Town boss Paul Jewell was hugely disappointed by the Blues' 3-1 home defeat to Nottingham Forest, the Liverpudlian again left ruing individual defensive errors after Forest - who were without a goal in their last seven matches - netted three times for only the second time this season, the previous occasion having been when they last scored in the game against Town at the City Ground in November.

Jewell said: “It was hugely disappointing. Some of the defending which went on today was calamitous really and it’s not the first time this season.

“We created a few opportunities in the first half but we were always susceptible. Every time a ball went in the box or there was a long ball, there was blind panic.”

The Town boss says centre-half Ibrahima Sonko was a big loss: “I think we missed Sonko, I think he’s been a bit plus for us and he was missed today being suspended.

“There were straight long balls that we missed and all of a sudden they were at us and we were under pressure. They were meat and drink to most centre-halves but today for some reason we were all over the place.

“I take responsibility because I’m the manager, so it rests at my door,” he added. “But some of the individual basic errors from experienced players I’m struggling to explain.”

While conceding twice at one end, Jewell felt his side ought to have scored themselves at the other: “Daryl’s had two really good opportunities at the back post, JET’s had a header and he’s hit the underside of the bar.

“We’ve probably created more opportunities than them in the first half but we found ourselves two goals down.

“From their perspective, they’re great finishes, but the second goal should never have come to that. We were under pressure and gave the ball away. The lad did a little bit of skill and stuck it in the back of the net. We shoot ourselves in the foot.”

The Blues manager explained his change of formation, revealed that the missing Jimmy Bullard had phoned in sick: “Jimmy was ill, he rang me this morning about 10 o’clock and said he’s been up all night and there’s obviously been a bit of flu going around.

“Chopra’s been a bit low on confidence. I thought they might play with five in midfield and I just thought it would give Andy Drury a go. He did excellently, I thought he was a bright spark today. We’ve created more opportunities today at home than we have for a while.”

Jewell defended himself against accusations that playing only Jay Emmanuel-Thomas up front was an overly cautious approach: “Daryl Murphy’s an attacking player, Lee Martin’s a winger and Andy Drury’s an attacking midfielder. I don’t think it was a defensive system.

“Against Derby we played 4-4-2 and we created fewer chances then. You can talk about systems all day, it’s about players. We created more opportunities today than we did against Derby.

“You always have to nullify the opposition but for me it wasn’t a defensive formation at all. You can talk about formations all you like, Barcelona don’t play with a striker and you wouldn’t say they’re defensive.

“And if you give goals away like we did today, it doesn’t matter how many forwards you play."

Jewell admitted that it was another poor result and says his side need to improve, particularly at the back: “We’re hugely disappointed and some of the defending was embarrassing but it’s not as if we’re the champions of Europe and Notts Forest are mugs, it’s two teams who both think they should be in the top echelons of the league.

“But I didn’t expect us to be as bad as that defensively, we were very, very shaky. OK, we’ve lost Sonko, but we’ve got to be doing better than that.”

Skipper Grant Leadbitter added: "We can't give goals away in the manner that we have done today.

"We're doing it far too often and you just can't do it at this level or you are going to get punished.

"When you give goals away early in the game you make things hard for yourself, but that is football and we need to look ahead to the next game."

Forest manager Steve Cotterill was delighted with the win, which he says has been on the cards: “If you look at the performances, that result has been coming, unfortunately it’s been taking too long to come.

“I thought the goals we scored today were outstanding, three fantastic goals and we’ve done it with nine players who would predominantly be in your 16, of which seven would be in your starting line-up, not here through injury.”

Photo: Action Images

BROTHERBLUE1974 added 18:59 - Jan 2 Jewell who really gives a toss what u think any more. Your management tactics are a joke, your a joke and some of your players are well shocking. For a team who hasn't scored in 7 games and to be 1 up in for mins. Could have been 2. Please just leave this club. Your doing to us what you did at Derby.
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Keaneish added 18:59 - Jan 2 Under Magilton we looked disjointed and lacked any continuity, under Keane we couldn't score and under Jewell we can't defend. I have confidence in Evan's and Clegg's ability to choose the right management and infrastructure, the manager to choose the right team, get the right players in and get tactics correct or the back room staff to sort the previous week's errors out on the training field. 1 year on and no change at a once great club completely ruined by mismanagement from top to bottom. In Jan we need 3 defenders and a couple of decent coaches. As we're only in for two players in total, I'm pretty certain we're going down to a tier of football we don't belong in.

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FornhamBlue added 19:07 - Jan 2 Problem is we don't have any leadership who know about football and football management, otherwise why on earth would we have let Bryan Klug and more importantly our previous CEO leave this club. No question that ME has put some of his money into our Club - but we gave up our soul in return. 40+ years following The Town at Portman Road and I can't ever remember experiencing the stagnation we've seen over the last 3 seasons. I don't mind getting beaten - but at least show us some progression (and a bit of passion wouldn't go a miss). Absolutedly gutted after watching the game today -good job I'd already bought my Hull ticket for next Saturday!! Clegg Out!

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righty added 19:08 - Jan 2 This is becoming serious Paul Jewell must either walk or be sacked and his backroom staff one wonders if they ever take training as the defence do not have a clue his midfield if there is one, cant make a forward pass accurately and of course the attack Scotland apart they are the worst lot ever seen at ITFC. Paul Jewell has had a year we still have no defence no RB ,GK,CBs,Wingers ,pacey midfield players and good strikers what hope have we

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blueherts added 19:08 - Jan 2 'I'm pretty certain we're going down to a tier of football we don't belong in' Much as it pains me - I disagree , We have had 10 years of false dawns( precious few) in amongst some very very average football - little style and very little direction I have said on here before , Teams that have taken the drop have come back much stronger - I think it could be the catalyst our club needs - get confidence back and build with some good young players. No team that lies near the bottom of the Championship should be arrogant enough to believe we are 'heading to a tier of football we dont belong to' results and performances warrant that and over the last few years we have been very very average - at best . We all want the best for our club but , I for one would not be too disappointed in a drop down to rebuild and get some confidence and pride back .

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Drew added 19:08 - Jan 2 Sacked in the morning, you're getting sacked in the moooooooooooorning. You're getting sacked in the morning!
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Tractamatt added 19:09 - Jan 2 Blue again:- I agree yes Burley back would be good. The question is what managers are gonna come to Portman road I would like to think Curbishley but it's not gonna happen and I can't see the point in replacing Jewell with someone else who's not up to the job.We missed Andrews and we missed Collins they need to be brought back or replaced this week whoever is in charge.

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Daleyitfc added 19:09 - Jan 2 One point worse off, after 24 games, than at the same time last season, which led to Keane's sacking. I agree with many on here that we've had 3 rubbish managers in succession (something that's never happened in the club's history before), and that just maybe Magilton could have got the hang of it if he'd not had squillions thrown at him : for which my fellow shareholders are entirely to blame for voting in a non-existent person to run the club. For now : Jewell out. For later : Evans out.

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carsey added 19:12 - Jan 2 We are crap. The players are crap. The management is crap. My wonderful club is now crap. I shall see the season out then they can keep my season ticket. I can't afford to spend that sort of money up front to see that sort of rubbish every week.
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blueherts added 19:14 - Jan 2 Mogger and Venus !!!Poyet and Tarrico - get a good double act in - Strong young coach and a 'wise head' - someone who has 'some passion 'for the club
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cartman1972 added 19:14 - Jan 2 Jewell is disappointed eh??? well it's nothing compared to how much i feel in the doldrums after nearly all our games....this is the worst Ipswich side i have known since i started supporting the club as a 5yo in 1977..........Jewell kindly close the door when you leave tomorrow as you are a complete waste of time and space. I'd rather 11 Cresswells in the team trying and having years to build than this crock of shi*e

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kerryblue added 19:18 - Jan 2 How do you think the fans feel you useless Blob.JEWELL OUT >We were far better off 12 months ago with Keano.Go Jewell you have a right B@lls up made of our club
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sirburley added 19:18 - Jan 2 hmmmmmmm......
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FornhamBlue added 19:19 - Jan 2 I really don't think it would be a good thing to go down a tier. If ME and Calamity Clegg don't have the nous to keep us in The Championship - how on earth would they get us to bounce back after being relegated? So something at the club would have to change - I can't see anybody paying ME his £66m back so we're probably stuck with him, but he would have to change Clegg. Why wait to be relegated before he does this?! I'm not in the anti ME camp - I think it should be a great 'partnership' but we need a footballing man back on the board.

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Keaneish added 19:23 - Jan 2 Blueherts - my point is that the the pedigree of the club and its history is too good and too esteemed for basement football. Not all club's that go down spring up, it's madness to think going down is a good thing for any club. Plenty of teams who have played in the prem are now languishing in league 1 and 2. We have to stay in the division at any cost. Evans should let the fans vote on the next manager and stop brining in these surprise selections who have no understanding of the club.

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chorltonskylineblue added 19:25 - Jan 2 Think the criticism of Magilton is misplaced. He got us 8th place in only his second season in charge. Bobby Robson took nearly 5 years to build a winning team. The difference to now? The owners then knew something about football and gave a young manager time and support. We know nothing about Evans because of his anonymity, while Clegg's statements consistently show him up as clueless in this sport. I don't dount his ability in athletics, but it's hardly comparable. I've said before that Jewell is just a symptom. The root cause of our problems lie off the pitch. Yes, too many of the players are gutless, but who bought them and negotiated the contracts? We're in danger of going the way of so many other ex-Premiership clubs by constantly appointing a succession of quick fix managers in the hope of getting promoted. That's why fans are saying we should go down - for ITFC read Sheff Wed, Leeds, Southampton, Naaridge, Southampton, Leicester, Man City (NB: not all of these teams made a speedy comeback!)

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alfromcol added 19:26 - Jan 2 I have to say, when I heard the team selection on arriving at the ground I feared the worst. WE have no strong central defenders and a RB who goes AWOL. Cresswell's worst game since he has been here. Drury the IT man of the match, but still only average. Without Sonco we are a shambles in defence.
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CornardBlue added 19:27 - Jan 2 Keanish we have been clueless in defence for 10 years, Ingimarsson is the worse centre back i have ever seen play for Town and Delaney is not far behind. We need new signings this week or we are going down, new Kepper, right back 2 centre backs, Big Centre forward all young and with pace. The supporters deserve better than what we have seen not just today but for at least the past 5 seasons.

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IvorFeeling added 19:28 - Jan 2 ME decision time. Do you give PJ £5-10m to sort this out or do you give the money to someone else. If it was me I wouldn't give PJ a packet of peanuts. Team structure, decision making. He doesn't have a clue and each week the squad are picked on the Euro lottery numbers or doen at the Bingo as that is the only logic I can see. Please take your curly wig and shell suit back to the land of scouse and I'll CALM DOWN!

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brittaniaman added 19:28 - Jan 2 I had a funny feeling that we would come unstuck today,and by god I was right !!! Once again we are back in the relegation fight Forest was the team we lost against last season and for that Our Dark Lord got the axe, but as I said before we did have 28pts. and still in the Carling Cup !!!!!!! I looked at Marcus Evans face during the game and it was motionless, I would have loved to know what he was thinking ?????? TIME FOR A CHANGE PERHAPS! As he has had long enough to prove himself ??????? Or he is not going to get any more of my money ?????? Your thoughts in less than 5 words please ??????????

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thechangingman added 19:30 - Jan 2 Phew! That was a VERY close one... I was away for a couple of days in East Anglia and I nearly persuaded my wife to let us go and see Town. Instead, I had a lovely day out in the Suffolk countryside and have returned home £70 the richer and without the bitter taste in my mouth of having poured my hard-earned cash into the rusty, bottomless bucket that is 'Paul Jewell's Ipswich Town'... Perhaps if a few others voted with their feet the club would get the message that we just won't stand for this kind of mismanagement...

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blueherts added 19:34 - Jan 2 There is no quick fix - ME bought the club for Premiership football - He banked on a former 'Star Player' with very little experience in management to do that - failed , a manager who 'got teams up - albeit many years back' - so maybe a duo - Old wise head a local connection to the club - with belief to get us playing football . I think would bounce back if we went down and frankly - I would prefer it than scrape away from relegation and face another battle in the Champ Confidence is all in sport and a winning squad coming up from Div One invariably does pretty well - What do we have to lose ?

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PauloJulio added 19:35 - Jan 2 PJ - Just take your face scouse arse and do one!
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Frase1987 added 19:37 - Jan 2 He proved today he is tactically inept i.e. starting with one up front at home against team who hadn't scored a goal for 7 games. ----------------------------------------- This. Not a clue from day 1.
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stu_ward27 added 19:38 - Jan 2 Today with our centre defence was like watching a pair of clueless clowns who looked more in place at the circus than on the football pitch. Drury was a bright spark though - he played well apart from his corners which couldn't beat the first man!!! Bowyer was also shocking today - he would have probably been sent off if he hadn't of got injured!!! We desperately need 2 centre backs, a right back and some pace in our team - the team is far too slow!!!

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