Blues boss Paul Jewell hailed his players’ spirited second half comeback after Town’s incredible 5-3 win at Barnsley.

Jewell said: “A credit to the players. We were 2-0 down at half-time and there were shades of the second half at Burnley.

“I sat the players down at half-time and told them that we need men. There’s no easy way out of this, it’s live on telly, which shouldn’t make any difference, and now wasn’t the time for shrinking violets. We came out second half and you could see that we had a reaction.

“When you’ve been on a run like we’ve been on, it’s easy to feel sorry for yourself and think the world’s against you,” he continued.

“All you need is belief, desire and determination and we showed that in abundance in the second half. We looked lively all of a sudden, from nowhere.

“The front players got hold of the ball, the midfield players were picking up second balls, we were getting crosses into the box, everything we didn’t do in the first half.”

He says his players deserved criticism for not seeming to care during the recent 4-0 defeat at Turf Moor but is pleased with the way they have reacted in the last couple of matches: “I think anyone who was at the Burnley game can level those things at the players, because I did.

“But the reaction we got against Watford showed that the supporters will stick with the players as long as they give everything they’ve got.

“Against Burnley, I’ve told them, a few of them went missing. Today, at 2-0 down, we’d have been any price but we created opportunities and we looked like a confident team from nowhere.”

The Blues manager admitted that Keith Andrews’s first goal coming so soon after the break was a key moment: “Goals change games. I thought we should have a penalty in the first half when the lad’s hand caught the ball. They get a penalty and all three of their goals were set plays — a penalty, a freekick and a corner.

“I said to them at half-time, the next goal is vital. I said we didn’t have to score it straight away because when you’ve got a 2-0 lead and the opposition score, believe me, you can get edgy.

“We scored after 20-odd seconds of the second half and all of a sudden we were on the front foot.”

Jewell refused to single any particular player out for praise: “I think the whole team had a really good second half. We’re disappointed to have conceded three goals but at least we’ve shown a bit of balls and a bit of character in the comeback.

“We’ve let leads slip ourselves over the last few weeks and it’s nice to show our supporters who have come all this way that we've got a bit of fighting spirit. We’ve got to continue with that and get better at lots of things.”

Photo: Action Images

Frase1987 added 20:32 - Dec 10 playoffs or auto promotion?
0

Mark added 20:33 - Dec 10 Magnificent second half, which seemed impossible after the first half showing. Massive relief!! Well done to Paul Jewell and the boys. Let's hope this is the turning point and we can start to move up the table. We are certainly scoring plenty of goals recently, even during the bad run, it's just that defence that need some work!
0

AlanMahon2011 added 20:33 - Dec 10 Jewell is my favorite manager, playoffs now defiantly
0

bluearmy4life added 20:34 - Dec 10 Amazing come back still in shock. The players, Staff, and fans deserve a massive pat on the back for that second half performance it was a famous come back. Let this be the spring board to climb up the table to a much safer postion. Well done TOWN.
0

Legend added 20:35 - Dec 10 Thats how we should be playing every week. Fantastic by the lads second half. Credit where it's due. Surely this will spure everyone on now!
0

dommyboyblue added 20:37 - Dec 10 Jewell in!
0

bluearmy4life added 20:37 - Dec 10 If we play like that in the sceond half week in week out we will be one of the best sides in the league by a mile.
0

ian_marshall added 20:39 - Dec 10 Congratulations to paul and the boys, this is where our season starts again. Get in!!!
0

floridaboy added 20:39 - Dec 10 Great result but concerned that Andrews and Collins will soon be off and how long before Stockdale gets recalled by Fulham!
0

suffolklad added 20:40 - Dec 10 Lets hope this gives the players the confidence they have been lacking for a while and we start to climb the league
0

HALLSJ added 20:41 - Dec 10 Absoutletly fabbergasted, still cant believe it although now in such a better frame of mind. Really need to take this into the Derby game next week. Hope we can ensure Collins & Andrews will sign makes such a difference. Come on Town, same again next week apart from a better defensive display.
0

geography26 added 20:41 - Dec 10 The fans that travelled up there were amazing! Did our club proud!!
0

Pip50 added 20:42 - Dec 10 What the fu... Come on you blues!!
0

ONENIL78 added 20:42 - Dec 10 Deffo promotion material....well next season anyway
0

itfc1981 added 20:44 - Dec 10 Great win, but please dont call ball to arm a pen. Keep it going now, get them flying into tackles every game, dont stand off, play high tempo. We havnt been so we have been losing. FOCUS!
0

arc added 20:44 - Dec 10 That was one of the strangest football matches I have ever seen. We were utterly abject in the first half and unstoppable in the second. It is hard to believe it was the same 11 blokes. Jewell surely would have been sacked if the second half had been like the first, but instead he has a lifeline. Bizarre.
0

TractorMan added 20:46 - Dec 10 Hopefully they take confidence from the 2nd half and realise they can do that every week! Derby next and 3pts again would build on that and Derby are also on an awful run. Let's take advantage of that for a change rather than helping a team out of a bad run!
0

TractorBoy666 added 20:47 - Dec 10 Great result! I was feeling the same old at half time but when we got back to 2-2 i always felt that we are going to be the most likely to win the game. Also we still need to improve that defense as Sonko looked a little wobbly at times. COYB!
0

bobble added 20:52 - Dec 10 so if i predict a loss the buggers win !
0

alfromcol added 20:54 - Dec 10 Great stuff absolutely amazing watching it on the box. Dead and buried at halftime. What a second half. Congrats to all the players and PJ PJ must go..... and stay. No negative posts as yet. OK you negatives it is only 1 game, but what a game. Hopefully we won't have to wait as long for the next win? Bring on Derby
0

bluelady added 20:55 - Dec 10 Sonko looked wobbly as I feel he was under immense pressure........ he also made game saving moves such as the goal line save!! Was calling for pj's head at half time but any manager who can make that turn around deserves a chance, we bosses the midfield in the second half and made them look so poor!!! For once in a very long time can't wait till next sat coyb
0

TrueBlue589 added 20:56 - Dec 10 Firstly well done and by god we needed that !! but pls lets not get to carried away 45 mins of good football out of the last 675 mins !!! Still lots to do and prove to us all !
0

blue979 added 20:57 - Dec 10 playing utter shocking football and 2-0 down at half time.!!! Then comes an almost differnt ipswich town. scoring from the start,players getting stuck in,corners mounting up more shots on goal and yes more goals 5 in total.andrews might of been man of the match but for me the team pulled together and creswell was on excellent form,the fans who travelled to the game did itfc proud.lets hope this is the turning we've wanted...needed for several games now.On another plus side the playoffs are still possible.

0

Reuser31 added 21:01 - Dec 10 Absolutely fantastic second half, credit to PJ for the team talk at ht and the lads for a ballsy, passionate attacking display in the second half. Happiest I've been as a town fan since Ipswich 1-0 Arsenal last season.
0

das_bones added 21:02 - Dec 10 Super second -half display lads, couldn't believe wot I was watching! This is only one result,lets build on it town!
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls