Boss Paul Jewell said his side needs to find a level of consistency having followed Saturday’s battling 0-0 draw at Leeds with last night’s disappointing 3-0 home defeat to Watford. The Town manager says too many of his players are hiding when things go against them.

Jewell said: “Inconsistency equals where we are in the table because most of the consistent teams will be in the higher echelons of the league.

“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 too much. We’ve got to get a level of consistency that’s acceptable and the last [few home] games haven’t been acceptable, both the performances and the results.

“I always hate getting beaten but we lost against Portsmouth and played well, but against Reading we didn’t and against Watford, for all the huffing and puffing we did, what happens in the two boxes is what pays the rent.

“When you analyse why we lost the game, I think they’ve had two shots on target in the second half. I’m not saying they didn’t deserve to win, but between the boxes we’ve had plenty of the ball but when it goes in the box, have we got enough people who want to score a goal?

“The brutal answer is no and that puts a lot of pressure on the back four to stop goals and the manner of the goals we gave away [was poor], certainly the first one was a bit comical.”

The Blues boss says Town still have work to do to ensure Championship football next season: “We’ve got lots to do to improve to be where we want to be. I think we’re 12 points clear of the bottom three.

“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.

“When we’re not very good, we’ve got to be OK. That’s what teams that get success do — when they’re not at their best they still don’t lose games.”

Jewell will be looking to avoid a fourth successive home defeat when Scunthorpe are in Suffolk at the weekend: “We have to dust ourselves down, come back in in the morning and start again against Scunthorpe on Saturday.”

The Iron sacked manager Ian Baraclough this morning in the wake of last night’s 3-0 home defeat to fellow strugglers Preston. Assistant manager Kevin Pressman and first team coach Steve Parkin have also left Glanford Park. Youth coach Tony Daws has been named caretaker-manager.

Meanwhile, Town say that problems with the commentary on last night’s game on their Ipswich Player service was down to technical issues affecting Perform Group, who host their website and those of many other Football League sides, with other clubs also affected.

Photo: Action Images

devontractorboy added 11:16 - Mar 16 Paul you pick the team and the tactics/formation, you said you'd give everyone a chance, so for feck sake lets see Peters and O'connor coming in to give us some pace, we are such a slow team & PLEASE try to get a decent striker in on loan or get Murray back from Torquay, he's gotta be better than Scotland. Having said all that it must be frustrating for Jewell, one game good, the next crap with the same players.....kick arse Paul!!!!!

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bradforblues added 11:18 - Mar 16 OK PJ, we have already written this season off, we all know where our shortcomings are. It's your wheeling and dealing that will come under scrutiny for the start of next season. So, carry on and get them signings in !!
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Worcester added 11:22 - Mar 16 Now lets not over react eh? Most of the squad have not got a contract yet. Their minds are elsewhere. Some players will know we are safe now as the bottom sides are so poor and so have lost their motivation. All we need is 4 or 5 points from the next 9 games and they know it. They will probably win at Burnley :os
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MazzaCOYB added 11:28 - Mar 16 Really like what I am reading from PJ. On the pitch it is very poor at the moment and he knows it. Really looking forward to the summer as it is going to be massive. COYB
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bizman added 11:34 - Mar 16 Points that made me frustrated lastnight: 1) No one wanted the ball (apart from super Jimmy) 2) when a cross went in none of our attacking players actually attacked the ball in the area! -Thats why we are not scoring any goals 3) After a poor run of home form we played 4-5-1 again....fair enough! but when things went bad Jewell didnt change shape or tactics he just reolaced man for man. Why complain your not scoring when you dont play 2 upfront at home?!

