Boss Paul Jewell was disappointed after what he felt was an untypical performance as the Blues ended their home campaign with a 3-0 defeat to Millwall.

Jewell said: “It’s really disappointing. We had lots of the ball and didn’t do a lot with it. We were very laboured. But in the last 18 games we’ve lost four games.

“We were slow today, lethargic and even the games that we’ve lost I thought we were unfortunate but today we were a bit laboured and laborious, those words I’ve used when we were really struggling reared their ugly heads again today.

“But put things into perspective, we’ve done OK in the last 18 games, it’s the fourth defeat. I think we’ve got 30 points out of whatever it is, it’s just the last thing the supporters see at home is a 3-0 defeat and we accept that it’s not acceptable.”

The Blues boss admitted that it wasn’t easy to come out for the annual post-match lap of the pitch: “It was difficult but we owe that to the supporters that stayed to show our appreciation.

“It’s embarrassing a little bit, but if people and young kids have stayed we want to show our appreciation to them. We would have liked it to have been on a happier note, but you’ve got to bite the bullet.”

Jewell felt the early goal set the pattern: “Goals change games and we were 1-0 down after three minutes and that changed the complexion of the game.

“We’ve got to give Millwall some credit, they came here and sat back and counter-attacked us. Take your hats off to them, they did that very well.”

The Liverpudlian says there was nothing on show that he wasn’t already away of: “We are where we are not because we’ve been unlucky but because we haven’t been good enough.

“At one time we were looking at a relegation fight. We got over that, but today we’ve been caught by a sucker punch, and we gave away bad goals. The defence over the last 16 or 17 games has been pretty tight but today all over as a unit we were second best.

“It’s horrible getting beaten at home like that but we can’t go away from here thinking that’s the end of the world.

“We didn’t play well today, we’ve been punished by a team which has come and done a job on us, but since January we’ve played really well and we’ve shown top six form.

“Today we’ve been beaten 3-0. That’s the Championship for you. We’re not happy about it and the reason we are where we are in 15th with 58 points is that we haven’t been good enough in too many games.

"The second half of the season has been acceptable but we’re paying a price for the first half.”

The Town manager dismissed suggestions that one or two of his players might already have been thinking too much about their summer holidays: “No one said that on Tuesday, and I know that in training we haven’t taken our foot off the pedal at all. That performance was most unlike us, very unlike Ipswich since the turn of the year.

“We know people will go home disappointed but that’s been a one-off. Even when we got beaten by Leicester we were well in that first half. That’s the first time we’ve been beaten where I’ve felt we’ve deserved to be beaten. “

Jewell felt there wasn’t the opportunity to give 16-year-old Byron Lawrence his debut: “We couldn’t really get him on. It would have been difficult for him to go on with the team 2-0 or 3-0 down and chasing the game. We didn’t want to knock his confidence but he’s one for the future.”

The Town boss, who confirmed that Aaron Cresswell suffered a hamstring injury which will see him miss next week’s final game at Doncaster, says he and his squad will now start preparing for the trip to the Keepmoat: “This is gone now, we’re disappointed for our supporters but next week’s another day.”

Millwall boss Kenny Jackett was delighted with his side’s victory: “It was a super result. It looked like we’d slightly let Ipswich into the game, but I didn’t think it was a penalty, I haven’t seen it again, but I thought it was a harsh decision.

“But it was a great save by my goalkeeper and then on the counter-attack we got the third which finished the game.”

