Town boss Paul Jewell felt his side’s lack of confidence and more bad defending allowed Blackpool to come back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 at Portman Road.

Jewell said: “At 2-0 up, a team that’s full of confidence wins the game. We were the best team right up until they scored and obviously when they score the doubts set in again.

“At 2-0 with 10 minutes to go, you’re thinking that we could lose this, but in the end we could have won it. It was an end-to-end game. But up until they scored, we were by far the best team.

“Bad defending has cost us all season,” he continued, “which is why we’ve got the worst defensive record in the division.

“If Ipswich score against you, with our record, you always think you’ve got a chance and we’ve got to work harder to stop goals going in.

“One long ball seems to get in behind us too often. We defended high, we defended deep, we just defended badly at times, it’s been the tale of our season.”

Elliot Grandin pulling one back for the Seasiders was the key to the comeback, Jewell believes: “Goals change games. At 2-0, we’re trying to play the ball through the middle, we lose it, a cross comes in, we don’t win the first header and we don’t get near the second. From that perspective, we’re disappointed.

“Their second goal came from us conceding a freekick deep in their half. We switched off from the freekick, they took it quickly and Phillips does what he’s been doing all his career - peeling off and scoring goals.

“Phillips has got fantastic movement, he’s a credit to himself and all young strikers of his size should have a look at how he plays because he’s got brilliant movement.”

The Blues boss - who wasn't sure about the second half penalty incidents - had no problem with his side’s endeavour, although he felt one or two tired towards the end: “I think we put a lot of effort into the game, we had a game on Wednesday and we didn’t get back late.

“I’m not making excuses, but these are all factors. Jason got a tight hamstring, Josh was tight a little bit as well, so we had to make one or two changes.

“You can’t question the players’ effort. I think there was only one game this season, at Burnley, when some us threw the white towel in. Even in games in which we’ve been beaten badly, other than that one, I can’t fault the players’ effort.

“I thought the crowd’s reaction to them was terrific at half-time when they were coming off, they got behind them, and even at the end of the game.”

He says his line-up — with Lee Martin in a role between the midfield and lone striker Jason Scotland — worked well for the most part: “We obviously had to look at how Blackpool play and they’ve had that system in place for two or three years, Ollie’s done a brilliant job there. In the stats, they’re the best passing team in the league.

“We wanted to try and stifle that and give them a problem, and I think we did with our two wide players and Lee in there. We definitely stifled them, certainly in the first half they never really threatened our goal.

“Certainly for effort and determination and chances created, it might have been a good game for the neutral. I’m really sick that we haven’t won the match.

“Ollie will probably come in here and say that at 2-2 they’ve had chances to win it. We’ve had a chance to win it right at the death, it was an open game. We can’t keep on scoring three goals to win a game.”

He says Daryl Murphy was left out having played a lot of games recently: “I just gave him a rest. He’s had a lot of games lately, Daryl. He’s put a lot of effort in. Everyone else is in consideration, we just gave him a rest.”

Blackpool boss Ian Holloway, who believed his side should have been awarded a penalty when Gary Taylor-Fletcher went to ground in the second half, thought his side was bested for much of the match: “I thought we got outplayed for quite a bit of it, to be fair. I didn’t expect the energy in their team like that.

“They got tight to us, close to us, stopped the front three playing and stopped all of us playing, to be honest.

“I think that shows that sometimes when your young ones are off the boil a little bit, you need some senior ones who know the game and are happy to be sit there and show a great attitude to come on and show their class.

“I think Gary Taylor-Fletcher did that, I think Elliot Grandin’s not as old as them but he was terrific when he came on, and as for Kevin Phillips he’s like a fine bottle of wine, and thank God he is.

“I think we’re all a bit shocked that when he went through the second time, the goalie managed to save it. I think it would have been far too harsh on Ipswich’s performance today if they had ended up with nothing.”

