Town manager Paul Jewell felt a 1-1 draw was the least his side deserved from their opening Championship game against Blackburn at Portman Road. Jason Lowe’s late own goal equalised Colin Kazim-Richards’s debut goal for the visitors before the break.

Jewell said: “I think the least we deserved was a draw, not because we were brilliant on the ball, but through our endeavour.

“We passed the ball a little bit slowly, a bit like we did on Tuesday [in the first half]. But they made it difficult for us. After we conceded a bad goal from a set play, they sat in there, but you can’t fault our lads for their effort.

“I don’t think there were too many negatives today,” he continued. “I thought we were going to have to extend the programme to fit in their squad.

“They are a quality team and they made it difficult for us. They’re going to be right up there, there’s no doubt about it in my mind.”

The Blues boss was always confident his side would have the stamina to keep battling until the end, despite the heat: “We had to keep going and I said at half-time that if we keep going we’ll finish strongly because we’re certainly a fit team, and we finished the game the stronger.

“We’ve got a really young and athletic [midfield], Lee Martin’s athletic, Carlos and Cressy are, so I didn’t think we would wilt, but it was really hot out there.

“We didn’t play great but we got something out of the game when maybe in the past we wouldn’t have done.”

Jewell was delighted with the impression Jason Scotland made from the bench: “He’s got that touch of quality.

“He might be able to finish too many 90-minute games but he’s certainly been an impact player for us, coming off the bench or playing for some part of the game because he’s got that touch of quality and makes us play a little bit.

“The conditions today were so difficult with the heat and [I’m pleased] to come from a goal behind. I can’t tell you how hot it is out there.”

The negative was yet another set piece goal conceded with Jewell increasingly exasperated: “What can you do? Other than go out there and head it away myself I don’t know what else I can do.

“It doesn’t matter how good or bad the opposition is, or how good you are between the two boxes, if you don’t defend set plays or don’t make the most of your set plays, like we did in the last minute, it can cost you the game.”

Overall, the Liverpudlian was content with the first afternoon of the Championship season: “I’m satisfied as we got something out of the game. You’re never happy. We want to play better, we want to win games but this league is as competitive as it’s ever going to be.

“We go to Watford on Tuesday, that’s going to be another big test and, as Blackburn will know and the other teams that have come down will find out, you don’t get an easy game in the Championship.”

In terms of adding players before the trip to Vicarage Road, Jewell said: “We might have Jay Emmanuel-Thomas back!” he joked.

“The only time I’m not trying to get a new player is when the game’s on. We’re trying to improve the squad, everyone knows that, it’s about being patient all summer and getting the right ones that will take us forward.

“We’ve got a good group at the minute, we’ve got a small squad, we need to improve that as we go along as we’re going to have injuries and everything else. We need to improve it, no doubt about that.”

As for the bid he made on Thursday, believed to be for Derby striker Steve Davies, he says it has been turned down: “That’s been rejected.”

Blackburn boss Steve Kean thought his team might have won: “We’re a bit disappointed, to be totally honest. We feel that we controlled the game for the first hour and got our noses in front.

“There was a big turning point in the game. If Colin Kazim-Richards’s chip drops into the net, we’re probably going away with three points.

“Having said that, the Ipswich side, who I saw in midweek playing against Bristol Rovers, they’re well organised, have lots of good players and there won’t be many teams who come here and get three points. I must give credit to Ipswich, they were excellent.”

Photo: Action Images

meekreech added 18:40 - Aug 18 From his comments Steve Kean was not watching the game at PR as his bunch were never loking as though they were going to win the game as they created nothing and caused no real problems ! The bookies should be shortening the odds on kean being the first manager to be sacked !
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suffolkpunchdrunk added 18:40 - Aug 18 Long may the unbeaten run go on!
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gazzmac4 added 18:44 - Aug 18 PJ would definitely be a DeVos type centre half! Get his big old noggin on that ball and get it clear. Good result for us i think, not really sure that this weekend is ever a good indication of what is to come, form and expected performance go out of the window in my eyes. Its a bit like the last game of the season these days. Im just glad we gave a good account of ourselves and ran until the very end. Big game on Tuesday. Need a point or more to give us a good solid marker to go forward. Im also keen for a win now ive got a ticket for it! COYB!

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TractorBoy666 added 18:45 - Aug 18 Good game all round but i felt we didn't do enough to deserve to win the game but nor did Blackburn. If anything i thought Blackburn were poor. JET had a poor game but that's only one game. Scotland once again did great when he came on. Nice drums by the way!! The funny thing i heard from the away end was "KEANE OUT!" a few minutes after we scored. COYB for Tuesday!

