WITH the season drawing to a close, Ipswich Town writer Chris Brammer takes a look at the Blues’ rollercoaster campaign. From plunging to the depths of despair under Paul Jewell, to achieving top-four form with Mick McCarthy, this season has had it all.

Jewell’s Blues started the campaign with a 1-1 draw at home to recently-relegated Blackburn, following a midweek victory in the Capital One Cup against Bristol Rovers at Portman Road.

A morale-boosting 1-0 victory at Watford followed with Michael Chopra grabbing a late winner to end the Blues’ hoodoo against the Hornets which stretched back 15 games in league and cup.

What was to follow was not expected at all when the Blues travelled to Blackpool and came away on the end of a 6-0 hiding, just over a year after the 7-1 thumping at Peterborough.

Four days later the Blues slumped at Carlisle in the Capital One Cup, before restoring some parity with a 2-2 home draw with Huddersfield, Luke Chambers grabbing his first goal for the club and Scott Loach saving a penalty.

A 2-0 defeat at Middlesbrough followed, before Wolves and Charlton then left Portman Road with away victories.

Things were beginning to look desperate and draws at Barnsley and Brighton did little to ease the tension, before three defeats in a row saw Town slump to defeat against Cardiff, Hull and Derby and Jewell lose his job.

Chris Hutchings took over in a caretaker capacity for the home game against Sheffield Wednesday, but a 3-0 home defeat, and the manner of the loss, left Town is desperate need of a pick-me-up, five points adrift at the bottom of the table.