Town boss Paul Jewell was delighted with his side’s 3-0 home victory over Cardiff City, although he admitted he thought keeper Arran Lee-Barrett was going to be red-carded for his early foul on Bluebirds striker Joe Mason. The win was Town’s fourth in a row and their sixth in seven games against Cardiff.

Jewell said: “It was a good result against one of the top teams. There was a spell in the first half where we had to ride our luck a little bit but overall I thought we were worthy winners.

“We had to dig in for 20 minutes in the first half because Cardiff caused us a few problems but we were resolute, we had a little bit of fortune and once we scored, you could see the confidence in the team.”

He admitted that he felt he might needed to call on second-choice keeper Alex McCarthy, feeling that Lee-Barrett may have been fortunate to avoid first use of the Wash and Go: “Probably. I’ve only seen it live and my initial reaction was ‘get your gear off Alex’.

“But I did see the ball go quite a bit wide and the linesman was on that side, so if anyone had a good view, it was him.

“Maybe we might have [been fortunate] but there have been plenty of times this season when we haven’t had the rub of the green.”

Jewell, whose side is up to 16th, 11 points off the play-offs and 15 from the relegation zone, was pleased with his team’s workrate: “[The industry] starts at the front with Michael Chopra, Lee Martin, Daryl Murphy and even Jay Emmanuel-Thomas.

“You can see the crowd warm to that. The least we expect is hard work. But we are running around playing with confidence.

“We’re a difficult team to play against at the moment because we’re in people’s faces and we’ve got athleticism about the team.”

Two-goal Martin impressed his manager, which he admits hasn’t always been the case: “He’s found a little role in the team.

“Lee and I have our ups and downs, it’s been well documented, he’s been ill-disciplined at times, but I think he’s maturing as a footballer and he’s taking a bit of a lead role in our team. He’s one of the leaders, if you like.

“I’ve got nothing but praise for him, he’s found that position, he’s working hard, he’s adding goals to his game and he’s playing with supreme confidence and great energy and he’s a focal point of our team at the moment.”

Jewell was also pleased with his other midfielders, who he says have been crucial to Town’s recent resurgence: “People have come into the team, Andy Drury and Luke Hyam, and played exceptionally well and we’ve found a position which suits Lee Martin.

“I also thought Daryl Murphy was excellent today. I thought his workrate and his industry both on and off the ball was terrific and he had a hand in two of the goals.”

Defensively, the Blues boss was delighted with the first back-to-back clean sheets since September: “What we’ve done at the back this year, whatever back four has played, is make basic errors, individual errors which cost us goals.

“I guess two months ago we would have conceded in that dodgy spell in the first half, even maybe a couple of goals because that’s what’s happened so far this season.

“But we’re playing with that confidence, that belief and that desire and people have taken their chances in the team.

“If you get clean sheets you don’t lose matches, I know it’s an obvious saying. We went to Portsmouth and won 1-0 and it wasn’t a backs to the wall performance.

“Again we kept a clean sheet today. The back four have been vilified by people this year and I’d rather say it’s a team thing rather than a unit of the team — we defend as a team and we attack as a team and at the moment we do look a decent team.

“Both Tommy and Damien, and Cressy and Carlos were terrific," he added. "It was a good performance.”

Cardiff boss Malky Mackay was pleased with his team’s first half display but less so their second: “We started the game well enough and over the course of the first half had plenty of attacks round about their goal.

“We gave the ball away 20 yards from our nets and they scored a good goal from it, so I was disappointed with that, and they had another chance.

“But over the whole of the first half I was quite happy with the way we were playing. Second half, we were second best.”

But it was referee Simon Hooper’s failure to red card Lee-Barrett which particularly irked the one-time Norwich defender: “It was incredible. At the time, the whole stadium, even the Ipswich fans, have got their hearts in their mouths. Their manager blows his cheeks out and looks at me when the yellow card goes up.

