Season 2012-2013: The Reckoning

“My experience of Derby is maybe that I tried to change things too quickly, to change the world overnight.”

Paul Jewell, Ipswich Town Manager, January 2011

 “I think one of the mistakes I made was to try to cram everything into one year. You need to get players who will be here in three to four years and get them settled. Maybe that's one area I haven't got it quite right."

Paul Jewell, Ipswich Town Manager, December 2011

The latter of the two statements, made with Jewells new-look Ipswich Town side in the midst of a seven game losing tumble towards the relegation zone, provides a poignant axis upon which to assess the success and failure of the 2011-2012 season. The purpose of the statement provides the basis on which to assess the potential for success in the 2012-2013 season.

When reviewing the season just past, its inescapable that its journey was critically defined by the transfer window that preceded it. Paul Jewells direction and transfer policy was comfortably the most debated aspect of the season; which in itself is some feat, coming in a season that also saw players appearing in court, banned from the club and sent to rehabilitation clinics.

An initial policy to build a side on a long-term plan was quickly ditched in favour of a “Supermarket Sweep” style dash through the transfer market, collecting high-profile ageing players for a short-term stab at promotion, with little in the way of any clear objective as to how these players would be used.

The result was a mix and match approach, or “trying to find the right formula” as Jewell put it, as the manager wrestled with accommodating four central midfielders into the same team. Short term success with an ill-fated diamond formation soon made way, ushering in the seven successive defeats as mentioned previously. 

Whilst the issue of who sanctioned the change of policy has been much debated, CEO Simon Clegg made it clear that Jewell was, and is, responsible for transfer targets. That this short term plan went so disastrously wrong was unsurprisingly badly received by supporters, yet what perhaps damaged Jewells reputation more seriously was his insistence throughout it that he was operating to a long-term plan and the resultant pleas for fan patience.

However, events turned in Jewells favour in January, as the loss of loanees, coupled with injuries and suspensions, led to a new look formation and style, infused with energy from players who had waited patiently through the first half of the season. The new system staunched a seven game winless streak with a spectacular and, perhaps for Jewell, career changing 5-1 victory over league leaders West Ham.

Right on cue, the season moved into yet another phase as ten games reaped seven wins and only two defeats. The club began to move quickly in a positive direction up the league table, mimicking the kind of turn around which had occurred almost a year earlier, when Jewell first took charge of the club. This period of the season produced a series of performances which indicated a potential within the squad beyond anything which had gone before it.

Yet, as had been the case 12 months previously, and with supporters thoughts beginning to engage the idea of a play-off push, the momentum slowed and the season tailed off with a run of form that, for the first time in a turbulent season, actually resembled the lower-midtable finishing position. 

Which brings us to those two statements.

Paul Jewells spell as manager of Derby County was probably the most tortuous of his career so far. That he made mistakes is beyond question, that he has learnt from them was the leap of faith which Marcus Evans and Simon Clegg took when appointing him as Manager of Ipswich Town. That he demonstrably repeated the same mistakes brings a big question to pass on his managerial acumen- if it was wrong, why follow something against your better judgement?

Notwithstanding questions about the strategy, the way it was implemented was catastrophic. The failure was not so much narrow, as seismic- a one-year strategy intended to achieve long-term goals in a short-term period? The relegation zone was surely a long way from anyones goals.

Which brought us to the “Ground Zero” moment in December, when effectively Jewell had to accept failure and start building a side all over again. At this point, Jewells reputation at Ipswich Town remained almost entirely on the signings of Aaron Cresswell, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Michael Chopra- the future.

Since that point, the emergence of Tommy Smith, Luke Hyam and Andy Drury in the first team, allied to the sparkling performances of Lee Martin in the second half of the season, have further added credence to Jewells acknowledgement in December of the right way to build a team. They offer a sign to supporters that, if he is to continue along the same path, there can be more of these players, more of these signings, there can be hope. Finally.

Yet, those same supporters remain guarded. Jewell lost huge supporter trust over that period prior to December, when it was evident to supporters that they were watching a short term plan, built with players that didn’t actually fit into any perceptible plan, yet were being told the opposite. Towards the end of the season, as form tailed off, there were those mistrusting whether Jewell really had opted for a radical new strategy in January, or whether he had simply had no choice, as they watched experienced players, including those soon to be released, continue to perform at the expense of long-term prospects.

By his own doing, Paul Jewell now walks a managerial tight-rope. Supporters appear happy to allow him to build the long-term plan he was setting out to build a year ago. But this time, the safety net is removed; if Jewell makes a false move this time, he will be left to fall.

The Search for "Plan B"

In a season of innumerable highs and lows, both on the pitch and in the nightclubs of Newcastle, Paul Jewells team selections have been the one item of dogged consistency.
When that unbeaten run of six matches came to an end in mid-October, the now infamous “diamond” formation, having been emphatically undone, was retained for all but one of the six successive defeats which followed.
Towns current system has shown itself to be far more robust, having seen just two defeats in the last fifteen, leading to the justifiable belief that Jewell may have finally found a platform upon which to build a promotion charge next season.
However, the success of the current system is largely a result of being a very good fit for certain individuals, most specifically the front four of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, Lee Martin, Daryl Murphy and Michael Chopra. The nagging concern remains that, as with the previous diamond system, Town still lack a “Plan B” in the event that the opposition counter the current formation or key players get injured, lose form or, more simply, get tired.
With a punishing eight games during the month of March, it would have appeared to be the perfect platform for Jewell to demonstrate the flexibility he now believes is within the squad.

“We’ve always got to try and be one step ahead and try and have a Plan B. When people worked out the diamond, we probably didn’t have that, to be honest. Maybe we’ve got a bit more flexibility about us now.”

Yet, despite confirming he had told the players to expect the side to be rotated, the appearance totals for those eight games perhaps belies a lack of confidence in the flexibility of his squad.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, the back five remained unchanged through all eight games, excluding Arran Lee-Barretts recall on Saturday to replace the recalled Alex McCarthy.
Grant Leadbitter played every game in central midfield, with the exception of the Watford game, where only suspension kept him on the sidelines. The other central midfield berth was filled by Andy Drury in all but two games, where Lee Bowyer deputised.
However, further forward, the changes were even more sparse. The previously mentioned front four started all eight games, with one notable exception. At Hull City, Lee Martin was dropped to the bench for Jason Scotland, only to be quickly recalled to the side when Town fell two goals behind.

Essentially, Jewells starting eleven over an eight game period has been chosen from just twelve players. Jason Scotland would be a thirteenth, but his contract clause has perhaps distanced himself as a starting option.
There have been notable signs over the last three games in particular that the players have tired. Yet, it has also been notable that the options available to Jewell to refresh his team are perhaps wanting. Equally, at Watford, with his side in an eminently winnable position at half time, there were very few options available from the bench to make significant changes as the game veered sharply away from Town.
Jewell has managed to put together an Ipswich side which looks capable of winning games, has a real threat going forward and, perhaps even more vitally, has offered more protection to the formerly beleaguered defence.

Yet, evidence suggests that Jewell is loathe to make changes to the starting line-up. The current system is tailor-made for his front four; changing them would lead to a change of formation. And that perhaps remains the biggest fear, because Jewells two most successful formations this season have been bookended by a series of attempts to “find the right formula” amidst very poor losing runs.
Against the stronger teams in the championship, does Paul Jewell really have a Plan B?

A sign of change?

In the summer of 2011, Andre Villas-Boas was announced as manager of Chelsea.  As the young Portuguese shortly completes his first six months in charge, he has endured a particularly patchy start to his career at Chelsea.

Chelsea have endured a season which, thus far, has seen an unedifying struggle to escape from the Champions League Group Stage, itself normally such a formality, exit from the Carling Cup at the hands of Liverpool and conceding an eye-watering five times at home to Arsenal.

Yet, despite these defeats, what has been most evident in the 2011-2012 Chelsea side is the undeniable sense that change is afoot. Whether the change is for the better, and so far it is hard to quantify, what is very evident is that Villas-Boas is attempting  to create a side in his mould.

Its a vast contrast with events at Portman Road, as Paul Jewell fast approaches the first anniversary of his own appointment. Jewell spent the first five months of his role assessing the playing staff he had been left with and outlining the blueprint for “Paul Jewells Ipswich”- favouring a 4-4-2 system, utilising wingers, bringing pace and youth to the side, adding steel to the midfield- all preferences which were varyingly put forward.

A further six months and fourteen signings later, Jewell has yet to assert any discernable change to the playing style. The side remains as astonishingly susceptible on the break as it was when conceding five goals at home to Norwich and four goals away at Swansea to spoil Easter for any Ipswich fan. In the course of bringing in so many players, the average age of the side has gone up, whilst remaining as devoid of pace and width as previously.

Some of these shortcomings might ordinarily be attributable to simply not being able to bring in the right players at the right time. Yet, it is the system, and the formations which enforce that system, which are so worryingly missing. 

