EASTER can make or break a team, and it has certainly broken woeful Ipswich Town.

EASTER can make or break a team, and it has certainly broken woeful Ipswich Town.

Fortunately, despite crashing to a 4-1 defeat at Swansea City yesterday afternoon, just four days after suffering a 5-1 humiliation at the hands of Norwich City, Paul Jewell’s men are at least safely installed in mid-table for the rest of the season.

If Town’s ambition is to be in the top six next term – and it surely is – then the squad will have to be dramatically improved this summer, such is the massive gulf between themselves and promotion-chasing Norwich and Swansea.

Manager Jewell knows this only too well.

A brace from Chelsea loanee Fabio Borini sandwiched a strike from Luke Moore, and leading scorer Scott Sinclair tucked home his 23rd goal of the season from the penalty spot in the second half.

Town’s only reply came via Colin Healy’s 20th minute goal, which had given the visitors a ray of hope at 2-1. But that did not last.

“It’s been a very tough Easter for us, and it couldn’t have got any worse for us results-wise,” rued Jewell.

“I’m just grateful that we have got enough points to not have to worry about the next few games affecting our league position, because if we hadn’t, it would have been a sticky situation.

“This is not a knee-jerk reaction. The players have said themselves they are not good enough as a group to get us into the top six, and that’s where we want to be next year.

“There are no guarantees, but we need players to come in and help what we have already got,” added Jewell.

Town also have a growing list of injuries. Connor Wickham (rib) and Jimmy Bullard (knee and shoulder) both missed out, while defenders Gareth McAuley (groin) and Darren O’Dea (ankle) both limped off.

Jewell added: “It was not a great day at the office. We were a bit ragged, but Norwich and Swansea are the two best teams that we have played since I’ve been here.”