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

yorksblue added 14:01 - Aug 17 Honeymoon period is well and truly over,Mr Jewell, so stop talking the talk, get your finger out, get some real defenders in (Cresswell excepted), and hey presto, we may get somewhere, instead of nowhere fast!
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paul73 added 14:05 - Aug 17 Last night shows,just how far we really are away from being a top eight side,let alone top 2..! A real reality check..felt for chopra..looked way above the rest of the town side...After reading PJ comment of players not hurting enough,anyone who happenend to be in issacs Saturday night would have seen it for themselves..in all for players having a social life,but after such two poor performances in aweek...it might have been better to stay away...no wonder he was dropped last night,no doubt full of alcohol...aa for his behaviour towards all females that night....pathetic...grow up and concentrate on what your paid for.... Sorry people...rant over.....up the Town.

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50yearsablue added 14:06 - Aug 17 Berks Blue, your history lesson is a little flawed. I was at the game (was it 1969?) when some of the crowd chanted 'Robson out'. He had a flawed start to his career here but obviously later came good. The Cobbolds' response to the outburst was to summon him to the board room to apologise for the crowd's behaviour when he expected to get sacked!
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sonian_blue added 14:14 - Aug 17 Perhaps if they spent more time on the training ground rather than watching videos we might improve. Horror films at that. Footy is not rocket science, in fact is a simple game therefore our simple players should be able to cope. I said on here yesterday we would get spanked. You do not win football matches if you cant defend. Why oh why did we let Mccauley go without a replacement. Smith wasnt good enough for Colly last season and DD needs an influence beside him, a positive one that is. Thought Scotland played well first half and He and Chopra I believe are the way ahead. For it to work though they need the supply which was severely lacking last night. We can give the Posh a tonking at the weekend if we get at them. It is no secret they also like to play on the front foot. Team should be: Stockdale Edwards, Ainsley (Assuming sicknote is still out) Delaney,Cresswell JET, Bowyer, Andrews, Martin Chopra, Scotland COYB Boys.

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LFCITFC added 14:14 - Aug 17 Everyone can see, including PJ after hearing his interview on SSN & BBC Suffolk, that we are in need of CB's. all 5 goals were caused by the same thing, ball watching by the same 3 players, with Smith & Delaney taking most of the flack. It was appalling BUT last night has shown me that JET HAS to play upfront or behind chops & we CAN NOT play 4 centre midfielders at one time. Maybe give the squad basic passing lessons in training!!Go and watch the ITFC U10 Academy Team to see how this is done (no i'm not kidding)

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carltonmike added 14:35 - Aug 17 Dear dugoutdave worry not, away for a month so we will have 9 points by then!!!
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dubblue added 14:39 - Aug 17 I don't think anybody really wants or expects PJ to go. Some of his signings - Chopra, Creswell, EMT - have been excellent. Certainly better than RKs. However conceding 5 goals at home is not acceptable, the solution is obvious two decent CBs who are not old or injury prone (or at least one who can direct and encourage DD), a RB and a captain who can motivate and lead the team. If we don't sort if out I am afraid we could end up at best mid-table - we will see plenty of goals but we will concede more than we score.

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denhamblue added 14:41 - Aug 17 er how about our defence has been poor for ages,and still is.there you go hardly a ground shattering piece of wisdom.
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ncharles added 15:17 - Aug 17 sonian_blue In the abscence of "sick note" lol, I would play a similar side except Stockdale Edwards, Ainsley (Assuming sicknote is still out) Delaney,Cresswell Carson, Bowyer, Andrews, Martin Chopra, JET Who would you make captain - Bowyer or Andrews perhaps?
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Tractamatt added 15:29 - Aug 17 15:28 and not a word from portman road, nothing ,not even a we're all really sorry and it wont happen again type of thing lust a kind of sullen, sulky silence.
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Berks_Blue added 15:39 - Aug 17 50yearsablue - Thanks for setting me straight there, as i was unaware of any such callings for Robsons head, in all fairness to me i was still about 18 months from birth at that point. hence why i had tried to word it as more of a question. But what is interesting is, as you say he was summoned to the board room to apologise for the crowds behaviour. Now that just shows what true class and love for this club the Cobbold family have. I wonder if Mr Evans cares that much about our behaviour towards the manager/team or even our views for that matter.

