Boss Paul Jewell says he still has a lot of work to do before his Blues side is capable of competing with the best in the division during the season ahead. Town travel to Southend United tonight for another pre-season friendly (KO 7.45pm).

Jewell told the club site: "I'm looking forward to the new season, just as the players and the supporters are, and if we can get the extra three or four players in that we need, then we will be competitive.

"Of course I'm optimistic about the season, but I've been in the game a long time and I'm also realistic. You don't get success overnight in football. It takes time. This club has finished well outside the top six in, what, five of the last six years?

"Last year we were still in a relegation battle until the final few games of the season. We're coming from a long way back when you look at how far we were adrift of the top six places last season. Look at the points we have to make up.”

The Blues manager says a number of other clubs will be building on more successful previous seasons: "When you look at the top six last year, Cardiff, Swansea and Forest have been in and around the play-offs for a few years, QPR spent big and Reading were in the Premier League two years ago.

"OK, people might point to what Norwich achieved in coming up from League One and winning promotion, and there's no doubt that was a terrific achievement, but they carried over the momentum of winning games from the year before. Momentum, confidence is everything in football.

"Leeds were the same last year. Leicester finished in the play-offs the year before after coming up. That is what we've got to create - the momentum of winning football matches.

“If I'm honest, we are some way from that at the moment, but as I said from the first day I came here, it's a building process.

"Getting the players in that we have done in the summer is all part of that and I think the signings we have made have given everyone a lift.

“I'm hopeful that we will have another three or four to follow and that will help take us on to the next stage, but we know there is a long, hard battle ahead. Make no mistake about that. We're still a long way from where we want to be."

Former Blue Reggie Lambe won’t be facing Town this evening despite having been on trial at Southend for the last week but Darren Currie, who is currently training with the Shrimpers but is not expected to join them, could be in the line-up.

Town’s U18s are in action in the annual friendly against Southwold Town on the Common this evening (KO 6.30pm).

Story syndicated from TWTD.co.uk

Photo: Action Images

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