Town kicked off the season with a lone frontman and a five-man midfield. Which soon transitioned into a 4-4-2 system. Which was then ditched for a diamond formation, which reaped rewards until its weaknesses were so dramatically exposed by opposition managers. The side has now fluctuated between the latter two styles for the past month, as it has plummeted towards the foot of the league.

During the course of this tactical merry-go-round, alarm bells began to ring when Jewell stated that he was trying to “find the right formula” with the current group of players. This followed an earlier suggestion that he might not be able to play a 4-4-2 system as he was unsure he had the personnel to suit.

These are all concerning indications of a manager who has collected together a group of players with no discernible strategy of where they are to fit. Jewell has spoken at length about building for the future, but its unclear how the current side are going to morph into the vision of the future. As a result, to Ipswich supporters, talk of the future begins to sound like exactly that.

It is perhaps best embodied in the fledgling Town career of Jay Emmanuel-Thomas. The lanky Arsenal protégé is often, along with Aaron Cresswell, held up by the manager as an example of what is being built. Jewell even went as far as to suggest that Emmanuel-Thomas would now be a regular member of his first team, if it wasn’t for the lack of fitness resulting from his pre-season training. 

Yet, Emmanuel-Thomas has, more often than not, been utilised in an evidently unsuited and isolated right-wing position, usually with the game in its dying embers. A player who appears to possess the ball control so common-place in Arsenal academy products has had to contend with long balls pumped towards his forehead. Former Ipswich coach Steve Foley has lamented that a player of his type needs the ball at his feet, and to get as many touches as possible.

At this stage, its hard to quantify just how Jewell was planning to use Emmanuel Thomas this season, and even harder to envisage how he is to transition into a key player in our future team.

Yet, its an approach which is symbolic of much of Jewells management so far. Without an apparently clear system to start with, its unsurprising that players are finding themselves used in a variety of unfamiliar roles and positions, whilst fans are struggling to detect any signs of what the development actually is.

To be clear, being able to affect change, having a clear plan of action, are not aspects which are purely the domain of a leading Premier League manager. Look further down the league and, whether positively or negatively viewed, managers like Alex McLeish, Roy Hodgson, Eddie Howe, Tony Mowbray, Dougie Freedman and, dare I say it, Paul Lambert have all, like Villas-Boas, infused a club with a semblance of their own style, their own strategies in a relatively similar time frame. 

To date, there is little about Ipswich Town Football Club that suggests a style of play, a structure, which represents what Paul Jewell is bringing to the club and what he aims to bring in the long term. If the future is 4-4-2, with pace and wingers, with defensive midfielders, then lets play that way and sign stop-gaps where necessary until we have brought in the right players.  The current players appear to be stop-gaps too, but stop-gaps for what? Nobody expects the project to be complete, or even halfway there, but surely there ought to be some signs of a direction?

Chelsea fans have largely shown a degree of patience in supporting the growing pains which their new manager is bringing about. But where there are little signs of change, there is little else to protect a manager when the results turn against him.

Michael Chopras Problem

Even on that sunny day at Bristol City back in August, it was evident that Michael Chopra had a problem.

 

It was evident in his performance level, in the manner in which he took the first goal and his general approach to the game.

It was evident in the following home matches with Hull City and Southampton and in all the subsequent matches.

 

Here was a player who had problems away from the confines of the football pitch.

 

It was evident not because Chopras performances were so poor, but because they were so good. Here was a Premier League footballer playing in the Championship, a circumstance which doesnt occur without external factors playing a significant role.

 

After Chopras two-goals at Bristol sent Town to the top of the embryonic table, Dave Jones candid remarks on national television about his former player were indicative of the off-pitch problems “If his head is right, Chopra will always score goals in the Championship. I think he will be top scorer.”

 

Coupled with the knowledge of Chopras previous spell at a clinic for gambling addiction during his time at Sunderland, the news that Chopra had returned for a spell of rehabilitation was therefore perhaps of little surprise, though generating obvious concern for his well-being.

 

What seems of most importance in all of this is to recognise that, simply put, Ipswich Town are not in a position to be signing Premier League forwards. Yet, in Chopra, Town have demonstrably the best forward seen at the club since Marcus Stewart produced sublime performances on a weekly basis in the Premier League. When considering that owner Marcus Evans only needed to find one million pounds to secure his signature, it looks to be the most impressive bit of business in many years, certainly since Evans has taken charge of the club.

 

Whilst Town fans would have recognised Chopras goalscoring abilities through two spells at Cardiff City, what many have discovered since he has pulled on an Ipswich shirt is that Chopra is a player of far more standing than simply a goalscorer. The forward possesses touch and control befitting of top level players, not least demonstrated in the home game with Brighton, where an astonishing first time control of a 40 yard defensive clearance left Brighton defenders completely wrong-footed as an opportunity was created from nothing. His workrate has drawn comparisons with Stewart, dropping deep to collect the ball from the midfield, closing down opposition defenders and making continual runs across the opposition back line. But there is also the quality of his finishing; aside from the close range finishes which have produced goals against Bristol City and his former club Cardiff City, fans had seen Chopra go ever closer with spectacular efforts from distance, notably hitting the crossbar against Southampton, culminating in the outstanding double against Brighton.

 

Town fans should naturally wish Michael Chopra every encouragement in his battle to overcome his gambling addiction. But from a playing perspective, we have a player who, with the right support and encouragement, is far beyond anything we could possibly expect in the Championship. Indeed, perhaps a player to lead us in the Premier League?

Jewells Dilemma

Back in January, Paul Jewell surveyed the wreckage of an Ipswich Town first team that had managed one win in nine league matches and was hurtling towards the relegation zone.

With several first team players approaching the end of their contracts, a talented prodigy being scouted by every major English club and money being made readily available by the owner, there was scope to quickly remodel the side into one in his own image.

But Jewell opted for a more measured, steady approach to development. Whilst the signing of the mercurial Jimmy Bullard was pivotal to this development, it was the change to a five man midfield, and the redeployment of Connor Wickham, Carlos Edwards, Lee Martin and Colin Healy within this structure, which helped quickly propel the side to safety.

It echoed the impact of Joe Royles employment several years previously. Whilst supporters largely acknowledged that it was “papering over the cracks”, there was also respect for a manager who was seemingly able to mould a squad to a system in a way that his two predecessors had failed to achieve.

All of which is why Paul Jewells current travails seem harder to fathom.

To preface all of this, it has to be acknowledged that no manager can bed in eleven new signings immediately and gain an instant impact. It requires a lot of work on the training ground; to develop a system.

But its currently difficult to recognise what system the manager is developing towards and how several of those eleven players are going to fit.

Town have started several matches in this fledgling season playing a 4-5-1 formation, something which Jewell has stated is more about a fit for the existing players, with his preferred system being a 4-4-2 line up. The signing of Daryl Murphy may well be the answer in that regard, as the former loanee demonstrated on Saturday why he prefers playing in a forward position rather than the left-midfield role he has often found himself in throughout his career.

However, with a forward partnership in place with Michael Chopra, it is the four immediately behind them which seem harder to fathom. In each position, there appears to be a question mark regarding the current incumbents or their proposed successors.

At left midfield, Lee Martins indiscipline at Peterborough was only partly related to the sending off he earnt, perhaps harshly, after another characteristically late lunge. Martins failure to diligently protect his inexperienced full-back was perhaps of bigger concern; a reminder of another character trait which doesn’t appear to have improved.

Filling the gap on Saturday, as against Hull City previously, was Grant Leadbitter, a player so ill-at-ease with his performances currently, that being asked to fill an unfamiliar role was probably the last thing he needed. Inevitably, Leadbitter struggled, and things were only improved when Mark Kennedy was summoned to roll back the years in a position that he has not occupied for several seasons and never in an Ipswich Town shirt.

Ironically enough, in a five man midfield with the wide players encouraged to join the lone forward, Daryl Murphy would seem to be an ideal signing to fill that position, but he looks likely to be required elsewhere.

The same applies on the right-side of the pitch, where Jay Emmanuel-Thomas appears to epitomise the dilemma faced by his manager. A talented young Arsenal graduate, signed for a reasonable fee, Paul Jewell appears unsure where to fit him into his team. As again on Saturday, Emmanuel-Thomas appears isolated and bereft when playing as a wide midfielder. It is telling that his only real contribution to the game was when running through the middle on goal, resulting in the Leeds sending off and the injury which ended his involvement. Yet, Jewell is reluctant to use Emmanuel-Thomas as a foil for Chopra, so far only granting him the opportunity from the start in the Peterborough debacle.

Josh Carson provides a more orthodox threat from a wide right position but, as with Lee Martin, the young Irishman appears to have blotted his copybook in the eyes of his manager currently, by returning to pre-season out of shape and not helped by his involvement against Peterborough.

