Manager Paul Jewell admits that the Blues’ 7-1 defeat to Saturday’s opponents Peterborough in August was the lowest point in his managerial career. Town were reduced to nine men for the first time in their history on a disastrous evening at London Road played out in front of the Sky cameras.

Jewell said: “That’s as low as it’s got. I’ve had some tough times in my career, as everyone has, but I would think 6-1 down with 40 minutes to go with nine men live on the TV with a lot of our support there was probably as tough or as low as it gets. It was horrendous that day. We had nine men and it was just a horrible, horrible day.

“It was just attack against defence in the second half. What can I say? We were 1-0 up and then they equalised and then got three goals in four minutes.

“Lee Martin got sent off and I think everyone knows the story of the second half — Tommy Smith was sent off, they scored another quick goal and it was looking like being double figures.”

The Liverpudlian — who was in a rather better mood at Thursday’s press conference after a successful club golf day where he'd finished first and his assistant Chris Hutchings second - says bosses feel losses more than anyone else: “I know fans take defeats badly and players do, but no one feels a defeat like a manager. You feel ashamed, you don’t want to go out, you don’t want to be seen.

“But you’ve got to get up the next day and we were in on the Sunday. You’ve got to get up and face the world. It’s a horrible feeling. It was a football match, we’d lost it badly but there was no hiding place.

“The next game was against Leeds and that was then the most important thing. We were edgy against Leeds and were fortunate to win that game but at least we showed character.”

He dismisses suggestions that he and his players will be out to avenge the hammering on Saturday, even though those involved will remember it all too well: “I’m sure everyone who was part of that squad will all have felt it badly, there’s no doubt about that.

“But it’s not about revenge. It’s a home game that we’re looking forward to, we know they’re a good team, we know they can score goals.

“We just want to win the match, whoever we’re playing, whether it’s Peterborough or someone else. We want to win the game and it wouldn’t make it any sweeter because we lost 7-1 down there.”

Jewell is a big fan of Darren Ferguson's side: “I just watched the tape of Peterborough’s game against Blackpool [last week] and they were outstanding going forward. They could have beaten Blackpool 10-1 [rather than 3-1].

“Going forward they are an excellent team and they’ve got some really good footballers. They obviously beat us badly at their place but I’ve seen them on a number of occasions and I’ve always been impressed with them. It’s going to be a difficult game on Saturday, make no mistake about that. “

He says Posh's failings are similar to Town's: “They lost 3-0 at home against Millwall on the Tuesday, then they absolutely battered Blackpool, who are a good team, on the Saturday.

“They’re a bit like us in a way. We’ve beaten West Ham twice, comprehensively the second time, and yet we were 3-0 down at half-time against Doncaster who hadn’t won a game away from all season or something along those lines. I think for both teams, Peterborough and ourselves, the biggest problem is inconsistency.”

Photo: Action Images

Sindre94 added 06:49 - Mar 16 same here paul... hopefully we will get revenge.coyb
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piersmorganisatool added 06:55 - Mar 16 No real surprises here then, frankly i'd be feeling a bit confused if he wasn't saying this. hopefully we can even things up tomorrow, but don't think we can expect to give them a bit of a hiding, 2-0 i reckon.
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Dissboyitfc added 07:49 - Mar 16 That Loss will always been remembered, its up there with the 9-0 against man utd. This game has got goals in it, so I am going for a 3-2 town victory. Going to be a good open game.....coyb
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newtownfan13 added 08:10 - Mar 16 I wonder if PJ will give young Hyam and Carson a game tomorrow, new signing re Carson and he hasn't been heard of.....strange!!!!!Would love to see them both out at Portman Road COYB
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itfc1981 added 08:18 - Mar 16 go back to youth PJ, well Hyam and Dury. Drop Murphy he's to poor to often and bring in Carson.
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caught-in-limbo added 08:38 - Mar 16 The clever money is on a 9:6 Town win.
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Karlosfandangal added 08:40 - Mar 16 I disagree Mr Jewell, I am still feeling the defeat as I live in Peterborough and get reminded of the score most weeks by Posh fans. So I would like a 5-0 win please (at least)
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davetheblue added 09:21 - Mar 16 Hope the boys are up for this one. COYB
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osborne1nil added 09:58 - Mar 16 If I was a Town player, I would be looking at this game and wanting revenge for that hiding, especially those who got red carded. We are a different team to when we played them away and have a few more cards up our sleeves in different players and tactics. Would be very disappointed if we didn't win this (and to be honest if it wasn't a good win too). Peterboro are no mugs but they made us look that way and we need this result. With Drury and Hyam/Leadbitter, Carson, Scotland, Chopra and Martin we have some attacking players so I hope the defence holds up to any atacks they make! COYB

