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

h32 added 20:15 - Jan 2 alfromcol - thought you were going to reduce your drivel this season - you listen to Jewell too much.
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ITFCforlife added 20:15 - Jan 2 i'm going to be refreshing SSN and BBC sport until there is news of his resignation
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brittaniaman added 20:16 - Jan 2 I did notice Cotterill was out there still giving instructions when he was 3-1 up with 5mins. to go,, Our poor Jewillio looked a defeated and broken man by then, he does not seem to have the tactical ability to lead a team.. IT seemed to me that Cotterill was on the pitch with his players, the way they were taking notice of him and following instructions !!!!!!!
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TimmyH added 20:17 - Jan 2 @lincolnshireblue - come on mate, Jewell IS the manager and he had enough time to sort that rag bag defence out, he knew Collins was leaving and Sonko was soon to be suspended so he calls in Ingmarsson who has only had a few starts and played poorly in most of them. If you think once the defence is sorted then you are sadly deluded. @alfromcol - wouldn't it make a pleasent change to elect a new manager, yeah I know lots of names would be in the hat, but maybe just the ones that would wish the job. A very long shot but wouldn't it be a breath of fresh air!

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wilnis_barmy_army added 20:18 - Jan 2 The sad state of affairs is that if Sonko isn't available i feel it almost inevitable that we will concede at least 3 or 4. Jewell knew Mcauley was on his way by April but we didnt find decent replacements. Instead we spent all summer chasing washed up prem players! Fortunately at least Sonko shows some passion! If we don't find 2 quality CBs out to prove themselves we are in big trouble!

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Steelmonkey added 20:19 - Jan 2 What an absolute load of ..... I witnessed again today. Why change the midfield set up? How do we put up half decent porformances away from home, and then give a showing of running around like a bunch of headless chickens at home. Really thought we had hit rock bottom after the seven defeats, but then Jewel goes and gives them shovels to dig us a bit deeper. You can tell Jewel and co to fek off all you like, but who in their right minds would want to come here and try to sort this mess out. It's true some teams have taken the drop and come back stronger, but just as many have not. With the set up we have in place now we don't have the resources or the intelligence to do it. Admit it Mr Jewel, you have no idea of how to inspire and motivate your players, and your tactics are outdated. The game has moved on apace, and so should you. Phil, on last years TWTD Survey you asked us how we thought we would do next season - I voted mid table mediocraty, (as I didn't think that Mr Evans had installed the correct manager), if only we could end this season achieving this!

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roytheboy added 20:21 - Jan 2 All this aerial rubbish is getting us nowhere, Ipswich used to play the ball on the grass generally speaking, something has to change very soon, I'm sure most of our players are reasonable players but I did not see anything that resembled a team to me today, just as a bunch of musicians do not make a band, a bunch of players do not make a team, I knew that Forest would bring the game to us in the early stages, they needed to of course, I also knew that our defenders would have to be up to the job, sadly they weren't, we have reached a pivotal time of the season and something needs to be altered and fast.

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wrightyblue added 20:21 - Jan 2 Edwards!!!
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Dissboyitfc added 20:21 - Jan 2 lincolnshireblue... sorry but you can blame jewell, in your own words this defence lets the team down week in week out and has done all season, who has jewell signed to rectify, what is an obvious problem? sonko and ingimarson, we have the worst defence in the league, we need a right back and 2 centre backs. Football is a simple game in principle, dont concede and you wont lose, then score with ought conceding and you win. no where near enough has been done to sort out our embarrassing defence. we are a laughing stock and i can longer defend jewell... coyb

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h32 added 20:24 - Jan 2 Dissboyitfc - that's better - you're smelling the Coffee ............ !!
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Legend added 20:24 - Jan 2 Enough is enough now! Jewell is not making any progress what so ever! It's a year ago since keane was sacked and we are no better off at all. Keane was many things but il tell you one thing, his team would not roll over and die every game and let in shed loads of goals every game!! Jewell is worse than keane! We are losing fans every game. Us fans deserve better.
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churchmans81 added 20:25 - Jan 2 Curbishley and Holland please!!
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northstand78 added 20:25 - Jan 2 Hugely disappointing,,pi55 off PJ. Your team, your players, and our hard earned money to watch players who are paid thousands a week.. You chose them, you train them and that's the best you can do. HANG YOUR HEADS IN SHAME..PJ AND YOUR OVERPAID SQUAD OWE US AN APOLOGY..IF YOU DO THE DECENT THING AND GO THEN YOUR APOLOGY WOULD BE ACCEPTED.. Jimmy B couldn't make the bench,talent my arse. What has happened to our beloved ITFC.

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stoofer added 20:26 - Jan 2 your dissapointed pj, your getting paid to serve up this drivel,as on the other hand we are paying to sit through this game in game out,DISSAPOINTED DOSEN`T DO JUSTICE.
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 20:32 - Jan 2 So PJ must go but who should take his place? An up and coming league 1 manager with an in form team would surely not risk the jump at this stage so are we scouting out amongst the cast offs from other woeful teams, the long forgotten out of work managers that may have had success in seasons gone by, a great player from the past with no managerial experience or a steady guiding hand to see us safe by the end of the season? Or is ME going to cross his fingers, stick with PJ and hope for the best?