In the central positions, there are more questions than answers currently, many of them being posed by Jimmy Bullard. Its unthinkable that Bullard wouldn’t play regularly, given the expected influence he will have on the team. But putting Bullard into a team with limited defensive attributes already leaves little room for manoeuvre.

Lee Bowyer may provide a good aggressive partner for Bullard, but it would be brave to play a 32 year old and a 34 year old as a central partnership, particularly given the paucity of impact Bowyer has provided so far in his Town career.

Andrews has been the stand out midfielder to date, but he is also something of a conundrum. Signed for his defensive attributes, Andrews has proven more effective as an attacking threat, adding an ability to shoot from outside the box which Town have missed for some years. Yet, defensively, Andrews has suffered along with his other teammates, being outfought in midfield battles. It was notable on Saturday that the combination of Bullard and Andrews was breached several times in the last fifteen minutes as a ten-man Leeds, content to play a lone-forward and defend for a draw, were inexplicably afforded chances breaking forward.

Having been handed a set of players in January and managing to coach them into a more capable formation with immediate and impressive results, fans would presume that, with his own players specifically bought to play his way, the task would be simplified a whole lot more. Yet, having signed so many new players, it seems puzzling that what remains seems such an ill-fit for the 4-4-2 formation that Jewell has seemingly been building towards.

Its all a little confusing to an outsider, but is the manager that certain either?

The Form Book

All the pre-match discussion before a derby game is inevitably focussed on phrases such as “the form book goes out of the window” . No matter how far ahead one club appears to be from the other, a mixture of fear and expectation, coupled with the opportunity to derail fierce rivals, can become a great leveller.
On some occasions, however, that form book stays well and truly in place and all post-match discussion is focussed on exactly why the form book proved so accurate.
After a solid few months under Paul Jewell had developed into a very positive recent run, Ipswich Town fans could be forgiven for thinking that their side was in a position to match their Norfolk counterparts, at whom they had spent the majority of the season staring upwards at.
However, after a torrid ninety minutes of football, the club were left reeling by the ghosts which many had hoped had been left behind with Paul Jewells appointment as manager.
And in case any fans were under the misguided notion that the 5-1 defeat was, in itself, something of an aberration, so followed an equally crushing 4-1 defeat at Swansea City. Simply put, the best form book available, the league table, has been demonstrated to be the most accurate barometer of where Ipswich Town find themselves currently.
In the right circumstances, Town have demonstrated themselves to be ably suited at taking on some of the top sides in the division. However, faced with adversity, there is little in the way of manoeuvre to provide an alternate strategy. Against the Canaries, the loss of two quick goals, both involving questionable goalkeeping from Lee-Barrett, left both the team and its manager reeling. Switching personnel, switching formations, switching tactics- nothing seemed to provide Town with a foothold back into the game.
The use of Josh Carson during the match bore concerning reminders of the management of Jewells two predecessors. The 17-year old started the match at right-midfield, moved to left-midfield, was then shunted in-field before playing out the second half in anonymity as part of a two man frontline.
Defensively, having performed adequately for much of the match, Towns entire defensive structure disintegrated following the third and decisive Norwich goal, with the Canaries able to break at will with seemingly little in the way of marking. It marked a nervousness unseen in the back four for several months.
Whilst the derby saw a series of combinations and options fail to provide a cohesive challenge to the opposition, the match against Swansea showed limitations of another fashion as, faced with injuries to star-men Conor Wickham and Jimmy Bullard, Jewell was unable to turn to alternative personnel to suitably fill the void.
Whilst Colin Healy and Andy Drury, a rare bright spot in the derby defeat, have demonstrated themselves to be neat and comfortable midfielders, they were unable to bridge the loss of Bullard, leaving Jason Scotland even further isolated than he had been against the Canaries.
Scotland himself would surely have played no part had Wickham recovered fitness, having been removed after a lamentable 45 minute spell in the derby. As it was, Jewell was left with little alternative but to play the Trinidadian, resulting in a forward line devoid of movement ahead of a midfield incapable of supporting it. As against Norwich, it provoked reminders of many performances in the earlier part of the season, as a lack of offensive mobility left the side defending deeply and with little creativity to break the long spells of possession which the Swans enjoyed.
Whilst the Easter calendar presented Town with arguably the best two passing sides in the division as opposition, the manner of the results simply emphasised the gulf which Jewell has to make up over the summer. It is a situation the manager is fully aware of. “Against Norwich, Reading and Swansea you always felt that they had better footballers than us.
“That’s not an indictment of the lads, they are facts. They’ve said that themselves in the dressing room after the game; as a group, we’re not mentally tough enough and we’re not physically tough enough.
“If we can try and improve on that and add a lot more quality to the squad next season, hopefully this time next year we’ll be talking about a good Easter and looking up rather than being a bit depressed.”
With a home game to follow against now-relegated Preston North End, there is a good opportunity for the Blues to bounce back. However, at this stage of the season, most Town fans recognise that there is little more to be gained from the current season, from the current side.
If the last week has shown anything, it is that the current Ipswich Town squad is not capable of achieving the required standard. Fortunately, the manager is also aware of that and will be asking a revised squad of players to achieve it next season.

Bristol City 0 Ipswich 1

Paul Jewell continued his outstanding record away from home since taking charge at Portman Road, as his side claimed their fifth victory in nine matches on their travels.
The result was more impressive in the context of the first half sending off of Lee Martin, which saw the Blues play out the majority of the match with ten men.
It represented a fourth win in five matches, moving Jewells side to an improbable six points from the play-offs. However, despite the obvious delight at the result, the manager was keen to play down any talk of a very late play-off push, as he spoke to the BBC after the match “We’re not even mentioning the play-offs. We’ve been on a decent run. When we got here it was about making sure we didn’t get relegated.”
“We’ve got four games left, that’s 12 points. If we win all those you never know, but it’s highly unlikely, let’s be honest”.
After the resurgence against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night, it was little surprise that Paul Jewell opted to start with the line-up which changed Towns fortunes, restoring Lee Martin to the starting line-up in place of Jason Scotland, allowing Connor Wickham to move into a striking role.
Elsewhere, injury to Mark Kennedy saw Darren O’Dea continue at left back, as he had also done at the culmination of the midweek game.
Despite a Connor Wickham volley straight at David James, Bristol City enjoyed the better of the opening half and their task was made significantly easier after a rash challenge from Lee Martin resulted in a straight red card for the player just returning to the starting line-up after suspension.
The half continued in the same manner, with The Robins largely dominating and Lee-Barrett being the busier of the two keepers.
However, with the Blues first shot of the second half, Josh Carson intercepted a misplaced pass before striking home from 30 yards. It was the youngsters third goal in a week as he once again demonstrated that there is more than one burgeoning talent in the Ipswich ranks.
The remainder of the game took on a familiar tale, with 10-man Town happy to sit on their lead and absorb pressure. Despite late chances for Wickham and Bullard, they were again reliant on the efforts of Arran Lee-Barrett, going some way towards earning the one year contract extension which has been promised.
The performance of the back line understandably came in for particular praise from the manager after the match, notable given that the three outstanding players are all within the last few months of their contracts, as Jewell acknowledged “I think Gareth and Damien have been outstanding since I’ve been here.”
“Gareth got a knock on the ankle early on but his attitude, as well as everyone else's, was absolutely terrific and he dug in there and won every header. Every time the ball came into our box, there was a blue shirt. If it went to a red shirt, they were getting harried and closed down.”
With both centrebacks having been offered new contracts, Jewell is confident that both will sign them, allowing a core platform to build on for next season.
Lee-Barrett has demonstrated that, not only does he have a role at the club next season, but that he might be a viable option to hold down the No. 1 spot. What began as an opportunity to win a contract, appears to be turning into an extended role in the first team, as Marton Fulop seems destined to spend further time on the bench.
Jimmy Bullard continues to provide invention and his run of successive matches go a long way towards demonstrating that fitness concerns are now happily sidelined. With each passing game that the fitness is maintained, so Bullards value edges upwards which threatens to upset Towns chances of keeping the player.
In the forward positions, whilst Jewell has openly favoured a two-man frontline, the paucity of options mean that Town are likely to continue with just one for the remainder of the season. With Jason Scotland once again falling out of the starting line-up, Connor Wickham is finally being given the opportunity to demonstrate whether his future position is also his current position.
All of which sees things developing nicely ahead of perhaps the most eagerly awaited fixture of the season- the return derby with Norwich City. With the Canaries edging ever closer towards promotion, the biggest test of Towns improved form over the previous months will be to see if they can avenge that 4-1 defeat at Carrow Road.....