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fourth added 11:36 - Mar 16 We are very poor at home. Quite good away This is clearly psychological Apart from the need to put together some goal scoring combinations
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hadleighboyblue added 11:40 - Mar 16 Worrcester Worrier you might be right , but these players are being paid bloody good money to play . 3 home defeats on the trot won't be doing season ticket sales any good , costing the club thousands . it's one thing to lose after giving it 100% , but last night was pathetic with some just going through the motions . PJ is spot on with his comments and I agree with bizman on all his comments & leadbitter is no motivator of players - he can't even motivate himself

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TractorRoyNo1 added 11:41 - Mar 16 bad results, bad performances, lack of effort / desire etc are down to the players and / or the management. sadly PJ is now getting the same returns as RK did, which rather points to the MAIN problem being the players (mostly bought by RK!) i still think we will stay up as the other teams are worse than us, but i look forward to PJ getting rid of 10-15 of the current squad in the summer and basically starting again, sadly this will involve 'cashing in' on Wickham, that said, playing him left midfield is STUPID, he did well in the first game against Vengers Vankers, but since then its been all down hill - can you imagine SBR playing Mariner or Shearer in that position?

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BlueBoots added 11:43 - Mar 16 I'd say 1 win from our last 7 games is actually pretty consistent...
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Gazelle added 11:47 - Mar 16 Bizman point 2 is spot on. Did you see the second Norwich goal against Bristol C, the bloke who scored it chased after the long punt from the keeper and never gave up as he shrugged off two defenders and scored. With our lot Scotland wouldn't have been quick enough and Priskin wouldn't have even bothered to chase it.
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dirtydingusmagee added 12:29 - Mar 16 Priskin would have missed anyway,if anyone needs to go to Spec Savers he do's .
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BlueVelvet added 12:40 - Mar 16 Well where do we go from here, shake em up I say. Fulop is a liability and needs to be shown that his place is not secure - bring in ALB, Priskin is just lazy - take him out of the squad, Edawards is better further up the park - bring in JP and Leadbitter has gone off the boil and I'd drop him this Sat and bring in Chuck. Dyer gave some telling facial expressions last night - as if to say, what the flip have I let myself in for with these donkeys around me

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Mark added 12:44 - Mar 16 What a horrible display, with mistakes, poor passing, nothing up front, and so many of Keane's buys returning to type (Priskin nothing, Scotland slow, Martin knocked off the ball easily, Leadbitter no way worth £2.7M - shown up by Bullard). Jewell has to sign two or three strikers in the summer so we never have to watch one-up-front at home again. For now, I would play Wickham up front with Scotland, as surely it is better to play Wickham in his preferred position rather than on the wing where he is clearly struggling. I think O'Connor and Peters may be worth a try too. On the bright side, if we can beat Scunthorpe on Saturday then we are virtually safe from relegation with eight games to go. I trust Jewell to do a good rebuilding job over the summer so we can challenge for the play-offs next season. Let's hope he is backed with the funds to do it, and that the season ticket support does not drop off too much.

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BlueVelvet added 12:49 - Mar 16 With nothing to play for and players not bothered, I'm wondering whether I can be bothered to take up my seat for the rest of the season - 17k or so last night, not good. Send a messaage to the players and more importantly ME by not going to games between now na dend of season?
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Fatboy added 12:53 - Mar 16 Spot on Gazelle. Some might say that Norwich have been lucky this season with the 16 points they have picked up in the dying minutes of games, but they only score because they keep going right to the final whistle. If you don't shoot, you definitely won't score. This season is over, so there's no point in bringing in an emergency loan striker for the run-in. I'd much rather Jewell put his mind to getting someone of real quality in over the Summer.