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blueherts added 15:43 - Aug 17 Arhhhh , I just watched the goals on You tube again three or four times - My under 12s would have put in a better challenge ... Delaney , Smith and Edwards between them - shocking .. Put Kennedy and Ainsley in Middle for Posh
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glm86 added 15:44 - Aug 17 Speechless...............
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Delboy added 15:46 - Aug 17 With the best will in the world, its not rocket science PJ. We had 2 CB's playing that without a reliable "partner" to cover them are suspect. The reliable partner I suspect will not manage 20 matches this season, and a full back who hasn't a defensive bone in his body.
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NSL added 16:38 - Aug 17 Am I mising something or is the critism on here about Carlos Edwards a tad unfair? I actually think he's got quite good composure as a RB, Doesnt dither when forced into the corner, stays on his feet, usually does some decent turns and distributes the ball with a bit of intelligence. I would stick with him.
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TimmyH added 16:54 - Aug 17 If you look at all the goals we conceded they are more or less the same, static defending, not getting tight enough to the opposition and basically ball watching - ok they were passing and moving, the third goal was probably the worst - they break through and the whole back line are static and watching what's going to happen and it's not until the goalie saves the shot and the ball rebounds do they then move! very very poor!

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big_gaz67 added 16:55 - Aug 17 Unfair - for the first goal he was about ten yards behind the rest of the back four - he is not, and proves , every game he is not a right back. I think he should play as right midfield.
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tractorboy2434 added 17:00 - Aug 17 You say you cannot explain it, well its seems pretty clear to me, we lack pace, we lack young, hungry players and are full to the brim of 30 plus players who have already earned shed loads of cash and don't need it, hence the lack of desire. If you don't know the reason Mr Jewell then sadly you are wrong man.
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whiskey added 17:19 - Aug 17 phil is there no way to filter all of these repetitions?
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Infineteregress added 17:29 - Aug 17 I don't buy any of these "the club is rotten to the core" diatribes, and I really can't see how sacking Jewell or the board could at this point be construed as a positive move. For me it all boils down to personnel. We've not had a proper right-back now for two seasons (which is frankly outrageous for a club with our supposed wealth) and the current quality of centre backs on offer is abject. I'd go as far as to say we've never managed to find someone to fill the void left by De Vos let alone Mac. I also agree with comments about no more mid-30s/ premier league cast-offs joining the club as I agree they have little to prove at this point in their careers. I'll make no secret of the fact that I'm very disappointed that we didn't secure more signings from the lower leagues a la Cresswell during the summer, and honestly believe that's where we should be looking from now on. On the upside, JET, Cresswell and Chopra are all quality while Martin is possibly having something of a renaissance and Carson a nascent, raw talent so we've at least got something to work with going forward. IMO our immediate strategy should be: - Defence: Sign one or preferably two new centre backs, a proper right back and ideally a back-up keeper for Stockdale. - Play to players' strengths: Stop putting the likes of JET, Edwards Leadbitter etc out of position to maximise their impact. - Bring Jamie Peters back into the first XI - Settle on a team/ formation and run with it. No more last minute tinkering before games. For the record as gutted and disgusted as I am about last night's result, I still believe that we're better poised now than we were six months ago. Let's back PJ and the team and get on with the season. COYBs

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choprawontcome added 18:13 - Aug 17 SHOCKING PJ GET SOME DEFENDERS..... SIMPLES!!!!!!!
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bluearmy4life added 18:13 - Aug 17 It was shocking. It felt like the norwich game all over again. Best thing is to move on it's only one game if it was repeated in the next coming games then there would be serious issues. PJ and the players are at fault tonight they all need to learn from it quickly and move on. Can't believe there has been one or two saying jewell out unbelievable. We are still be punished from the board and RK Mistakes it will take time. Oh by the way for old times sake. FORK :)

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Tractamatt added 18:17 - Aug 17 18:16 still nothing.
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nitroblue1970 added 18:35 - Aug 17 as this topic has been discussed to death...as a side issue i did hear the saints fans singing about children of uncertain parentage....i trust the supporters club will be putting a complaint in...cant have that sort of language at our club
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marcus139 added 18:47 - Aug 17 I sense a lot going on behind the scenes today at the club......i suggest the next statement from the club is that we have signed a defender, instead of yet more spin about who we have tried and failed to get. Also, as we have made the move for andrews now, we may as well get rid of Leadballoon, if it means we can get a little bit of creativity in as replacement. Make bowyer captain and see if that sparks him up cos to date the nagging suspicion is we are his pension pot.

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