Town manager Paul Jewell felt a 1-1 draw was the least his side deserved from their opening Championship game against Blackburn at Portman Road. Jason Lowe’s late own goal equalised Colin Kazim-Richards’s debut goal for the visitors before the break.

Jewell said: “I think the least we deserved was a draw, not because we were brilliant on the ball, but through our endeavour.

“We passed the ball a little bit slowly, a bit like we did on Tuesday [in the first half]. But they made it difficult for us. After we conceded a bad goal from a set play, they sat in there, but you can’t fault our lads for their effort.

“I don’t think there were too many negatives today,” he continued. “I thought we were going to have to extend the programme to fit in their squad.

“They are a quality team and they made it difficult for us. They’re going to be right up there, there’s no doubt about it in my mind.”

The Blues boss was always confident his side would have the stamina to keep battling until the end, despite the heat: “We had to keep going and I said at half-time that if we keep going we’ll finish strongly because we’re certainly a fit team, and we finished the game the stronger.

“We’ve got a really young and athletic [midfield], Lee Martin’s athletic, Carlos and Cressy are, so I didn’t think we would wilt, but it was really hot out there.

“We didn’t play great but we got something out of the game when maybe in the past we wouldn’t have done.”

Jewell was delighted with the impression Jason Scotland made from the bench: “He’s got that touch of quality.

“He might be able to finish too many 90-minute games but he’s certainly been an impact player for us, coming off the bench or playing for some part of the game because he’s got that touch of quality and makes us play a little bit.

“The conditions today were so difficult with the heat and [I’m pleased] to come from a goal behind. I can’t tell you how hot it is out there.”

The negative was yet another set piece goal conceded with Jewell increasingly exasperated: “What can you do? Other than go out there and head it away myself I don’t know what else I can do.

“It doesn’t matter how good or bad the opposition is, or how good you are between the two boxes, if you don’t defend set plays or don’t make the most of your set plays, like we did in the last minute, it can cost you the game.”

Overall, the Liverpudlian was content with the first afternoon of the Championship season: “I’m satisfied as we got something out of the game. You’re never happy. We want to play better, we want to win games but this league is as competitive as it’s ever going to be.

“We go to Watford on Tuesday, that’s going to be another big test and, as Blackburn will know and the other teams that have come down will find out, you don’t get an easy game in the Championship.”

In terms of adding players before the trip to Vicarage Road, Jewell said: “We might have Jay Emmanuel-Thomas back!” he joked.

“The only time I’m not trying to get a new player is when the game’s on. We’re trying to improve the squad, everyone knows that, it’s about being patient all summer and getting the right ones that will take us forward.

“We’ve got a good group at the minute, we’ve got a small squad, we need to improve that as we go along as we’re going to have injuries and everything else. We need to improve it, no doubt about that.”

As for the bid he made on Thursday, believed to be for Derby striker Steve Davies, he says it has been turned down: “That’s been rejected.”

Blackburn boss Steve Kean thought his team might have won: “We’re a bit disappointed, to be totally honest. We feel that we controlled the game for the first hour and got our noses in front.

“There was a big turning point in the game. If Colin Kazim-Richards’s chip drops into the net, we’re probably going away with three points.

“Having said that, the Ipswich side, who I saw in midweek playing against Bristol Rovers, they’re well organised, have lots of good players and there won’t be many teams who come here and get three points. I must give credit to Ipswich, they were excellent.”

Photo: Action Images

bluey123 added 12:24 - Aug 19 Oh yes I am here and I said yesterday Thomas is useless and anyone who was there can see what I said was correct he is not even good enough for Sunday league JEWELL and THOMAS out. No difference in defending set pieces no striker poor Hyam brilliant and will be dropped as your beloved JEWELL dislikes him. Jewell has had nearly 2yrs to correct the defence what has he done nothing

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bluey123 added 12:32 - Aug 19 Oh also another rubbish comment from your beloved manager another player signing before Blackburn game The man is unbelievable get rid now
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Dog added 13:28 - Aug 19 Bluey123 - every manager since 2002/03 has failed to sort the defence out. Admittedly, last year was a shambles but in reality it was no worse than 2003/04 where we let in 72 league goals. It takes time to build a team - you cannot buy a team - everyone knows that. Jewell is not the best manager in the world - but he needs to be given time. I would far rather see a team being built and the foundations set than pay off yet another manager. JET will come good and he will have more decent games than bad ones. A point against Blackburn is far better than what i thought was going to happen. There are positive signs - not rushing into signings, not paying over the odds and finally the ball being passed (even if it is sideways - no one complained when Magilton did it!!). In that heat yesterday, keeping the ball was key - that is why Blackburn's ageing legs tired.

