Paul Jewell felt his side were unfortunate to lose their New Year's Eve fixture 1-0 at Reading, the Blues boss again left ruing Town’s frailty at set pieces.

Jewell said: “In the first half, after the first 10 minutes, I thought we were the better team. I think one goal was always going to decide it. In the second half it was a bit of a scrappy game.

“Before the match we emphasised the importance of set plays. We got done against Reading at home and the same lad, Alex Pearce, scored again today. Certainly on our first half performance we should have got something out of the game.”

The fragility at set pieces remains a frustration: “We’re disappointed with the lack of concentration. That’s what it’s about — concentration. We’ve let them have a free header from a freekick which that was unnecessary. Lee Bowyer didn’t mean to handball it.

“It’s disappointing to lose a game in any way but to come to a place where it’s tough to come and with Reading on a good run, the first goal was going to be vital.”

Jewell thought the home crowd played a role in winning their side the freekick which led to the goal: “They do say they’re the 13th man here and they were shouting for handball all the time.

“I couldn’t see from my vantage point but I certainly know it wasn’t intentional, whatever it was. We were disappointed to concede the goal in that way.”

The Town boss was pleased with Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who came into the side for the injured Jason Scotland: “I thought in the first half he was a real threat to them. We peppered their goal in the first half and had plenty of opportunities but we couldn’t get the elusive goal.

“I’m disappointed because we conceded and because the players put in good effort and a good shift and certainly in the first half we were the better team. In the second half it was scrappy with two honest teams and we just couldn’t break them down.”

The Blues will be without Ibrahima Sonko for Monday’s home game with Nottingham Forest, the Senegalese international having picked up his fifth booking of the season the day before the cut-off point with 10 cautions leading to a ban from tomorrow.

Jewell says he will assess his options at New Year’s Day training: “Sonko got booked so Ívar Ingimarsson and Tommy Smith will come into contention.

“We’re back to work tomorrow and we’ll see how we are. Ívar’s been training for a couple of weeks now since his broken nose.”

The Liverpudlian says Jason Scotland is a doubt for Monday’s game: “Jason had a tight hamstring and came off against Leicester on Monday.

"He was in for treatment and he trained yesterday morning. When he upped his training he could feel it and you can’t take a risk with a hamstring."

Jewell has ruled Keith Andrews out of Monday’s match, although he wasn’t entirely dismissing the Republic of Ireland international’s chances of being fit for the following game, confirming that he is available under the terms of his loan: “Keith can play against Hull in the FA Cup, he’s been given permission to play by Blackburn, and we’ll have to wait and see how he is.

“There’s a week to go as yet, so we don’t want to erase anyone with a week to go, it’s not as if it’s a broken leg, it’s a hamstring.”

Despite this, Andrews appears unlikely to be involved at the KC Stadium with his torn hamstring expected to sideline him for four to five weeks.

Reece Wabara, who was on the bench for the Blues today, returns to Manchester City tomorrow with Town not planning on extending the defender's stay.

Reading boss Brian McDermott was delighted with the spirit shown by his side in what he felt was a “terrific” display: “In the first half we didn’t play well, we know that, but what we have got is real heart in that dressing room and that showed today.

“We dug in and kept a clean sheet and managed to win it from a set play. When I say it was a terrific performance, it was terrific for reasons other than real quality.”

Photo: Action Images

Zico added 18:05 - Dec 31 Play-offs? Your out of your mind Paul. Defensive building needed in the new year, then we have a team capable of pushing promotion we can then talk about it. Allot of work still needed throughout the whole team.
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Mark added 18:06 - Dec 31 Disappointing, but not a surprise given Reading's excellent recent run and defensive record. Oh well, let's put 2011 behind us and start 2012 with a win over struggling Forest on Monday. Happy New Year!
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bluearmy4life added 18:07 - Dec 31 By the sounds of things we didn't play too bad. But it's results that count, so thats 8 defeats in 11 games? That's why we are going no where. Season after season we find a new belief and hope that it will be are time. When will it be are time?
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ITFCson added 18:11 - Dec 31 'they do say they are the 13th man here'....So who is the 12th man?
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northstand78 added 18:24 - Dec 31 Didn't PJ mention something about the play offs earlier... Your havin a laugh mate...
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WhoisJimmyJuan added 18:27 - Dec 31 ITFCson. The 12th man is who you blame when you lose. The 13th man is who you blame when you've lost so often you can't blame the 12th man anymore. Bluearmyfor life - I agree. At any other club this is sacking form.
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brittaniaman added 18:29 - Dec 31 Our Time will come, WHEN I would not like to say ????? As I said this morning come 5pm we could be 6pts or 12pts. off the playoff, unfortunately it is the later.!!!!!!! We have got to watch behind us as well, there is only 6pts difference there. Mind you it is not rocket science to work that out is it ?????? We are forced to change the defence again for monday, so let us hope that can be sorted out !!!!!!!!!

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are_these_the_days added 18:35 - Dec 31 We will NOT make the play-offs
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Woodbridgian added 18:35 - Dec 31 Playoffs what a joke! In we can't get anything against Forest on Monday then we are in real trouble and I'm affraid that will we time for PJ to go.
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BROTHERBLUE1974 added 18:50 - Dec 31 Well PJ, all I can say is what a complete shambles of a year. Shocking defending, Crap football. And clegg thinks we are better. Well can 2012 get any worse?? We will see.. WATCH this space!!!
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blrmy added 19:09 - Dec 31 Ah, the season of good will to all men .... never really did make it to TWTD did it? ;)
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Seasider added 19:17 - Dec 31 Paul Jewell has to stress the positives naturally;but when you look at stats for 2011 as he completes a year in charge it is pretty disastrous darling.With nearly a hundred goals conceded and major changes in personnel ITFC are in 19th place exactly where they were when Roy Keane was sacked a year ago. Yes things have improved a bit over last 4 games but they had to otherwise we would be in the bottom three. The above stats prove that Jewell has made no improvement in his year in charge,and with 16 players out of contract and most of the loanees now going back to their clubs it looks once again more of a relegation struggle than a promotion push.

