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

walberswick added 19:35 - Jan 14 Would've won if all the team were fit for a 90 minute game. Unfortunate, but PJ seems to find new ways to illustrate what a cr*p manager he is. Interesting variation on letting in 2 goals, trying the second half for a change. Still we're not doing any worse without Collins or Andrews. With a manger our squad would do alright.
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ClassyCranson added 19:39 - Jan 14 Garv - a great performance today but we have no backbone. You can not have a great performance at any stage when the team has no backbone. Jas0999 - Good post
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jas1972 added 19:40 - Jan 14 Looking back on the game, I have to disagree about the substitutes. Garv - Priskin was awful and showed no interest or effort whatsoever, contributing directly to one Blackpool goal. Anyone showing enthusiasm would havew been better. Jas099 - Bullard has certainly been out of form, but today he played like someone with a point to prove and I couldn't fault him for effort.

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HALLSJ added 19:47 - Jan 14 What has Holloway said that people keep making reference to??
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Bluecynic added 19:48 - Jan 14 jas0999 - so sorry your glass always has to be half full.balso, where do you get 43 points from if the max per match is 3?
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casanovacrow added 19:48 - Jan 14 hallsj - read the article, its on there lol
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TimmyH added 19:50 - Jan 14 'Ipswich haven't had a 'backbone' in years - that's half the problem, defence STILL needs to be sorted particularly RB, as I've said before Edwards should either be shifted into right midfield or go on the bench for more attacking option. Nice to see though Hyam and Carson starting alongside Drury (which might up his confidence playing alongside the lads). Other than that I will agree with PJ we are a team badly lacking in confidence and although the last 2 performances are better we can soon at any time concede goals if we come under pressure (psychology also plays a big part in this game) so we need to be more confident, only problem is only wins can bring that mentality!

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TractorBoy666 added 19:53 - Jan 14 *Sigh* Well at least it's a point. But should of been all 3. I don't rate Leeds great so hopefully we can give them a match. We shouldn't at all be saying that the play-offs are possible anymore, we know we've got to avoid relegation. That is the key for this season now.
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tractorboybig added 19:53 - Jan 14 Haarlem blue. Are you a blind leeming. What is positive about this club at the moment. If people saw the reality then perhaps we could move foward. When we are blue square, which one of us two will still be posting on here?
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alfromcol added 19:56 - Jan 14 Bring back ALB, this keeper is no better, in fact he is not as good. Let in a soft goal at Birmingham, under his body and was at fault for 1 today. Kicking was awful and doesn't seem to know when to come off his line. I know he is young, but so is ALB, who has done nothing wrong and had become dependable.
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Northern_Branch added 19:57 - Jan 14 From what I saw at Brum and from the reports today the spirit and desire is still there. Just get a couple of good defenders in (what you should have done at the START of the season PJ) and will be okay and can see us getting something at Leeds
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kipper added 20:08 - Jan 14 Reading the comments made by ME I think it seems Jewell is going nowhere so lets take the positives from today. Thought Martin, Hyam, Drury and Carson all played very well but hats off to Tommy Smith. Given all the stick he has had since the world cup hopefully today will boost his confidence. I know it's hugely disappointing being 2-0 up at home and ending up with a draw but let's be honest who wouldn't have taken a point at 3 o'clock today ?

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Garv added 20:13 - Jan 14 Carson had a tight hamstring Jas, same as Scotland.
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Garv added 20:13 - Jan 14 Carson had a tight hamstring Jas, same as Scotland.
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tomisamos added 20:13 - Jan 14 I really hope the same team starts next week, they deserve it, even it Bullard, Leadbitter, Bowyer, Delaney et al get fit in time. The team showed more desire than there's been all season and were unlucky today, Martin deserved his winner at the end and must be absolutely gutted it didn't go in! I'd say on evidence of today, an extra centre back, a decent right back and perhaps a striker showing the same determined desire as Scotland and we should have everything else there. I was encouraged by today, we played excellently against a very good side. I genuinely think had Scotland not been injured/chopra come on and carson had stayed we'd have won, we may even have scored another couple! Let's not lose faith yet but the next week needs to see at least once decent defensive signing. Stop crying about St. Ledger and do something about it!!