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Morgan added 14:10 - Aug 19 Okay I am pretty happy with yesterday. Solid performance and contrary to what SK believes we bossed the match from the off with possession football without creating enough when it mattered. Blackburn are as decent a squad as we will come up against this season so as long as we can continue knocking the ball around like we did away from home and every game PJ ten we should have a good season to look forward too. We still need another CB and Forward as a minumun to have a strong enough squad to get us out of mid table obscurity. Martin, Hyam and Smith stood out for me yesterday and I think Loach and Chambers will be excellent additions to the team. It was refreshing to are a youthful Ipswich side playing football so fair play to the powers that be it is what we have been demanding. I'm not sure that long term Drury or Stevenson are good enough to be in a top championship side but happy to e proven wrong on that one I they can. The drums. I'm a fan purely because during quiet periods it drowns up the moaning in the Lower North- although it didnt take long before they winged about the drums. Many people said the atmosphere was great yesterday so I doubt it's a coincidence that it's the same day as drums were used. drums in.

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Morgan added 14:16 - Aug 19 After writing about possession football I just found out that Blackburn had 51%! I'm surprised by that maybe it was the beer and sunshine combo clouding my memory.
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meekreech added 14:34 - Aug 19 No way did Blackburn have that amount of possession ! If they had more than 30 % it was when I was not watching ( having a pee ) or asleep ( and I do not sleep at PR ) ! SK has a very Ferguson ( Alec ) view of his team of old has-beens and never weres!
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runningout added 15:14 - Aug 19 now Watford, who always give us a going over.. all things together and pulling our socks up, no reason not to claim 3 points.. I'm going.. come on, lets keep our brill away following..
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Keaneish added 16:13 - Aug 19 Definitely drums in and definitely keep the edited version of My Way! About time we started trying to bring some atmosphere to PR! Where are the big flags I've seen at some away games too?
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TownLad21 added 16:27 - Aug 19 no transfer news today???
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IvorFeeling added 16:38 - Aug 19 Keanish - agree with drums but not so pleased with 'my way'. I would go for Queen - we will rock you. Not original but uplifting. Tommy Smith is getting plaudits and whilst he did win his far share of headers, he was a fault for the goal and was turned inside out several times yesterday. He just isn't quick enough or reads the game well enough IMO.
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bluey123 added 16:57 - Aug 19 The song my way is rubbish what thats supposed to relate I dont know. As for Thomas he is surly one of the worst players to put on the town shirt Lazy in the extreme cant tackle cant head a ball please tell me what he can do ? Yesterday showed everyone what he is like no heart no desire to put things right, we would surely have won but for his terrible. As for Jewell s time with the defenders dont make me laugh 2 years and making the same mistakes hes cr-p and so are his coaching team get rid of the lot

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MattinLondon added 17:19 - Aug 19 @blueynorwichidiot123 The song my way is rubbish what thats supposed to relate I dont know Sir Bobby's favourite song
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ipswich61 added 18:33 - Aug 19 bluey123 i hear jewell is banning you from the next home game,at least you still have your norwich season ticket
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bluey123 added 18:33 - Aug 19 MattinLondon You are the idiot if you believe what I have said is wrong I have supported ITFC for many years this does not mean I agree with the management s every move. And before Ipswich start playing songs in his memory they should look at the way the club is being run first I am sure he would not have approved as I new him quite well
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Keaneish added 18:53 - Aug 19 Bluey123 doesn't like My Way!? Bluey123 has no taste.
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bluey123 added 19:24 - Aug 19 Keanish you quite right I dont like it its rubbish just like you
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runaround added 19:36 - Aug 19 Jewell was rather short with his answer on the player bid, think he might be getting a bit p****d off with being asked about it! But what does he expect after his comment on Thursday re being confident on securing the signing?
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Southamptonblue added 10:15 - Aug 20 The last couple of years it's been other teams scoring late goals against us - so the late equaliser was a nice change.
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TangoAlphaNovember added 11:07 - Aug 20 Have to agree with Bluey.....hate the "anthem"...felt embarrassed You have to have a pretty good vocal range to sing that one though pleased to see that it was a truncated version Don't know what was wrong with the original singin the blues...it was fun to sing and easy to join in and clap to Loved the drums but ace of the day goes to the samba band outside the ground....could have watched them for a long while...great sound...get them marching around the pitch at half time Was great to see a mainly passing game from our lads keep that up please but felt like last season when they were all rooted to the ground watching the ball dink in for the corner. Can't wait to see what happens Tuesday.

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