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

h32 added 22:09 - Dec 31 One thing all you sad sympathisers, with all your if's, but's, and maybe's yet again - seem to have conveniently forgotten, is we LOST and came away with NO POINTS. Don't keep raking up the same old excuses - we have scraped a couple of results together recently, but 8 out of 11 failures - equals RUBBISH.
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ClassyCranson added 22:13 - Dec 31 Garv - Lets be having it right, anybody who travels to watch Ipswich play will always offer an honest and informed opinion. I will often agree with most of the messages on this excellent website but sometime don't. I went to the game today with a mate who is a season ticket holder at Oxford, he said we deserved nothing from the game and I agree with him. JET was probably Ipswich's best player today and unlucky not to score in the first half. Apart from that and Chopra's chance in the second half we never looked like scoring. Our lack of desire to defend set pieces has been for too long now been hugely embarrassing and costly. The average championship manager gets 16 months in the job, Jewell has been in it for 12. Jewell has far bigger resources than most managers and should have left after the Burnley game. The Leaditter stats for this season so far are Games 19 Goals nil Assists minus 1(as he has set up at least two goals for the opposition)

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scooterblue added 22:17 - Dec 31 story of our season.
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N4_Blue added 22:51 - Dec 31 Dozzells_Bobblehat, I don't think we should be relying on loan signings - I agree with you that Andrews, Collins and Stockdale did well for us but they don't have our club at heart - we are a stop gap for them to get more first team action, prove themselves so they can get back in their teams or get a lucrative signing somewhere else. It just sums up where we have come as a club and it's pretty depressing. Also, I was thinking about Sonko today whilst watching the match. He got a good reception from the Reading fans but they got rid of him as he is not up to their standard and if you asked any Reading fan if they would want him they would all say no. We are not even hanging onto Reading's coat tails these days and the stick we took from their fans highlighted that point exactly. We are now a pretty average Championship club and the only thing to be happy about is that we have not followed Sheff Wed, Sheff Utd, Charlton, Preston etc (yet).

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jas0999 added 00:18 - Jan 1 Yet another dreadful result and a deluded manager taking us in to 2012. 8 defeats in 11 - no doubt bluelady et at will tell us PJ is a superb manager - yet the results suggest otherwise. Abysmal at best.
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buryblue77 added 00:36 - Jan 1 For all those who find moaning about the situation absolutely shocking they just need to look at the table. Our position is not where we should be fot the money we have spent, the last 11 games read W2 D1 L8. Relegation form I'm afraid as it's only 7 points from a possible 33 doesn't make for a good time being a town fan. I wanted Jewell to succeed but I think he's looking more like reproducing Derby and Sheff Wed form here, not Bradford and Wigan.

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roytheboy added 01:13 - Jan 1 Season after Season we have the same problem, to consistently score goals, Chopra has been a big disappointment to me and I absolutely despair when Ellington comes on as a Sub; but who else have we got when Scotland is injured ? I would like to see Bullard start matches again, we need to do something constructive to end this leakage of goals in our net from set pieces, we seldom seem to be such a threat with our own set pieces including many very poor corners ! however we seemed to be the better team for quite a lot of the match, we must put more goals away if we are ever to be anything again though.

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bluesimon added 01:52 - Jan 1 PJ, we don't deserve anything. We have to earn points.
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walberswick added 06:32 - Jan 1 On this season's form we will end up with 54 points in 18 (Maybe 19th) position. I would assume nobody would be happy with that and it means we'll have to start again nest season. Massive improvement needed to get to md-table. PJ needs to work with what he's got and get a few loans in until he can identify some real targets in the summer. Until it's damage limitation on the reputation of the club. COYB

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stinkiusminkius added 08:19 - Jan 1 Jas0999 - Losing 1-0 away to an in form team is not a dreadful result, although is disappointing. And having read blue lady's posts, I'm not sure she thinks pj is a superb manager or is happy with things BUT if ages like me then maybe can see the bigger picture and thinks PJ should have more time - the same amount if time that you afforded your beloved keane. So stop all your constant sniping and double standards and try supporting.

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ericgates added 08:32 - Jan 1 Lets go for Sean St Ledger, and please please can we have a new right back. We surely can't go through another window without signing one. I'm not blaming Carlos at all, he has done well and his best. It just seems when things are going well, he is playing well and looks amazing, and when we are struggling we look unbalanced and Carlos looks very erratic. Lets build from the back.

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We_hate_Norwich added 08:41 - Jan 1 Bring back BFJ!!!
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bobble added 09:28 - Jan 1 nobody deserves nothing u have to fight for every scrap in this world.
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bluelady added 09:46 - Jan 1 Jas..... posting at twenty past twelve new years eve sums you up, get a life and stop the snipping..... I was out having fun at that time last night not sitting worrying about what negative post I could put on here. As others have put I am not a massive pj fan he needs to do much much better, but perspective please 1 O away to the in form team is hardly a terrible result!!!!

