Town boss Paul Jewell felt the result was more important than his side’s performance in Saturday’s 1-1 draw at Barnsley, which ended a run of three successive defeats.

Jewell said: “I think the result was more important than the performance. Two of the last three games, Middlesbrough and Wolves, we should have won, without a shadow of a doubt, but we didn’t. [On Saturday], we might have ridden our luck a little bit and we got a point.”

The Blues boss switched his team’s system to match the Tykes’ diamond, a formation he says worked well for Town early on during 2011/12: “We did it last season with decent success. We have to respect the opposition.

“In this league, every team in it is very good. Names don’t mean anything. How big the club is doesn’t mean anything.

“You’ve got to come here to a place like this - and when we’re at home - and you’ve got to work hard and forget about past reputations. You’ve got to do it on the pitch.

“Barnsley at the moment, they’re playing really good football and I thought we had to try and match them up to try and stop them, and to a large extent, certainly in the first half, I felt we did that.”

Jewell says referee Trevor Kettle had a word with him about Guirane N’Daw at the break, the Senegalese international having been involved in a heated discussion with Barnsley striker Craig Davies as the players came off at half-time, although the Blues manager missed the incident.

“I don’t know, I didn’t see anything,” Jewell said. “I was just walking off and the referee said to me to just tell him to be careful. Then he got booked and I thought the best thing I could do was get him off.”

N’Daw was replaced in the holding role by Jack Ainsley with the Blues boss admitting that his squad was stretched with another midfielder, Luke Hyam, having picked up an injury: “We were a little bit lop-sided there in the second half.

“You always know what you’re going to get with Jack, he’s always going to give an honest performance.

“We didn’t pass the ball well enough in the second half. I have to say, it looked a good pitch, but it was really sticky. The grass was long and you couldn’t run with the ball.

“We had chances to break even in the first half but we didn’t make their goalkeeper work hard enough.”

Overall, Jewell was content, if not happy, with the result, even if it’s unlikely to placate his detractors: “You’re better off getting a point. Half a loaf is better than none, as they say.

“The pressure’s there all the time, whether you win a game or lose a game, the pressure’s there. That’s part of the job.

“I live with the pressure. I don’t read newspapers or whatever they have these days. I know you’re not going to be popular when you’re losing matches, but I appreciate the support of the supporters, who kept the team going throughout the second half.”

Barnsley assistant boss David Flitcroft said Town's switch to a diamond showed the progress they are making: “When you look at Paul Jewell’s Ipswich team and some of the weapons they’re carrying, for them to come and set up the way they did shows a massive respect to Barnsley Football Club, and that includes the players.

“They’ve not gone with their usual formation to try and attack us, they’ve set up and sat deep to counter-attack.

“For me that’s another positive day for Barnsley as we move forward on this journey that we’re on.”

While he felt they were under par in the first half, he couldn't have been happier with their display after the break: “In the first half I was frustrated with the way we played too slow and too laboured and didn’t really get an angle on the game. We didn’t pass the ball as quickly with the tempo that we know we can.

“In the second half I wasn’t frustrated at all. We regrouped at half-time and the lads did everything that was asked of them.”

Photo: Action Images

hulltractor added 06:12 - Oct 1 Well if Mr Evans is going to stick by you PJ at least give some of the U21 lads a run out as were so short of bodies. This Marriott kid is banging them in for fun at the moment. Give him a half hour at Brighton. Can't hurt surely?
0

planetblue_2011 added 06:17 - Oct 1 I would of taken a point at barnsley before the game, I just hope we get at least a point at Brighton tomorrow. Start winning our home games and go from there.
0

Duncan added 07:22 - Oct 1 I have to say I'm getting tired of hearing about how difficult this league is etc etc Could you imagine what Jewell would be saying if he ever got promoted with us - he wouldn't have the words to describe how difficult the premier league is - we are in the championship if this league was so difficult why is it that teams that get promoted from league 1 have done so well in the last couple of seasons

0

BlueBadger added 07:38 - Oct 1 Yes folks, we really are sunk this low. People are pleased we got a draw at Barnsley.
0

oscarwhiting added 07:53 - Oct 1 Jewell are you on crack of course it's about the purfumance if we play like that against brighton well get thumped JEWELL OUT
0

itfc1981 added 07:57 - Oct 1
0

TimmyH added 08:02 - Oct 1 Because it's all about you at the moment Jewell, you think that draw has eased the pressure - as mentioned any other season that would have been a pretty average result but as your neck is on the line!
0

TractorCam added 08:04 - Oct 1 1 point away to Barnsley is hardly a result considering we dropped 9 points from the 3 games before that...
0

cornishnick added 08:18 - Oct 1 We are further from the Premier League than we have ever been. Standards are getting lower and lower. Soon we'll be getting rallying calls about how we can stay and survival in this division will be seen as a great achievement. Maybe this is part of the master plan - get relegated and regroup in Div 1. Maybe ME has seen the likes of the Budgies and Southampton and think that's the modern way of doing it.

