Town boss Paul Jewell says his side needed a half-time tongue-lashing for the second time in a week as they came from two goals behind to draw 2-2 at Hull City. The Blues manager had similarly berated his side at the break during Tuesday’s 1-1 draw at Southampton.

Jewell said: “The second half performance was very good. Once again at half-time we had to tear a serious strip off them, which is not what we want to keep doing.

“We certainly got a reaction and the disappointing thing was that they scored with their first shot in the second half, almost the first time they’d been in our half.

“The new-found resilience bared its teeth if you like, we battled on and I thought, on the second half performance, we were fully deserving of at least a draw.”

The Town boss left Lee Martin out of the side and says he probably ought to have made more changes after what has been a tiring week: “We’ve had a lot of travelling, like the supporters have.

“I don’t want to make excuses but we got back at three o’clock in the morning on Tuesday and we had a five-hour journey yesterday and one or two were tired.

“I did contemplate making a couple of changes. I left Lee out because he’d been a bit stiff and a bit tired and there were one or two others I was thinking about. Maybe I should have with hindsight because they’ve done exceptionally well and worked exceptionally hard.”

Jewell also took the dreadful KC Stadium surface into account, both in terms of personnel and tactics: “That pitch is a joke. I feel sorry for the Hull players playing on that because it’s not conducive to any football whatsoever.

“You don’t realise how bad it is from the stands. When you get on it, it’s just sand and it’s doesn’t lend itself to open football. We found it difficult, certainly in the first half, to adjust to it.

“We wanted to get Lee in that little hole but you could see that any time you try to play football the ball just bobbles all over the place.

“We thought we had to be a bit more direct but I thought we were a bit meek and mild in the first half. However, in the second we got it in behind and I thought Jason Scotland linked up exceptionally well.

“We played more forcefully. We played in their half, turned them round and I thought we were fully justified in the second half.”

The Liverpudlian had praise for Grant Leadbitter, particularly for the assured manner in which he converted the all-important penalty: “People will talk about the strike and it was a great strike but stepping up to take a penalty at 2-0 showed not just confidence but bottle.

“Once we got the goal you could see there was a spring in our step, but even before that, until they scored the second goal, I thought we started the second half very, very well.”

Hull manager Nick Barmby was disappointed that his side let their lead slip: “When you’re 2-0 up, really you should see out the game. We did well in the first half, got a scruffy goal that we’ve been due in the last two or three games.

“We were the better team but for me the penalty changed it. It was a rash decision [by Aaron Mclean] to try an overhead kick in our box and it’s changed the game. They’ve scored the penalty and then were in the ascendancy. Full credit to Ipswich, they got back in the game.”

The former England midfielder thought his side ought to have been awarded a spotkick in the first half when Carlos Edwards brought down Matty Fryatt: “Yes, but I’m not going to complain about that.

"Ipswich were the better side in he second half but he was holding Matty, you could see it clearly. But it’s by the by, I’m not going to split hairs about that.”

Photo: Action Images

buryblue77 added 23:54 - Mar 10 chepstow, I'll hold my hands up to having called him Leadboots, he looked out of depth in the first half of the season, at times almost like he wasn't at professional standard. Now he is looking like the player we signed from Sunderland, has a lot more class on the ball and ability to pick out good passes from deep, again something he wasn't doing earlier in the season. I'm glad he's turned his performances around, whilst I'll critisise when I feel justified to do so, I'll always praise when that's due as well and Leadbitter deserves it right now.

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martleshamitfc added 00:37 - Mar 11 “I don't want to make excuses but we got back at three o'clock in the morning on Tuesday and we had a five-hour journey yesterday and one or two were tired. Get real!!!! you earn loads of money and joe public do far more hours every week for a lot less! you really have no idea what it is like to have to graft and worry every day how to pay the bills!!!!!!! it really hacks me off when this kind of statement is made.

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buryblue77 added 00:57 - Mar 11 Martlesham, they're not talking about hard graft and worrying about paying bills, that's not the issue at all here. What is is that the professional game now is so highly focused on fitness that just a 5% drop in fitness and/or stamina could result in being second to every 50/50 ball, inability to complete runs effectively, thus getting outpaced by opposition midfielders and defenders and it could have consequences to the result. I don't doubt that you like many others work very hard, but the comparison of the 50-60 hour working week man and the 'tired' pro footballer are miles apart.

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Walk_the_Wark added 01:27 - Mar 11 I did go to the game. We were poor today. Set up 4-4-2 with Leadboots and looked sluggish with no movement or tempo- similar to how we were during losing streak- worrying. Hull were also poor. True the pitch didn't help, but we hoofed far too much. Delaney's distribution was woeful. Leadbitter redeemed himself with the goals. The penalty turned it, else I feel it would have ended 2 or 3-0. In the end we should have won the game- Chops most out of character hesitating when through in the last ten minutes. Hull were tired and for the taking at the end. Not sure why Jewell changed the system back to 4-4-2?? We need Hyam back. No pace or desire in midfield and losing 50-50s all match. Take the point and move on. But back to new system please with Hyam and Martin next game.