Photo: Action Images

Pip50 added 18:33 - Jan 14 Get the youth in sprinkle a bit of experience....only taken 12 months!!!
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tomisamos added 18:34 - Jan 14 What lost us the game was bringing off two players who wanted to play for town and bringing on two who didn't. Shame because I thought everyone to a man was fantastic in the first half. Edwards and Sonko got caught out too much later on, but a fantastic performance from most the team, but Jewell got it wrong today, he needs to take the flack for it, his substitutions cost us the game, Holloway's won them a point.

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WhoisJimmyJuan added 18:36 - Jan 14 Not good enough. Sick of clutching at straws about playing well in patches. We are down. Jewell and Clegg: Go! In the name of Robson Go!
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gifkins_itfc added 18:41 - Jan 14 bye bye paul jewell and tke leadbitter and priskin with u cus priskin is crap and the defence play well in the 1st half
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Pique added 18:46 - Jan 14 Nice comments from Holloway. Has always struck me as a decent, fair-minded guy.
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Garv added 18:49 - Jan 14 Both Carson and Scotland, as Jewell says had to go off. Priskin was the right person to bring on, definitely not Chopra who can't hold the ball up nor win a header. And to be fair neither are amongst the goals are they. Great performance, but we have no backbone, and we can't keep a lead. No idea what was going on when they had so many one on ones! Do you credit Philips for his nous and top quality movement or say what the hell was Smith/Cresswell up to? Genuinely fancy us to get something out of the Leeds game.

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KenDubZ added 18:51 - Jan 14 Your dump subs more like!! Chopra for Scotland sorted!! You had to change it didn't you, you just couldn't handle young players playing!
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tractorboybig added 18:54 - Jan 14 Surely he must be running out of excuses. Bottom line is we are crap. Who's fault is that? probaly because the supporters dont shout loud enough.
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TownOnTheUp added 18:54 - Jan 14 Have to disagree Garv, Chopra would have been the right person. We were trying to hit them on the counter attack and I think Chopra is a better player for trying to get in behind a defence, plus Priskin's lack of commitment arguably contributed to their equaliser. Also thought that Martin needed a little help towards the end, because he didn't have the energy to track back and help Edwards, hence why Crainey was getting so much space. Tactically a little naive from Jewell, which isn't something you should expect from an experienced manager. Still, not a bad display overall, though we still need 4 players to sign - lcb, rcb, rb and st.

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jaydee added 18:56 - Jan 14 Great performance & looked a good shape untill you made 2 poor substitutions PJ. Why give priskin a chance,but then play him on his own up front.I'm not one of these PJ out(yet) but he sure got it wrong today !
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AlanMahon2011 added 18:59 - Jan 14 Priskin Out
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jaydee added 19:01 - Jan 14 Tractorbigboy - Did you actually go to the game today or listen to it on the radio,because we were far from crap.
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stu_ward27 added 19:01 - Jan 14 decent performance for the first 65 mins, then we switch off like we often do and let them back into it!!! I thought Smith, Hyam, Martin and JET all had very good games, with Drury, Scotland and Carson also doing OK!!!! But the amount of times Edwards is out of position is unbelievable, the game changed because of Kevin Phillips introduction and the switching of flanks of Matt Phillips to face Edwards!!! I agree with Garv though, Priskin was the right man to come on, Chopra is currently both overweight and lacking in confidence and doesn't do a lot for the team, and Priskin wasn't that bad when he came on! But overall we need to replicate the performance for 90 mins not just 65 mins as was the case today!!!