“It’s an incredible decision. It’s one that I asked [referee Simon Hooper] about at half-time and he felt that the goalkeeper tried to nick the ball away from our centre-forward with one foot.

“I think anybody who has looked at it has seen two feet off the ground, flying in. He hits him about the knee and takes him out.

“I think if that’s challenge by two midfielders or a centre-back on someone in the middle of the park, forget goalscoring opportunity, it’s a sending off, never mind last man, him being the goalkeeper and the man running round him to score.

“It’s a defining moment, one that I cannot get my head around and it’s one that the referee’s supervisor and the head of referees will see on Monday, and I’ll be looking for feedback immediately.”

Photo: Action Images

CornardBlue added 20:03 - Feb 18 Great team performance from all the players today, i think now most of loan players have gone it has created a real team spirit with in the club and everyone is playing for each other. Tommy Smith should be given a new contract straight away as his confidence is back and looks better every game.
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Frase1987 added 20:07 - Feb 18 Jas it takes a big man to admit they may have been wrong..... oh ------------------------------------------------ To be fair to Jas and the 99% of others who wanted PJ out (me included), Jewell is only now doing what we all said he should have done all along. And for now, great job PJ keep it up! 4 wins in excellent. I just hope this lasts, defeats are inevitable but aslong as we're progressing it's all good.

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Ipstones added 20:07 - Feb 18 Well all i can say is .... roll me another FAT ONE!!! Could we be the team that make the late surge into the play offs and goes up???
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IvorFeeling added 20:09 - Feb 18 Blue lady- whilst I don't agree with all that Jas says and it is far easier to be negative than positive the season to date has been below our expectations, the table doesn't lie and also our GD reflects this. I feel more positive but I worry that as soon as relegation is mathematically impossible the desire and will to win that has been a hallmark or the last 6 matches will disappear. We all still know that our defence as a squad is not good enough for promotion. To finish on a positive, Hyam, Drury, JET, Cresswell, Edwards, Murphy & Chopra have stood up to be counted in these last 6 games.

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brittaniaman added 20:11 - Feb 18 I am looking to the game on tues now at Playford Rd. with a team of Bullard, Bowyer, Stevenson, leadbitter, Kennedy, Carson, Scotland, Ellington, McCarthy, or Wright, to name a few hey ??????
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bluelady added 20:12 - Feb 18 Ivor I know its far from perfect but to say this is down to ME and to continue to refuse to get behind the manager is tiresome thats why made the comment, credit where credit is due is all I ask, surely not unfair?
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Ipstones added 20:12 - Feb 18 oh nearly forgot such a sweet result!!! toped off by winning 50 squid on skybet 50p on 100-1 all to win Everton , Bolton , LEICESTER v Them i do not acknowledge, Leeds, IPSWICH, Southampton.... What a touch!
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IvorFeeling added 20:18 - Feb 18 Bluelady - on this point I totally agree with you.
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Kuqicoo added 20:18 - Feb 18 Great stuff. I'm really pleased for pj...I was seriously doubting he would last several weeks ago but we look a good team now. Hardworking, confident, dangerous. A big well done to the whole team!
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Ipswichbusiness added 20:23 - Feb 18 A marvellous result, sounds as if we played well and we kept a clean sheet again. That it was done with the youngsters makes it even better. The next few games will see how lasting this improvement is. We should - must - beat Bristol City at home, but the away games (Brighton, Southampton, Hull) will show how much progress we have really made.
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michaeldownunder added 20:26 - Feb 18 What a great win Dare we hope for 5 wins in a row?(or 18 incl playoffs) Why not
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Kuqicoo added 20:30 - Feb 18 Whoops..I'm so happy I keep repeating myself!
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Tractorboy24 added 20:42 - Feb 18 In fairness even jas seems to be coming round, to point out though, performances before the west ham game were good, me's intervention was coincidental. On the game and the current run though, over the moon, when we went 2-0 up v Blackpool I was still fearful, today I was confident, that's the change in our mentality in the last few weeks.
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MickMillsTash added 20:51 - Feb 18 Such a shame we let slip so many points earlier on in the season. Not sure exactly why the improvemnet in form has happened since the Hull game but an on form Chopra is a major plus and I think we must give credit to the management team over how he has been handled. I wrote on here that a centre mid of Hyam and Drury had relegation written all over it - but they have been fantastic- giving energy, shape and defensive cover. I think we have stumbled on this partnership but thank god we did. Personally I like Murphy at left mid (I think he gives height and is quite discplined) and also think that Edwards is so improved at right back. Hope that Smith gets a really good run now until the end of the season to show us if he is up to the task. The starting 11 must have a lower weekly wage bill as well which must be good with a view to 2012/13.

