Blues boss Paul Jewell confirmed that adding to his centre-half options will be a priority during the January transfer window with more calamitous defending helping goal-shy Nottingham Forest to a 3-1 victory at Portman Road yesterday. The Town manager was critical of Damien Delaney and Ívar Ingimarsson after the defeat.

Jewell, who thought the suspended Ibrahima Sonko was a big miss, is on the search for new additions but says recruiting quality central defenders isn’t an easy business, having spent the summer trying to add to that area of his squad: “It’s very difficult trying to get good players. You look around and there are a lack of good players. But it’s obvious we need strengthening.

“We’ve had Danny Collins here, he’s gone back and the centre-half area is one where we desperately need some help.

“Getting a new centre-half has been a priority for a while, but there’s a lack of quality centre-halves about.

“We’ve got the worst defensive record in the league and we concede soft goals. I know it’s not just the two central defenders but I think those two have to take some responsibility for the Forest game.”

He says that this tendency to concede soft goals means his team can’t get into a decent run of form at Portman Road: “We just don’t seem to be able to get any momentum at home. When we keep on giving goals away like the ones we give away, it’s always going to be the case.

“I don’t think anyone who was at the game will think that Notts Forest have been all over us, but every time the ball went anywhere near our box they looked dangerous, which is down to basic defending and basic errors have cost us.

“The two centre-halves have to be culpable today, there’s no getting away from it. I don’t really like to single individuals out because we are a team, but some of the defending which went on was ridiculous.”

Jewell felt Forest’s third goal, scored by Marcus Tudgay, summed things up: “When we got back to 2-1, I was thinking we’ve got a chance but again there was a goal out of nothing. It was a ball into the box from Reid and it somehow found itself in the back of the net and the game was over.

“I thought we kept going, we had a few opportunities second half, we huffed and puffed. But once we’d clawed ourselves back into it, we just shot ourselves in the foot.”

The Blues manager had praise for Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, who provided Town’s main threat in the last two games and won Monday's second half penalty: “He’s done OK. He likes to drift out wide and he’s got ability on the ball, he can do things that other people can’t. He’s frustrating at times but he is someone who can open the door.”

Jewell says midfielder Lee Bowyer is likely to be out for around a fortnight having been subbed just before half-time: “I think he felt his abductor go when he made a pass. Lee’s been one of our better players of late but I think he’ll be out for a couple of weeks.”

Jimmy Bullard could be back in contention for next week’s FA Cup tie at his old club Hull having called in sick with flu ahead of yesterday’s game, while Andy Drury is unable to face the Tigers having played in the competition for loan side Crawley already this season.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswichbusiness added 18:20 - Jan 3 With regard to my last post it should have read that Norwich had won a Premiership MATCH. The way it reads it sounds like they won the Premiership. Apologies for that.
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h32 added 18:27 - Jan 3 Not another statement of the obvious surely ? - what Paul Jewell - never !!!!!! Can't believe how inept this man is.
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fussysnake added 18:37 - Jan 3 only defender we have good enough is SONKO! Ingimarsson is pants and Delaney isnt the answer either... Very sad times at PR :(
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itfchorry added 18:40 - Jan 3 Blues 1 You can't be serious - Clegg doesn't know anything about Football or the traditions of Ipswich Town FC. He is just a very poor PR Man. Major Clegg is a Major Disaster. Clegg Out
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Blue041273 added 18:40 - Jan 3 As I've mentioned before it shouldn't be a question of whether or not PJ should be sacked. He must know that the job is too much for him and he should negotiate his exit. This latest rant about the culpability of the centre backs just shows the fragility of his mental strength. Just when strong management is required PJ joins the blame game meaning that these players are unlikely ever to trust him enough to raise their games any time soon. Bringing in new players would be like applying a sticking plaster to broken leg. PJ must know this and must realise that he is not the man to turn things round. All the polls recognise that if PJ hangs on the pain and suffering will not end.

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bluearmy4life added 18:48 - Jan 3 FOPJ !!!!!!!!! And take Useless CLEGG And your useless players with you. As for EVANS Thanks for your money, BUT IT'S ABOUT TIME YOU TELL US FANS WHERE THIS CLUB IS GOING? BUCK UP YOUR IDEAS AND SORT OUT ARE POOR RUNNED CLUB. JEWELL OUT.
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townie1 added 19:20 - Jan 3 Well he didn't get a very good replacement McAuley http://www.holyduck.org/2012/01/worlds-oldest-man-jiroemon-kimura-joins.html honestly hope thats a joke, but wouldn't be surprised !
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TimmyH added 19:35 - Jan 3 Defence isn't the only problem area, look at our inept mifield as well - teams get to our box far to easily and that in part is down to the midfield, a strong holding midfielder is needed, NOT Bullard (out of position) and NOT Leadboots (he's rubbish) infact I'm finding it hard to think of a consistent man for us in midfield other than Andrews whose goals have contributed. A CB and an RB please. Edwards can rest on the bench and be another attcking option if needed on the right.