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airliner added 09:46 - Jan 1 Well shocked we waited until the 85 minute to substitute players. Overall the performance was ok but we had reading on the rack for a time and should have left with at least a point. But those misses by Chopra and co come back to haunt us. why are they not practising defending set pieces on the training ground?? Lets hope we get some decent players in the transfer window.

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ChrisFelix added 09:54 - Jan 1 We didnt deserve to loose the game but until we create in the penalty area we will continue to stuggle to gain a top 6 place. JET & Martin have plenty of talent & skill & IF ONLY they would go towards goal rather play fancy one touch football
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Suffolk_n_Good added 10:14 - Jan 1 Our problem isn't scoring goals, its conseeding them which is costing us, (although having lost Andrews it may now become a problem!) We had the same problems under Keane & a year under Jewell we still have the same problems. IMO we need to replace Edwards at Right-back, (I'd be happy for Edwards to take his rightful place in Midfield) Sonko has been a good signing, but at his age he really should be a back-up to two younger, faster centre backs, Cresswell has been Jewells best signing, & could be a great Town regular in years to come. Collins gone, doesn't help our cause, Ingimarsson is washed up, Smith isn't Championship quality. Stockdale on loan was always going to end, Wright & ALB for me are both only back up keepers, & a more consistent GK needs to be bought in. So there you go folks, thats my tuppence worth on our current plight, until these things are sorted, we will continus to float around the lower reaches of the Championship....... BTW, Happy New Year to all!

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bobble added 10:23 - Jan 1 thank the gods we got rid of that fulham goalkeeper we had, how many goals did he let in ? was he the worst town goalie ever ? at least with wright or alb we can keep the goals against down now,if we could only get rid of leadbelly and clegg this club could go places.
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Dissboyitfc added 10:48 - Jan 1 Garv and dozzels-bobblehat .. 2 good posts... i didnt go to the game so i dont really have an opinion about it.... mmmm H32 ... did you go today? do you ever go? were you a Keane fan? i remember you are a priskin fan,,, i just wonder thats all.. i will be there tomorrow...COYB
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corunnaviking1759 added 12:34 - Jan 1 BFJ's Barmy Army!
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Ohmyhat added 13:04 - Jan 1 Was at the game -agree with Garv - we were the better team (apart from for the first 10minutes) and Reading's goal was a bit out of the blue. With Reading having won their last 2 home games 3 - 0, I was rather concerned, but we gave them a good game and deserved at least a point. Thought that Martin and Murphy weren't really in the game, when Carson came on he made a difference. Best I've seen JET play, he has all the skill, but has a bit of an attitude problem as shown towards the end when he just needlessly 'smashed' the ball across to no-one and shrugged his shoulders. If his first half 'screamer' had gone in, I feel we'd have won the game. Like someone else posted, feel that subs should have been made earlier as Bullard (who came on and immediately started moaning about the lack of movement) especially had no time to get up to speed and influence the game. Keep the faith. Time for forest and the delightful Mr Cotterill. Let's put a smile on everyone's faces and stuff them!

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tomisamos added 13:14 - Jan 1 All I want to know, is how many of you lot will post on here if we win tomorrow. Didn't see much from the Jewell out brigade after the derby and leicester games, in fairness to garv, he posts pretty much after every game, win or loss. Yesterday wasn't a disaster and if we get some form and a couple of good January deals the play offs ARE possible. I'd suggest, however, that we just need to find some form, build some consistency and mount a charge for next season. Go up via the play offs this year and we'll be next years whipping boys. But let's not blow this game out of proportion, 8 defeats in 11 or 1 defeat in 4, it really depends how full your glass is.

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h32 added 13:51 - Jan 1 Dissboyitfc - I have told you before - cards on the table - whenever you want in terms of how many ITFC matches I have attended (AND STILL DO), and how much money ITFC have had from me over the years. Care to take me up on it ??? So just stop being so naive - along with the other contented losers, who's only requirement will ever be - is that the team turns up. What planet the idiots are on, that still talk of the 'play offs' - heaven only knows. No wonder the beloved A140 neighbours have disappeared out of sight - AMBITION springs to mind, and not cloud cuckoo land.

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h32 added 13:59 - Jan 1 ...... shows you don't research much before you post - if you query me being a Keane fan. End of.
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darren_cox added 14:10 - Jan 1 Interesting point made by Garv. I disagree that we were the better team. IMO it was an even game with both teams looking poor. No one deserved to win it. Spot on about Chopra - he really is providing nothing in recent games. For me an area of concern is the wide players. Murphy was dreadful yesterday although in fairness to him its not his naturall position. Lee Martin is not championship standard so I for one would like to see Carson back in the side.

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