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

kerryblue added 22:05 - Dec 10 Great result and a much needed three points and a break in our run of defeats but I see on Twitter that Barnsley had their Xmas Booze up last night so lets not get carried away ,normal ITFC service will resume in our next game and Jewell out before the New Year now.BBB BRING BACK BURLEY!
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Raedwaldblue added 22:08 - Dec 10 First post, I believed also that pjs time was up at half time, we were terrible, but credit to all fantastic second half. Both strikers scored as well I hope we can now at last build on this as changing the manager again would not take us forward.
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WarkyWonderLand added 22:10 - Dec 10 It's not about who wants PJ in or PJ out its about the team and club. If we paid to see performances like the second half then everyone would be happy even if we lost. Had it been 8 defeats on the bounce that could have been it for him. No supporters at any club would be happy with that. Need to bring the second half to the start of our home game next week. It's a win and we now need points from our next 3 games. Coyb. Ps. Did see the clegg out sign whoever had it! Fans were superb tonight.

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Tractamatt added 22:15 - Dec 10 AlanMahon2011:Give it a rest you have every right to voice your oppinion but do that tonight and you just come across as a moron.Garv:I forgot to mention if it is served up the way it was tonight I would eat humble pie all season long.
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Blue041273 added 22:18 - Dec 10 Yes it was a great result, probably one of the greatest. BUT overall the performance was poor, very poor in the first half. Maybe better in the second half but maybe that was more down to Barnsley's ineptitude than our brilliance. I don't subscribe to the PJ out prescription but at half time he had nowhere to go other than the exit. At best he now has a breathing space but it's like reviving a corpse; chances are it will still end up being a corpse. Still, I got a feeling, tonight's gonna be a good good night.

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CornardBlue added 22:20 - Dec 10 Great result, thought Scotland had great game, my man of match.
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OrkneyBlue added 22:20 - Dec 10 Tractorbeezer Now I come to think about it I was watching over the internet via Fox Sports in OZ!!!
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RevAdrian added 22:21 - Dec 10 Just got back to North Wales from the match - having been at Burnley this was totally different - true in the first half they looked less than convincing in many ways but you could not fault the effort - the second half they simply got stuck in to the task, got the vital early goal, and grew in confidence. There is a long way to go but they left the field deservedly praised to the highest. COYB!

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warksonwater added 22:22 - Dec 10 So what did Paul say at half time? My guess is 'Look lads, if you don't buck your ideas up I'll be gone in the morning and you're gonna get Roy Keane back'.
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marcus139 added 22:28 - Dec 10 It would appear that true support was appreciated by players all round. Imagine what could happen if we had 200Uh00 doing that at portman road instead of standing there moaning and leaving ten minutes before end. J Scotland won us this game, he never stopped trying start to finish.make him captain.
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dommyboyblue added 22:36 - Dec 10 Where's Jas099 or whatever? c**t!
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kerryblue added 22:37 - Dec 10 JEWELL OUT!
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Dissboyitfc added 23:03 - Dec 10 5 bookings and 5 goals, brilliant thats more like it. need to do it for ninety minutes though, scotland was my man of the match, he was superb throughout, sonko was very shaky, blue lady it was just as well he did the goal line clearance, was his horrendous mistake that led to the trouble in the first place. tonight for the first time in weeks we can enjoy a result and performance(second half only)... bring on derby... was so pleased for jewell tonight, really felt at half time that he was going to walk away after the game... COYB

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Elwood added 23:04 - Dec 10 Good to see that there are more happy people when we win then when we lose. Must be a few regulars not sure whether to be happy or sad tonight.
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jert16 added 23:08 - Dec 10 amazing!!! :-D
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Blue_75 added 23:12 - Dec 10 Well done PJ and the Boys, you did us proud tonight! Great attacking football in the 2nd half - this team has much better balance than when we play the "Diamond". Martin and Murphy must keep their places....sorry Leadbitter and Bullard but the only spot up for grabs at the moment is Bowyer's! Concerned about Andrews and Collins leaving in Jan! Need to beat Derby now. COYB's!!!!!

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mattraisin added 23:16 - Dec 10 I won 90 quid on that match. Thank you so much ITFC. Incredible second half performance. I checked the odds half time for a bit of time killing and thought 45-1 to win was worth a couple of quid, next thing you know we are winning 3-2. THANK YOU SO MUCH IPSWICH.
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alfromcol added 23:18 - Dec 10 Still need a right back who can defend as well as attack!
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tomisamos added 23:25 - Dec 10 I think people ought to cut Edwards some slack. He did his job at right back better than bowyer did his at centre mid, for example. Although I'm sure there are better right backs and we ought to snap one up. Fantastic result though. Now we've seen what the players can do perhaps the boo boys will give it a rest and we can see a few more of these!
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TractorJed added 23:40 - Dec 10 gutted....what a ru bbish result. look at my prediction from yesterday town to win 4-3, had it at 201/1!!!!! never mind 3 points is better!!!! COYB
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Dissboyitfc added 23:54 - Dec 10 tomisamos, sorry cant agree there, i do rate carlos, but not as a full back, i dont slate him as he tries his best but is being asked to play out of position, he is a liability at right back, we need defenders in when the window opens,,COYB
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JewellintheTown added 00:09 - Dec 11 I bet PJ showed the lads some Rocky films at half time with that come back from their battering- We should be calling him 'Mickey' Jewel for that pep talk! Adrien!!!!!!!
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martleshamitfc added 00:20 - Dec 11 Loved the 2nd half today, hopefully we can now push on, fingers crossed! and well done to all the fans that went to the game.
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tomisamos added 00:25 - Dec 11 Dissboyiftc, he isn't a right back, but where was he vulnerable today? His mistake came perhaps in his marking for the second goal, but any player could make that mistake from a corner and often do. The only howlers today came from either Sonko (who made up for it with his somewhat suspect clearance off the line) and Stockdale with the penalty (and maybe his positioning for the fk). Edwards had a decent game, I've seen actual right backs do a lot worse. I'd say get one, but let's get a Cresswell, it would be easy to get a bigger liability, especially in this league.

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leagueonescum added 00:51 - Dec 11 Santa came early!
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