Photo: Action Images

IrvinGernonsShorts added 08:16 - Apr 22 Fyi-saw warkys_tash (what's so great about that name) in aqua8 last night, moping about and sniffing around any footballer who would listen to his whinging. I'm guessing by the timing of the post that you'd had a few sherbets yourself-but guess that's ok isn't it? If you actually bothered to read the posts of the so called "retards" (pathetic name calling, what are you-10?) such as dozzells, garv and keanish, they are NOT saying that PJ is perfect, they are NOT happy with where we have finished or some of the displays, they are merely offering a balanced view and want to give the manager a reasonable chance. Nothing is ever gained by sacking managers willy nilly. Can't say I agree with jas' views but at least he shows some respect

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CraigForrestGateau added 08:32 - Apr 22 Devontractor - Thankyou!
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scottmdp added 08:32 - Apr 22 Jewell's a nice fella, but so is Frank Bruno & I wouldn't want him as our manager. He has to go before we move on. Lee Clarke for me but can't see ME having balls to sack his mate...
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Benters added 08:39 - Apr 22 we deserved to see some fight
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walberswick added 08:44 - Apr 22 can someone check to see if Jewelio actually does any work? or is he all mouth?
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 08:55 - Apr 22 Warky , sorry u don't like my name but that about sums u up, and so is calling people retards ( quite offensive and not suitable for this site) for expressing a different view to your own. Thanks irvin, that is exactly what I have trying been trying to say. I don't love PJ, I just think he had a huge job after RK and has made progress. No doubt u will now be slagged off for backing me , or some other childish comment, like u must be my brother.

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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 09:18 - Apr 22 Craigforrest, Devontractor and HKbluey - all excellent, sensible posts. Glad not everyone on here is so short sighted.
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alliedaz added 09:19 - Apr 22 wickham trotter rhodes haynes and the list goes on and for a club who wants to be promoted surely have the wrong idea and marcus evans you must grow a set of xxxxx and ave your say or you wont be a millionaire much longer and the question is why are we linked to so many players every week and last minute they dont want to cum to us and the truth is we aint good enough at the moment and just a mid table team

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DJMason added 09:49 - Apr 22 It was a shocking performance. It showed just how poor our defence is. Oh! And delany should be banned from useing his feet, just use your head delany!!!
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bedsitfc added 09:57 - Apr 22 paul jewell will be up there with sir bob as one of our best managers.
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algarvefan added 10:38 - Apr 22 18x3 Paul is 54.......so that's 30 points outta 54!!!!
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SickParrot added 10:57 - Apr 22 All this criticism of the players is so unfair. They all gave at least 80-85% effort yesterday at the end of a long season. They have only lost 9 times at home all season and gave 100% in some of those defeats. People soon forget that they have played really well in at least 4 games out of 23 and that in other games they have often played well in either the first half or the second half. What do the fans expect - 100% effort in every game and consistent performances? I don't think the ordinary man in the street appreciates how difficult it is to be a professional footballer. Imagine having to go to training four times a week when you have all that money to count and so much to say on Twitter, and then having to run for 90 minutes carrying such a big ego. Well done to the manager and players for providing such an accurate summary of the season in the last home game for the fans to reflect on all summer.

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Gazelle added 11:06 - Apr 22 Jas why don't you write to Marcus Evans and volunteer to be the next manager.
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Morgan added 11:09 - Apr 22 Great post sick parrot. The game typified the season. Poor players, defensive frailties, poor decision making, poor fans, poor work ethic. No progress has been made this season we have the same problems in goal, defence, players on big wages who are on the piss and don't care. The best things about yesterday was the refereeing and the away fans we were generally showed up and I left feeling embarrassed. I don't care what changes are made over the summer but we are going to struggle to maintain season tickets playing like this. i don't expect to win every game or be fighting for promotion but I want to leave feeling that my club has given 100% and we are all pulling in the same direction with the club the management and the fans but I don't get that. I barely recognise the club anymore. Now the Euros to look forward to, I'm sure that will cheer me up!! ;-)

