Town boss Paul Jewell says he and his squad need to stand up and be counted and face up to the challenge of turning their season around. The Blues manager, who celebrates his 48th birthday today, knows full well that fans are unhappy at the moment, not least because one supporter shouted at him in the street while he was out shopping.

Jewell said: “We can’t be frightened of the challenge, we need to stand up and be counted. When people’s backs are against the wall, whether that’s managers, players or whatever, you can’t hide away from the challenge.

“It’s not pleasant losing matches, it’s not pleasant people shouting after you down the street, it’s not pleasant people calling you names.

“But I haven’t done anything wrong other than lose football matches. I’ve just got to try and be strong and have belief in myself and what we’re doing.

“It’s tough, but I’ve had 600-odd games as a manager and some tough times, and also had some good times. Without the tough times the good times never come around. You’re just asking people to stand up and be brave. That’s what we’re doing.”

He dismisses the name-calling incident - “I was shopping and someone was shouting. It was a bit of banter really” — but is under no illusions regarding his standing amongst supporters at present: “I don’t read the papers but I’m not daft, I know that I’m not everyone’s cup of tea, I understand that. But that I’ve been trying my best to try and turn things around.

“That’s all I can do. The only way I can change people’s opinions of me is by us winning matches. I’m not stupid.”

The Liverpudlian admits that he’s fed up of being quizzed about his future due to Town’s struggles: “I’m tired of all these questions, to be honest. You’re going to get them, that’s the nature of the game.

“One of these days, hopefully, we’ll do a press conference here where we all have a laugh and we can talk about the good run we’re on.

“We’ve missed chances and opportunities that we shouldn’t have and consequently we’ve been punished down the other end. That’s the simple fact.

“The two goals against Charlton, we’d got possession of the ball on both occasions, we lose it and within seconds it’s in our net and we’re chasing the game.”

He believes some of his side’s performances have deserved more: “We’ve had seven games and it’s so tight, but I can’t keep saying that.

“I didn’t think we deserved to beat Charlton. I thought we were unlucky against Wolves and I thought we were unlucky against Middlesbrough.

“We could easily be sat here with six more points than we’ve got now and we wouldn’t be having this conversation.

“But we haven’t, so I’m quite prepared to have the conversation. It’s not an issue that I can run away from.”

Last year Town ended a seven-match run of defeats by winning an extraordinary game 5-3 at Barnsley having been 2-0 down at half-time, however, the Blues manager doesn’t see any particular significance in that ahead of Saturday’s return to South Yorkshire: “It’s just the next game. The longer it goes without us winning, that elusive victory becomes harder and harder.

“We’ve got to try and believe in our team and our strengths and basically take our chances when they come along. Because we haven’t done that it’s put pressure on the defence and we’ve conceded goals and you can see the confidence ebbing away.

“We’ve got to be brave. It’s not easy. It’s easy to sit here and say it, but getting out there and being brave is another thing.”

Photo: Action Images

Karlosfandangal added 10:47 - Sep 28 It's a sad world that we live in when strangers are shout at you in the street because of a football match. Fans well so called fans hated Jewell before his first game so he had no chance. Royal was another manager that was not liked because of something he said, yet now fans would like him back. Tommy Miller , Leadbetter Andy Marshall even Scowcroft took abuse from so called fans. Watched a program on tv about Brighton football club? One fan had to hav a full English before a Brighton game and then wash the plates and mugs in a set order with his fav Brighton mug placed on top of the pile like Brighton. He went to the match a then shout at players f this and f that and around him he had children and old folk, they drew and he said that had ruined his week. Is this how football should be I support Ipswich and yes Paul Jewell is not doing a good job but would not go shouting at him same with Clegg how many fans know him to be able to say the things they do. Jet may be playing poor but after thing the fans said on twitter who can blame him as soon as the players say things about the fans they are in up roar yet it's ok to abuse players on the pitch.

