Paul Anderson and Paul Green were on target as Town and Bournemouth drew 2-2 at Portman Road. Anderson put the home side in front on 36 but the Cherries hit back via Steve Cook's overhead kick just before the break. Green's first Blues goal restored the lead on 56 but Matt Ritchie's deflected freekick gained a point for the Dorset club.

Christophe Berra and Luke Hyam missed out due to injury with on-loan Middlesbrough man Frazer Richardson handed his first Blues start at right-back. Skipper Luke Chambers moved to his preferred position of centre-half alongside Tommy Smith.

Anthony Wordsworth continued in central midfield in Hyam’s absence with Anderson returning on the right and Stephen Hunt on the left, with Frank Nouble dropping to the bench.

Neither side was able to carve out an opening in a scruffy first 15 minutes of over-hit passes at both ends of the field.

There was a scare for the Blues on 14 when Chambers lost his footing but the ball ran through to Gerken before Lewis Grabban was able to get onto it. Two minutes later, the former Millwall striker hit a low effort wide from distance.

On 25 Yann Kermorgant headed well over with chances still rare but with Bournemouth having most of the ball.

Two minutes later, the Frenchman went closer when he nodded Marc Pugh’s cross from the left just over. Soon after, Eunan O’Kane lashed wildly into the upper tier of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand when he should have done better after Ritchie’s mis-hit effort fell to him inside the box.

Hunt switched to the right and Anderson to the left as the Blues looked to get more into the game. On 34 Jonny Williams sent Aaron Cresswell away down the left but the full-back shot wide.

Despite the visitors having been the better of the two teams, the Blues went ahead in the 36th minute. Cole Skuse was found in unfamiliar territory on the right and sent in a low cross. Daryl Murphy couldn’t reach it, but Anderson smashed his fifth goal of the season into the roof of the net from a few feet out at the far post.

Town were close to adding a second two minutes later after Pugh had fouled Williams not far outside the area. Cresswell curled a goalbound freekick but Cherries keeper Lee Camp did superbly to tip it onto his right post.

Richardson did well to divert Ritchie’s low cross away from Pugh at the far post as the visitors looked to get back on terms.

On 41 Grabban shot wide after a blocked Ritchie shot had deflected to him in a good position in the area.

And it wasn’t long before Bournemouth were back on terms. A Charlie Daniels freekick from deep on the left was headed into the air by Cook at the far post and Cherries the defender acrobatically overhead kicked into the roof of the net.

Just before the whistle Wordsworth hit a shot into Camp’s arms when he might well have tested the one-time Town target more.

It would have been harsh on the visitors to have found themselves behind at the break as they had shaded what hadn’t been a great half, creating most of the better opportunities with Town having gone in front from their only clear-cut chance.

However, the Blues could easily have found themselves two in front before the equaliser but for Camp’s excellent save from Cresswell’s freekick.

Ahead of the restart, Town switched Wordsworth for Green and Anderson and Hunt swapped back to the right and left respectively.

The Cherries started the second half on top and on 50 Grabban almost latched onto a ball over the top having got beyond the Town backline. On 53 Nouble replaced Anderson, who had suffered a knock soon after the break.

Town went back in front with their first chance of the second half. After Williams was fouled by Simon Francis on the left, Cresswell sent over a freekick, Smith flicked it on and sub Green stooped to nod home his first goal for the Blues.

Murphy thought he was away and in the clear from Williams’s pass on the hour only for the linesman to raise his flag, wrongly according to the Town players.

The Cherries should have been on terms in the 65th minute when Francis crossed from the right and the ball deflected to Pugh who really ought to have scored but lashed wildly over. That was the former Hereford man’s last involvement as Bournemouth boss swapped him and Daniels for Tokelo Rantie and Adam Smith.

Having gone in front Town were largely content to sit back, soak up everything Bournemouth could throw at them and catch them on the break. On 77 Tyrone Mings replaced Williams with Cresswell moving to an unfamiliar right midfield role.

The sub was quickly into the action, heading the ball away from goal after Rantie had nodded it beyond the advancing Gerken who was outside the area as the Cherries broke following a Town freekick.

Ten minutes from time, the visitors equalised for the second time. After Smith had fouled Rantie five yards outside the area, Andrew Surman played a freekick short to Ritchie, who hit a low shot which took a huge deflection off Skuse at the end of the Town wall and beat the wrong-footed Gerken.

On 84 Mings flicked Cresswell’s freekick from the left just beyond the far post as the Blues looked to restore their lead once again.

The game was now an end to end, very open affair. Richardson dispossessed Grabban in a dangerous position inside the Town area, then almost immediately at the other end Murphy and Hunt were just unable to get on a Nouble cross from the left.

Bournemouth continued to take the game to tiring Town as the match moved into its final minutes. On 88 Gerken saved Kermogant’s shot from the edge of the box, then as the fourth official announced four additional minutes the Blues keeper did well to get down to his right to push Grabban’s low shot wide.