Ipswich 3 Middlesbrough 3

Two sides with nothing left to play for, playing their second game within a matter of days and reaching the end of indifferent seasons.
The portents were not great leading into this match, but both sides imperfections contributed to an enthralling football match with a final score that belied the opportunities presented.
Whilst Town showed defensive frailties that have remained well hidden in recent weeks, they also showed an attacking instinct that gave manager Paul Jewell plenty of optimism. Speaking to the BBC, Jewell said “We looked so nervous and in the end it could have ended seven all. Our keeper has made two vital saves at 3-1 down and their keeper has made three great saves at three all.”
“At 3-1 down you’d take a point all day, but in the end, I was a bit disappointed. When we got to 3-3 we’re thinking that we could win it and how that freekick from Jimmy doesn’t go in, I don’t know.”
Once again, conforming to type, Paul Jewell named an unchanged side from that which had defeated Crystal Palace on Saturday. It meant a further opportunity for Josh Carson, but left Lee Martin waiting patiently on the bench.
Town got off to a fine start and after a couple of near misses, David Norris teed up Grant Leadbitter to smash the ball goalwards, the ball taking a heavy deflection before hitting the back of the net.
It was a trend which was to continue for much of the first half as the Blues continued to threaten the Boro goal. At the other end, the Teesiders had offered very little, but the game suddenly turned on its head within the space of a couple of minutes.
Firstly, Damien Delaney skewed an innocuous cross onto his own bar, presenting Halliday with the simplest of finishes. With Town rocked, Boro struck again as they were caught short at the back, Halliday again heavily involved as he got away from McAuley and fed Scott McDonald for a simple finish.
It was something of a smash and grab from Boro, but it didn’t end there. The second half began as the first had ended, and it took a further five minutes before the lead was extended further. Halliday was once again the inspiration, feeding Taylor who drilled low past Arran Lee-Barrett.
It sparked a Town resurgence, Wickham unfairly having a goal disallowed, before the young forward was finally rewarded, heading home from yet another Bullard delivery into the box.
The introduction of Lee Martin for Jason Scotland had seen Wickham move up front shortly before his goal, and it was a change around which invigorated Town.
It was the substitute who presented the opportunity to bring the Blues level, Martin being brought down by Bates, with Leadbitter slotting away the resultant penalty.
It prompted a barnstorming end to the match, with Delaney and Bullard in particular going very close to snatching a win for Ipswich, in a game which could have been won by either side.
In such a free spirited match, it was inevitable that the aspects which drew most attention were defensive frailties. Jewell was quick to acknowledge that his centre backs were uncharacteristically poor, whilst revealing that a defensive midfielder is very much on his agenda for summer spending.
“The team’s done smashing, I’m not here to rip them apart because we’ve had a bad night defensively. But we need a big, strong holding midfield player who is going to make it easier for our back four lads.”
“If we’re going to play that system, we’ve got to have someone who is going to sit in there and stop the flow of attacks. Certainly at home, it doesn’t seem to happen away from home”.
It is of little surprise that a defensive midfielder is being targeted, as Roy Keanes very public failure to attract Shaun Derry last summer indicated that it is a long standing requirement. It does, however, raise questions marks over the future of the young man who Roy Keane turned to having been unable to attract Derry. Luke Hyam started off the season as a burgeoning young prospect in Keanes winning side, only for injury and suspension to curtail his opportunities quite abruptly. He has yet to feature under the new manager, and the desire to sign a new defensive midfielder might indicate that his contract will not be renewed.
It was a poor night generally for Towns backline, not just in how the centrebacks were surprisingly unhinged, but also in the way that the full-backs were found exposed. Carlos Edwards continues to offer a real threat pushing infield with the ball, but remains occasionally slack positionally, something which contributed to Boros second goal.
A late injury to Mark Kennedy might bring about an enforced change in that department ahead of the visit to Bristol City on Saturday.

Ipswich 2 Crystal Palace 1

Since the exit from the managerial hot-seat of Roy Keane, any Ipswich Town related news has been largely dominated by the exploits of a teenage academy graduate. Saturdays match continued that trend, with the exception that it was the name of Josh Carson in the headlines rather than that of Conor Wickham.
The 17 year old midfielder has been given the opportunity to shine over the last few games, and in only his third start in a Town shirt, produced a performance of quality and confidence, which was capped off by scoring his first two goals in professional football.
Manager Paul Jewell was delighted to finally be talking about another academy recruit. Speaking to the BBC, Jewell said “It makes a change talking about another 17-year-old other than Connor Wickham.
It’s a great day for Josh and it’s hopefully the start of plenty of goals for Ipswich Town.
“He’s not fazed by playing in the first team, I think you could see that. He’s one of those lads who enjoys it; I was delighted for him”.
Town were once again unchanged, with Lee Martin seeing out the last match of his suspension, Carson again retaining his starting spot ahead of Keiron Dyer. Arran Lee-Barrett earnt another opportunity to win himself a new contract, as Marton Fulop remained an onlooker from the bench.
Whilst the Palace line up earlier in the season was very much an Ipswich old-boys side, the removal of George Burley as manager has gradually seen a removal of those players from the starting line-up, with only Darren Ambrose managing to get onto the pitch on his return to Suffolk.
Town had plenty of the early possession without entirely convincing. A long range-effort from Leadbitter was tipped away well by Speroni, but at the other end Ambrose twice went close as the Eagles showed a level of threat far above that of the previous visitors to Portman Road, Scunthorpe United, a side who find themselves only a place behind the Eagles.
After Wickham had thumped a shot recklessly into the side-netting when he might have done better, so the already impressive Carson took his opportunity to make headlines. Cutting inside from the touchline, the young Irishman shot across goal and into the far corner with an effort which, on closer inspection, may well have been intended for his waiting teammates in the middle.
Town started the second half in less impressive fashion, as the Blues were indebted to their goalkeeper, Lee-Barrett stopping Vaughan twice, before saving his best to prevent Ambrose, the former Town star having been played through one-on-one with the goalkeeper.
However, Town soon added to their lead as a scramble following a Bullard corner was eventually swept home by Carson, with his second of the day.
Town enjoyed some superiority after the goal, with Carson in particular thoroughly enjoying himself with the space being afforded him on the right-wing.
However, as was the case at Burnley, the performance drifted as the Blues allowed the Eagles an opportunity of recovery. Poor marking from a long free-kick saw centre-back Paddy McCarthy completely unmarked to expertly volley past Lee-Barrett.
It brought with it a nervy final chapter of the match, as Palace once again showed endeavour beyond their lowly league position. A combination of good defending and wayward finishing finally saw Town record a third successive league victory for the second time in Jewells short spell in charge.
With victory formally confirming Towns status in the Championship for next season, preparations have already begun for that campaign and it would have been a positive for Jewell that the two players who have been given an opportunity in recent weeks ended up as the two players with the biggest contribution towards this victory.
Whilst Carsons performances have improved week on week, culminating in his two goal showing against Palace, Arran Lee-Barrett had yet to really be tested in his two previous starts, so it was pleasing for the manager to see his out-of-contract goalkeeper put through his paces and come out on top. “Arran played a big part for us today. He has not had a lot to do in his other two matches, but today he made some big saves for us, and at key times.
Hes had to be patient and wait for his chance, but he did well. He and Josh contributed a lot to the win”.
Defensively, the pace and energy of the Palace attacking players gave Carlos Edwards and, in particular, Mark Kennedy some problems. The home side were indebted to their goalkeeper, but also to the performance of their two centre-backs. It once again highlighted just how critical the contract talks with Damien Delaney and Gareth McAuley are set to be in the context of next season.
In midfield, Jimmy Bullard had one of his less productive performances, evidently tiring against the Palace midfield in the latter part of the game. It perhaps helped pave the way for Grant Leadbitter to produce a performance more in line with the level that he is capable of. With Jewell keen to produce a side playing a 4-4-2 system, it will be interesting to see if both players are able to combine as the two-man engine room in next seasons side.
With West Ham summoning Keiron Dyer back to Upton Park for the remainder of the season, the midfield conundrum looks set to be evaluated further against Middlesbrough on Tuesday night. Whilst Carson has clearly demonstrated what he has to offer, both Colin Healy and Lee Martin are once again available to stake their own place on a starting position, alongside Andy Drury who has perhaps been most unfortunate not to get more opportunities.
With both sides immediate futures now seemingly confirmed, Tuesdays match could turn into an experimental encounter for both managers.

Burnley 1 Ipswich 2

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.