0

cornishnick added 08:18 - Oct 1 We are further from the Premier League than we have ever been. Standards are getting lower and lower. Soon we'll be getting rallying calls about how we can stay and survival in this division will be seen as a great achievement. Maybe this is part of the master plan - get relegated and regroup in Div 1. Maybe ME has seen the likes of the Budgies and Southampton and think that's the modern way of doing it.

0

cobbolds added 08:25 - Oct 1 Damn that long grass.
0

alliedaz added 08:38 - Oct 1 rode our luck jewell i was there and we were out classed for 70 mins and didnt even look like scoring and a draw saved your job for another week as our performances at the moment our shocking and ive spent about £500 so far this season on games and traveling so do i get a discount as some players on the pitch are getting paid far to much for non performances
0

oldbri added 08:45 - Oct 1 Mr Jewell,all Towns woes are your fault. The fact the owner has not spent more on players,your fault . We had players at the club but did not sign because they wanted more money,your fault. The fact that some players ball watch,go to sleep,give away silly goals and under perform ,your fault. Our strikers sent on special trips to make them fit or to get them in the best shape possible but they still are not on top form,your fault. The fact that you keep the fans informed of whats happening,your fault. The fact that you dont tell us enough,your fault. So ,Mr Jewell,its time to go..

0

brittaniaman added 08:56 - Oct 1 We have seen teams come and go out of this division for the last 10yrs. and we are still here !!! Unfortunately if we do not get ourselves sorted out soon we could be one of those teams leaving this division from the wrong end !!!.. I certainly hope not ?????? So please Mr. Evans get something sorted before it is to late !!!!!
0

Mr_Jingles added 08:57 - Oct 1 Well... at least the Ryder cup game me reasons to be cheerfull.
0

WeirdFishes added 08:58 - Oct 1 oldbri - that really is the worst comment i have ever seen on here.
0

StuartBrett8 added 09:11 - Oct 1 This season our predicted finish is 12th .... so anything above that is a bonus. I'd have to say 6 years ago a point at Barnsley would be a pathetic result but at the moment we should be grateful to have survived the game and scraped a point. I'm not pleased about mid-table mediocrity but it's what we have... back the team, this result could turn our season around. Did anyone hear Barry Fry on Talksport yesterday? Delighted with a win after 7 straight losses and still positive... COYB !!!

0

dirtydingusmagee added 09:15 - Oct 1 The performance IS crucial, the point may well be vital at end of season but ,we dont want to be chuffed because we come away with a point now and again .To get a win and 3 points should be the aim and that is only achieved by good performance [with the odd exception when a lucky goal my win a game ].Saying it dosnt matter about performance the point is what counts indicates that you are in the s#it and clutching at straws for a life line.Please give us a break.You may wish to hang on to your job for your own financial gain, but step back look at your record at ITFC and ask yourself ,honestly do you deserve to stay, you are first person to bang on about clubs havnt the money to buy players, they dont have money to pay managers who fail either . MOVE ON please .

0

MickMillsTash added 09:27 - Oct 1 The point is important and maybe we can build on it , but the performance was awful- disorganised, playing players out of position, no width, no pace, and with 38 games to go little hope. My son played yesterday and they could not get out of their penalty box, (under 7) I have a feeling that tomorrow may be similar. JEWELL OUT
0

blues1 added 09:33 - Oct 1 alliedaz. if you were there, how can you say we were outplayed for 70 mins? even their coach said they didnt play well in the 1st half. it was only really the last half hour when they really battered us. mind you, it did feel like longer than that, when hoping we'd get to the final whistle not losing.
0

walberswick added 09:36 - Oct 1 Jewell: Manager More Important Than Club
0

StuartBrett8 added 09:36 - Oct 1 The Barnsley game was progress, we didn't collapse and concede 4.. it's all down to an organised defence (Danny Higginbotham) .
0

righty added 09:48 - Oct 1 Oldbri you are absolutely right people who disagree are not real supporters just believe anything they are told Jewell OUT
0

JewellintheTown added 09:59 - Oct 1 Oldbri - I'm trying to work out if you're being sarcastic or not. If you are, good call as there are plenty of players not getting the blamefor the mess we're in and Jewell getting the blame for things out of his control.
0

Ipswichfan123 added 10:01 - Oct 1 We are all Ipswich supporters so why don't we support the team. As soon as we concede the crowd get on the players backs, the players lose confidence and more mistakes are made. The atmosphere at the Blackburn game was good as the crowd got behind the team, the same away at Watford. Even if you don't like Jewell, get behind the team starting with those travelling to Brighton tomorrow and then at home to Cardiff. I understand the fans were behind the team at Barnsley and they saw a draw away from home which we would take even if we were near the top. COYB

0

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls