Town boss Paul Jewell admitted he was struggling for ways to describe how bad his side’s defending had been during their 5-2 home defeat to Southampton.

Jewell said: “I’m struggling for words really because some of the defending we’ve seen tonight, I don’t know where it’s come from. We look frightened to death, absolutely frightened to death.

“They looked like cutting us open all the time on the break. We defended desperately and looked frightened to death.

“We gave them too much space to play in, certainly in the first half, and once it goes to 3-2, you’re thinking we’ve shown a bit of character, the fans have given everything they’ve got, but then we gave a goal away.

“Defend as a team, attack as a team. People were running from midfield but once their forwards get the ball down and play, you’re always going to be susceptible to midfield runners. They’re playing under no pressure. It was like the Alamo at times with them running from midfield and we couldn’t deal with it.”

The Blues boss was disappointed that the second half fightback fizzled out: “It was a bit of a cameo performance, 20 minutes in 90 isn’t good enough. At 3-0 down at half-time we were looking down a barrel.

“We started the second half on the front foot but even on the fifth goal we’re trying to play little balls. There are not enough of us that want to do the ugly things in football.

“I’m sick and tired of telling certain players that when we’ve got the ball they’ve got to mark.”

Jewell says the difference in the mentality of the two teams was all too evident: “They’re full of confidence, we’re scared to death to play at home, you could see that in the first half.

“Why that is I don’t know because the crowd here are terrific. We get to 3-2, everything is going our way and then the bubble bursts and we end up collapsing.

“For 20 minutes you think we might get something out of the game but once it goes against us, it goes against us. We just don’t seem to be able to stop that tide.

“We don’t seem to be able to grind anything out for 10 or 15 minute periods in games. When the opposition are on top, they create opportunities. It’s very worrying. The Norwich game was very, very similar.

“Mentally, we can’t get over the fear of playing here. And we’ve got to do it because this is the best place to play, this our home ground. We’ve got too many people going across the line completely lacking confidence the moment."

The Town manager says the Blues' continuing bad form at Portman Road is getting to him: "We lost 10 games at home last year, we let in five goals against Norwich, we lose by five tonight. It really hurts me. I'm not sure it hurts some of the players enough. We'll have a look at that video tomorrow. It won't be nice watching."

Jewell says he’s hopeful that he can add to his squad before Saturday’s visit to Peterborough United, with two bids having been made last week.

Southampton boss Nigel Adkins was unsurprisingly happy: "The first half was very pleasing. We continued what we've been doing and that's playing fluid football with lots of movement.

"We had a goal threat throughout the game and to be three-up at half-time was excellent.

"Ipswich made a couple of changes and that made it a hell of a game. We had to work very hard to keep a grasp on it and we played some exceptional football.

"We've got a winning mentality but it's very important we keep our standards and principles high. We've got a group of players who are very honest and hard-working professionals. We give them a framework to express themselves.

"We're only in the first week of the season and lots of teams - ourselves included - will have aspirations. But it's going to be a very demanding campaign and we've got to keep our principles high.

"We've got to keep working hard and give our fantastic supporters plenty to cheer about - then we'll see where we are at Christmas."

Photo: Action Images

shoopdelang added 23:25 - Aug 16 To Pazelle: pipe down. 4-2-3-1 Is a formation that os played with wingers. Also you left Bowyer out of your proposed line up. And as for your mockery of "Roy Keane II" I feel that is harsh on Paul Jewell. He is trying to do the right things and has been unfortunate with the injury of Ingimarson. Most of you will no doubt disagree with me on this, however. I feel confident in Paul Jewell and the team. As soon as we get more defensive cover in we will be OK. Onwards and upwards!

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ErikaTractor added 23:27 - Aug 16 Delaney and Smith= The new Laurel and Hardy
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TownOnTheUp added 23:29 - Aug 16 Very, very, very angry tonight. Oh, and here's what JET had to say on Twitter: "Fumin *AngryFace* Going Straight To BED... Sorry To All The Fans We Will Fix This !!!!"
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stiffy501 added 23:31 - Aug 16 Cut the crap mr Jewell, everyone who looked at your starting line up was amazed !! saying you were going to play two up front which you did !! but then putting out the completely negative midfield with that was utterly pointless. Not positive at all !! You say the team are frightened to play at home, seems to me that your tactics suggest you were frightened of Southampton !! How about trying Kennedy at centre half instead of Smith. Stockwell Edwards Kennedy Delaney Cresswell Carson Bowyer Andrews Martin J E Thomas Chopra Be positive and let them worry about us !!!!!!!!