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CraigForrestGateau added 19:02 - Jan 14 What cost us that game Jewell was your terrible substitions and change in tactics. You've lost any faith I had left in you, that was nothing to do with the players this afternoon Jewell, get lost and fast.
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braveblue added 19:03 - Jan 14 With 25 to go I saw him debating changes. I knew then we were in trouble. He went to 1 up front as per last two games when we were 2-1 up. We lost both of those and almost lost today. The worst manager for tactics I have ever seen
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stu_ward27 added 19:04 - Jan 14 oh and the taylor-fletcher incident was never a penalty, the most blatant dive I have seen this season!!! and we should have had a couple of penalties as well!!!
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Hally543 added 19:06 - Jan 14 I feel sorry for ALB, McCarthy was poor today, couldn't kick to save his life and i'm sorry but a good goalie shouldn't be beaten near post from the edge of the box
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Lightningboy added 19:17 - Jan 14 The problem is that we need to score 2,3,4 goals etc a game to get any points at the moment and that is obviously not a good sign. I guarantee the next time we keep a clean sheet we'll fail to put one in at the other end. Still can't believe we haven't sorted out a defender to play at RB..what is Jewell seeing out there?..what has he seen in Edwards in the 12 months that makes him think we are defensively tight with him at the back?..he's a constant weak point and it seems obvious to everyone except the man in charge. I'm sorry PJ,but you really are looking like the village idiot. Thank God there are 3 teams struggling below us because I really can't see us hitting 50 points this season.

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jas0999 added 19:17 - Jan 14 There will be those celebrating a home draw against a team who didn't look interested throughout. Yes, we played well for 60 odd minutes and yes it was entertaining. BUT we gifted them a point and what does PJ say - it's poor defending and a lack of confidence ... as manager surely it is HIS job to sort out the defensive situation - he has had a YEAR to address it. Confidence is for the MANAGER to sort out. Same excuses from a terrible manager. 11 defeats in 15. TWO wins ONLY in that time. 8 points from 43. Falling attendances. Many goals conceeded. Poor signings. It's estonishing that ME thinks all is well. Completely naive. PJ OUT.

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jas0999 added 19:25 - Jan 14 Garv - I am sorry, but Priskin has not played for months - how is bringing him on helping Chopra's confidence? Also, Chopra is more likely to score. As for Carson - well PJ is changing his tune - 'tired' apparently in one interview - sounds to me that Pj knows he made a mistake and is making an excuse - will be interesting to see if Carson is 'fit' for Leeds. It was a poor sub, as the 'ill' Bullard is woefully out of form. The subs changed this game, along with PJ's failure - he has had a year - to address the defence. I respect your opinion, but for me 8 points from 43 and throwing away a two goal lead at HOME against opposoition who always do badly at PR is completely unacceptable. Sorry as I know you rate PJ.

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WhoisJimmyJuan added 19:32 - Jan 14 Jordan Rhodes didn't score today.
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HALLSJ added 19:33 - Jan 14 9th top scorers but worst defence, need these additional defenders. Really pleased to see the younger lads being given a chance especially Carson & Hyam
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casanovacrow added 19:33 - Jan 14 Nice bit of honesty from a manager ...Ollie is a legend, couldn't give a jott what Jewell said, we heard it all before. Great performance purely due to Jewell having his hand forced in playing players with energy especially in central midfield, back to static football with Leadboots within the next 3 games though :-(
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BehindBlueEyes added 19:35 - Jan 14 jaydee - no point in asking tractorboybig that question, he's a scummer that just comes on here to whinge....all the time! Never seen a positive post from him in all the time I've been viewing this site. Thought we played well today but again things just not going for us. Do question the subs a little but great effort put in by the lads. Hopefully the results will improve from now on. COYB!

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PSGBlue added 19:35 - Jan 14 The decision to go 4-5-1 cost us three points today. When Carson came off injured surely better to keep a 4-4-2 shape with Chopra being used instead of Bullard, then playing Chopra with Priskin up front and dropping Martin to Right midfield and JET to left midfied to leave Drury and Hyam in the middle. The positives today were the performances of the young players - Hyam, JET, Carson, and especially Martin. Along with a few wiser heads it shows that the team is more energ "JET"ic (energetic!) and balanced - I was impressed by how quickly we were closing Blackpool down. I really hope PJ learns from this and now builds around the likes Cresswell, Hyam, Drury, JET and Martin. With the likes of a few old heads such as Sonko and Scotland we have enough to avoid the drop. Bowyer, Bullard, Leadbitter and Chopra are no longer what we want at our club, the sooner PJ realises this the better!

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