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Guthrum added 10:07 - Mar 16 Too much talk of "revenge" could end up getting into red mist - and red card - territory. Best to go out there with a cold determination to win the game and win it well.
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bobble added 10:10 - Mar 16 4-0 ....tommy smith double 5 quid paddy powers
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planetblue_2011 added 10:54 - Mar 16 It will be very hard to pay posh back from a 7.1 scoreline. I think we can get a 3.1 win chopra with a couple & Martin with the other. Then again I would take a 1.0!! A win is a much needed win. COYB
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TractorCam added 11:58 - Mar 16 Well let's turn it around so we can get one of the high point of his career! COYB
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rgp1 added 12:03 - Mar 16 Any other manager would have been sacked after that disgrace of a performance, We are too soft at this football club. At 6-1 I. Couldn't stomach any more so left the stand for a smoke. Let's not forgot this is a manager who has presided over a side that has conceded 100 goals in a year. Yes folks that's 100. Yes, changes have been made but it would appear that these were forced upon Jewell due to injuries. Otherwise the likes of hyam. And drury would have stayed in the cupboard gathering dust. Jewell is a manager of panic measures and hopyfully will be gone in the summer to be replaced by someone who has a Passion for this once great football club.

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Lightningboy added 12:23 - Mar 16 Think we'll be up for this one!! PJ..stop playing McCarthy though..give "our" goalkeeper's the experience - not Readings.
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NSL added 12:38 - Mar 16 Come on town, I don't want to resort to the finidi song this time around.
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Edinburgh_Blue added 12:44 - Mar 16 @rgp1. No point in dwelling on the past sunshine. It's sounds like you have a personal grudge against Jewell. I suggest you reflect on the steady improvement over the last couple of months. Why would you want him to go when he is finally getting it right?!
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simonsays added 13:03 - Mar 16 Yours and mine too Paul. Would have understood it if it had been against Chelsea or Man City!
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footyblue added 13:41 - Mar 16 @EdinburghBlue rgp1 is 100% spot on those lads are the reason for the better football and were only given a chance because of injuries and you can see the old boys being slowly let back in
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menacinho added 13:52 - Mar 16 No-one is denying that it was an awful day back in August, but I for one am glad that I support a club who does not sack their manager at the first sign of trouble or a particularly bad result. I prefer to look at the recent run of 8 games where we have won 5, have drawn two very tough away matches, and kept some clean sheets. I believe that real progress is being made now, and continually looking back to the bad times earlier this season serves no purpose.

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jas0999 added 14:29 - Mar 16 It was a truely sad day for the club. Of course there have been many thrashings since PJ took over - but that took the biscuit. Southampton and Norwich at HOME was also shocking. The latest good run of results does not even come close to making up with the utter rubbish PJ served up in his first 13 months at the club. Must do better next season. 16th is still very poor.

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rgp1 added 14:32 - Mar 16 @Edinburghblue. No personal grudge with Jewell, just fed with people praising him for team selections when actually they were forced upon him. Let's not forget this is a manager of a team that has presided
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rgp1 added 15:31 - Mar 16 @Edinburghblue. I have no personal grudge with Jewell. I just find it incredably annoying that people pat him on the back for a winning team selection that was chosen for him. Do people honestly believe that hyam drury and smith would have got a look in otherwise.
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s6blue added 20:56 - Mar 16 5-0 DD hat-trick
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