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Lombokblue added 23:34 - Aug 16 It's back to the RK days of the ongoing just need to sign a couple more players.
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Lightningboy added 23:35 - Aug 16 Think we all need to calm down slightly..just over a week ago we were top after winning 3-0 and PJ was the next Sir Bobby!...ok,don't think he did himself any favours a week ago by playing a weakened team in the cup and losing to northampton..in hindsight prob would've been better putting out his best 11 in that game and sticking 2 or 3 goals past them to keep the confidence going but that's gone now. Let's just be glad that this has happened early days whilst we've still got a couple of weeks left to sort it out..i'm sure the defence will be tightened up by the end of august and everything'll be back on track.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 23:38 - Aug 16 Shoopdelang. I agree with you.
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ITFCenFrance added 23:38 - Aug 16 "Frightened to death"? FFS. Well if it's because of the home supporters, they needn't worry as the numbers will only keep dwindling. Like many on this site, I live away from IP and am rarely able to get back for home games (the last two were Forest and Norwich last season, so I'm not exactly a lucky mascot!). The upcoming Leeds game provides me with a rare occasion for live ITFC action, but for the first time ever I'm simple not going to bother. On the field, we're an embarassment at the moment. However, I think what hurts more is the complete lack of respect that the club has for its supporters. Zero reward for years of blind loyalty, ever-increasing ticket prices (adults FROM £29 vs Leeds!). And all that to sit next to the inevitable non-chanting ignorant and/or whining (yes, I recognise the hypocrisy here) idiot. In his book Englische Fussball, Raphaël Honigstein highlights the issue well. The club-fan relationship is completely one-sided and we, the supporters, are doing all the giving

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Buryblueboy added 23:38 - Aug 16 I'm guessing PJ is now appreciating the enormity of the task, as much as people are saying we need defenders to be fair we also needed players who could score after last year so that's why Chopra and JET have been secured and hopefully why can get something out of Ellignton at some stage. Complete overhaul was needed and is underway, and apart from early question marks over Bowyers fitness it is difficult to say that all the other players we have brought in aren't all showing something (don't feel we can truly judge Ellington as he hasnt played enough to be sure what he has left). The club/management/fans are making lots of noises about the need to sign defenders but we keep chasing the same sort of players as other teams so why don't we seriously look into league 1 or overseas as it seems most of our targets are CB fringe players from the Premiership. Cresswell has shown that we don't always need to look at the Prem for quality players - young and hungry players are out there. Smith has to be taken out of the firing line for Saturday as he will be ruined long term if he puts in one more bad performance at the moment. Now seems so short sigted to have not atleast offered Troy Brown equal terms as last year as he would've been far more effective cover than what we have at the moment and i can't imagine his wages needed to be cleared off the wage bill that desparetly. COYB

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corunnaviking1759 added 23:38 - Aug 16 Ha,Ha Ha, here we go again, loads of spending with NO Effing results!! Crash bang wallop!!!!! Are we Jinxed!!!!!!!?????
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marcus139 added 23:38 - Aug 16 Right, first and foremost, our fans need to buck up. We need to back our team, however rubbish it may be, our home support is chronic. Secondly, the owners need to stop lying to us. If we are short of money and need to seel connor to balance books. Say so. Dont do it, then get free transfers and players at end of careers in and make out we are going places and lie to us and say we do not need to sell. We are not idiots. Our transfer policy this summer is dreadful, barring chopra and cresswell. Bowyer, last pay day and could give a.... Ingimarrson, the will is there the body is not. Jet, great on back of solid team which we are not. Andrews, as i have said, ok, stockdale, well i am sure he doesnt care overly, it does not bode well.

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corunnaviking1759 added 23:40 - Aug 16 Another point we seem to have spent well with some good names, so what is the problem??????
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woodpecker added 23:42 - Aug 16 I must admit i think jewell has been a revelation since taking over from keane, but tonight i have to criticise him for the first time. Leadbitter on the right? Even though JET and martin had poor games saturday i would still play them ahead of leadbitter down the flank. Leadbitter only has one position and that's centre midfield. Saying that why not give carson a go, at least he showed intent when he came on saturday. Central defence is woeful pure and simple, fryatt turned smith inside out far to easily saturday and lambert, lallana and co made an example of both smith and delaney tonight. If we get two centre halves and another creative midfielder by the end of the window i personally think we'll be fine this year.