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lincolnshireblue added 20:34 - Jan 2 Stop being a prat @depressed. What will happen will happen at the club. If Evans was able to bring in a new Manager I think he would and I stand by what I have already said in my post. Having supported the club since 1968 and missing the game today is one of very few that I have, I believe in giving full support at all times. Evans is the only person that will make the decision on PJ and he will make the decision when he sees fit. Until then I will continue to support the team and the Manager. It is the defence and hopefully we can get 3 or 4 players in and get rid of a couple. @h32 - I may not have been at the game but I have a season ticket but was unable to get to the game. @TimmyH - I agree he knew but PJ has to go through Clegg to get things sorted in the Transfer and as I have said, I don't know what Clegg does (apart from delaying everything until it's too late). today's result might just make them go out and get the targets PJ wants or get a new manager in to sort things.

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TimmyH added 20:35 - Jan 2 At least we haven't got a league game at the weekend, and the pressure will be off us so the players can relax and play some trully inspiring stuff for a nice long cup run! - NOT! p.S. Jewell can experiment a tad more in the cup, a tweak here a tweak there and hey presto maybe a winning formula and if so change it the week after.
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tractorboy1961 added 20:38 - Jan 2 Clegg and Jewell..... please just go
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Ipswich24 added 20:38 - Jan 2 I was ashamed to be a town fan today. Sitting in north stand watching that joke of a defence just pulled apart is disgusting. Our defence has been poor now for so long. I am beginning to think Portmanteau Road is jinxed. It does not help the team that their is no atmosphere no twelfth man that you get at most grounds. We make it far too easy for away teams how many times do we concede early at home or start off poorly? At home you are supposed to put the away team under pressure from the off get the crowd on your side. We do the complete opposite. I thought JET was good today so many people get on at him but he has class he won penalty on own, he hit that fantastic shot off the bar and really tried to make things happen when on ball. For crying out loud just because he is a giant he is not a target man he wants ball in good areas to feet. Drury was also very good these two apart everyone were very poor. We need to start again with young manager and young players just watched highlights of Leeds and Andros Townsend ripped Burnley apart he is exactly what we need not that pathetic waste of space Murphy he is one of wort players have seen.

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alfromcol added 20:41 - Jan 2 h32 I am probably just as disappointed as you are, but changing the manager again is not the answer. WE have done this twice already and nothing has improved. We need two strong central defenders and a RB, plus GKeeper backup. OK if PJ, SC and ME can't get them then heads will have to roll, but it won't be SC or ME. How will a change of manager get us the players we need? You tell me. Defensively we are not good enough! If this isn't sorted during the January transfer window then we could be relegated. WE STILL NEED A DECENT RB. Edwards if fine going forward but he leaves so much space for the opposition to run into when the move breaks down. We desperately need a RB who can defend. Please sort it PJ or let us know why you can't.

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FornhamBlue added 20:43 - Jan 2 @lincolnshireblue - of course you'll get a whole range of opinions on this forum - and all are as equally valid as others. I would never boo the team during the game and continue to support them - but that doesn't mean I'm going to forever except the dross currently being served up without question. 5 points out of the last 36 doesn't suggest to me that everything in the garden is roses and if 'full support was given at all times' how do the paying supporters ever affect change? Today was awful, but there have been many other awful games over the last 3 years. I too have also followed ITFC since the late 60's and I don't think the current football being served represents value for money and certianly wouldn't criticise other supporters for venting their frustration - and after all they only do that because they care about their club.

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TimmyH added 20:46 - Jan 2 what about the poor performances in general of our midfielders too i.e. Bowyer, Bullard, Martin and Leadboots (isn't he meant to protect the centre backs? other than assist the opposition with their goals) - the defence is just the start of the problem.
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h32 added 20:47 - Jan 2 lincolnshireblue - 'I believe in giving full support at all times' - good on yer' - so do most of us - UNTIL it gets to the point where we take exception to being legally/ illegally mugged, and served up consistent RUBBISH. That point has well and truly been reached.
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bluearmy89 added 20:47 - Jan 2 Its so simple, jan transfer window is upon us time for changes... PJ - OUT NOW! Clegg - OUT! Ship the crap and please get us a team who can win football matches because this is killing me aaaaargh! Im begging/tweeting Matt Holland tonight to please save our club!!
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StowTractorBoy added 20:50 - Jan 2 I like many others am totally devastated at the state of our beloved football club. Many of the reasons for our demise have been published on here, some I agree with and some I don't but to hope for a drop to the third tier of English football is totally absurd as there are no guarantees that we will come back and we could even slide further. I do totally agree that something needs to be done now and reluctantly I have to say that PJ should do the honourable thing and walk away. I stuck with Keane until this time last season and now the same goes for PJ who I desperately wanted to succeed. Sadly he may be a very nice man and has a sense of humour but has no tactical expertise whatsoever as was demonstrated today with his team selection and substitutions. Only my opinion but we should have played 4-4-2 with Carson and Martin on the flanks with JET and Murphy up front. None of this of course would matter as our defence is shambolic. Get Curbs in now to save us and at least give him time to make the signings required. Whatever happens I shall still be at PR next season but fear it may be watching 3rd tier football.

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