Town boss Paul Jewell was delighted with his side’s 3-0 victory against Coventry but felt they ought to have been out of sight at the break.

Jewell said: “It’s nice to win and the way we created opportunities in the first half the game could have been over at half-time. It was lovely to get three points and put on a decent attacking performance for our supporters.

“Goals change games. If they’d have scored first the boot could have been on the other foot. In the Blackpool game there was nothing in it in the first half and if we’d have scored first, that might have been different.

“That’s what football does to you. Goals change games and people’s perceptions. Players all of a sudden get an extra stride and a spring in their step.

“It’s all about building confidence. We’re not getting carried away but I thought it was a good performance.”

The Blues boss believes the display was a sign of things to come: “We’ve got a lot of new players, it’s not going to happen overnight but I think tonight showed what we are capable of.

“I thought the players showed a lot of character and from the first whistle we closed them down, passed the ball well and created opportunities. We haven’t done that in any of the games we’ve played really.

“Even when we beat Bristol City, I don’t think we created more than four opportunities, so it was nice to see us pass the ball and move it and have the third man running. It was nice but we should have been out of sight at half-time.”

Jewell, who said centre-half Ibrahima Sonko went off with tweaked knee ligaments and is a doubt for Saturday's game at Middlesbrough, felt Coventry were given a few too many opportunities but was more than happy with his side's attacking play: “It was an open game. It could have been 7-3 or something like that.

“From my point of view, we were great going forward but defensively I thought there were too many crosses going into our box and too many headers being allowed.

“But you’re always looking to strive to get better. We don’t get too carried away with results when we win and it’s not the end of the world when we lose, although it does feel like it for a bit.”

Full-back Aaron Cresswell was praised for his exploits at both ends of the pitch: “I’m glad the tribunal was last week and not this! He’s done well. He’s got huge potential. He put some lovely balls in and got some headers off the line.”

Jewell revealed that Czech U21 international keeper Marek Stech, who was on trial last week, has returned to his club: “He’s gone back to West Ham and we’re going to monitor the situation.”

Coventry boss Andy Thorn gave an honest assessment of the game and was clearly impressed by the Blues: “We never got going. For 20 minutes we were still in the dressing room and against good, experienced players you can’t do that.

“Fair play to them, I thought they played really well during that period and we gave ourselves a mountain to climb after that.

“They’re probably the best team we’ve played this season on that performance, but having said that that was our worst performance, but take nothing away from them.

“It was a poor evening for us, we never got going and there’s no point in trying to say any different because you boys watched it as well. It’s frustrating for us because we know we’re a lot better than that.”

Photo: Action Images

IvorFeeling added 08:11 - Sep 20 Great performance and great game, but.....and before I say but I am a PJ backer. Remember that this is one game and to be honest against a team that is likely relegation fooder. If over the next 10 games we can get into a playoff posiition then clearly we will have turned the corner. Width could still be a problem, more so on the right and this for me is the one area we need to target - I know there are many Carlos knockers there but not having someone in front of him means he is isolated. The bright side of this, save the 3 points, was the performance and the passing and inter-play the team showed. The downside is that Clegg needs to be quick and get the cheque book out else Andrews could be going to the PL! COYB

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Bergholtblue added 08:13 - Sep 20 The team really started to gel last night. Having said that Coventry were bad. The next two matches will test Town and see how far we have progressed. Glad we hand on to Scotland, he is looking sharper than Chopra.
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sonian_blue added 08:35 - Sep 20 Just goes to show that ball to feet and Scotland will get goals, I have always believed he is the best finisher at our club and grateful he decided to stay. Hope he gets a run in the starting 11 now. Also Cresswell was awesome, his clearance off the line on the stroke of half time was unbelievable, the force of the attacking header knocked him into the net!
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carsey added 08:58 - Sep 20 I'm not sure about this idea of keeping the ball on the ground and passing to another player in the same colour shirt as others make runs to distract the opposition and drag them out of position to create space. It all seems a bit simple to me. Surely the ball should be in the air more?
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mental1 added 09:11 - Sep 20 yes yes yes!!! LMFAO at rock paper scissors for free kicks! just a shame the ground looked so empty! COYB onwards and upwards!
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nitroblue1970 added 09:33 - Sep 20 It was a good performance but Cov really were poor! ...I cant see boro, West 'Aaaam or Brighton giving our midfield that much time and space in the next few fixtures!...But it was so good to leave PR with a smile on my face again and looking forward to the rest of the season, if we can continue to win our home games we will be there or there abouts at the end of the season!...Cresswell was impressive...carlos played well i thought after a few poor games..leadboots did well first half, faded a bit second half...scotland looked a different players from last season, trim, fit and a good first touch, his close control and passing were on the whole excellent and i do rate him as a championship goal scorer and will get us 15 - 20 goals this season, chops worked hard and should have had a couple first half..Andrews again waas very good....and for the first time Ive seen this season, the Right n left midfield and full backs filling in and covering for each other! was good to see some tactical cohesion and teamwork! long may it continue...COYB!

