Assistant boss Chris Hutchings was delighted with several aspects of the Blues’ performance as the defeated West Ham 3-1 at Portman Road on Saturday. Michael Chopra (pen), Luke Chambers and Jason Scotland netted for the Blues with Matt Taylor grabbing one for the Hammers.

Hutchings said: “We were pleased with the way we passed the ball, the way we harassed, we worked on closing down.

“I thought we defended from the front, as in Chops and Lee Martin. I thought they set the tone for us. We were much more compact as a team.

“And when we got it we actually played some very, very good football. It wasn’t too slow, it wasn’t a keep-ball session, there was a purpose in our play, and that’s what we’ve got to look for.”

The one-time full-back was pleased to see a set piece goal go in at the right end for a change: “Set pieces are always nice to see go in. We were delighted with that. It’s something that we want to work on even more because we feel that through the season quite a few goals can be scored that way.

“We also have to make sure that as we’ve conceded in the last few games, we’ve got to tighten up in that area.”

Overall though, while happy with the afternoon’s work, Hutchings was keeping his feet on the ground: “It’s only one result, it’s still pre-season, we’re not getting carried away with it.

“People will go away and look at the result, we beat West Ham 3-1, but we’ve got to look deeper than that and we’re all still working towards that first game. You’ve still got to go out and perform and we’ve done that again today.”

Hutchings took on the post-match press conference duties presumably as manager Paul Jewell was meeting with owner Marcus Evans, who was present at the match. Jewell and chief executive Simon Clegg were still at Portman Road more than an hour and a half after the final whistle.

Photo: Action Images

bigolconnor added 06:10 - Aug 6 I hope that this means we will signing a couple more players imminently. Up the town
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bigolconnor added 06:12 - Aug 6 *be signing
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PYBlue added 07:17 - Aug 6 Jewell going?
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shiminywho added 07:42 - Aug 6 @PYBlue - just before the season starts and after a decent confidence-boosting win, albeit against a poor Premiership outfit? Now that really would be shabby management! Good to hear Hutchings' analysis. I'll be making a 600 mile round trip for the Bristol/Blackburn Rovers games and am becoming more confident about the season ahead - but then, if you can't be optimistic before the season begins, when can you be ?! COYB.

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leftback added 07:44 - Aug 6 Pyblue, you missed the rest of your post Jewell going.......to be the best manager since Robson?
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PYBlue added 07:47 - Aug 6 If not now then by October.
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Hally543 added 08:12 - Aug 6 PYBlue going? One can hope.
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BillBlue added 08:55 - Aug 6 Bluey123. I agree totally with leftback and have been saying for months that PJ is going to become one of our greats so does that make me a drug taker and an idiot too? Pull yourself together jackass and start supporting the team or...... you know what. COYB
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alztar added 09:39 - Aug 6 Coming on here and seeing the comment PJ out just makes me laugh now. I hope we go up under PJ and when we do those who were against him will be paraded through the streets while others throw rotten food at them. I think thats about fair!!!111111!!1!
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bluey123 added 09:59 - Aug 6 BillBlue you are as big an idiot you are either blind or very naive if you think Jewell will do anything for this club as for being a jackass remember when we get relegated my comments
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ipswichjon added 10:09 - Aug 6 Bluey123: I'm not sure Jewell is the 'worst' manager have you forgotten Mr Keane? I can also remember the dark, dark days of John Duncan. Support the team, including the management when the players are on the pitch and offer constructive criticism and praise when it's due and we'll all benefit!
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PauloJulio added 10:11 - Aug 6 Rhodes to play against Town 1st game of the season?
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apm_77 added 10:33 - Aug 6 Jewell might not be taking us anywhere upwards but we going down under Keane, and you can add Embarrassing, over rated, egotistical and short sighted to your criticism of RK. Jewell's essentially been clearing that particular mess up since he came in the door, and wasted the last season in which we had with the sort of money RK poured down the loo at his disposal, meaning we just have to rely on luck and good form to get us up any time in the future.