Ipswich 2 Scunthorpe United 0

Ipswich were indebted to two moments of class to see off a poor Scunthorpe United side who seem destined to leave the Championship behind at the end of the season.
Just as Paul Jewell began to fear that the match was falling into a familiar pattern, so Carlos Edwards strode forward from his right-back spot to fire home from fully 30 yards and give Portman Road a lift. Jimmy Bullard then took a turn, attempting to upstage Edwards effort with an outstanding curling free kick, the like of which he has built a reputation on.
Jewell acknowledged after the match that the two strikes stood out like beacons, both for their undoubted quality, but also because they lifted his side out of the goalscoring morass they have found themselves in. Speaking to the BBC, the manager said “They were two great goals that would grace any game, it was lovely to see them go in. But, in between, we had lots of opportunities to put the game to bed. Missing chances is our Achilles heel, we should have scored three or four in the first half.”
Having been so resolute in retaining a similar team line up week by week, Jewell took a leaf out of his predecessors book in making three changes to the side, all of them quite unexpected. Perhaps the biggest of these was the appearance of Aaron Lee-Barrett in goal, who had failed to find a place in the starting line-up since February of last year, as first Brian Murphy and then Marton Fulop kept him out. Fulops increasingly erratic performances, particularly in dealing with crosses, perhaps put pressure on his position, however it would have been anticipated that his place was safe until Brian Murphy returned from injury. From that perspective, it was a positive show of faith in Lee-Barrett from his manager.
Elsewhere, David Norris returned to first team action after suspension despite reported injury over recent weeks, taking the place of Andy Drury, the former Luton man again finding himself to be Mr. Unfortunate. The other surprise was the debutant inclusion of academy graduate, Josh Carson. The Irishman took his place on the left of midfield, allowing Connor Wickham to take up the central striking role that will eventually become his permanent role.
Town got off to a brisk start, with Lee Martin going particularly close to his first ever goal at Portman Road. Shortly following this, David Norris found himself through on goal, but shot tamely at the Scunthorpe goalkeeper and the chance was gone.
As Martin in particular enjoyed some freedom down the right-flank, Town were looking buoyant, despite failing to test the Scunthorpe goal. A Martin cross found Wickham in space, but the header flew wide of goal.
As the game threatened to develop into a similar pattern to that of previous matches, Carlos Edward stepped forward to put the blues in front. It marked the third long-range goal of Edwards season and clearly demonstrated an ability less visible last season.
After Bullard added to Towns lead, there was very little of note produced from either side for the rest of the match. Town remained calm in possession without really creating any clear cut chances to threaten further goals.
At the other end, Scunthorpes threat was probably best summarised by the condition of Lee-Barretts jersey on leaving the field. His grey top shined as brightly as when he had walked out in it 90 minutes earlier. The keeper could have hardly wished for a quieter return to first team action, as his defence kept a clean sheet for the first time in five home matches.
However, despite the lack of action, Lee-Barrett nearly blemished his efforts with a reckless sprint from his line and flailing punch towards a Scunthorpe cross late in the match. The lack of any attacking endeavour from Scunthorpe ensured there was no-one available to take advantage and his blushes were spared. It was exactly the kind of poor decision making that had cost Fulop his position in the first place.
With the opposition being so poor, the game became something of a procession for the last half hour, making it a less than perfect barometer of the sides performance level. Certainly Bullard excelled once again in central areas, the fulcrum for all Towns attacking endeavours. Alongside him, Grant Leadbitter continued the subdued performances of late which may threaten his position in the starting eleven, particularly with Colin Healy returning to action as a late substitute.
Lee Martin probably matched Bullards impact on the match, with the former Manchester United winger looking bright and effective, having struggled to make such an impact in recent matches. His continual feed of crosses deserved better reward than it received. Despite his positive impact, the performance was soured by a tenth yellow card for diving, which will rule him out of the next two games in what has become a re-energising spell in the side.
One minor footnote on the proceedings was the non-appearance of Kieron Dyer in the squad. In what is hopefully not a portent towards how the remainder of his loan spell will transpire, the midfielder injured a thigh muscle in training on Friday. A two-week break could not have come at a better time to allow him fitness for the match at Burnley in two weeks time.
As a result of the great run to the League Cup Semi-Finals, Town have the distinction of having played more football than any other Championship side this season. A two week break will probably be welcomed by several others amongst Dyers new teammates at this late stage of a long and, for Town, disjointed season.

Ipswich 0 Watford 3

Whereas last weeks defeat marked the end of the honeymoon period for Paul Jewell, Tuesday nights result signified that Paul Jewell is now officially taking charge of a side on a “bad run”.
Jewells side have now recorded just one point from four home matches, contributing two goals over the course of those matches. Whilst away results have been improved, the club have now recorded a single win in seven matches.
At this stage of the season, with the clubs position in the Championship appearing relatively safe, the results themselves are relatively unimportant, but it is the level of performance which has now become of prime concern.
After the match, Paul Jewell echoed the sentiments which poured from the stands after a woeful performance against The Hornets. Jewell said “What disappoints me is that when things don’t go our way, too many people are hiding; we lose confidence too quickly. We’ve got to get more inner belief and a bit more steely determination about ourselves. When it’s not going well, grind something out. We ground something out at Leeds, we got a great result at Cardiff, but that’s typical of our season - one week we’re good, the next week we’re poor.”
There was instant disappointment for the home fans before kick off when Kieron Dyers fitness was judged to be insufficient to justify a starting role. Elsewhere, Mark Kennedy returned to the side at left-back, in place of Darren O’Dea.
It took all of two minutes for Town to give an indication of the kind of night which was about to follow. A Watford corner found their leading goalscorer Danny Graham inexplicably unmarked at the far post. It marked Grahams 24th strike of the season. The goal itself represented a catalogue of errors, from the cheap corner given away by Kennedy, the quick corner routine not picked up, again by Kennedy and the failure of Carlos Edwards to pick up Graham from the resulting cross, something which the right-back might reasonably have expected his goalkeeper to claim instead.
Town briefly rallied, creating two good opportunities from set pieces. Firstly, an audacious free-kick from all of 30 yards from Bullard skimmed the top of the bar.
Shortly afterwards, a McAuley header from a deep free-kick came back off the foot of the Watford goalpost, with a series of Town players all failing to make the right connection to put the rebound into the net.
But it amounted to Towns closest efforts on goal in the entire match.
At the interval, Town had dominated much of the possession, but on the balance of chances could quite conceivably have been further behind.
The second half saw a rapid deterioration from Towns perspective. The half began so poorly, that Jewell only took five minutes before throwing Dyer onto the pitch, the former Town player getting the biggest cheer of the night at a misty Portman Road.
On the hour, some neat but unproductive passing from the Town midfield was rudely interrupted by a Jenkins challenge on Bullard. Whilst those in blue appealed for a free kick, Watford broke forward and a fine finish from Graham put the game to rest.
The result was complete in the closing minutes as Delaney mis-controlled a Watford ball forward, allowing Cowie to blast home.
It left a scoreline that didn’t really flatter a solid Watford side. The away side finished their chances clinically when they emerged, whilst being happy to work hard and protect their goal from the minimal threat that Town were able to impose.
In the centre of the pitch, town controlled much of the game with Bullard once again pulling strings. Dyer again showed fleeting moments of class, including one run from his own half, in which the midfielder moved at a pace reminiscent of the runs which were common-place during his previous spell at the club. Elsewhere, Andy Drury put in an energetic shift with some neat touches to emphasise that he may develop at this level.
However, as against Reading the previous week, the main issues were at both ends of the pitch. Paul Jewell is gladly picking up the baton from his predecessor in bemoaning the lack of finishing instinct in the penalty area, whilst at the other end Jewell is also rapidly being introduced to the defensive failings which left Roy Keane distraught on occasions.
Whilst the flowing attacking performances of a month ago are seemingly less willing to emerge, there is a worrying frailty at the other end of the pitch which is proving extremely costly when chances are at a premium at the other end. Towns last three home matches have seen eight goals conceded, giving little opportunity of a positive result with such a dearth of goalscoring.
After two clean-sheets away to both Cardiff and Leeds, the fluctuating fortunes of his defensive corps is of concern to Jewell “I just don’t know what I’m going to get out of the players week-in, week-out, at the minute. We’re up and down far too much. We’ve got to get a level of consistency that’s acceptable and the last few games haven’t been acceptable- both the performances and the results.”
On Saturday, Town have just the opportunity to try and recover some composure and prevent the losing run extending to four matches. The visit of Scunthorpe United presents opposition who now find themselves managerless and entrenched in the bottom three. Whilst Jewell may look to make changes to personnel, with David Norris once again available, it is perhaps within his players heads that Jewell will need to have the biggest impact.