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cromwellblue added 13:11 - Mar 16 Basically we are not very good. Yes we have issues with striker performance but 1 up is no good. Priskin & Scotland are not that type of player. But the midfield cannot cope as a 4.That is the big problem!! 4 grannies on zimmers would be more effective. Their movement, touch, passing and delivery is awful. The midfield rarely gets up to and past the strikers. Much change needed. 21 out of contract is probably not such a bad thing

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JewellintheTown added 13:15 - Mar 16 Didnt get there myself but how was the atmosphere last night? Did that play any part - i.e. no noise, no chanting, booing etc? Were the crowd behind the team or pretty silent?
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stringtheory added 13:22 - Mar 16 Come on Cleggy - sort it out!
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SouperJim added 13:22 - Mar 16 I thought Wickham had a very poor game last night, but for gods sake, lets give him a chance up front. He can't possibly do any worse than Priskin and Scotland. How about Dyer just behind him, we know he can do that job well as he's done it for his country. O'Connor to come in on the left and I'd also have Hyam in for Leadbitter who has been absolute pony of late. Sparky had a terrible game, but coming back from injury I'm prepared to give him the benefit of the doubt. At least with one or two of the boys in the side we know we're going to get a bit of effort and desire. Most of the senior pros played like the season was already over last night and our performance 2nd half in particular was a disgrace. I'd be happy to see Peters in the team as he very rarely lets us down, I don't know where he would fit in however as both Edwards and Martin are doing a decent job in the scheme of things for us at the moment. Fulop's kicking was awful last night, but people really need to get off his back. He has kept us in games recently and anyone who thinks Murphy or ALB is in the same league as him doesn't know much about goalkeeping.

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BlueMoolay added 13:27 - Mar 16 My Starting 11.. 4-4-2 Fulop Peters,McAuley,Delaney,Kennedy O'Connor,Bullard,Norris,Martin Murray,Wickham
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cobbolds added 13:47 - Mar 16 Well we've certainly found some consistency at home. O'Connor in please and play Wickham up front.
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havinit69 added 13:59 - Mar 16 The last 2 home games have been an absolute JOKE! - No Passion, No Hunger, No Desire and most importanty... NO QUALITY !! Connor Wickham £15m ??! - Don't make me laugh... If we get offered £5m in the summer I say we take it without thinking twice. Grant Bedwetter is the weakest link in our midfield and can go, along with Scotland, Prickskin and Edwards. Marcus Evans must be regretting the day that he ever agreed to take over this club, players are just here for an easy ride and a pay day. Lee Martin lacked quality last night but at least he ran his nuts off, thats the least fans expect! The only players that deserve new contracts or deserve to be part of our 'challange' next season are MaCauly, Norris, Martin and very possibly Fulop and Delany, the rest may as well be bombed out and replaced with the youngsters until suitable signings are made. Look how well the scum are going by signing younger, hungrier players... Yet we always seem to go for journeymen looking for one last pay cheque !

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ArnieMsBigToe added 14:03 - Mar 16 I believe that the return of O'Connor would be a good idea. Also I agree that Peters very rarely lets us down. Unfortunately Keane wasted an awful amount of Wonga on Scotland and Priskin. A clear-out at the end of the season would most certainly be a good idea!! Interesting to note that Austin has yet to make an appearance for Burnley. They bought him and they don't even need him. (Yeah I know he's crocked at the mo.

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dugoutdave added 14:12 - Mar 16 Good afternoon everyone. Take the kids each and every home game and like most, started to feel upbeat when PJ came along. I can imagine his frustration at players inconsistency. However I know i am going to stick my head out but of all the players Fulop is a total liability .Ignore his supposed sparkling performances at Cardiff - a lot of that was luck- he is abysmal at corners flatfoted on the line and has a higher ratio of misdirected kicks than any other goalie I have every seen. His judgement on the flight of the ball is appaling - yesterday I saw him fling himself to his right to save something patently going way over. I think ALB should be offered his chance. Leadbitter isn't much better and should be dropped - sorry - rested I think is the expression- falls short or what we need in midfield and dont even get me started on Edwards. Agree with other Peters and Oconnor should be brought it

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DJ_Kesgrave added 14:31 - Mar 16 Dead cat bounce is officially over. Why did we sign a less than match fit player on loan for a month? Are we paying money for him to sit on our bench? What is the point of Ronan Murray going on loan? If you can't give him a chance btween now and the end of the season he isn't going to get a chance next season once we've bought our 25 goal a season saviour.
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