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Langdon_Blue added 10:47 - Sep 28 I simply shouted to Paul, I hope you get a sackful of cards for your birthday...honestly he is so touchy these days lol
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ericclacton added 10:51 - Sep 28 Well said legend,could not have put it better myself.As for tomorrow three points is a massive ask,after seeing their performances at pr so far.
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tractorboybeer added 11:12 - Sep 28 Although i am still unsure of PJ's ability to turn around what has been a very unhappy 4 years, i do hope he does as he has proven he can compete with the best of them. For me the downward spiral has been the era of "irish muppet Keane", he dessimated the team, sold off the assets and brought in has beens that do not argue with him, as soon as an argument occured he took it personally and then had the player as a sub / not on the bench even if they were the best player. I do not believe that any manager brought in could of turned around what Keane did to our club, I hate seeing his face on international games as it makes my bllod boil thinking he is still making money when he is clearly a poor human being as well as a manager, pleased to see he cannot find anyone to manage. Anyway rant over but do think PJ had an already impossible job following the irish muppet without the poor results that have followed. I hope he does turn it around but think the next manager will have more luck, as PJ has steadied the town.

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bluey123 added 11:34 - Sep 28 He cant manage he should leave now and show some class. But I wont hold my breathe as he is a self centered IDIOT
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osborne1nil added 11:49 - Sep 28 Wasn't my choice when appointed but have grown to like the man. Unlike RK, I believe that he is a genuine person and likeable. I feel he hasn't had much luck since he has been at Town and hasn't had the funds that Keane and Magic were given (in fact half of Keane's). He has identified many decent players that he has tried to bring in and for one reason or another that has happened - Clegg, greedy player, location, league position or whatever? IMO he has made some strange footballing decisions along the way in his team selection, substitutions, tactics and this along with his coaches is part of why Town are falling short. In addition to this, I feel Town need a REAL Captain out on that pitch who shouts at and leads by example to the other players - like Holland, Mogga, Butcher, Mills type character as I feel Edwards falls very short of the mark as a Captain, (although his performances as a whole have been ok especially as he is not a RB). I know that PJ works hard at the job from contacts that know especially with the youth and would like to see you become a success, but feel it unlikely without a u turn in performance very soon. The players need to take a long look at themselves and ask if they have really put in 100% and that they need to be doing their talking on the pitch and not on Twitter. Happy Birthday Paul, I wish you luck for Saturday and hope the players can show you some respect by putting in a display that is deserved with pulling on an ITFC shirt! COYB

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bluey123 added 12:21 - Sep 28 Rubbish signings rubbish loans and lots of lies JEWELL OUT
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irishtim added 12:28 - Sep 28 @tractorboybeer. Referral to irish muppet keane. Muppet keane would have sufficed. I never liked keane but us irish aint muppets.
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tractorboybeer added 13:03 - Sep 28 No I know and am friends with alot of Irish, but in this paticular case Muppet was the nicest word i could think of to describe the sorry excuse of a supposed football manager.
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Dissboyitfc added 19:11 - Sep 28 Just wanted to say to the idiot who decided to shout at jewell in the street, "IT WAS OUT OF ORDER YOU MUPPET".... Football is a simple game , score more than you concede and you are awarded 3 points, under paul Jewell we have at times imo played some nice football, but he wont get us promoted because he often gets the tactics wrong, players playing out of position and how often does he make a tactical substitution, that turns a game hanging in the balance into 3 points? its not often is it! These are ingredients that will bring success to the club, successful teams get lots of victories in the dying minutes, look at the scum when they were promoted. All the time he is manager i will want him to do well and i will love it if i am proved wrong. But none the less the shouting in the street is not ok, whatever you feel towards Paul Jewell. I for one, hope he has a happy birthday and he can celebrate with a victory tomorrow. I am going for a high scoring win....coyb

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TimmyH added 19:47 - Sep 28 Yeah out of order to give him abuse on the street, I hope he can turn things around as he stated but can't really see it happening until he starts playing a more consistent line-up and stops tinkering around with the midfield. In the short term and to save his job might rely on the Higginbotham/Chambers combination in defence. Happy B'day by the way.
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LordMamu added 09:19 - Sep 29 Why are people bothering to wish him a happy birthday? Ridiculously, he doesn't read the papers so he certainly won't be looking at this site..nothing he says in the interview actually makes any sense at all...
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