Having nudged up to the magical fifty point mark with the home win over Scunthorpe United, the international break felt like a watershed moment for an Ipswich Town side who found themselves with little to play for at either end of the table.
Psychologically, the break effectively heralded the end of the current campaign and the beginning of preparations for the season ahead, Paul Jewells first as manager. Off the pitch, summer transfer discussions began, new contracts were offered and Tamas Priskin found himself shunted out to Swansea City on loan, ending his own season playing for significantly more than his parent club.
With focus so evidently shifting to the new season, Paul Jewell was keen to re-iterate the impact a strong end to the current season could provide. Speaking to the BBC after the match, Jewell said
“We’ve got everything to play for.
There are people who are playing for their futures, people are playing for the supporters, who have travelled an awfully long way and, just as importantly, they are playing for the club and themselves.
If I think someone’s got nothing to play for, they won’t be playing, it’s as simple as that.”
In truth, the Scunthorpe match had already provided an indication that Jewell had one eye on next season, with both Arran Lee-Barrett and Josh Carson being given unexpected chances to impress. That opportunity was extended further with both players retaining their places against The Clarets. Connor Wickham returned to the left midfield berth, after a less than convincing outing in a forward role against Scunthorpe, with the reshuffle benefitting Jason Scotland who was handed the role of lone forward.
Lee Martin was the only casualty, a self-inflicted absence as a result of the ten yellow cards he has picked up over the course of the season.
After a somewhat indifferent start from both sides, Town struck with their first attack of the game, McAuley heading back a corner, inevitably from a Bullard delivery, which eventually fell to skipper David Norris, who slammed the ball home.
After a close shave from Jason Scotland, as the striker diverted Bullard free kick over the crossbar, Town went further in front as an excellent breaking move, involving Carson, Scotland and Norris, ended with Connor Wickham heading beyond keeper Lee Grant. It was a slightly fortuitous finish, but it represented the 7th goal in just 15 matches for the Championships Young Player of the Year.
Shortly before half-time, Burnley boss Eddie Howe replaced winger Ross Wallace with Chris Iwelumo, the big Scottish target man, a clear indication of a change of approach.
The second half saw Towns back line under increasing pressure, with Iwelumo a focal point of much of Burnleys attacks. After having seemingly repelled the home sides efforts, Town conceded as Burnleys own striking protégé, Jay Rodriguez, found the net from distance. The previously resolute Town back line had failed to close down the young forward allowing him to shoot.
The goal lifted the home side again, but despite late pressure, the Blues held firm to record a victory over a Burnley side who have apparently hit reverse at just the wrong period of the season.
Paul Jewell has developed an impressive away record in his short period in charge of Ipswich, with this victory representing his fourth victory in just eight league matches. It is even more impressive when considering that the only two defeats in that sequence were at Millwall, just days after taking charge of the side, and against champions-elect Queens Park Rangers.
Yet, Jewell was far from satisfied with his sides performance, feeling that his players lost impetus after the break and were content to defend against Burnleys aerial approach.
“I thought first half we played really well, we put them on the back foot, but I have to be brutally honest; I was a bit disappointed in the second half because we sat back too much.
They’d brought on Iwelumo and we dealt with them comfortably.
“But, you’re always looking to improve and in the second half I thought we could have done better with the ball.”
Keeping focus for the remainder of the season would appear to be Jewells main challenge at this point. After a good second half to last season, many of the same players eased off in the final month of the season under Roy Keane, as the team drifted.
Jewells challenge to the players to earn their new contracts and keep the club in the Championship has been met, with the manager confirming that Gareth McAuley, Damien Delaney and David Norris have all been made new contract offers, whilst at the same time, discussions have been held with Hull City regarding the future of Jimmy Bullard.
Yet, there are still those with plenty to prove to the new manager. The decision to send Tamas Priskin out on loan has opened the door once more for Jason Scotland who, only a few months previously, had looked destined to take the same path to Swansea City. With numbers short in the striking positions, Jewell has indicated that youngsters Wickham and Josh Carson may get an opportunity to fill striking roles which are very much up for grabs ahead of the new season.
One player whose future will be decided more immediately is Keiron Dyer. The fan favourite has inevitably struggled to find fitness throughout his loan spell. Having managed a brief appearance from the substitutes bench against Burnley, Saturdays match at home to Crystal Palace may represent the last opportunity for the player to make an impression before the end of his loan. Yet with the possibility of an extension to the loan, and an expiring contract in the summer, it may only take a small spark to ensure it is not his last appearance at Portman Road.
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