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neillrumsey added 20:10 - Jan 3 Agree with previous post. A midfielder is equally as important as a centre back. We haven't got a decent midfield player hence lack of goals. I thought that Reid albeit he is heavy and not the quickest ran the show yesterday. He kept the ball well used it to good effect. We are possibly worse than under RK because this team has no passion or committment. Rant over.
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elmswellblue added 20:33 - Jan 3 Blues 1 ................ The whole club needs a complete sort out from the top to the bottom, please tell me what Major Clegg has bought to this club. Although SHEEPY made many errors while leading this club, he always faced the fans in good and bad times. Look at the number of staff who have left ITFC since ME took over this club, you cannot run a company with a change that leaves players, groundsman, clerical staff,electricians etc with no faith in the company. Long serving staff will repay you with loyalty and are normally a hard working core.

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suffolkpunchdrunk added 20:40 - Jan 3 Prioritises with the speed of thought of a dead slug. P riority J anuary O nwards U pwards T own Jog on PJ.
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itfchorry added 20:47 - Jan 3 Well put Elmswell Blue - Under Sheepshanks who had set out a 5 year Plan for the club - promotion was achieved As was Europe and a top stadium All Major Misunderstanding has done is paint The turnstiles. Clegg Out
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Lesta_Tractor added 20:58 - Jan 3 We could have Kompany and Vidic at centre half and we would still leak goals.. There is a complete lack of balance right through the side, we have no on field leadership and most of the players dont seem to care. The management have failed to motivate the squad effectively and Paul Jewell looks exhausted, time to freshen things up from the top I feel..
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hairbear added 21:18 - Jan 3 Come on righty what have you got to say about that, you armchair supporter!
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wrightyblue added 21:28 - Jan 3 Edwards rules
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Suffolk_n_Good added 21:30 - Jan 3 5,6,7 maybe more, seasons of under acheivement I am just sick to the back teeth of excuse, after excuse, promise, after promise, false hope, after false hope, the club needs to be re-born, & as much as it hurts me to say it, I would happily accept relegation if thats what it takes to put our club back together again. A succession of poor managerial appointments, (a poor Chief Exec), money thrown at over-priced poor players, is & has cost us dear. I look forward to the days when our club can once again be proud.

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hairbear added 21:47 - Jan 3 What you talking about wrightyblue. Edwards is the worst town player ever! It's always his fault
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VanIsleBlue added 21:57 - Jan 3 How many of those players really care about the colour and the badge of the shirt they are putting on? And how many are about the money? Delaney had been shocking for years. Ingimarsson needs to retire as he is not good enough. Edwards should play right midfield or no where. How many players do I admire at Ipswich right now? Cresswell and Sonko maybe- wouldn't be heatbroken if the entire squad was sold and we started again- Clegg has to shoulder as much blame as Jewell. We are truly an awful excuse for a football team and it kills me every week supporting this gutless bunch of mercanaries

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gcasselton1 added 22:04 - Jan 3 i just thought i'd let all the town fans know that JET can do things other plays can't. I just wasn't sure if you already knew.
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Lightningboy added 22:16 - Jan 3 When it comes down to it , Marcus Evans has just made 3 Big mistakes since taking over: 1 - sacking Magilton 2 - appointing Keane 3 - appointing Jewell ...and this guy is running our club...some people really ought to stay out of football.
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itfc94 added 22:28 - Jan 3 Just watched the extended highlights on blues player. Now from what I saw, we had a good attacking presence, with JET looking like a real stand out of a poor bunch. However, all 3 goals, were at fault of our 2 central defenders. You cannot concede three p** poor goals at home and expect to win the game. Yes, they all look like wonderful goals, but my word didn't we make it easy for them! Also, how on earth has Murphy and JET not scored, my granny could of tapped them in and she struggles to walk nowadays!

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Keaneish added 22:35 - Jan 3 Good fookin' lord! With football bring as broadly covered as it is in every TV channel every day and night of the week; with a club like the stature of ours, with a scouting network and management with sound resources are you telling me you can't find 2 or 3 centre halves who compliment each other!!? It's not about outstanding individuals, it's about players complimenting each other. If you can't find that combination out of all the centre halves on this planet then off you go. We've said since the start of the season that Smith/Ainsley aren't ready and ingimarsson/delaney are poor and that's what we have to keep us in the Championship!! That's the final insult for me. This club is fooked! Can some open up a banner at the next game asking 'what is happening to our football club?' so the press see it? Im sure not going anymore!

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paulnstar added 22:37 - Jan 3 breaking news : paul jewell has raided..................his fridge .lets all get behind jewell he is trying his best ,u r all picking on him ,how would u like 15000 fans calling u names ,shame on u all
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Keaneish added 22:43 - Jan 3 15,000? That's exactly the point. We used to be 22,000+!! Terrible times.
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WarkyWonderLand added 22:51 - Jan 3 And our so called captain speaks and says that he thought we played quite well. Is he taking the p out of us? Rk was right about one thing, our fans are too polite. The current situation is dire and we either vote with our feet or make our voices heard. I fear jewell will do to us what gunn did to norwich with the loan signings. I hope I am wrong. He is not the man to lead us forward though. We have no organization in the team and are too easy to beat. A year on and we are worse off. Let's try and reclaim some of our club back and make our disgruntled voices heard. The scouse comedian is taking us backwards as clegg paints the turnstiles!

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