Town manager Paul Jewell was delighted to get his first Blues win under his belt as goals from David Norris, Connor Wickham and Carlos Edwards saw his side to a 3-2 victory over Doncaster Rovers at Portman Road.

Jewell said: “I’m delighted with the result. Given the situation we’re in, we needed the three points. As for the performance, in the first half we were edgy, so I said to them at half-time to try and have that belief.

“It’s easy for me to say that, it’s easy for people to say ‘Have confidence’, but I think they showed great character - they came out for the second half and were on the front foot. We changed our system a little bit because they’re a good team Doncaster, they are as good a footballing side as there is in this division, terrifically coached by their manager.”

The Town manager felt his team, who are up to 19th in the table, reacted well to Doncaster’s second goal: “We went 2-1 up, created a few chances, but they’re always going to be a threat with the likes of Billy Sharp and James Coppinger and the kick in the teeth was when they equalised after 10 seconds.

“You could see the players’ character, heads might easily have gone down, but they took the bull by the horns, kicked on and got a great victory.”

Jewell said his players grew in confidence as the game wore on: “At half-time I said to then to have that belief in yourselves. We were having an extra touch in the first half, which happens when you’re down the bottom, every manager will say the same. The game looks difficult for you.

“Second half, they played with great freedom. It’s easy for me to say that, but I think it’s all down to the players.”

The Blues boss says getting the first win of his time at Portman Road is important: “It’s nice and you can feel the confidence within the club, not just the players but also the supporters.

“But it’s only one game, we’ve got to go to Arsenal on Tuesday and then Derby a week on Tuesday. It’s just a start, but I want the players to take the credit and take the positives from today and what we’ve learnt that we can do better into the game on Tuesday.”

Asked if and when there could be additions to his squad, Jewell said: “I would think so this week.”

Doncaster manager Sean O’Driscoll felt the result and performance was a microcosm of his side’s campaign so far: “It’s been the story of our season. If the season stopped at 45 minutes we’d be top of the league and on the second half we’d probably be near the bottom.

“Despite the [5-0] scoreline at Wolves [in the FA Cup in midweek], we thought we did OK, we just let poor goals in, but we continue to let poor goals in and it was the same pattern here today — we were OK until we conceded the goal.

“It wasn’t even a goal which put the opposition ahead, it was a goal which put Ipswich back in the contest, but from that moment on the control we had in the first half disappeared and then it was almost ‘flick of the coin football’; we might get into it, we might not.

“We’re not a physical team, so if we have to rely on thumping the ball forward or long throws or corners or freekicks, then we’re going to struggle. We need control, sometimes control of the football is a little bit different to passing it, it’s just being under pressure, being nice and organised and disciplined, which were in the first half.

“Second half, any ball forward it looked like they were going to score, which you can’t quite comprehend to be honest, although we’ve had defensive frailties all season.”

Photo: Action Images

JayT added 21:09 - Jan 22 Great game ... for once we played well ( in the second half) and deserved our goals..... cant wait for the football league show XD
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arc added 21:10 - Jan 22 And a team with only one loaner in it. Maybe sanity is returning in all sorts of ways.
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bobble added 21:30 - Jan 22 ..worts of says ... no it was the bland boring deadwood nothing sanity of a corkman who took us down to this level .we need more insanity for this club to rise up again vote 1 INSANITY..SANE IS LAME
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Paul_Jewell_Manager added 21:44 - Jan 22 Great result! Great to see Lee Martin in such great form! COYB COYB COYB!!
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martleshamitfc added 22:00 - Jan 22 Poor 1st half and lucky not to be 2 or 3 down,must have been a great team talk at half time as superb 2nd half, even shooting from long range, Carlos Edwards had a great game but we still need a right back (caught napping in last minute that could have cost us dearly) and hope to see two new faces in the squad this week to freshen things up and push on. The crowd played their part in the 2nd half too, only 17k which was disappointing but understandable at this time of year, just seems to be so much more excitement around PR again , thanks Mr Jewell , think good times are just around the corner.

