3-2 victory. The Blues manager praised his side’s second half character as they pulled two goals back but felt they’d left themselves far too much to do with their first half display.

Jewell said: “With the goals we’re giving away we’re giving ourselves mountains to climb at the moment. We did it at Peterborough, against Southampton, Millwall and again today. We’re giving calamitous goals away and when you do that you’re always going to be up against it.

“When we’re bad, we’re hopeless,” he conceded. “ We just look so vulnerable and every time they went forward they almost scored a goal.

“I think we showed a bit of character in the second half, even though at 3-1 we wanted to be more on the front foot, but I don’t think it was as bad as the [Peterborough and Southampton] games. We showed some character in the second half.

“But the first half performances and the way we concede goals is killing us. We’re making basic errors. There are experienced players out there, as well as one or two young ones.”

The Blues boss outlined the failings on each of Doncaster’s goals: “Every goal you concede is a bad goal but the first one’s from a freekick, which doesn’t get cleared, gets crossed and Diouf gets a free header.

“The second one is a cross from the right under no pressure, another a free header. The third one, the two centre-backs get in one another and the game’s over almost. It’s not the midfield, it’s not the forwards, it’s the team as the whole.

“When we’re not controlling games, we’re getting done. There are plenty of teams that haven’t controlled games that have got a 0-0 or a 1-0. And we, at the minute, because it’s not going our way, we get done at the back.”

Freekicks and corners are also a problem: “It’s not just a defensive point of view, it’s set plays as well. We switch off at set plays. When we got to 3-1 and everyone’s got their man for set plays, they could have scored two goals. That’s just down to basic poor defending. That might not be a defender, that might be a midfield player, it might be a forward player.

“Even if you’re playing not very well, as we were in the first half, we’ve got to be able to get in at half-time at 0-0 or still be in the game.

“At 3-0 you don’t give up but you give yourself a mountain to climb. Our goal difference tells you that we don’t defend very well.”

Jewell wasn’t using the switches of personnel as an explanation for the alarming drop in form: “All those things we were doing three weeks ago have just disappeared for whatever reason, through confidence or whatever.

“Perhaps we made a few changes through injury, but we’re not going to use that as an excuse. Some of the goals we’ve conceded, not just today but this season, are not of the standard of a decent Championship team, or a bad Championship team even.”

Doncaster boss Dean Saunders was delighted with the win but admitted he was worried at the end: “We played really well today, although George Friend’s missed four open goals, so I’m a bit disappointed at what happened right at the end because if there had been another five minutes on the clock, you never know, they could have forced the ball over the line somehow, got a lucky break.

“But I can’t complain. Those were two great crosses from Coppinger, he worked his socks off and played really well and the finishing from Diouf and Billy Sharp was great. It was a good three points for us, we needed it.”

Rovers striker Sharp, whose new-born son Luey died last week, thanked Town fans for their applause after his goal and when he was subbed via Twitter: “Just like to say a big thank you to all the Ipswich fans for the ovation they gave me when I scored and got taken off.

“Will never forget that moment today at Portman Road. Ipswich Town fans unbelievable, never seen anything like it.

“And another thank you to all Blades fans, heard about the minute's applause on 24 minutes, very special, I scored on 24 minutes too,” said the former Sheffield United player and boyhood supporter.

Photo: Action Images

Garv added 04:04 - Nov 6 PJewellisagod - well clearly we don't deserve to be fighting relegation, because we've got good away draws at Cardiff and Middsborough, and beaten the likes of WEST HAM (people forget that), Brighton and Leeds. I'm assuming looking at all these comments losing to Doncaster is bigger than beating West Ham?
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northernblues added 04:58 - Nov 6 Alpineblue- I will bet you £100 we will not be top 6 in fact make that top 10! come may!
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arablue added 06:59 - Nov 6 PJ got his tactics wrong and against the class of diouf and sharp, we were severely punished. Healy is no Bowyer, and when Bullard misfires, the inadequacy of Leadbitter is being magnified. Bullard did well for us as the puppet master last season. The holding role does not bring out the best of him. Why wasn't Andrews be assigned the holding role, and with one who is as vocal as him, would be useful to give the defence a bit of bollocking when required. On our central defence pairing, the last 2 weeks perhaps show that Ingimarsson and Collins are just not meant to be together...we need at least one aggro man mountain who can put fear in the likes of the opposing strikers...would've been great to see the no nonsense approach of Sonko dishing it out to Diouf.

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arablue added 07:04 - Nov 6 Think Evans will continue to back PJ - he is way too much invested in PJ's promotion plans...so don't think PJ will be going anywhere. Having said that, if we continue to under perform up to Christmas, PJ's tenure could be a short lived one...
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bobble added 07:05 - Nov 6 i have a great idea lets sack the manager and the fans
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beetlebum added 08:44 - Nov 6 Sack the players, then the manager.
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tractorboybig added 08:58 - Nov 6 Surely we are no better than when keene was here. Perhaps we need someone at the top who knows what they are doing.
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IvorFeeling added 09:59 - Nov 6 Just checked oddschecker and town are 33/1 to go down. This is a good trading opportunity - back that price now as on current form we can expect 1 point from Reading/Forrest games and you will be able to hedge out a lower. Not saying we are sure to go down but let's face it we are losing and conceding several to relegation teams. Not sure that bookies/betfair realise how bad we currently are and therefore us that watch can at least profit from this 'inside information'

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dommyboyblue added 10:00 - Nov 6 to be honest, with all the changes this year we were always going to be inconsistent, although yesterdays team selection did not help, I am expecting us to finish top half this year, have the basis of a good squad and then push on next season. that has to be the plan, playoffs this year are a hopeful target would be great if we could but expecting us to be much stronger next year.