Leeds United 0 Ipswich 0

After the rather sobering home defeat by Reading on Tuesday evening, Town fans were perhaps looking towards this trip to Elland Road with some trepidation.
With talisman Jimmy Bullard struggling with a thigh injury and David Norris suspended, Towns engine room seemed ill-equipped to cope with the goalscoring form of Leeds United.
And so, as if sensing the mood of the fans, Paul Jewell turned to a former Blues hero to breathe new life into his side. The re-appearance of Kieron Dyer in a Town shirt, after a twelve year absence, had many fans making the journey to Yorkshire in expectation and, in particular, excitement.
The midfielder, seeking to recover fitness ahead of West Hams relegation battle, exceeded the managers expectations. Speaking to the BBC, Jewell said "He did far better for 70 minutes or so than I expected”
"I didn't plan to play him that long but he showed class and quality and, whilst it was a tough game, it will put him in good stead for this week."
Perhaps slightly less surprising than Dyers return, Jimmy Bullards re-appearance in a blue shirt was nonetheless a welcome boost to the Town side. With the two experienced performers joined by Grant Leadbitter, Lee Martin and Connor Wickham, it represented the most talented midfield line-up available to a Town manager in some years.
Town made a breezy start and enjoyed their best chance of the match within 10 seconds of play. Tamas Priskin, getting a start in place of Jason Scotland, made a good run in behind the Leeds defence and ought to have done better, his profligacy perhaps only being excused by the time at which the chance had presented itself.
With chances at either end, Priskin went close again as his shot flew through a crowd of legs and wide of the post. The Hungarian was finding Kieron Dyer providing support, operating in a role ahead of his other midfielders.
Max Gradel continued to offer the greatest threat for Leeds, but with Marton Fulop largely untroubled. The half ended with Leeds, and their vociferous fans, demanding a penalty for a McAuley handball, however the referee remained unmoved.
The match was to continue as the first half had ended, with Leeds increasingly on top, but with the majority of the efforts flying wide of Fulops net. Dyer and Bullard struggled to provide an impact and eventually Dyer was substituted for Andy Drury.
Gradel again found Fulop thwarting him as the home side showed little indication of breaking through Towns defensive line.
Two clean sheets from successive away games against sides in the top six, gives plenty of encouragement for Towns backline. The centreback pairing of McAuley and Delaney once again looked assured and demonstrated that they represent a combination that could prove pivotal in any Town success over the next year.
In particular, Carlos Edwards produced perhaps his best performance in his new right-back role. Up against the tricky and in-form Gradel, Edwards passed the test with credit. Whilst his sojourns into the opposition half were curtailed, he successfully managed to nullify Leeds most attacking threat.
Ahead of the defence, however, there are still obvious concerns. After managing to win the match against Cardiff having been reliant on the brilliance of Bullard to find two goals, Town have had two further performances in which they have troubled the opposition goal very little. The change of striker didn’t manage to add anything to proceedings, with Priskin, like Scotland before him, putting together a solid performance as a lone-frontman, with very little to feed from.
It is an area which Jewell again felt Town should be doing better. “Obviously, Leeds score loads of goals, but it was at the back where we tried to get at them. I thought early on we were doing that, but we couldn’t get the finishing touch.”
“It was a scrappy game on a very difficult pitch. There wasn’t an awful lot of football played and I was disappointed with our attacking play in the second half”.
However, the addition of Dyer to the midfield gives optimism for improvement. Clearly, the former Newcastle man is short of match fitness, since it is on that basis which West Ham have agreed to loan him out. It is simply a matter of how quickly that fitness returns, as the abilities of the player are well-known to more than just Ipswich Town fans.
Jimmy Bullard falls into the same category, missing the Reading match was perhaps something of a minor setback in his own attempts to regain match sharpness. It is an inevitable consequence of employing both players.
With a game at home to Watford on Tuesday night, both get another opportunity to recover that match fitness. Dyer may recall his last match against Watford at Portman Road with mixed emotions. Just over twelve years ago, Dyer scored against the hornets, only to leave the field with a broken leg later in the match. Later hope part of that repeats.

Just under two months into the Paul Jewell era and the honeymoon is finally over.
Having seen his new charges spring into life from the outset, Jewells impact on the side has been impressive. However, after the forty five minute warning sign on Saturday that required managerial intervention to lift his side to victory, Jewell was unable to repeat the trick against Reading, with his side falling to the most comprehensive and deserving defeat of his spell as manager.
It was a performance that surprised Jewell himself, acknowledging that it was an occasion in which very little was achieved of merit. Speaking to the BBC after the match, Jewell said “There was no tempo to our play, we didn’t give the crowd anything to shout about. We didn’t get close to them, we didn’t make any tackles and we didn’t pass it. Everything that we did in the second half on Saturday, and have done for the majority of the time I’ve been here, we just didn’t do. I think you’ve always got to be honest, and we just didn’t play well enough tonight”.
Jewell found himself forced into changes with Mark Kennedy missing as a result of the injury picked up against old-club Cardiff City. However, of more impact was the loss of Saturdays match winner Jimmy Bullard, failing to recover from a hamstring injury. Darren O’Dea claimed the spot at left-back, with Andy Drury rewarded with his second start for the Blues in place of Bullard.
After a slow start from Town, struggling to find a rhythm, they were punished when a deep corner from Brian Howard was nodded powerfully home by Shane Long. Defensively, it was a poor goal to concede, with very little in the way of a challenge being put forward to oppose Long, not least from Marton Fulop, whos hesitancy on crosses had once again resulted in a goal.
The remainder of the half offered very little in the way of improvement from Towns perspective. Whilst they suffered defensive scares, the best they could offer at the other end of the pitch was an intricate free-kick move between Norris and Leadbitter, resulting in the latter volleying narrowly wide of goal.
Unlike on Saturday, the interval failed to herald a change in fortune, as Reading continued to have the better of the opportunities, not least when Howard stroked wide of Fulops left-hand post when a goal seemed inevitable.
Whilst Town began to dominate posession, by now playing with a two-man frontline of substitute Priskin and boy-wonder Wickham, the best they managed remained a chance which befell Andy Drury early in the half, the midfielder slipping as he reached the ball.
Inevitably, Reading added to their lead as first Ian Harte drilled home an immaculate curling free kick from distance, before the pressing Town defence was caught short as Noel Hunt ran clear to round Fulop and slide into the empty net.
Town finally managed to get on the score sheet in injury time, as Connor Wickham ran onto a long ball forward and lifted an excellent shot on the volley over McCarthy and into the net. It was probably the goal of the evening, with an honourable mention to Harte’s free kick, but it was of little value to a Town side who had been soundly outperformed.
Wickhams marker aside, there was very little of note to take from a match where, for the first time under Jewell, Town failed to provide any period of play in which they threatened to turn the game in their favour.
Whilst Readings performance was undeniably good, with their manager Brian McDermott claiming it to be “as good an away performance as you’ll see in the Championship”, Towns lack of quality in possession contributed heavily to it.
Inevitably, any discussion regarding this downturn in momentum can only start with the absence of Jimmy Bullard. The Hull man was sorely missed, particularly coming off the back of his performance against Cardiff at the weekend. With Grant Leadbitter and David Norris in particular struggling to make an impact, it added pressure to the shoulders of Andy Drury, a player still adapting to this level of competition.. Jewell was acutely aware of the missing influence of Bullard “We certainly missed him, he was a big loss for us. He's been the fulcrum of everything we have been doing, so it was a big disappointment that he wasn't out there.”
With Bullards involvement against Leeds at the weekend still questionable, it makes the 10th yellow card picked up by David Norris to be all the more critical. The captain will now miss the next two games under suspension, which will stretch Jewells resources, already robbed of the injured Colin Healy. Whilst Jewell has been quick in the past to speak of the value of the squad, it is undeniable that beyond his first eleven, options remain somewhat limited when injury and suspension call.
It is something his predecessor felt dearly when injuries struck in the first half of the season, and Jewells first job over the summer will be to ensure the squad is complemented rather than diminished. Perhaps starting with that man Bullard.