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corunnaviking1759 added 19:22 - Dec 31 No!
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jert16 added 19:24 - Dec 31 very dissapointing result today.. we were well worth at least a point, i havent seen the handball again for their free kick but it looked like it just smashed into bowyers arm.. Jet was impressive which was good to see, i think we need to give him a long run in the side. In Jewells defence there has been a big improvement judging from leicester and even todays performances.

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corunnaviking1759 added 19:24 - Dec 31 Err NO, We were poor today the game was for the taking but we did not produce the goods! JET hitting the bar, Chopra shooting wide the only thing he did do in the game and another effort I can't remember! Shame Bullard and Carson did not come earlier and I thought JET had a dam good game! Any way I had a great day at Reading with a hospitality package with some Reading friends, good food, good beer, great company, shame the footy could not have been a bit better!

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corunnaviking1759 added 19:28 - Dec 31 The Ref did not have a great game either and I loved it when Bowyer took the P**s then he got loads of stick well funny!!
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IvorFeeling added 19:30 - Dec 31 Stand my earlier post on the team news thread that putting Leadbitter in when he couldn't make the 16 in the previous two games didn't make sense for the team and sends the wrong message to the players. Can PJ explain why a player can go from out of the squad to the starting 11? He has done this several times this season and I can't think of a time when it worked. Poor management in my eyes.

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TimmyH added 19:38 - Dec 31 Whose popping down the bookies to put a bet on that Forest break their 10 hours without scoring against us? I think the last time they scored was actually against us (no surprise there). 8 losses in the last 11 games as another poster just reminded us, really poor! Mr Jewell must do better.
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tommyblues added 19:58 - Dec 31 super jim super jim bring him back asap jewels had long enough . thats it no more hard earned cash watchin a poor team with no atmosphere
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N4_Blue added 20:00 - Dec 31 Really disappointed today. The thing is, we did chase and harry their players all over the place today until the goal went in so I can't fault the effort. My worry is that we don't ever seem to have a set formation - I think PJ is putting teams out there and gets lucky for a few matches but gets found out for most - I don't think he is much of a tactician and my Derby mate's concerns for us seem to be ringing true. I don't like to hark back to the old days but at least under Burley you could see what he was doing even if it didn't pay off and we lost. We gave him time because he was slowly building a team which could play football and we were confident that he would succeed in the end which he did. Even under Magilton, I went to games confident that we were going to at least have a go as we did show true quality at times. The Jewell era just seems to be following the same pattern as the Keane years where we are just throwing money at high profile players and just hoping they can re-live their golden years again and then can gel as a team. My only pleasure these days seem to be about the players putting in some effort which is a bit of a depressing situation to be in as we should be competing for promotion with the amount of cash we have spent (on wages if not on transfer fees). I am not screaming for PJ to go but I don't think the future is at all bright. Give him a year and if he doesn't do owt in that time, let's get a young, hungry, manager who believes that football should be played in the right way.

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Garv added 20:10 - Dec 31 Anyone that went today will know deep down (although probably won't admit it) if there was a better team in this game it was us. Reading barely had a sniff before their goal, then it was always going to be a struggle. The run we've been on you can't expect to get out the mire straight away. More positives than negatives for me today. JET finally showed what he can do in a central role. Leadbitter played a good defensive, disciplined game. Not one of Martin's best sadly. Chopra unlucky with one good effort past the far post second half, but what else did he do? Hmm. Murphy put in another decent shift. People forget he's not there to be spectacular. We need to do better at set pieces, at both ends! Numerous wasted corners today, most irritating.

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petermorris added 20:12 - Dec 31 BROTHERBLUE1974 'complete shambles'?? PJ came in and (with mainly loan and recalled loan) kept us in the third tier after the No Hoper had finally been sacked - this, interestingly, after losing 0-1 to NottFFC Jan bank holiday last year; DD scored a cracking own goal. The next fixture, plus Jan transfer action, or lack of, will seal PJ's fate. tommyblues - what?
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 20:19 - Dec 31 Ok now I'm not saying Jewell is the messiah but I do think he gets some unwarranted stick. Let's look at who he brought in: I don't think anyone would argue with cresswell, and I think Andrews, Collins and stockdale all improved our team and were only available on loan. I'm not keen on loans either but we seem to have issues attracting players and that was in magilton and keanes time too. Sonko was a good move and even with all his issues I think chopra was worth a punt at one million odd. He has got more from Scotland and Martin than keane did and be honest , all of us were excited when we got bullard. Bowyer by his own admission hasn't been at his best but I for one thought he was a good signing when made. Jet I can't make my mind up on and ellington has definately been a disappointment but overall I think we have a stronger squad. Yes I know results dont reflect that but I honestly believe two decent defenders would turn us into a strong side. Jewell in my opinion will get and deserves at least until tje end of the season and we should back him til then. Happy new year.

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rock added 21:04 - Dec 31 Mr pj is never going to win with no Scotland on the field i think the line up should be ,lee-barett,aaron,smith,sonko,buarlld ,edwards, carson, emanual-thomas,chopra,scotland because they are crap against reading
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TractorBoy666 added 21:13 - Dec 31 Well what i heard, JET did very well. At least we are not letting in many now, but we still need a BIG improvement. Forest next who there last win was against us funny enough..
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