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

StochesStotasBlewe added 21:47 - Feb 18 Must give big pat on the back to PJ tonight. The players have put enormous effort in these last 4 games coupled with not tinkering with the team unless injury has forced him too. I will happily eat a large dose of humble pie IF this current trend continues, as have thought he should have been replaced some time ago. Keep it up PJ & team, i hope ME is a better judge of manager than i am. More red wine please butler "hic".

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megamoth added 21:50 - Feb 18 Im a humble pie eater. A few weeks ago, despair got the better of me. 12 defeats and only 1 win in 15 games ffs. Now its 4 wins in a row with back to back clean sheets. And thats two clean sheets with a Smith Delaney partnership! What!!! Delighted of course but what's next? Wont be surprised to see the team playing all remaining matches dressed as badgers
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sirburley added 21:54 - Feb 18 town winning,my boys under 11's (AFC kesgrave) winning,scum losing,a can of scrumpy jack in my hand and number 24 coming out as the lotto bonus ball winning me £50......if carlsberg made saturdays they would probably all be like this :)
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StochesStotasBlewe added 22:04 - Feb 18 sirburley. Love it.
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Garv added 22:09 - Feb 18 Thought Delaney had a great game, more or less set up our first as well with a cracking tackle effectively setting up Chopra who fluffed his lines allowing Murphy to put it in for Martin. He wins everything in the air, can tackle, what he probably struggles with most is players running at him, but with Martin, Drury and Hyam players are finding it very hard at the moment to find space to run at defenders. Martin barely let's defenders pass into midfield, and when they manage it, and the midfielder picks it up he's got Hyam and Drury snapping at his heels. Fantastic tactics.

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ClassyCranson added 22:14 - Feb 18 I have been critical of Jewell and Martin this season but over the last few games they have both done really well. Long may they continue to prove me wrong. There is no reason why this winning streak can not continue as we are currently playing the best football in the division.
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roytheboy added 22:15 - Feb 18 And on Sir Bobby's Birthday as well !
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roytheboy added 22:16 - Feb 18 ‎3 nil to the Tractor boys, 3 nil to the Tractor boys, 3 nil to the Tractor boys, 3 nil to the Tractor boys (What a wonderful song, second verse same as first)
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Vizslaraner added 22:17 - Feb 18 Fantastic result boys so proud of u all. The system is working and there is bags of energy and pace. Every one played their heart out. Chops is proving just how gd he is and how vital he will b for us in the future. Martin has found his position and is finally delivering. I love drury, so gd on the ball and hyam will just get better and better - captain one day I hpe! Murphy and jet excellent too. The back four tight which will only boost confidence. Wonderful feeling tonight and grt to feel our team r back without that gut churning each week. COYB

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Tractastic added 22:17 - Feb 18 Another great result.Well done to the team and in particular Martin,Chopra ,Murphy and Drury.Still feel the defence needs strengthening but another clean sheet and with ALB riding his luck the force may well be with us! Recently we've had some awful decisions against us particularly at Birmingham so glad to see a decision go our way.Justice!! If Clegg can overcome his recent PR disaster and help fill this stadium by encouraging lapsed fans until the end of the season who knows where we can finish this season? This could also have a major impact on new season ticket sales so think ahead SG.? Despite all the criticism Jas gets well done to him for taking the flak and responding positively. We may not all agree on the current management set up but we are all true ITFC fans, aren't we? Managers and sometimes owners come and go but our football club will always be ours so both ends of the opinion spectrum should be respected and openly debated? In the words of Morrissey 'ITFC fans of the world unite and take a stand' (no matter your views!!) COYB.

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WREXHAM_BLUE added 22:22 - Feb 18 Great day!! Only one negative - the reaction by some 'fans' in the lower SBR to Leadbitter coming on. One word to describe you lot and it ain't complimentary!!
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bluelady added 22:22 - Feb 18 Roytheboy and how I enjoyed singing cherio cherio cherio to the cardiff fans as they started a mass exit at three nil....... childish but loved it!
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roytheboy added 22:34 - Feb 18 Bluelady it is a great feeling to release our energies and display our happiness in these ways, especially after all the disappointments a few weeks back, keep singing, it feels good !
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 22:53 - Feb 18 Walberswick where r u.......................is that u behind the couch?
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Mark added 23:05 - Feb 18 > I have to comment on those with rose coloured spectacles, MARK My first post was tounge-in-cheek and in response to negative postings on here where Jewell's biggest defeats have been listed out. I am a realist and know much of the season has been poor and that the run won't go on forever, but I am very pleased for Paul Jewell, his staff and his players. We haven't won 4 on the trot since 2004 when we were pipped to promotion by Wigan managed by...Paul Jewell.

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ibisblue added 23:27 - Feb 18 what a relief...
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Dissboyitfc added 23:38 - Feb 18 Mark...now you have explained , makes your first post very witty, i like it. its just so many people get so carried away , i wonder where the common sense has gone on here sometimes, ranging from ME taking team talks and transforming the team, to priskin not getting a fair chance, some pretty weird posts on here at times, but fair dues your post summed up some of the moronic views that get posted on here, by people who believe they have a superior football brain, if you know what i mean...coyb

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yun added 23:45 - Feb 18 Every season seems to have one team that makes a last-minute dash up the table and nicks into the play-offs. This year, I hope it's us!
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singtown added 00:12 - Feb 19 Town definitely the form team now, bring on the big boys and we'll show them what this team is made of! If the winning streak continues for another 8 games we'll be able to catch up with the sixth team surely. The team have to dig deep and show consistency from now on The ball is round, if we keep plucking full points over the rest, we'll climb up the table ultimately. Playoffs still a chance surely but players have to be at their best Great job! If PJ has set the longest losing record, hope he'll also set a hard to beat winning streak record!

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cornishblu added 00:17 - Feb 19 ....another great win.....back on the road against Brighton next weekend....could be the end of our winning run as I think me and the lad are jinx this season....kets hope not...looking forward to a sell out away end at the game....talking of which ...only 333 away fans today.....on that alone Cardiff dont deserve to go up....where were they???
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arablue added 00:39 - Feb 19 What a great feeling waking up on a Sunday morning to check out on twtd that we are 4 straight ups, the latest against another top 5 side and cup finalist no less! COYB!
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bluelady added 01:33 - Feb 19 Diss good attitude, grounded but fair and clearly a passionate fan. My gripe (and I hav
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bluelady added 01:37 - Feb 19 Diss good attitude, grounded but fair and clearly a passionate fan. My gripe (and I have been accused of blue specs) but it is against those who clearly get off on us losing just so they can have a moan. I always feel credit where credit is due and have no problem eating humble pie when wrong. Trouble is lose a couple and we are worse in the league, win a couple and we are Barca, often by the very same fans!! Winning feels oh so good to me, winning and playing free flowing attacking football tastes so much sweeter!!

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clarkey85 added 02:28 - Feb 19 Good performance havnt been for a while and that was best football ive seen in a long long time at PR everyone played there part but thought murphy was motm he was class act from the left! Top half finish now looks very possible imagine sayin that last month!!!
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DiamondGezzer added 08:01 - Feb 19 Congratulations once again to all at ITFC, take another bow ! Heady days, four on the spin, another three goals and yet another top five scalp, does it get any better than this ? Would it be pushing it to ask for a fifth ?
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