Cardiff City 0 Ipswich 2

For the second successive weekend, home fans left the stadium cursing the luck of their side as they found themselves on the wrong end of a two-goal scoreline, having dominated large sections of the match.
Yet on this occasion, Ipswich Town were able to reap the benefits, achieving the three points having been second best for most of the first hour of play.
In contrast to the previous weeks outstanding first 45 minutes against Portsmouth, the first half was amongst the worst of Paul Jewells short time as manager, something the Liverpudlian quickly acknowledged needed changing at the break. Speaking to the BBC, Jewell said “It was the first time I’ve lost my temper with them but I felt it was necessary and I think we got the response. Our goalie was terrific, he kept us in the game. We sat off Cardiff in the first half and it looked as though we were expecting to lose so half-time came at the right moment”.
As has become commonplace under Jewell, Town remained unchanged from the side who had been unfortunate not to take all the points against Portsmouth. It granted Jason Scotland the opportunity to try and wreak havoc on Cardiffs promotion chances, as a favour to his former employers, Swansea City. In acknowledgement of the threat, Scotland was roundly booed from the start.
Town started the game under pressure, conceding opportunities to the welsh side, a theme which was to progress throughout the half. With the blues backline rocking, they were indebted to their goalkeeper who, having been the subject of attention following mistakes in his two previous outings, was out to make amends. Marton Fulop made strong stops from Boothroyd, Whittingham, Chopra and Emmanuel-Thomas in particular.
Towns cause was not helped as Mark Kennedy, perhaps the only member of the back four to show any composure on a poor pitch, limped off with the kind of hamstring injury which has plagued his Town career since moving from the Bluebirds.
The second half offered little in the way of retribution in its early stages, with Emmanuel-Thomas coming closer still, seeing an effort bounce under Fulop, but with the keepers touch being enough to balloon the ball up and over the bar.
Gradually, Town recovered some composure as Bullard and Leadbitter started to create time on the ball and provide some much needed breathing space for their colleagues.
Having created fairly little in the way of clear goalscoring opportunities, it was inevitable that the opening goal would come from a barely presentable chance. Scotland, working tirelessly throughout to try and hold some form of possession for his side, managed to win a loose ball following a long Wickham pass. The ball fell to Jimmy Bullard who, on approaching the penalty area, let fly from distance, arrowing a fantastic effort past Stephen Bywater in the Cardiff net. It was Bullards second goal for Town, both of which outstanding strikes from distance and both past his former West Ham teammate Bywater.
Fulop was called upon to make a further excellent stop down low from Craig Bellamy, but Town had taken control of proceedings for much of the second half, growing in confidence. That control was made complete in the closing minutes as Bullard fired home a free-kick from distance, aided by a deflection. Bullard was unfortunate not to complete a hat-trick in injury time, with Norris also going close, as Cardiffs threat had become non-existant.
It was a fine away result for Town, having survived in tricky conditions for much of the first half before finally running out comfortable winners. It marked Towns fifth successive victory over the Bluebirds, with the circumstances presumably leaving the Welshmen wondering if destiny was at play.
Whilst the teams reaction to their managers half-time jolt provided the foundation for victory, the result was ultimately defined by the performances of the goalkeeper and the star midfield turn. Whilst much was made before the game of the ability of Cardiffs front three to individually turn a match in their favour, this match simply emphasised the lack of such players in the Town line-up in recent years.
Where Bullard initially came into the side as a very good loan move to help the club in a tricky situation, focus has gradually swung towards the possibility of keeping the Hull City player permanently at Portman Road. Whilst the players’ current wage would put him far beyond the scope of Towns salary structure, it is becoming increasingly evident that the player is thoroughly enjoying his time at the club. And the feeling is mutual, as his impact on the side goes to demonstrate the level of quality which might be required for Town to finally find an exit route from the Championship.
However, all of this is but conjecture at this point, with Towns status in the Championship for next season yet to be rubber-stamped. After this win, the side move to within two wins of the fifty point mark generally felt to represent safety. Tuesday evening brings an opportunity to halve that total with the visit of Reading to Portman Road, fresh from a thumping home victory over Middlesbrough.
Yet, if Bullard continues to maintain his level of impact, discussions over his future, and those of the other out-of-contract players, may well be quickly accelerated.

Ipswich 1 Hull City 1

Often in football, match commentaries refer to the “luck of the irish”.
On Saturday, Paul Jewell certainly had the luck of the irish on his side, but it was of the misfortunate kind, as he shared the sort of luck his irish predecessor would have empathised with.
Just under three months ago, Ipswich completely dominated a home match with Swansea City, even taking the lead, before two quick fire goals from the Swans turned the match on its head, leaving fans and manager somewhat bemused. On this occasion, the managers may have changed, but the sense of injustice was the same.
Speaking to the BBC after the match, Paul Jewell spoke of his frustration “If it was a boxing match they’d have called it off at half-time. That’s why this game drives you crazy, because it’s all about sticking the ball in the net.
“The way we cut them open at times was a joy to watch and we were thinking that, if we got one, it could be any score. But in any game, if you don’t take your chances, if you’ve got someone on the ropes and they swing a wild left hook and it knocks you out, you lose the fight.”
Paul Jewell continued his minimalist approach to team selection, making just the one change from the promising display at QPR. The injured Colin Healy was always destined to drop out, but the manager sprung a surprise in re-introducing David Norris to his starting eleven, the captain recovering from injury ahead of schedule.
Town started the match in positive fashion, and began creating the parade of chances which characterised the first half. The impressive Lee Martin found space to exploit former Ipswich man Herman Hreidarsson, returning to Portman Road for the visitors, again and again picking out team mates from the touchline with unerring accuracy.
When Martin found his route blocked, so Carlos Edwards overlapped him, or drifted inside in the manner which has come to define his spell at right-back.
Gareth McAuley felt himself to be unlucky, as teammate Jason Scotland managed to get in the way of a seemingly goal-bound header, inevitably from a Bullard corner. Scotland himself spurned a near post effort having been expertly fed by Edwards from the wing.
Perhaps the most glaring of misses fell to Connor Wickham who somehow contrived to head wide following an excellent Norris run and cross, the young forward perhaps fearing for his own safety as the goal post loomed large in front of him.
On reaching the half time whistle, the Town side were met with applause from a set of fans who, for the third successive match, had seen their side produce a positive display that had only lacked the deserved goals.
The second half began in similar style, with further chances falling to Scotland and Wickham. Inevitably though, with the Portsmouth defence the only one threatening to be breached, it was Town who conceded, David Norris misjudging a cross before failing to shut down David Nugent, the Pompey forward smashing the ball low into the net.
With the pattern of the play disrupted, Town tried to recover their momentum, but even a double substitution, unheard of under Jewells Ipswich management, was of no aid. With ten minutes remaining a poor sliced clearance from Marton Fulop resulted in Nugent supplying Cotterill to add a second and decisive goal.
A late chance for substitute Tamas Priskin only served to demonstrate that the Hungarian isn’t necessarily the required goal poacher either.
After such a positive performance through much of the first hour, it would be of some concern for Paul Jewell to find himself with no points as reward. It completed a series of three matches in which Town have dominated in each, before falling to goals late in the game which have left them with just a solitary point to show for their endeavours.
Whilst Jewell was understandably delighted with the progress being made at the club, it left him echoing the thoughts of Roy Keane, a manager who ultimately saw his Town career come to an end as a result of his sides inability to kill off the opposition.
“When you go in 0-0 at half-time when you should be three or four up, you start to wonder whether it’s going to be your day. Today we made actual chances, and not just half-chances, gilt-edged chances.
“You can blame luck, you can blame whatever you want, but you’ve got to make your own luck over the season.”
As Town go to Cardiff for Saturdays televised match, Jewell will find an opposition side with the striking riches to capitalise on the kind of opportunities his own side have been creating. It will require a new found ruthlessness from somewhere if Town are to return from the Principality with any points.

Early Jewells

Having started his Ipswich Town managerial career where the previous manager had left off, with a defeat, it would have taken a brave Ipswich fan to predict that it would need the league leaders to inflict Paul Jewells second defeat, some seven matches later.
Whilst a two goal defeat at the hands of QPR would have been entirely predictable a month ago, the circumstances leading up to the match meant that many Town fans had genuine belief that their side would be able to test the champions-elect.
As it was, a two-goal defeat told anything but the story. Town played with a verve and confidence that has been rapidly restoring itself in recent weeks, dominating the play for much of the first half and only finally coming undone in the latter moments of the game.
Jewell has coaxed improvement from varying areas of the Town side, but it remains that the improvement that continues to be of most influence comes from an external source. Fresh from sitting out Saturdays match with parent-club Hull City, on-loan Jimmy Bullard was the outstanding performer against a QPR midfield that seems inevitably poised to perform in the premiership next season. Increasingly, Bullard suggests that it is a level he belongs at also.
As well as performing on an individual basis, Bullards metronomic passing appears to have instilled confidence in teammates who, only a matter of weeks earlier, were anxious and hurried in possession.
All over the pitch, players seem confident to take an extra touch, find a teammate, search out a forward run and generally become more productive with the ball at their feet. But that is not entirely down to Bullard; it is down to a team shape and framework that essentially suits the personnel. David Norris, Carlos Edwards and Connor Wickham have shown the biggest improvements in the last month, yet are all playing in new roles for the team which, whilst different in name, have allowed them to play to their strengths without restricting others.
To name those three deliberately ignores one player who has transformed his career most dramatically. It is impossible to talk about improvement when referring to a player who simply hadn’t played a first team game for Ipswich Town this season. Yet Lee Martin is perhaps the perfect embodiment of the changes which Paul Jewell has brought to the football club. In looking to add creativity to the Town midfield, Jewell turned to a player that Roy Keane had seemingly disregarded. Within a month, Martin has blossomed as a result of the trust placed in him by a manager who has picked him in every single match since his arrival.
To that end, Martin also becomes the perfect example when re-assessing the Roy Keane era. With each passing performance, Keanes reputation for working with the players at his disposal grows unavoidably weaker. Yet, by the same token, with each passing performance, Keanes dealings in the transfer market become retrospectively stronger. The signings of Damien Delaney, Tamas Priskin, Mark Kennedy and Martin have all come under heavy criticism from fans at one point or other for being failures, yet all have gradually proved those opinions to be hasty. Even Colin Healy, discounted in transfer value as much as he was discounted by Town fans, has proved himself to be a very able performer at Championship level.
Yet, Healys transfer fee was a rare exception under Roy Keanes management. Jewell has quickly set about re-instating a scouting network that had been slowly dismantled over a period of years, appointing former Derby and Wigan Chief Scout, David Hamilton, to his staff. As if to emphasise the wider transfer policy, the performance of Andy Drury on his full Ipswich debut, replacing Bullard against Hull City, served notice that Jewells ability to spot players at lower league level, or non-league in Drurys case, is undiminished.
Yet there is still plenty of work to be done. In the last four matches, Town have allowed a very familiar failing to re-emerge as, once again, late goals have robbed the side of points which the rest of the match had deserved. It is an issue which Roy Keane strived to rid the side of, but which may only truly resolve itself with the kind of experience and know-how which Keane was desperate to bring into the club.
Equally, the new manager has found similar complaint in the inability of the side to produce the goals, and therefore wins, which the approach play has merited. Jewells ill-fated attempt to sign Charlie Austin, alongside his stated desire to play with two strikers when personnel allows, indicates that he shares his previous incumbents concern at the lack of firepower.
However, whilst no Town fan would have predicted a six-match unbeaten run so soon in Jewells Ipswich career, they equally wouldn’t have predicted all Towns ills to have been conquered in such a short space of time either. As it is, they have seen a series of bright and cohesive team performances, which is more than sufficient for most at this stage.