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TimmyH added 11:21 - Apr 22 With PJ still in place for next season I have less enthusiasm/optimism about the club than ever, I still believe he is the wrong manager. Curbishley should have come in a few years ago, even Lee Clarke is starting to look good now. As mentioned good post by sick parrot, some will see this as being totally negative but in all honesty it's not to far from the truth.
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BudapestByBlimp added 11:41 - Apr 22 I hope we stick the Jewell - not because I think he's the greatest manager to have walked this Earth - but because, more than anything we need stability and consistency. Ipswich had this for decades, no great turnover of managers or players, staff given time to know their players and where they played best. Even recently under Burley the team took several seasons to fully develop. I'm glad ME and Jewell are looking longer term and I hope we have the patience to stick with them. The last few seasons have been very poor, Magilton and Keane had a very high turnover of players and we never had a settled, regular team. Ditto when PJ first joined and we had some terrible results and performances, but now he has learnt his player's best roles. Hopefully with a few tweaks over the summer (we all know about Goalkeepers/Defence etc and probably another strong striker to get on the end of all those crosses). The results and performances, generally, over the last part of the season have been very promising - 30 points from last 18 games - if that was continued over the season we would have been 4th and I'd settle for that!

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Lightningboy added 11:55 - Apr 22 I think Jewell will have to get us off to a flyer next season cos I don't think many fans are going to put up with some of the drivel that we've been served up over the last 3 years yet again. jas..I will never skip your posts btw.
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scottmdp added 13:18 - Apr 22 Jewell's a nice fella, but so is Frank Bruno & I wouldn't want him as our manager. He has to go before we move on. Lee Clarke for me but can't see ME having balls to sack his mate...
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suffolk_punch added 13:39 - Apr 22 Wow , we may with a huge amount of luck reach the dizzy heights of 14th at the end of the season a place lower and a point less than last season , thank goodness Jewell is as great as some people seem to think , can you imagine where we would be if he was actually a bad manager. goodness me .
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buryblue77 added 15:19 - Apr 22 Whilst I fully understand the view of those calling for Jewell to go as we haven't made progress this season(the progress we have made is within the season itself, which to be honest shouldn't have been as bad as it was at the start) I will pass my judgement (being pro PJ) a few games into next season, with so many new players coming in this year it was always going to be a transitional season and I for one didn't expect us to be challenging for top spot, pushing for play offs maybe so where we are really isn't good enough. A few key players (4 or 5) and we could be in with a shout next season and I really hope for PJ's sake we get off to a flyer, any more of what we've seen this season and the crowds will drop and most fans will turn on the team and manager. I only hope it works out, I've a feeling it will, but I'll admit I was wrong about PJ if things don't change and if that is the case I only hope Lee Clarke is still available.

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alfromcol added 16:54 - Apr 22 With the signing of a good experienced keeper, a CH, RB and a big tall CF (to give some options upfront and more height to the side) I sincerely believe that we will do well next season. However, if these don't materialise for whatever reason, I fear that next season will be much like the last two.
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nitroblue1970 added 16:55 - Apr 22 Buryblue.....my fear is that us town fans have been saying the same things at the end of another disappointing season for many years....just a few more players....more consistancy....settled side....give the manager time....and it will all come good! I want to believe that I truly do but I cant see anything changing. Lee Clarke will be Norwich Manager next season as Paul Lambert will be managing either Spurs or Everton. Harry will be England manager so Moyes will get that job and PL steps in at Everton. If Motes stays at the toffees then PL will go to straight to Spurs...at least then we can cheer ourselves up as second season syndrome bites the backside of the budgies and they come crashing down and relegated by Easter!!!! Happy days!!!

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h32 added 17:35 - Apr 22 alfromcol - of course you're right - but it's a bit like saying 'if your aunt had bo##ocks she'd be you uncle' isn't it ? Which we all know anyway.
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h32 added 17:42 - Apr 22 buryblue77 - now that's not a bad post, I think you're seeing the light - but 4/5 GOOD new players though - realistically ?????
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Keaneish added 17:59 - Apr 22 @alfromcol - completely agree. I also think we'll be in for a left sided midfielder who can also play left back as is the case with Joel Ward. We need cover for Cressie in the match day 16. If Town can't get these five or six deals done, which include a Sonko replacement, i fear it's going to be more of the same as this season. Looks like it's us, Burnley and Leeds in for Pearce at 1.5 million or so reports have it. Lets get this and the Ward deal done early and set the tone for the summer signings...Pearce to skipper next season.

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