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pitseablue added 22:26 - Jan 22 Well done lads. Thought we were out of it at half-time, how wrong can you be!!! C.O.Y.B.!!!!!!!!!
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yorksblue added 22:28 - Jan 22 At last we have beaten a bogey side. Now let's have a crack at some others like Watford, Preston, Barnsley etc.
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zebra added 22:39 - Jan 22 Early days I concede - but the more I see of PJ the more I'm warming to him. No knee jerk substitutions - in fact none at all. 'Man management' as opposed to 'fear management'. And well done Connor - first goal of many I think for the rest of the season. Happy Happy Happy COYB
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tractorblue99 added 23:24 - Jan 22 Costadelblue- charlie austin is a striker who plays for swindon. My mate, whos a swindon fan, rates him very highly.
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wellyblue added 23:36 - Jan 22 @ eye_tea_eff_sea...i stand corrected, your right, apologies... still happy tho'!!!! COYB FOYB!!
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moomoosereni added 23:47 - Jan 22 Was working today but managed to catch the second half on the radio on the drive home. Whilst Radio Suffolk don't always reflect exactly what is going on in the game it sounded like we were a touch naive and frail at the back? Can anyone clarify? Beattie didn't sound happy at times, but that's Beattie for you! But was almost like listening to the days of Royle being in charge. The "We'll score more than the oppo regardless of our defending." A refreshing change and shows that Jewell clearly just told his players he believed in them, something Keane probably never said or did. COYB, can't wait for Tues win, lose or draw!

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bkd added 00:13 - Jan 23 Can someone tell me what happend to the music when we score?
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ErikaTractor added 01:36 - Jan 23 moomoosereni We were a bit fragile at times and Beatties comments make sense. First half was back to our worst but 2nd half the tactics changed and they put in a good attacking performance. On the balance of play a 3-3 draw would have been a fairer result than a win to us. Norris and Martin were superb, perhaps 1 of Norris' last games for us? The thought of him leaving brings me to tears.

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KnightZ_87 added 02:27 - Jan 23 Lets hope we can build on this now. Be a shame if Norris goes, hes a good player and if the rumours about him going to pompey are true, then it would be silly move for him. I think the more important person to get sorted is Macca. He looked solid today. Nice to see a few half decent corners today - What was the verdict on Martins return?
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bluelady added 08:18 - Jan 23 Knitz have to say I think big MAC hasn't been at his best last game or too to me a bit of passion has gone from his game
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GiveusaWave added 08:33 - Jan 23 3 points in the bag. Noticeably the teams below us did badly yesterday too
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hogster1970 added 08:59 - Jan 23 yes very poor first half, mind you made a refreshing change to see our wide players eg norris and martin out wide and in space, the main prob was at times when they had acres of space no one passed him the ball which need addressing, leadbitter guilty on several chances to pass the ball. how ever a good pep talk sorted things out and they all played well, esp norris priskin whickam, healey done well but think he needs changing to some more flare players though, and personally disapointed not to see poor jamie not on the pitch. and yes whats that i didnt see no subs lol, didnt need them so why bother, how ever in the final 10 i would have taken priskin of for scotland and norris for peters as i didnt want them to get booked and be stuffed for the arsenal match but they survived. so well done town and cant wait for the trip to the emeriates win loos or draw its going to be 9K party what ever the result.

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Wickets added 09:05 - Jan 23 No mention of the pass of the season ? !! Healys cross for our second goal, i've said it before but as he is the only passing midfield player at the club, we must play him till we get a better one.Lets hope we add a creative midfield player to our squad this week and full backs! Well done lads much better second half.
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stoofer added 09:16 - Jan 23 shocking first half we could have been dead and buried,but great character to come back with that second half performance,maybe a couple of signings this week,i`m hoping for someone with some pace in any position it makes a difference and it gets bums off seats
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bluearmy4life added 09:34 - Jan 23 What a game of two halves! Great charactor to come back and lead the game the way we did. Let's hope this win can be the start of a decent run for us. Well done PJ & THE BLUE BOYS.
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Worcester added 15:08 - Jan 23 ...another word from the table watching dreamer (I make no appology for it) two games W1 D0 L1 11W and 7D to go and we will be in the promised land.... I know, I'm sorry but let me dream eh?
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Back_The_Boss added 15:18 - Jan 23 Great win, lets go to the Emirates and get a result now!
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