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WarkyWonderLand added 20:55 - Feb 18 4wins on the spin, 12 points and 12 goals. Was fearful after forest defeat and did not think PJ was up to it. He has seen the light and what youth and passion can do. Had he have started the season like that and lost no one would have complained. Keep it going PJ and stick with what we have to end of season and then make sure we get a keeper, centre half and right back. And just think of all the points we have thrown away. Just need to keep it going and see where it takes us. Nothing to fear. Coyb

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Dissboyitfc added 20:56 - Feb 18 first of all a big well done, i am thrilled at the turn around of late, i was one of those who doubted jewell as the man to turn things around , and lets face it if these last four results had been different i honestly believe he would have gone...i hope he is the man and i have to eat humble pie. And i have to give credit where credit is due, its only fair to be balanced in these things. I have to comment on those with rose coloured spectacles, MARK, for instance... the first 2 results hardly count they were from last year and a team he inherited, and if you are going to mention scorelines under jewell , do it fairly and quote the thrashings from southampton,peterborough, millwall, burnley and nots forest , amongst other embarrassing losses too. Lets enjoy this fantastic upturn in form but keep an eye on the facts.....COYB

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MickMillsTash added 21:03 - Feb 18 Anyone know what our form is when Hyam has played?
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bobble added 21:04 - Feb 18 this better news to wake up too ,problem is i always fancy a couple of ciders at 7.30 in the morning to celebrate
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gilo1973 added 21:13 - Feb 18 I cant respond to negative posts today - oh well as soon as we lose Jas will be back put in force slagging off PJ even if we put in a cracking performance
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Garv added 21:19 - Feb 18 Jas = embarrassing
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sonian_blue added 21:26 - Feb 18 Awesome today and everyone played their part. Apart from those stated in earlier posts Id like to add that Delaney was immense. He has had his share of flack but credit where it is due he had a stormer and on several occasions was organising Lee Barrett who had a bit of a mare....but got away with it. As PJ said 'they worked hard and the crowd appreciate that', cousre we do. All we ask is they put in a shift and that has been the difference these past few weeks . Keep it up boys and tahnks for making my Sat night.

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Ipswichbusiness added 21:39 - Feb 18 MickMillsTash asks about our form when Luke Hyam is playing. By my reckoning, he played in the early season game against Northampton which we lost and then didn't play again until the FA Cup third round which we lost as well. In all competitions it looks like 8, won 4 drawn 1, lost 3 scored 17 conceded 13. Of course if you take off the two cup defeats it looks better.

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blrmy added 21:40 - Feb 18 Jas, seriously? ME turned it around with a 5 minute visit to the dressing room? Jeez.
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itfc_since_birth added 21:46 - Feb 18 Ok so we nearly lost a goalkeeper but don't forget his saves - he is developing into a very good keeper and needs all the support we can give. The whole team gave 150% thats what we expect win or lose.
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norwichsuperblue added 21:46 - Feb 18 Gr8 feeling getting off the train at naaaarrrwich tonight! Putting my boy on my shoulders with his town shirt on number 10 Chopra on the back,and walk past carrot rud to pick my car up, there was scum everywhere and the first time in along time I felt proud! And held my head high coyb
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