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bluelady added 09:35 - Sep 20 where is Jas today? surely there can be some negative from the game for you to moan about? My two pennith worth. 1. agree H32 great result but mustnt get carried away 2. Leadbitter and Bower both played their best games this season, Bullard although clearly not fit helps the team pass the ball along the ground 3. Jason Scotland is a differant player and with the ball at this feet is just as good if not better than Chopra, he is also strong and his first touch has improved ten fold. 4. Chopra clearly has lost a little confidence in front of goal, but his work rate is fantastic and he looked so much happpier with a strike partner. 5. clearly we are able to destroy the kicking of any keeper that joins us, Stockdale seems to have joined that club, whats that about! 6. Cresswell the mini giant! how many times did that guy save us last night and seems to have borrowed Jamie Peters springs? 7. Sonko is a rock and it all fell apart a little when he went off, Delaney just doesnt have the same presence, maybe time for Ingermarsson to start a game if Sonko is injured? 8. the set up seemed to be three at the back with Edwards playing a wing back role, he thrived in this position and for me had a very good game. Didnt work quite so well when Sonko went off as he seemed to cover Edwards really well. 9. Collins is a very good centre back, runs the back four and has some pace too, good captain material. 10. it seems Andrews may have been played out of postion most of his career as a holding midfielder, he is def a box to box or attacking midfielder, always looking to have a go at goal, David Norris who? Think i have covered everyone. Whilst not an earth shattering performance, something had been done to raise the moral of the players they were up for it from kick off and when the ball was on the ground looked very good! Good in possession and whilst a few around me moaned we didnt always attack quickly enough, if you have the ball the other team are not attacking, so i actually think passing it around and making the odd quick run is good formula. thats my view!

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nitroblue1970 added 09:37 - Sep 20 But on the down side....ive payed for a whole seasons football with my season ticket and that includes the use of a seat..if town have to continue playing this brand of entertaining attacking football, which in turn forces me to stand up then i would like a partial refund on my ticket Mr. Clegg....regards and thank you!
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Bluroo added 09:46 - Sep 20 Good win, but still a lot to improve. We were pretty decent going forward some very slick interplay, Scotland is key to it all so I can see him starting a lot of games now. We used the wingbacks well and all round good performaced, but concerned by the fragility of the defence. The number of headers NOT won in the box by our centerbacks was astonishing. I'm not sure there is a single player to blame but the system, we need to be stopping more balls into the box at source. I think the side is unbalanced in midfield. I think we can afford a more attacking option than Leadboots AND Bowyer in the same side, esp at home. The squabbling over freekicks has got to stop. I hope Bullard hasn't turned up with an Ego the size of Hull thinking he's better than everyone else because in the PM interview, Andrews clearly inferred that he considers himself on a par with Bullard and rightly so. We don't need players like Bullard and Andrews falling out. Fine if its just humour, but it looked like Jimmy was the only one laughing. Were going to have to be a lot tighter that that at Boro and West Ham, and a number of players are going to have to run 20% more. But at least we're heading in the right direction.

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bluelady added 09:55 - Sep 20 nitroblue, classic! in fact those behind me are going to ask for full refunds as i was off my seat quite a few times last night!!! we have more shots on and off target last night than we have had all season lol
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StowTractorBoy added 09:57 - Sep 20 I must admit I groaned when I saw the line up i.e. 4 central midfielders in midfield but playing the diamond system freed up our full backs and the tactics were spot on. Keeping my feet firmly on the ground, as Coventry were allowed far too many chances and on another day Cody MacDonald could have had a hat trick. To counteract that Chopra should also have bagged at least three goals but I still thought his movement was excellent and he will come good with goals I'm sure. Sonko will be missed as when Delaney came on we looked very shaky for a spell but once again Collins excelled. Hope that Ingimarsson will be fit for Saturday as two left footed central defender will give Emnes a field day. A vital win for us meant I watched the whole match again when I got home with peace of mind.