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Brooke_Satchwell added 01:35 - Mar 11 buryblue77 - I disagree... a five hour coach journey (sleeping, playing cards and tweeting) and one night going late to bed (no different to staying up to play Mass Effect 3) doesn't justify a drop in performance from a professional footballer. These bozos are paid to be fit and to perform...
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arablue added 01:58 - Mar 11 Have to commend PJ for daring to introduce variation in tactics; from the 4-5-1 to 4-4-2 to perhaps add the element of non-predictability in our game...this is indeed an advancement compared to the "either-the-diamond-or-nothing-else" approach we had earlier in the season. So as much as we want Martin to play the behind main striker role, Scotland was a better option in a 4-4-2 formation. Agreed with some of the posters' view that Hyam would be sort of wasted as a sub...would like to add that having Bowyer at least allows us an experienced-done-it-before head we could call into in time of need - as what happened yesterday at Hull. Moreover, we need to assess if Stevenson can be blooded into the squad, and this is the perfect time to test him out... As for Leadbitter, I admit I am no big fan of his as many people in this forum appear to be, but credit to him, his brace earned us a point yesterday, and that one point and 2 goals against the stingiest defence in the championship would continue to do great things to the self belief of this under performing team... Finally, well done to everybody for the fantastic fightback; few months ago, heads would have dropped, the wills would have been sucked dry and we would have thrown in the towel...the team came back, and if we can continue to build on this, 2012/13 is a season where we can look forward to some exciting and happy times at this club of ours... COYB!

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bobble added 04:13 - Mar 11 these "bobbles al over the place " were impostors i can assure you ,do not approach them or make contact with them ring the police immediately
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TrueBlueFerret added 05:47 - Mar 11 LeadBitter not me,Desmond away get my Point .Good Result COYB
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buryblue77 added 09:52 - Mar 11 Brooke, I see what you're saying what I mean is that if a player is tired due to having played hard recently he could be detrimental to the team effort. I do agree with you that these people are very well (over) paid to keep themselves fit, but that's where training comes in and it such small amounts of change in performance that we're talking about that leads to the tiredness factor. I used to play football 2-3 times a week and go to the gym as well, I often used to find that if it were a 3 game week I could feel a bit leggy on the third game but my levels of fitness back then were good, but nowhere near a professional and I'm sure that a player who isn't 'match fit' would still run rings around any of us playing 5 a side or local league standard football!

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Frase1987 added 09:58 - Mar 11 I think we're way too vunerable in terms of form for us to get promoted, and people just same to debate in a loop-cycle. *we lose many games in a row* "OMG JEWELL OUT" *we put finally together some wins and draws* "OMG JEWELL IN ONLY IDIOTS WANTED HIM OUT, NOT ME" *we hit bad form again*..... It's just a loop which has gone on for several years now and the same old people say the same old s**t everytime without seeing the pattern. Oh well, maybe next year we'll be able to not completely collapse.

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slowerball added 10:20 - Mar 11 Perhaps he could shout at his so called defenders and get them to actually make a tackle (Delaney excepted). That is where we are fragile - the midfield takes care of itself, whoever plays - Leadbitter looked like he really wanted it and the ball yesterday - great 2nd goal. Scotland & Chopra weren't great yesterday - but the issues are the keeper and defence. The keeper should have done better with the Koren goal - Smith did poorly for that too. Not convinced with this Reading keeper to be honest. Watched very carefully throughout the entire game - Cresswell closed down okay, but didn't make one actual tackle. Edwards to be fair was much better 2nd half - as were the team. Murphy might as well have not bothered turning up.... play Carson say I (oh I forgot - that stops our plan A - boot the ball to Murphy's head... we don't have a plan B). Happy with coming back from 2 down away from home but still lots and lots to do. We MUST defend better - we looked fragile at times - and not be 2 down in the first place. The disappointment is, I think we are two or three players away from a play-off capable side and we failed in the window to take that gamble... yes, he says he tried to get players, but many teams bought and prospered and loans continue to improve teams... think we have and are missing a trick.

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Reuser31 added 13:10 - Mar 11 I went to the game, first half terrible but the second half more than made up for it. People are saying we played badly but I was impressed with the grit and determination the players showed even when 2-0 down despite being the better team at the start of the second half. Edwards in particular stood out for me, his hard work on the right hand side set up most of our attacks and he made a couple of important tackles in our box at the end. Also big credit to Leadbitter, I'm not his biggest fan but it was a cooly taken penalty and a fantastic finish for his second. Oh and I can confirm the pitch was horrendous.

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walberswick added 18:23 - Mar 11 I hope PJ takes Hutchings and McCarthy aside and gives them a b*ll*ck*ng as well.
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alfromcol added 18:46 - Mar 11 Was that a keeper error for the 2nd Hull goal??
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righty added 20:40 - Mar 11 JEWELL OUT takes credit for being an idiot Goalkeeper a joke team laughable how much longer can this clown s luck last get a decent manager before the end of the season
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bluelady added 20:46 - Mar 11 Well one thing is for sure Righty (or not so), pJ has a better knowledge of football than you have of the English Language!!!!
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ian_marshall added 21:52 - Mar 11 Righty = Wrongen
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buryblue77 added 22:57 - Mar 11 My god righty, calm dowwn man! If you're this depressed now (when we're on a good run of form) what were you like when we were on our losing streak?
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gilo1973 added 23:13 - Mar 11 righty=jas0999=idiot
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itfchorry added 23:45 - Mar 11 Blue Lady You just never get it right Probably a different game when you watch from the South stand and your Galloway coaches
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Dissboyitfc added 08:08 - Mar 12 itfcchorry....you just never get it right,lol Bluelady happens to be a very knowledgeable poster, with a fair( and in the eyes of most people) and balanced argument who gathers facts b4 posting...coyb
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bluelady added 08:24 - Mar 12 itfcchorry.... sorry being a simple woman im afraid i am missing your point could you be more explicit please?
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s6blue added 12:15 - Mar 13
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jas0999 added 13:29 - Mar 13 If PJ had the players ready, it should have to come to that. Decent few weeks, but PJ must do much better next season. 16th in the league really is poor and certainly nothing to celebrate.
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