Town boss Paul Jewell says he doesn’t want the heavy defeats to Norwich and Swansea to detract too much from what has generally been a decent first three months at Portman Road. The Blues play their final home game of the season against already-relegated Preston North End on Saturday.

Jewell said: “We’ve got to be careful that we don’t let the last two games spoil what’s been a decent run for us. Obviously it’s been a disappointing season for the fans, again finishing in mid-table, but we’d have taken that in January.

“I think if we needed to win this game to make sure we stayed in the league we’d probably have 30,000 here, and if we won the game we’d be cheered off and everyone would think that everything is rosy in the garden.

“The lads have done it the other way around really — we’ve secured safety early and obviously the last two games have been a huge disappointment for everybody, fans, players and management alike.”

The Town boss says it’s important to take the longer view rather than focusing on the last two matches: “It’s difficult but at the end of the day we’ve got to look at the bigger picture.

“We’d love to send the fans home on Saturday with a positive result and get them looking forward to this season and hopefully the signings we’re going to make over the summer will give them optimism for next season.

“In the last home game of the season we want to get a result for the fans as much as anything,” he said.

Jewell feels the games against Norwich and Swansea highlighted weaknesses in his squad of which he was already well aware, even during the more positive results which preceded them: “I’ve been saying all along not to get carried away — we’re doing great but it’s a long-term plan and I’m not going to turn it around in two minutes.

“The lads have done fine but the last two games against teams in the top six have just exposed us a bit more than maybe some people thought.”

The Town boss says it’s difficult to tell how Preston’s relegation a week ago will affect them on Saturday: “It can work both ways. They can come here feeling sorry for themselves but knowing Phil Brown really well, he’ll have them upbeat and looking forward to next season.

"The one thing Phil Brown is is enthusiastic and I’m sure his team will be exactly the same.”

Town will definitely be without defenders Gareth McAuley (torn groin muscle) and Darren O’Dea (ankle), who is out for the season, which is likely to see Troy Brown come in at centre-half and Mark Kennedy start at left-back, having returned to the side as a sub after his hamstring problem on Monday.

Carlos Edwards should continue at right-back with Damien Delaney in his usual left-sided central defensive role.

Young left-back Joe Whight could be in line for a debut at some stage but more likely as a sub rather than a starter.

Despite the injuries, Jewell says he has decided against recalling Tommy Smith from his loan at Colchester. Tom Eastman will probably to be added to the bench as central defensive cover.

In goal, the Blues boss will have to decide whether to stick with Arran Lee-Barrett, the subject of criticism after the two heavy defeats, or switch to one of his other keepers.

Brian Murphy is yet to play under Jewell’s management and could come into the side unless the Irishman isn’t considered ready after his long spell out with a broken ankle. Márton Fülöp could also come into the reckoning.

In central midfield, Colin Healy will continue in Jimmy Bullard’s place if the on-loan Hull man isn’t over his knee problem.

The Blues are still without Lee Martin, who completes his three-match suspension, while Connor Wickham is a doubt with a rib problem. Andy Drury is Wickham’s most likely deputy if he misses out with Shane O’Connor and Jaime Peters outsiders for the left midfield position.

Josh Carson will be on the right with Jason Scotland almost certainly continuing up front on his own. Ronan Murray may play some part from the bench.

January Town target Sean St Ledger and fellow defenders Conor McLaughlin and David Gray are long-term absentees, while Bongani Khumalo broke a foot and Leon Cort damaged his hamstring over Easter, leaving Craig Morgan as the only remaining fit centre-half. Striker Iain Hume has a bad cut on his leg but is likely to play in what's likely to be a young side.

Manager Phil Brown says his team will be looking to finish positively despite Monday’s defeat at Cardiff confirming their relegation: “We’ve got to approach these last two games with pride. There’s nothing else to play for but pride and six points.

“I want the lads to put some pride back in the shirt. We know we are relegated but we want to finish the season on something of a high.

“Next season we want to hit the ground running and two good performances would help us do that.”