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manualthetisfanclub added 20:15 - Jan 14 Didn't play that bad today but as we all know same ol crap,defence let em down again.we need to score at least 4 to stand any chance of winning as clean sheets don't happen in this team.thought sonko and edwards had poorish games,smith played ok but still has his lapses in concentration.come on pj sort em out or get some in!!!
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hellotosh1967 added 20:32 - Jan 14 Why dont all you prats that keep getting on paul jewells back go and find something better to moan about because believe it or not sometimes managers have to make substitutions through no fault of there own i think town will now turn the corner with both youth and experience and also pj is the man to do this
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BehindBlueEyes added 20:35 - Jan 14 tractorboybig - the spelling is lemming you numpty and I'm always positive and support ITFC no matter who is manager/CEO/owner unlike you. Must be dreadful to only be happy sitting on a computer whinging about games you never go to! No doubt if we ever do end up in the Blue Square you'll still be on here spouting your 2 or 3 line vitriol. I'll still be going to the games not being a keyboard warrior. Either support ITFC or better still, lend your "support" to the boys in yellow up the road. I'm sure they'll welcome your views with open arms...

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Superfrans added 20:37 - Jan 14 Jewell is wrong. Tiredness did not lose us a win today. His substitutions did. Shocking. If a player made the kind of mistakes he did, he would be relegated to the kids' training session. Or frozen out. Jewell should go.
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hairbear added 20:39 - Jan 14 I must have been at a different game today than some on here. We played 451! Durey & hyam were really encouraging in the middle & martins energy behind Scotland gave them problems all game. I'm confused about why priskin came on when Jewell really doesn't rate him, it says a lot about the state of chopra at the mo. Edwards rules x
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blueherts added 20:40 - Jan 14 Really happy he changed the crew and formation - even if it was forced on him - last two games no one can doubt the character and commitment from those players - Martin is re energised and some of the younger ones are showing what they can do - it is the 'older players ' Sonko and Edwards who let us down - Sonko is a liability at times and as for Edwards - every team knows he cannot concentrate for 90 mins at RB he has no positional sense and they just attack him . If one of the signings is not a Right back I fear for all the work the rest are doing

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WarkyWonderLand added 20:41 - Jan 14 As well as we played we still couldn't see it out for 3 points and that's the biggest worry cos I can't see us getting anything at Leeds or against west ham. Loads more energy with Carson and drury and martin was a constant pain. Formation was fluid with a 4-2-3-1 or 4-3-3 with jet and martin supporting Scotland. But his substitions were poor tactically for whatever reason he had to make them. Had Phillips been starting we would have been in trouble. 2 wins in 14 and now no win for a month is not good enough and Leeds away then west ham at home. Admiral words from Mr Evans in the programme but can't see PJ being the one to take this club forward. If we go through Jan with no win something will have to happen. I am not being negative, being realistic.

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TimmyH added 20:47 - Jan 14 Leeds are a pretty average side at the moment, again today they played fairly poorly against a 10 man Palace for 45 minutes or so, I reckon too we might get something up there!
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muhrensleftfoot added 20:47 - Jan 14 Really entertaining game today. Hope PJ learns from this, and keeps the youngsters in. There's no future in playing old farts. Hats off to Lee Martin, I've never rated him, but today must be his best in a blue shirt. keep that up & I'll change my opinion. Was mad when Carson was substituted, but apparently injured. If that's true then fair enough. Priskin for Scotland though was not the right decision. Chopra should have come in. If only we could do something about our appalling defense. This has to be our priority, because otherwise, I think we are not too far from a half decent team.

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Ipswichbusiness added 20:48 - Jan 14 If we concede two goals a match we will not win many games. The worrying thing is that we have been doing this for months and Mr Jewell and his staff seem no nearer to solving it. We just can't go on like this.
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