Boss Paul Jewell felt his side should have been “out of sight” at half-time as Watford came from behind to beat the Blues 2-1 at Vicarage Road. Town’s winless run against the Hornets stretched to 15 games and back to 2004 with their last win on Watford territory having come a year prior to that.

Jewell said: “We should have been out of sight at half-time. We created six or seven really good opportunities that we didn’t take on a very difficult playing surface.

“In the second half we didn’t do enough with the ball, we gave it away cheaply, we didn’t keep hold of it, we didn’t create like we did in the first half and obviously the manner of the goals was hugely disappointing.”

While Hornets sub Chris Iwelumo caused the Blues’ backline problems, the Town manager felt the goals were more down to his side’s errors: “He’s always going to do that, he’s a big handful but the goals we conceded were really nothing to do with his physical presence.

“He pushed us back a bit, but the reason we are where we are is because we concede bad goals and the two we conceded today were two more. It’s another game that we should have won but because of bad defending we’ve lost.”

While Jewell says skipper Carlos Edwards was to blame for the second Watford goal, he says the 33-year-old has been one of Town’s best performers of late: “He played a short backpass and it’s sloppy but Carlos has been magnificent for us lately, but it was definitely a mistake by him.”

As well as the defensive errors, the Liverpudlian thought his team should have made more of their chances before the break, particularly Michael Chopra, who missed a gilt-edged opportunity just after the half hour: “It was a sitter, wasn’t it? It was a great move. He switched it over to Emmanuel-Thomas and he got in at the back post and it was a great opportunity.

“I think Daryl Murphy’s had five really good chances in the first 20 minutes and we could have been out of sight [at half-time].

“They had a chance where Alex McCarthy made a good save, but after that it was one-way traffic. Every time JET got the ball he looked like he was going to create something. Second half we just didn’t get the ball to him.”

Jewell says his side was never going to control the match as they did in the opening period for the full 90 minutes: “They’re at home and you can’t go anywhere and dominate games all the time. I think we were the best team [first half] and it was hot out there, for both teams.

“They got up a head of steam and got the crowd behind them, but up until then, other than the chance early on, they hadn’t really created much.

“We didn’t win enough battles second half, it was a battle out there on that pitch. It was a scruffy game, it was never going to be a free-flowing game on that pitch and when Iwelumo came on they had the impetus. But the manner of the goals, it wasn’t as if we were getting absolutely battered, they were just basic errors.”

He says the much-publicised hoodoo wouldn’t have been in his team’s thoughts: “I think it plays on the media’s minds rather than the players as most of the players haven’t been here since 2004. There’s always a story about a bogey team, but I don’t think that was the case at all. I just thought we were disappointing in the second half.”

The Town boss says his side have no new injuries, while striker Jason Scotland assessed ahead of the Middlesbrough game after suffering an adductor injury in training.

Watford boss Sean Dyche, who says the Hornets plan to relay their pitch in the summer, admitted his team were second best before the break: “Make no mistake, they were the better side in the first half, considerably better.

“We actually started very brightly, we had arguably the best chance of the first half and should have been 1-0 up.

“But then we gave away a really poor goal and we could have been at least two down at half-time. Ipswich, all credit to them, they were by far the better side, they played the game and the pitch better than us.

“But it’s the marvel of half-time. We managed to get them in only one down which kept us in with a shout.

“We just really reminded the players of what we’re about and how they might have to play the pitch to get back into it in the second half, and I’m pleased to say they did that really well."

Photo: Action Images

pastystringbean added 23:11 - Mar 24 Watford are at best a very poor team, the long ball tactic suits them down to a tee because the pitch they play on is a cow field. Jewell said he didn't play Martin against hull because of the pitch so why play him today? I know he's in fine form but in need of a rest so why not have the balls to rest him again move another central midfielder in, it works in my world where unicorns eat raspberry dogs? It's good here.

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bluearmy89 added 02:04 - Mar 25 At least we tried to play football at times Watford just hoofed it non stop was painful to watch but not as painful as our defending for both goals, didnt know whether to laugh or cry. JET is the only player I know who can walk past defenders, maybe messi as well.
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sheepdags added 09:10 - Mar 25 PJ's substitutions didn't help - why take off Chopra when you've conceded a goal and you don't have Scotland on the bench. With Chops on the pitch you've always got a chance of getting a goal even if he's not had one of his better games. Don't think it helped to lose Bowyer's experience and there was a case for bringing on Sonko to combat Iwelumo.
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brittaniaman added 09:54 - Mar 25 Whatever one thinks,, our Bogey team had it in for us again yesterday WATFORD.??? Many moons ago our Bogey team was Chelsea, whatever we done we just could not beat them.. I know it does seem silly but it seems to ring true !!!! So let us get back to our own team now,, I thought our defence played very well last Wed. then yesterday they were very suspect again ?? The right footed Sonko could have slotted in better for the 2nd half and might have contained there long ball game better.. ANYWAY that game is done and dusted now so let us now concentrate on Tues game and get to play on a decent pitch again where football can be played !!!!!!!! COYB !!!!!!!!

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Wickets added 10:09 - Mar 25 Strange how often we play well in only 1 half.Big pity sat as we where great first half. Lee Bowyer wellllllllll
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Markthehorn added 10:24 - Mar 25 Yes your defending wasn't great for the goals but our players finished them pretty well to be fair which was out of keeping with the previous 60 minutes I would accept. JET caused us all sorts of problems but then Dickinson is a very average player. Our game is better when we can get the ball outwide to Murray and our Fulham loanee (Number 18) but do admit we like the old long ball.