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Armine6 added 10:04 - Sep 20 Good game last night, shame about the attendance. I feel that there were quite a few positives in the playing performance during the match last night and some evidence that that some optimism is returning after some low confidence performances across the opening fixture list. Jimmy Bullard I feel will improve as he gets minutes under his belt, at times he looked out on his feet and caught in the headlights, however he shows great effort and adds that edge required. Keith Andrews displays pure hunger; he wants the ball all the time and shows a fierce determination to succeed. Creswell will be the find of the season I my humble opinion; a great little player. Defensively we are vastly improved and this must be a weight off the mind of the midfield and give them more freedom and confidence to play a more expressive pattern of play; still some work to be done regarding settling as a unit and if Sonko is out for the next few matches it will be a disappointing loss. However Ingimarsson should be available for the matches ahead, unless another setback uncured? Some very tough matches ahead; but I believe that if we keep it simple with tight passing played to feet then on tonight's display we are in with a good shout. I have always encouraged a more balance and fair review of ITFC Team and Manager after Christmas in the start of the New Year. It may go against the flow on here but only by then do feel we will see the more settled product. Stuck me neck out there a bit…So…Who's first with their blue axe?, make sure it's nice & sharp, I am a fellow fan, so a nice clean cut please.

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Calmingwind added 10:25 - Sep 20 @Ipswich is the best - yes I did, and I've also watched it back on tv this morning. Good all round performance by everyone but those mistakes stood out for me is all.
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Calmingwind added 10:25 - Sep 20 @Ipswich is the best - yes I did, and I've also watched it back on tv this morning. Good all round performance by everyone but those mistakes stood out for me is all.
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pmason added 10:32 - Sep 20 one swallow does not make a summer .... ok performance against a side that WILL be playing league 1 football next season. Our problems were still there for all to see, just coventry are so bad they couldnt take advantage of them, lets get real
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buryblue77 added 10:50 - Sep 20 I watched the game on TV and some of the midfield passing I saw was fantastic and I joked to my other half that it was a bit like watching Barcelona!!! Ok only slightly over the top but you get my point. The diamond midfield worked with a bit of cover for the defence and allowing the full backs to get forward, so much better than what we have seen recently and hopefully this is the turning point of our season. i think we'll get a real perspective of how things will shape up as we've got some tough games coming up and if we can get some good points we 'll be douing well COYB

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Keaneish added 10:52 - Sep 20 With the exception of preventing some of there crosses coming in the box i fail to see much to complain about from last night although pmason seems to feel there's still doom and gloom in a 3-nil win which could have been 6 or 7. So if a clean sheet and a dominant performance at home isn't enough i fail to see what will be. So in other words, shut up pmason unless you want to list out our problems from last nights performance an open up a sensible debate?

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bluelady added 10:54 - Sep 20 pmason you must live a very miserable life!
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BwoodBlue added 10:57 - Sep 20 Really good performance - you can see the midfield is beginning to gel. Leadbitter much improved, Cresswell and Andrews are class and Scotland makes Priskin look like a lazy Sunday league player!
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foot_kick_ball_goal added 12:20 - Sep 20 Excellent, looks like PJ read my first ever comment and tried out this diamond midfeid malarky. Worked well, although saying that, edwards still looked like he was too far forward, which could be a problem if the opposition decide to play a long ball down our right to a striker with a bit of pace. But saying that, was good on the attack. I'd still axe leadbitter, move edwards up to right wing and stick peters in at right back. Can't belive how scotland has come on, he was found some pace from somewhere, and combined with his strength on the ball, is an excellent striking partner for chopra. Just surprised ellington didnt get a few minutes after the reserve game hatrick. Hope sonko is ok, he had a good game, and delany was not really a good replacement when he came off. Guess ingimarsson isnt fit enough yet. Anyways, really positive showing, played the ball around the pitch well and looked far more solid as a team. Things might finally be on the up, so all you lazy folk back in ipswich, get down to the next home game and fill up that stadium... was embarrassing to see how empty portman road was.

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broomfield123 added 12:24 - Sep 20 Played well but should have scored a lot more and we still have the potential to wobble at the back against a decent team. Please don't forget coventry were truly shocking so it will take quite a bit more to prove that this wasn't a flash in the pan
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bluelady added 12:28 - Sep 20 broomfield they were truely awful BUT we passed the ball on the ground, we looked dangerous each time we came forward and we scored three goals.... Hull were pretty poor here yet we let them beat as 1 - 0. If we can say goodbye to the hoofball system we will win more games thats for sure. so whilst i cant see us getting much from the next two games even if we show some of the qualities of last night we may well get a point or two.....

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SpecialK79 added 12:32 - Sep 20 i swear pmason is a budgie is disguise lol good performance at home which was long due COYB
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Mark added 12:34 - Sep 20 From some of the comments you'd think Coventry were on a losing run: last time out they beat high-flying Derby 2-0 and the game before that they drew 1-1 at now league-leaders Middlesbrough. Two consecutive home wins now for Town and twice in a row we have left Portman Road feeling happy...things are looking up.
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fifeblue added 13:02 - Sep 20 One of the reasons for a lower attendance may have been that there were TWO major accidents on the A12 between 5pm and 7pm.
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