The Blues have a poor record against Preston historically, winning eight games (seven in the league), drawing seven (seven) and losing 12 (11). North End have won one of their last 16 away games but are unbeaten in their most recent six fixtures against Town, winning four, and have won three of their last five matches at Portman Road.

In December at Deepdale, Iain Hume’s second half goal was enough to consign Town to their sixth successive league defeat and heap even more pressure on then-boss Roy Keane.

The Blues were the better side in the first half but failed to take their chances with Jason Scotland and full debutant Rory Fallon both missing opportunities.

Last season’s game at Portman Road ended 1-1 with Ross Wallace netting for Preston and Jon Walters for the Blues. Callum Davidson was sent off just before the break.

Tamás Priskin, who is back with the Blues after his loan at Swansea was curtailed by a knee injury, spent March and early April 2008 on loan at Deepdale when a Watford player, scoring two goals in four starts and one sub appearance.

Former Blue Wayne Brown moved to Preston from Leicester in the summer and is the only ex-Town player in Phil Brown’s squad, although one-time Blues loanee David Unsworth is the Lilywhites’ first team coach.

Saturday’s referee is Kevin Wright from Cambridgeshire, who has shown 74 yellow and five red cards in 24 games so far this season. Wright’s most recent Town match was the 2-0 defeat at QPR in February when he booked only Mark Kennedy.

Squad from: Lee-Barrett, Murphy, Fülöp, Edwards, Kennedy, Whight, Delaney, Brown, Eastman, Bullard, Leadbitter, Norris, Healy, Peters, Hyam, Carson, Wickham, Drury, Civelli, O’Connor, Scotland, Murray.

Photo: Action Images

tractorboybig added 14:33 - Apr 29 Paul, What do you mean? These defeats make it a crap run, or are you saying we only take note of wins? Conceeding 9 in two games would suggest that all is far from right.
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arc added 15:04 - Apr 29 Absolutely right. I mean, not including draws and losses, we still have a 100% record this year. Good news.
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SouperJim added 15:12 - Apr 29 1.55 points per game under Jewell, which is just about playoff form. Thats what he's talking about.
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Surco72 added 15:17 - Apr 29 Perhaps he is talking about the run which has taken us from 3 points from relegation when he took over to 18 points from relegation ,amassing more points than under Keane in less than half the season and games ? Wait until he has his own team rather than the shambles he was left after the summer and we will see a greater improvement again
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WREXHAM_BLUE added 16:27 - Apr 29 Indeed to the last two posters (SouperJim/Surco72). I think it's pretty obvious what he means. He's lookin at the bigger picture and presumably seeing the glass as half full!
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das_bones added 16:28 - Apr 29 Lets get this horrible season out of the way and look foward to a busy summer,transfer wise. Ship out the sh1t, get in some decent hungary players who want to put the mighty Ipswich shirt on!!! COYB!!!
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Lamby95 added 16:45 - Apr 29 “I think if we needed to win this game to make sure we stayed in the league we'd probably have 30,000 here, and if we won the game we'd be cheered off and everyone would think that everything is rosy in the garden. Obviously hasn't been around long enough to know how fickle our fans are. We'd get half that of we were facing relegation.
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:31 - Apr 29 given the state of things when PJ took over ,i m pleased with things ,as far as moving away from relegation was concerened.Still need a lot of work and changes if we are to achieve anything next season,but lets see what happens in summer.Well done PJ
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Mark added 18:08 - Apr 29 Jewell took over a side of awful Keane signings that were 20th after the Millwall match, about 3 points away from the relegation zone and heading down fast. He has turned it around and taken us up to 13th, 18 points away from relegation. Yes the last two results were disappointing, but let's not forget the two wins over Doncaster including 6-0 away, the great win at Derby (when do we win there?), the 3-0 thrashing of Sheff Utd, the superb 2-0 win at Cardiff, the great 2-1 at Burnley, the 10-man win at Bristol City, and home wins over Scunthorpe and Palace. Our form is roughly that of a play-off side, with the bad Keane signings, so I am optimistic we can have a good season with some Jewell signings.