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itfc1981 added 10:43 - Mar 25 If you play Lee Bowyer thats what you get. back to the old days of the midfield being overun. Shame Jewell cant learn from his mistakes. Dury and Hyam would have seen us through to victory.
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walberswick added 10:43 - Mar 25 me and pj didn't believe in a playoff push or they would have signed someone on loan
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jas0999 added 13:28 - Mar 25 ... but as on a number of occasions we weren't out of sight. The goals we conceeded were worse than a pub side and frankly, we deserved to lose because of that. Defending has been the real issue this year and I find it incredible that PJ STILL has not addressed this. Will need to do much better in the Summer. Before people have a go at me, I will reiterate that winning 7 out of 10 was excellent. However, looking at the season as a whole, it's been very poor with PJ generally making key mistakes. He still is. I personally I have no faith - based on previous evidence - that PJ will/is capable of dealing with these issues in the Summer. Assuming the loanees leave and that out of contract players go, in theory we will need: 1 x GK, 2 x CB, 1 x RB and cover at LB. In midfield, replacements for Leadbitter, Murphy and Bowyer. Up front, we only have Chopra - so will need to replace Priskin and Scotland. That's a lot of work to do, and based on last Summer, I simply can't see PJ and Clegg doing it. If you look at the teams at the top of the league - they all have permanent No. 1 keepers playing regularly.Essential to have a solid base - building from the back. I was under the impression that PJ was/is an experienced manager - yet it's amazing that we still rely on a loan keeper. The reason we are the worst team in the Championship as far as goals conceeded is because we have an average manager who has failed to address these issues - he's had 15 months. Very poor.

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menacinho added 17:33 - Mar 25 Three things certain in life; death, taxes and jas099 posting on here when we lose. Where is he when we win? Nowhere to be seen. Only two possible reasons for that; 1) Jas is a Norwich fan on a wind up 2) Jas is a Town fan who just wants to moan all the time. Either way, it's tedious. So we lost to Watford; we always do and probably would if we were top of the Premier League. Yes, we need some new defenders but I prefer to focus on the fantastic run of form we have been in and one that hopefully will continue on Tues v Boro. Submitted on behalf of all positive thinking Town fans.

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h32 added 19:30 - Mar 25 jason0999 - cannot see how any of your usual 'knockers' can disaqgree with your last post. DIABOLICAL defending for both goals. I really cannot see PJ doing anything more than he has done at this Club - although I would very much like him to succeed, as indeed I had hoped RK would. Same Managerial mistakes seemingly continue to be 'non recognised' by the said man - or at least 'non actioned'. Look at the GOALS AGAINST Mr Jewell - it's all there.

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chepstowblue added 19:40 - Mar 25 Should never lose to a side like that but we gave the ball away so often in the 2nd half that we invited pressure. Missed Leadbitter who regardless of wot some people think has the ability to think quicker and pass more accurately than any other midfielder at the club.The lack of guile in the last 20was shown up,they showed how to defend against aimless balls,thats what they do well if nothing else. Havent lost ground with the sides above us treading water and 2wins this week keeps us in with an outside chance tho the feeling of deflation when leaving the ground ysterday suggested something else.

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Pip50 added 19:54 - Mar 25 jas0999 spot on my friend.
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menacinho added 20:13 - Mar 25 To give him his due, Jas does have a valid point about the defending, which has been poor this season. I too think that PJ should have sorted this out earlier. However, it has to work both ways and Jas should prepared to come on here when we win and praise PJ for his tactics, selection etc (and not credit wins to Marcus Evans like he was the other week!)
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bluelady added 20:51 - Mar 25 Have avoided this site today as I knew the usual "fans", would be relishing the loss, proving then right! Two losses in eleven......
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Tractastic added 21:37 - Mar 25 Totally agree with Jas0999 and to be fair to him he has always been consistent in his criticism of Jewell but support for the team. I'm no expert but doesn't very great team have a spine (if you believe the experts.) but in PJ's 15 months we still have No goalkeeper, 3 average centre backs ,no midfield general and no regular captain? Pleased to be free from the worry from relegation but a mid table finish is hardly job well done when you consider the investment and supposed management experience?

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Ipswichbusiness added 21:45 - Mar 25 To me it seems that Jas0999 is half right. He is right in that the goals against column does point to an obvious problem. The reason that we will not be promoted this season is that we have conceded far too many. However, Mr Jewell did at least try to solve the problem in the summer by signing Stockdale, Collins and Sonko; all good players. For a while it looked as if it was working, but then the wheels came off big style. We need a 'keeper and a couple of defenders, but that is precisely what he tried to sign from Portsmouth in the winter transfer period. I don't blame the club for failing to pay silly prices; why should we be overcharged? Signing players is not like a game of fantasy football, because players will only come here if we can show them a combination of success on the field and money off it. Roy Keane's management left a damaged club with little in the way of propects. For what it's worth, I think we are much better than we looked at Christmas (when we were staring relegation in the face) and we are a good mid-table club. If we can move out a few unperforming players and replace them with some quality (easier said than done) we should be well placed for promotion next season. Remember; even Sir Alex Ferguson has had his transfer duds!

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