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TractorBoy666 added 18:48 - Aug 18 Oh and how could i forget Hyam! He was excellent today!
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tractorintheloft added 18:49 - Aug 18 Kean and Blackburn got what they deserved for their negative tactics. Thought we finished the game on top. I'm a JET fan but today was not his day. Mom Martin - if only he could add goals to his game.
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Swoody added 18:50 - Aug 18 Love Jewell's comenet about Jet, he was tweeting at 1am this morning maybe that was why he was not on his game today!
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pagey69 added 19:10 - Aug 18 Ok not a bad point today against a team who will no doubt be pushing for promotion but........... the signing who was as close to certain to sign as can be and even in time for the Blackburn game ............ didnt sign as the offer was rejected More hype in an attempt to boost ticket sales before the match ?? Hmmmm Anyhow I must learn to be less cynical !!
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Garv added 19:19 - Aug 18 Good, solid result.
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manualthetisfanclub added 19:19 - Aug 18 Point better than nowt.seems their achillies heel of defending set pieces came to the fore sadly again,but got a point out of it when we never looked likely to score today,even though we had most of the ball.onwards and upwards me hopes!
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PauloJulio added 19:20 - Aug 18 Davies not in Derby squad today!
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ipswich61 added 19:21 - Aug 18 poor bloody turnout at portman road today only 19,000
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IvorFeeling added 19:26 - Aug 18 My reaction is that was 2 points dropped. Snappier and quicker in the pass, especially when out wide would have seen more gilt edged chances and probably a winning goal. Positives was team spirit, closing down and fitness. Last two best there has been for 3-4 years on the opening day. Atmosphere was also great. Downsides. Jet clearly and he is your definitive Marmite player. However, the worst part was that we set up, first game at home of the new season, with just Chops up front. This sends the wrong message to our and their players plus the crowd. I am no fan of Tommy Smith either and he often gets the wrong side of Quicker players and there are many in this div. Clearly we are short of a good CD and also a different/another potent option upfront. Think our midfield could one of the best in the championship, we just need to get the balance right. Two more important games prior to month end which will determine if can attract good quality loans.

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bigolconnor added 19:29 - Aug 18 Perhaps this will be the season for the youth. With such a small squad we will surely see the likes of Hyam, Carson, Murray, Whight, Smith and Lawrence showing what they can do. Make or break season for pretty much all of them in an Ipswich shirt. I am positive, if they are given a chance, that they will shine.
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ChrisMakin2012 added 19:40 - Aug 18 JET is crap
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greyhound added 19:44 - Aug 18 Surprised by the result as I expected town to lose. I think we may look back on this as a great point. We seem to be better team this term with Scotland involved. Only negative from everything is the lack of transfer activity. Personally I don't want to see loans come in. I'm really hoping we don't have to wait till January to get the permanent signings we so desperately need. 1 cb and a target man are what we need. But I would tak any outfield player that would strengthen the line up and add some quality. The other teams in the championship that are going to challenge for promotion have some premiership quality players. I feel we need to add some top division flair to our side and I feel we may need to look abroad to find this.

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Rjitfc added 19:48 - Aug 18 Would love to know what game Kean was watching, blind aswell as useless, I pity Blackburn & their fans
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Wickets added 19:48 - Aug 18 Bit men against boys for me but we kept going and in the end got a point that we just about deserved. If kean had got Blackburn pressing foward for second goal they might well have got it but he settled for sitting 2 rows of 4 deep and paid the price. Hyam great game, should be given a new deal before we lose him!! Martin needs to sign his new deal or be sold.
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Fitzy added 20:00 - Aug 18 A decent point against a strong Blackburn squad. Shame we couldn't nick it. We're on the board though. Instead of buying anymore players could we invest in a how to defend bloody set pieces coach. Same ol' mistakes drive me crazy!
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CornardBlue added 20:00 - Aug 18 Very pleased with the way Town played today and with there fitness level. i thought Town got stronger as game went on and Rovers were wilting in the sun. Our young midfield out played the far more experieced Blackburn midfield, also the crowd were great today really got behind the young lads. We may not make top 6 this season but at last we look to be moving in the right direction and any new signings will have to fight hard to get in the team as the youngsters have set down a marker.

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StowTractorBoy added 20:22 - Aug 18 I know games are not won or lost on a piece of paper but when I saw the Blackburn teamsheet I thought heavens we will do well to get anything out of this but I thought the lads did a strerling job and thoroughly deserved the point. On another day it could have been 3 if Martin had his shooting boots on and Cressy had his free kick boots on. I would have taken a point before the game and am satisfied now although had the match lasted another 10 minutes I think we could have won it as out fitness certainly shone through on a terribly hot afternoon. Hyam my man of the match and Carson got better as the match wore on. Poor JET had one of those afternoons but is likely to be the star of the show on Tuesday - thats how he is I'm afraid. Not going to Watford as had enough of that place but will be at the seaside up North on Saturday. Finally thank you Fulham.

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Lowestoft_Blue added 20:58 - Aug 18 Am I the only person who thought smith was a rock today?!
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Stato added 21:02 - Aug 18 Close call between Martin & Hyam for MOM. Martin loads of flair and Hyam looked confident on the ball and saw more of it than any other player on the park. JET didn't shine and Carson didn't grab his opportunity. All the new boys looked ok. Drums were rubbish until we scored and whole ground finally woke up but I guess they will learn to feed off Sir Bobby stand and vice versa. Considering we have so little aerial threat I was surprised/disappointed by the number of crosses we sent into the box. With Chops being so static we did look short of ideas until Scotland came on. The big positive for me was Martin who is unrecognisable from the player he was in the Keane era and he nearly capped his display with a worldy at the end.

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ipswich61 added 21:02 - Aug 18 where is bluey123 with his negative comments lol
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ChrisITFC added 21:03 - Aug 18 A lot of positives today, think that we are in a position where the team can only get better, we are a young and inexperienced side but we show passion and hunger,a few additions to add options and depth would stand us in really good stead. Really enjoyed the game today if we play like that I can't see us losing many at home this year. Think pj made the right changes at the right time and the lads looked in really good nick. As far as transfers go I know many are becoming frustrated by lack of activity but I actually pay credit to the way the club is doing things. Looking at what we have got in it shows that we can bring in quality at the right price and with a good attitude. I would along with most, like at least two more players, but not at the expense of an over the top wage or inflated fee. Lastly the fans were really good today, definately drove the team forward.

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