Blues boss Paul Jewell felt it took Grant Leadbitter’s missed penalty to get his side going after a lacklustre first half in the 1-1 draw with Middlesbrough.

Jewell said: “I think the first half we were very flat, we couldn’t get any momentum and it almost took the penalty miss to breathe us into life.

“Then we conceded a goal, we thought it might have been offside, I don’t know whether it was or not. Then I thought we showed good character and good resilience and it was a bit end to end in the last 15 minutes.”

The Blues boss felt the penalty was saved rather than missed: “It was a good save. I wouldn’t say it was a penalty miss, I thought it was a good save by the goalie. It was a great goal from Grant, tough technique coming across his body like that.

“He’s been terrific of late and he looks like he’s got goals in him. He’s playing well and he showed character not to pass up the opportunity of taking the shot on after missing the penalty.”

He thought the busy month was to blame for the dismal first period: “Sometimes games are like that. I think we look a little bit jaded, both sides. To play eight games in a month is a punishing schedule.

“I know this game was rearranged from the game which was called off and I know people don’t want to hear about highly-paid footballers being tired, but both teams have put a lot of effort in and I think the first half was just a flat game.

“They play a system which is difficult, they didn’t play with a centre forward in the first half. They were very fluid, had the extra man in midfield and we couldn’t get to grips with that.

“Jutkiewicz came on and they had a bit more of a focal point. I thought in general it was a flat first half but an excellent second.”

Jewell believes it was another match his team might have lost a while back: “Having found ourselves behind and missed a penalty it would have been easy to feel sorry for ourselves. I thought the crowd were terrific again, willing us on after we’d gone a goal behind and missed a penalty.”

The Blues boss was pleased with the impact his subs made: “Andy Drury was bright when he came on. We’ve given him a little bit of a rest and when he came on he passed it around. I thought Jason Scotland gave us a little bit of extra impetus.

“JET didn’t have his best night tonight but he can make things happen, so there were a lot of players who didn’t have their best game tonight, for one reason or another looked a bit flat. But we got something out the game against a team who are a good team.

“I think they’ve got the best away record in the league and they are going to be right up there come the end of the season.”

Jewell says there could be changes when Barnsley are at Portman Road on Saturday: “There will be one or two tired bodies after seven games in 26 or 27 days, a game every three and a half days type of thing and it does take its toll. We’re probably going to get some rest into the players.

“One or two of the fringe players might possibly get a go on Saturday. We’ve not got the biggest squad in the world but we’ll see how they are in the morning and on Thursday, but I’d like to freshen it up a little bit.”

Boro boss Tony Mowbray had no apologies for his side’s rather negative approach: “We came to counter-attack. Ipswich have won five on the bounce and we didn’t set up to be over-expansive.

“We’ve won a lot of football games on the road by counter-attacking and being solid and trying not to give goals away and frustrating opposing fans, as teams do at the Riverside.

“It’s not a crime to do that, the team at home is the team that has to go and try and break you down and create chances.

“I thought we restricted Ipswich tonight to very few chances and if you analyse it we probably had the best opportunities.”

He says his team felt the spotkick was harsh: “I think the players thought the penalty was ridiculously soft but it seemed to be that sort of night with the official. I don’t know the count but Ipswich seemed to have about 100 fouls and we had about two, whether that was because we were being competitive I don’t know.”

Photo: Action Images

Daleyitfc added 10:13 - Mar 28 The team looks jaded because Jewell has gone back to playing stodge in midfield : still, at least he's now satisfied himself that he can discard Drury and Hyam without getting stuffed, so we won't see them again. Another manager with very little brain. Get rid.
0

Lightningboy added 10:28 - Mar 28 "we looked flat" but Jewell will play his favourites at the end of the day..Bowyer,Leadbitter,McCarthy...he was saying these things 3 or 4 games ago and true to form back in came Bowyer & Leadbitter..be interesting to see if he does the reverse this weekend and puts Drury & Hyam back in?!..I doubt it. He seems to have a short memory..certain players like Hyam & Drury "saved" this season (from relegation anyhow)..but when push comes to shove Jewell doesn't like to take any risks..same old same old i'm afraid.

0

Garv added 11:01 - Mar 28 Lightingboy how can you be complaining that Leadbitter was put back in?
0

alfromcol added 13:52 - Mar 28 nitroblue1970 Can't be sure but I think this is the first penalty he has missed for some time. Correct me if I am wrong.
0

Keaneish added 14:39 - Mar 28 Hyam's goig to have spells in and out of the side, he's only 20 and still learning, that's football. Get a grip people! March was always going to be a rotation period. Pretty sure Hyam will be getting more starts before the end of the season. As for why Carson isn't starting, the fact we have a very small side comes into PJs thinking. Without JET and Murphy, we only have 2 centre backs over 6ft so for set plays these must be better options. If we had a Joel Ward at 6'2 and one other in the side, fairly sure we'd be seeing more of Carson in the team...

0

jas0999 added 17:29 - Mar 28 Faire, albeit disappointing result considering Boro offered little in terms of attacking threat and played most of the game with a makeshift back 4. Great strike from the excellent Leadbitter saved this game, which up to about 70 minutes was very dull. The reason: PJ returning to his old ways - favouring a has been injury prone player (Bowyer) above up and coming younger players in Hyam and/or Drury. Perhaps a 'PJ fan' could explain this thinking to me? I don't get it! Why are we even allowing Bowyer to play - and thus earn a new extended deal? Also, PJ was playing a 4-5-1 last night. All too often Chopra was isolated. PJ did at least change this, but the damage was done. I doubt those wavering on the season ticket renewal would have been too impressed with this game. Very worried about the defence - even Cresswell beginning to struggle - plus Leadbitter and Murphy likely to leave. Still much for PJ to do - starting with being more attacking from the START on Saturday. Would play Carson if Murphy unlikely to return.

0

newtownfan13 added 17:57 - Mar 28 bring in youth with hyam and carson and forget about Bowyer and Bullard, let the kids show us what they can do on Saturday, give them a start it is unfair to just leave them out of the squad..............
0

Garv added 18:11 - Mar 28 In response to Jas to say Cresswell is struggling I think is harsh. Mistake for the goal but excellent otherwise imo. And I'd put good money on Murphy joining permanently.
0

TimmyH added 19:40 - Mar 28 why the hell did he start again with Bowyer!! hasn't PJ learn anything? or perhaps PJ is expecting him too to start playing well so he can get an extension to his contract, so far it hasn't worked, bring back Drury!
0

bluearmy4life added 20:35 - Mar 28 Fair result in the reflection of things. I thought the first half was poor from both sides. Again Leadbitter was probably MOM. Made up for his penalty miss. Can't say he looked too confident before taking it from the Sir Bobby Lower. What is encouraging is we are not playing brilliantly and we are still picking up points Burnley, and Boro in particular when we hit real form we destroy the likes of West ham? Play-off's are gone now of which was only a slim chance. Let's beat Barnsley and It won't be a bad return.

0

carsey added 23:20 - Mar 28 I know people don't want to hear about highly-paid footballers being tired - dam right I don't they have no idea what it's like in the real world. It's not like they run for 90 minutes most of it is walking or jogging or in JETS case standing still. Please don't let us have to put up with Mr Bowyer anymore this season he is way past his best and we need to see what the younger players are really made of. Same for Murphy - he isn't one of ours so send him back to Celtic and play our players the experience will do them good and they might surprise a few people - either that or we will know they aren't up to it.

0

Garv added 01:38 - Mar 29 How much running do you do in your day job carsey?
0

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls