NEW year, new start.

Ipswich Town fans will be happy to see the back of 2011. The Blues started the year in 19th position under Roy Keane and ended it the very same spot in the Championship under Paul Jewell.

Today they have the perfect chance to start 2012 on the front foot though with a home game against Nottingham Forest today (kick-off 3pm).

Certainly the Blues’ home needs to improve having dropped a whopping 37 points at Portman Road this calendar year.

Steve Cotterill’s side have failed to score in the seven games they have played since their 3-2 win over the Blues a little over six weeks ago.

And while Town themselves drew a blank in their 1-0 loss at Reading on Saturday, there were plenty of indications that 2012 can be filled with more joy.

“The bottom line is we have lost the game 1-0, but there wasn’t a lot between the two teams,” said Jewell. “There were a few encouraging signs.”

Ipswich’s experienced team has improved significantly over the last four games.

And with the January transfer window now open, Jewell is hoping to strengthen his experienced squad with some young, permanent signings.

The Blues boss said: “We’ve got targets we’d like to bring in, but whether we can bring them here in January or have to wait until the summer I don’t know yet

“I want to bring players in who are going to be here long-term. We’ve made two enquiries, but we haven’t heard anything back yet.”

– See today’s EADT and Evening Star for Reading report and Forest preview.