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warwickblue added 12:28 - Aug 6 Calm down! Jewell is not our poorest manager, though he may appear so to anyone under the age of sixteen. I am quietly confident that we will have at least two more signings this week and I am predicting a really solid start to the season, a secure playoff place by Christmas and a finish in either 3rd or 4th place in May. COYB!
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Seasonticketsteve added 13:02 - Aug 6 Just logged on, this is a thread about Saturdays game isnt it? Just so I dont post on the wrong one! Anyways.....I went Saturday and I was quite pessimistic before the game if im honest, but the lads did brilliantly and I agree with Tommy Smith, you really wouldnt have known who the Premier League team was. I know it was only a friendly but the passing was slick, the team looked fairly well balanced, other than maybe Carson not offering much down the left first half, the team played very well first half-Luongo, Chambers, Jet & Martin impressing for me. Thought Loach did well, apart from being out of position for the goal conceeded. When West Ham did get in a few crosses though I thought we looked a little bit suspect but bodies were being thrown in the way which was very good to see. Lee Martin had a little kick out at one of the West Ham defenders which went unseen by the ref, he really needs to cut that out of his game but apart from that it was an awesome run out for the lads and if the team that lined up in the first half lines up against Blackburn then I reckon we will certainly give them a very good game. UTT

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Wickets added 13:13 - Aug 6 Great to see us win but lets not get carried away, the point was made after loses to lower league sides its only Pre season! Hutchings said it too. Lets beat Bristol and Blackburn then get exited.
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bluelady added 13:49 - Aug 6 wow there is some serious cases of kettle calling the pot on here.......bluey 123 you really are a very rude individual. Ok PJ may not be the next Robson but everyone has a right to their own oppinion without being called an "IDIOT". Saturday was a great game, enjoyed it a lot having expected very little. IF we play like that all season we will do well, if we show our inconsistant form of last season we will struggle to low mid table. Time as they say will tell......

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RaymondovicBlue added 14:07 - Aug 6 Why waste time talking about when PJ will leave? Why get upset among ourselves .... it is already sorted and there are two options .... Either we will be well in contention by Christmas in which case he may well be offered a new deal OR we will not be in contention by Christmas and he will be told then and there that his services will not be required after his deal ... maybe then getting gardening leave to allow a new manager to come in and make any changes IF the chairman has money to offer them in the January window. Can we leave it at that and concentrate on supporting the football?

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runningout added 15:38 - Aug 6 sounds quite pathetic that we needed a so called 'confidence boosting' win.. although I understand the principle.. would like to think our whole quad has the ability to perform under all pressures even it be after 12 straight wins.. a lot of decent footballers have a determination to learn even after a good games..
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BobbyBell added 16:21 - Aug 6 If people like Bluey123 had had there way in the early 70's when Bobby Robson arrived we would never have had our glory years.It took several years of gradual building to get to the the FA semi in '75 and then the next 6 years were just brilliant. Give PJ a chance PLEASE!!
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Hally543 added 16:29 - Aug 6 PYBlue going? One can hope.
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Dissboyitfc added 18:19 - Aug 6 bluelady, raymondovicblue and BobbyBell all wise posts, but your wisdom is wasted on those you refer to. How anybody who went to sats game could call for Jewell to go puzzles me, but then i dont think those who are making idiot comments actually went.... coyb
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Jesney_Havoc added 19:00 - Aug 6 Stop, stop.we can't say pre-season results mean nothing one day, and three days later start basking in glory. Where will it all end ?
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TimmyH added 19:10 - Aug 6 yep just one good win doesn't make a pre-season as we all know we are equally capable of doing the reverse against much worse teams, consistency is the key for the upcoming season.
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Dissboyitfc added 19:20 - Aug 6 it wasnt the result at all( and no one is getting carried away) but the manner of the performance, the youth in the team the football played was very pleasing on the eye, the players appear to be fired up and champing at the bit to get started. plenty of reasons i say to give Jewell the bennefit of any doubt, been a complete change of policy on youth, i am sure anybody there on sat would agree that supporting the team is the way forward as opposed to moaning about everything. COYB

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