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sixtouchfootball added 23:42 - Aug 16 Sorry for repeating whats been said alreay but we are crying out for a centre back. Its all very well saying look to the lower divisions for the next could be star but we need a been there done that player. A sol campbell that can organise us, put players where they need to be when we're on the back foot. Experience counts in this division and it showed tonight. Please mercus/clegg, pay whats needed and get a centre back in. Teams that win build from the back... And that costs! If it takes 3mil to get a decent cb then please spend it!

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Modiaeblue added 23:43 - Aug 16 there is no way we started as 4-4-2 is all i can say. it looked like it was supposed to be 3-5-2 with delaney kennedy and smith in defence with edwards and cresswell as wingbacks and bowyer andrews and leadbitter in midfield with scotland and chopra up front. theres no other way that line up could have played! we were 2 goal down in 11mins and all at sea, when we changed to 4-4-2 with people out of position. we are lucky it wasn't 6-0 at half time. at half time to his credit jewell mad ethe changes i was expecting and we played very well to get to 2-3. leadbitter had a chance to equalise that didn't happen and the game was lost at that point. if there is no better illustration how better JET is through the centre i don't know, but chopra had someone to feed off when he came on. andrews goal came from a chopra shot that hit the post, and JET was a massive concern for the southampton defence. i was having a drink after the gane with a few southampton fans who couldn't beleive he didn't start up front. the other thing i took from them was the fact that effectively they've had stability for 3 seasons and the team has evolved from that. so to all the town fans raging on here take heart they got themselve sto this stage with patience is a good football manager and gave him time to build a team.

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marcus139 added 23:45 - Aug 16 Corrunaviking, please detail what we have spent against what we have taken in this summer please? Honestly.
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marcus139 added 23:45 - Aug 16 Corrunaviking, please detail what we have spent against what we have taken in this summer please? Honestly.
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ITFCenFrance added 23:46 - Aug 16 ... while ITFC do all the taking. I'll always be a Town fan but, for on- and off-field reasons, I'm fed up and I know I'm not the only one. Maybe staying away from games, thus depriving the club of vital income, may be the only way to show 'them' that enough is enough?
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marcus139 added 23:51 - Aug 16 I am also fedup of town fans going on and on about formations! These do not matter and most of you, unless you are terry venables in disguise, have no idea what you are talking about. Concentrate on the essence of the club, the poor home support we get, the slightly duplicitous owners and the lack of support to the manager, the players we are recruiting. Leave the formations to professionally trained people.

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corunnaviking1759 added 23:58 - Aug 16 Marcus, its there in B&W for all to see!! Connor out and several in!!!! Was looking forward to this season!!!!!!!
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bobble added 23:59 - Aug 16 ooopps
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WoodfordTim added 00:08 - Aug 17 Southampton seemed to be a class above us, apart from our 20 minute spell at the start of the second half. We made them look Premier League in the first half. Chatted to some Southampton supporters afterwards and asked them, "where did you get your players from? !!!" Just one new summer signing in their team apparently, otherwise a team they have put together in a league lower than us.

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brogansnose added 00:10 - Aug 17 Would be nice to spend a couple of years recruiting young players who give a monkeys and give them the chance to learn where their team mates will be when they pass and actually work for each other and help each other out. Nice to see JET played in his favoured position which clearly works for him and the skill and determination of Chopra. With the other exception of Cresswell, the rest can really be taken out and shot. Struggling to see the point of Bowyer at this moment and why leave Delaney to most of the distribution ? With 4 across midfield why does Chopra have to drop back to wrest the ball back off the opposition. We need more than 2 CB's.

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62WasBest added 00:12 - Aug 17 Wasn't at the game but nevertheless when are these managers going to realise that in football a team is built on defence. Until that's all in place it matters little else what you have. Look at Mr. Wenger, even with all the talent he's had at his disposal. The defence is the platform for gaining confidence. They'll only relax and play in midfield when they haven't half their mind worrying about what's happening at the back. When I think of the great defenders this club has had and when you look at the cobbled together rearguard we have now it makes you weep. I want to see good attacking football, but it is pointless wishing for it until the foundations are laid - and I mean with decent defenders - not using mass numbers to try to prevent the opponent scoring.

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Liverpool_blu added 00:15 - Aug 17 Is Bowyer not running the show in Midfield ???. IF not, why not...
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