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GeorgiDoundarov added 18:38 - Apr 29 Overall I can agree with PJ that ever since he came in we got these 1.55pts per game which is almost OK - still with 71pts you are not in the top 6. But again he was just dealing with "leftovers" from the Keane era. Yes - 9 goals in 2 games is for sure not a good sign but these last two games were not critical (apart of the derby thing) so my approach to PJ will be - just let him be and see what are these "summer signings" he is talking about and more importantly how these signings will fit into the team. If he gets the right players and fix the gaps (some very big ones I would say too) we had during this season and make us top 6 next season I would say "great job" and congratulate the man. As some of you may know he was never my top choice as a manager but I would be more than happy if he proves me wrong!!!

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Worcester added 18:45 - Apr 29 well said PJ. We must be fighting for that top six next season
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fourth added 19:07 - Apr 29 Well I think that the past 2 matches have really chased away most of the talent. Signing J Bullard would change the whole scene. But it doesn't seem likely. So we're looking at a 5 year rebuild costing a LOT of money and a drop to a level we've never known over the past 50 years.
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pazelle added 19:52 - Apr 29 Can't wait to see or squad for August! So much trash to get rid of first! Keep: Fulop, Edwards, McAuley, Smith, Eastman, Martin, Carson, Bullard, Peters, Hyam, Wickham, Priskin, Brown, O'Connor, Civelli Sack: Norris, Delaney, Kennedy, Healy, Quinn, ALB, Leadbitter and especially Scotland!
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MoscowBluesSon added 20:44 - Apr 29 Mark, we have won the last 3 games away to Derby
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Garv added 22:00 - Apr 29 Too fookin right!
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denhamblue added 22:19 - Apr 29 busy transfer .um i wouldnt bet on it.
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Gazelle added 23:13 - Apr 29 Four games without defeat and we're the greatest thing since sliced bread. Two defeats on the bounce and there's an inquest. Some people are a little short of grey areas.
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DiamondGezzer added 06:26 - Apr 30 Gazelle :- I make you right. The doom and gloom of some posters is enough to make you want to commit suicide. Wait until Paul Jewell has his new players, his team and see what happens.
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ozzydog added 07:14 - Apr 30 BlueArmy15 you insult Town fans who have remained very loyal after suffering nearly a decade of complete cr5p, underachievment and scandoulous ticket prices I can guarantee you that if ITFC needed the points to avoid relegation there would be 30000 in the ground
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budgieplucker added 09:39 - Apr 30 Yes PJ has done more than a decent job, which should give us optimism for next year. I think the budgies have shown that a team can be put together that can fly high in this Division without spending the earth. But lets not kid ourselves, Preston have been top six in recent years and look at the ex-premiership clubs that have slipped into the third tier. A good start to the new season is crucial, today's match can play a role in that. However why do I somehow feel it will be a meaningless match with Scotland upfront on his own and out of contract players who might not be here next season going through the motions. We often here the moans about the poor combination league not giving our reserves the challenge and opportunity they need to progress. I therefore, would like to be surprised by today's line-up.

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nickforeveritfc added 11:07 - Apr 30 yes we had a great run once jewell was appointed manager and everyone has forgoten about that just because we lost to the N***ich and swansea. we know our team needs some better players and maybe some more proud players but there are only two games left of the season and i think we should enjoy them and get behind or team till the end!! I am really looking forward to signing some new players because i am more than bored to see ipswich finish mid table for the past ten years, and i think PJ is a great manager with some really good ideas!

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emergencylime added 13:03 - Apr 30 The confidence that flowed through the team following PJs appointment has been overshadowed by increasing uncertainty surrounding contracts. Not knowing who will be in the team next season will affect some players, as shown in the last two games against teams admittedly showing the compound desire that is understandably found wanting when several near-completed contracts of established team members have been allowed to go unresolved. Here's to an exciting summer of strengthening.

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TimmyH added 15:23 - Apr 30 Or an exciting summer of weakening further - we'll see just how good PJ is in the transfer market, one things for sure he won't be as bad as Keane!
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Jesney_Havoc added 18:55 - Apr 30 Oh yes they should ! Our worst Derby performance for 60 years ! ...Current form means nothing, yadda yadda yadda. I feel such a mug !
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