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Lower_North added 10:08 - Nov 6 What a joke, I've seen tighter defending by Sunday pub teams.This is relegation stuff,absolute disgrace. Tin hats on boys this could get worse before it gets better..
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bluearmy4life added 10:22 - Nov 6 REIGN UNDER PJ Played 37 Won 16 Drawn 6 Lost 15 Not exactly wonderful. I think we may know after November where we are going two very tough away trips Notts forest & burnley and Reading at home. We really need 6-7 points.
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stoofer added 10:26 - Nov 6 groundhog day -season after season.
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yorksblue added 10:45 - Nov 6 Yes, I have every confidence we'll not lose next week. Mainly because it's international week!
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foot_kick_ball_goal added 10:55 - Nov 6 Surely that just because we are playing the diamond midfield doesn't mean that the midfield has to be made up of 4 central midfielders. Why can't it be Bullard up front, Andrews int he holding role with Edwards/carson/martin or even JET on the wings? Although the defense still does need some work, a well organised midfield that is keeping the other team busy could help. Don't think its a relegation battle, but things do need to be sorted out soon if we want any chance of contending for the play offs.

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sotd78 added 10:56 - Nov 6 Buy a proper centre half with leadership skills. There must be one or two in Scotland who'd come south?
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Keaneish added 10:57 - Nov 6 Also, on another note but very much linked to yesterday...what would we have done if Collins or Ingimarson had got injured!? We had no centre halves on the bench! There's 2 points to this: 1 - What message does this send to Tommy Smith and Jack Ainsley? That we'd rather run the risk of no-one than have either of you two? 2 - I asked PJ in the AGM (through Phil) would he ever consider not having a keeper on the bench but have 5 outfield players instead to provide more on field tactical options? He replied 'No, as when he was manager at Sheff Wed, Pressman got sent off after 11 seconds and he had no cover' - surely this defensive conundrum is exactly the same scenario!!? My Paul Jewell faith is diminishing rapidly on a game by game basis...

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Wickets added 11:03 - Nov 6 Morale, that was so good a few weeks ago,Bullard and Andrews enjoying their antics before a free kick just one high point in our feelgood factor, now appears to be at an all time low!! Personal problems of Chopra, Edwards,Scotland? Ellington?? Apromising young player seems to want away to Bradford!? Contract problems again Leadbitter, our capitain, Carson and others. Appalling comments regards young fans from people who should know better at the AGM. WHAT IS GOING ON A THE CLUB WE LOVE??????

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irishtim added 12:44 - Nov 6 again i repeat we need burley or someone with ipswich in there hearts. butcher mowbray but for me it has to be burley with mattie holland to take over in a few years. we need a youth structure bring players through hunger desire everything we dont have at present. make the changes now b4 its too late. every decision being made at the moment costing us big time if stockdale is recalled !!! terrible position the manager is leaving us in

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SomershamBlue added 12:45 - Nov 6 I believe that if Carson had started we would have at least drawn, maybe even won that game. Yet again the visitors displayed the energy and desire (unlike 'Town) .... . ..and got the result. Thank Gawd for the international break....
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yorksblue added 12:59 - Nov 6 Pull out all the stops and get Glenn Hoddle in now. Jewell clearly talks a good game, like most people from his neck of the world. But when it comes to the crunch........ Forget Burley, Butcher(do me a favour), Mills etc. They've had their time here and none have been particularly effective imo.
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billlm added 13:04 - Nov 6 only thing to be proud to be a town fan yesterday was the respect and humble applause for sharp, this defines football and life. we all at itfc will come again and have there day
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StowTractorBoy added 13:10 - Nov 6 Those of you looking for Jewell to be dismissed should think again as it is not as easy as that. Jewell is still putting things into place including his backroom staff two of whom were only appointed last week. He has repeatedly told us this is a 2/3 year exercise and some of the football played this season alone has been better than anything Keane served up but memories are short and whilst I agree the last 4 games have been poor this is still a work in progress. As for the calls for Burley and Butcher please get real Burley has been a flop since leaving us and it took him years to turn us around and Butcher is managing a Club that is at the foot of a mickey mouse league. Paul Jewell will not be sacked and whilst everyone is entitled to their opinions and makes good reading we should all get behind the Manager and the team.

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TimmyH added 13:11 - Nov 6 stoofer - I think you mean groundhog season! same rubbish different season. Only reason we are slightly higher up the league than what we were with Keane is that we have had less draws and hence slightly more points, other than that the same rubbish inconsistancy.
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Garv added 13:17 - Nov 6 Get a grip people! We've lost three football matches in a row for goodness sake, it happens! We're nowhere near the relegation zone and backing us to be there come may is just stupid and idiotic. IvorFeeling says 'we are losing and conceding several to relegation teams.' What about the goals we conceded at West Ham and Middlesborough, oh wait there were none. We play well against the big stronger teams and under-perform against the smaller ones, we've done it for years, its the Ipswich way, it happens. Get. A. Grip.

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churchmans added 13:27 - Nov 6 GARV losing at HOME to doncaster IS BIGGER than beating west ham. 3-2 scoreline did flatter ipswich should of been 7-2 to doncaster if not for stockdale
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