Doncaster Rovers 0 Ipswich 6

For the second time in three matches, the headlines were stolen by Ipswich Towns prodigious 17 year old talent.
Following on from the wonder goal at home to Sheffield United that brought him firmly to the attention of the press, Connor Wickhams reputation grows ever quicker with his first professional hat trick.
Two classy finishes were added to by a late penalty, as Wickham made good on a half-time promise to his manager. Paul Jewell told the BBC after the match “I said to him at half-time, ‘go out and get another goal’ and he said ‘I think I’ll get two more’, and he’s been proved right.
“Obviously, he’s going to get all the headlines, but it’s not just a team effort, it’s a squad effort.”
Jewells Ipswich career so far has been marked by his willingness to retain the same starting eleven, so seeing two changes on the teamsheet was effectively a squad rotation. Jason Scotland replaced Tamas Priskin up front, with the Hungarian perhaps still feeling the effects of the previous weeks international trip to Dubai. Meanwhile, the injured David Norris was replaced by Colin Healy, the Irishman having been unfortunate to lose his place in the side after some excellent performances in the first few games of Jewells reign.
After a strong Town start, with the blues forcing most of the early opportunities, they finally opened the scoring just before the half hour mark, as Rovers Sam Hird managed to send a looping header over his own goalkeeper.
It sparked the goal rush for Town and, before the half was complete, an excellent first time pass from Lee Martin had set up Colin Healy to drill home his first ever goal for Ipswich, before Connor Wickham got in on the act, firing home emphatically after Healy had this time seen his effort saved by Woods in the Doncaster goal.
Town sat on their lead for the early part of the second half but after an hour, Wickham had chested down a Bullard corner and volleyed into the net for his second. Shortly afterwards, McAuley flicked on Bullards free kick into the net and it was five.
All that remained of a match which had become a parade, was for Wickham to collect the match ball, which he duly managed when slotting home the late penalty which his own endeavours had won.
Whilst Wickham takes the majority of the plaudits, in a result of such dominance there were excellent performances all over the pitch. Lee Martin again excelled, despite being substituted for the last thirty minutes, whilst Colin Healy revelled in his return to the side. Even between the posts, Martin Fulop made some fine stops to help preserve the clean sheet.
It was a match where the extended squad was able to get an opportunity; adding to the changes to the starting line-up, the match saw Andy Drury making his first ever appearance in a blue shirt from the subs bench, whilst there was also an opportunity for Jaime Peters to make his first real impression in front of Jewell.
The manager was keen to speak of the need to develop a squad, rather than a first eleven, something which will become increasingly important in the coming weeks. “It’s a team and squad effort that we’re trying to promote here, but within that there will be individuals who get headlines. But we win as one and we lose as one. You saw the effort and workrate that Colin (Healy) has put in today; thats why I said the squad is important”.
Without the ineligible Jimmy Bullard and the injured David Norris, Saturdays match with Hull leaves Town short of midfield numbers. Yet, embracing that very squad dynamic, Town are not without options, with Healy and Peters both demonstrating they are capable of stepping into the first team.
But, with five goals in his last five appearances, the one player who wont be giving up his position any time soon is Connor Wickham.

Barnsley 1 Ipswich 1

On a day when Town stretched their unbeaten League run to four, with a creditable draw away from home to a mid-table side, Ipswich supporters filing out of Oakwell at the final whistle felt as if they had suffered the first set back of the Paul Jewell era.
With eighty minutes of the match completed, a scoreless draw would have been seen as a further indication of progress under the new manager. Having then taken the lead through Jason Scotland, to concede an injury time equaliser left a feeling of frustration as Town evoked memories of their previous trip to Barnsley, to a time where conceding last minute goals was common-place.
Speaking to the BBC after the game, Manager Paul Jewell echoed that frustration “It feels like a defeat when you concede a goal that late, and in the manner that it was conceded; with a deflection. It’s difficult to come out and be positive, because you feel so sick.”
For the third successive match, Paul Jewell named an unchanged starting line-up, aswell as an unchanged bench. It meant a fourth start in four matches for the rejuvenated Lee Martin and another spell on the bench for Jason Scotland who, earlier in the week, had expressed a desire to move, with his first team opportunities appearing limited.
There was a further similarity with the previous match, with conditions again having an impact on the manner in which the game could be played. Whereas last weeks Portman Road breeze presented problems, this week it was the condition of the Oakwell pitch, resembling something more suited to Rugby. Contrary perhaps to Cesc Fabregas opinion, they were conditions which did not suit Town.
There were little in the way of first half chances, with Fulop being required to make smart stops from Nouble and, in particular, Gary O’Connor. At the other end, Priskin headed into the net, only to be denied by a linesmans flag signalling the ball had already left play before Damien Delaney had cut the ball back.
However, the most noteworthy action of the first half, from a Town perspective, occurred away from either goal, as David Norris was forced to leave the pitch with heavy strapping to both his knee and ankle after falling awkwardly following an early challenge. Paul Jewell will be anxiously awaiting the results of what looks likely to keep the captain out of action for the next week or so at the least.
The second half was improved in terms of opportunities, if not the quality of football, with both sides creating chances. The best of them for Ipswich had fallen to Connor Wickham, the starlet miscuing his shot, having been found in space inside the box following a dummy by Colin Healy, on the pitch for the injured Norris.
Barnsley had generally looked the most likely scorers, with Fulop having a dominant performance in Towns goal but, as a draw was seeming increasingly likely, Lee Martin broke away and saw his shot saved by Steele in the Barnsley goal, only for Scotland to follow up and side-foot the rebound into the net.
It was a moment of redemption for the Trinidad and Tobago forward, with his first meaningful contribution under the new manager and his first ever goal for Ipswich away from Portman Road.
However, it was not to be the final act as, after a few late scares, Mellis finally found the back of the net as his powerful drive was deflected past Fulop by Leadbitters boot. It was a disappointing end to the match for Town, but resulted in a scoreline that was perhaps reflective of the overall match.
In a style of game which offered little of real insight into the progress of Paul Jewells Ipswich, the attention perhaps falls onto the Blues goalscorer, Jason Scotland. Having endured a week in the spotlight, when a proposed loan move back to his old club Swansea resulted in much public discussion between both clubs and the player himself, it was perhaps inevitable that the week would end with a positive contribution on the pitch.
Scotland has found himself increasingly withdrawn from the action over a period of months. He had become progressively less involved towards the end of Roy Keanes tenure, and Paul Jewell has thus far offered little improvement on that. The upturn in fortunes under Jewell, without Scotlands involvement, suggests little opportunity for change and, having spent the best part of a season with precious little match action at Wigan, the striker is clearly anxious to avoid a repeat.
Yet, the lone forward, employed in each match by Paul Jewell so far, is clearly a role which Scotland lacks the mobility to perform successfully. His best chance of success at Town would appear to be in cameo roles late in the match, as his ability to find the net when fed the ball to feet is not in question. However, that would seem to be a role which will only please one party, making Scotlands eventual departure, even if not before the end of the season, somewhat inevitable.
Conveniently for travel purposes, Towns re-arranged game against Doncaster falls on Tuesday, just days after this trip to Yorkshire. Unconveniently, with such short recovery time, it would seem extremely unlikely that they will be able to name an unchanged side on that occasion, the skipper likely to be missing.
With Doncaster struggling currently, it would seem a good opportunity to record a second away win under Jewell, although most fans would probably settle for a draw, provided it didn’t arrive in such heart-breaking circumstances as this one.