The visitors presented the greater threat during injury time, a mis-hit Skuse shot after a corner had been cleared to him 25 yards out the nearest the Blues came to a winner.

There was almost a moment of controversy right at the end when referee D’Urso blew the final whistle as Kermogant headed a cross narrowly wide.

A draw was probably a fair result. Bournemouth were the better side before the break, while Town presented a greater threat in the second half before going in front for the second time.

After that the Blues - who had had a day fewer to recover from their first Easter weekend game - defended in depth and were unfortunate with the Cherries’ second equaliser. But overall it would have been harsh on the visitors had they taken nothing from the game, particularly given some of the chances they created but spurned.

With Brighton drawing 1-1 at home to Blackpool and Nottingham Forest winning 2-0 at Leeds, Town are eighth a point from Brighton in sixth, while Reading, a point and a place behind the Blues, are in action at home to Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

Town: Gerken, Richardson, Chambers (c), Smith, Cresswell, Skuse, Wordsworth (Green 46), Anderson (Nouble 53), Hunt, Williams (Mings 77), Murphy. Unused: Loach, Tabb, Taylor, Marriott.

AFC Bournemouth: Camp, Francis (c), Cook, Ward, Daniels (Smith 65), Surman, O'Kane, Pugh (Rantie 65), Ritchie, Kermorgant, Grabban. Unused: Allsop, Elphick, Harte, MacDonald, Fraser. Referee: Andy D'Urso (Billericay). Att: 20,356 (Bournemouth: 890).

Photo: Action Images

theobald1985 added 18:08 - Apr 21 boring mick strikes again we should have gone for it they were there for the taking at the back but everytime we score we shut up shop its so frustrating to watch along with all the long balls. i dont think funds can be used as an excuse he has signed berra ebanks blake skuse anderson woody as well as others and they are not playing for nothing but we are just playing hoofball trying to nixk a goal and then see the game out by getting men behind the ball-to make us spend the season watching such uninspiring football we should at least get a play off place otherwise we may have well as played attacking footy on the deck and finished 14th but at least be building something a bit more modern and with some style

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oldegold added 18:09 - Apr 21 As usual we paid the price for lacking initiative and guile. We should have taken the game to them but MM has to play his usual boring, safety-first catenaccio. We have lost at least 4 points now and I think we have said goodbye to the Premiership. How on earth can you bring on defenders/midfielders when you have to chase the game. Boring and second rate football when we should have wrapped matters up..

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StochesStotasBlewe added 18:10 - Apr 21 ..............By the way, very well done to Burnley today, a small town club like us, smaller crowds, small squad, good manager given a few funds to improve last summer. Just shows it can be done.
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MickMillsTash added 18:13 - Apr 21 Thought we looked really tired in the last 20- Hunt, Murphy and Skuse were out on their feet , this would have been Richardson's first full game for ages,Williams looks as if he has lost his spark a bit (now a marked man) - maybe the back to the walls tactics were necessary. We missed Hyams energy and of course Mcgoldrick. You have to respect McCarthy for what he has done- he gets everything out of the players- next season he will get some better players in, we will be better and we will get more points than the previous season. I would have taken still being in the hunt with 2 games to go in August

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runaround added 18:20 - Apr 21 An incredible roller coaster of a match emotions wise. I went to the away match in December at Goldsands & thought AFCB were best team I have seen outside both penalty areas. They control possession & should be congratulated on the way they play football. We needed to continue in the ascendancy to get the points but second half it became obvious our players were out on their feet with the extra days rest AFCB had increasingly playing apart. The second equaliser was very lucky & after that it was clear our legs had gone & we had to hold on grimly. Our hopes are fading but there is a still a chance but I think we have to win our last 2 matches now. One thing for certain though is that our players will give every last ounce of effort they have

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irishtim added 18:25 - Apr 21 Take from me MM wont quit. Is doing a great job. Still outside chance of playoffs with no real budget. I for one thank him.
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blueboy1981 added 18:33 - Apr 21 Lucky Point - FAR too NEGATIVE from the start, any neutral would have been forgiven for thinking WE were the away side today. Tactics ? Substitutions ? ................ just don't understand the man's thinking. MM will be happy with that lot tho' - 'a point achieved' - that's his objective in every game it seems. Seriously we all deserved better than this - couldn't believe the play off's were there for the taking again with a performance like that.

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blues1 added 18:36 - Apr 21 Elizabeth. no. I have to disagree with you that the comments on here are ridiculous. the tactics that mm uses are awful. these formation and tactics away from home are 1 thing, but when at home, in what is, essentially a must win game if the playoffs are gonna be in our own hands, hes played one up front and weve just hoofed it forward time after time. its simply not good enough. I agree with you that we should be thankful for the progress that has been made but that doesn't mean we have to accept such rubbish football week in, week out. of course had we won wed have forgiven it, but we didn't, and we end up trying to hang on for a point, at home. joshifitfcporter. what rubbish. gerken has saved us on many occasions in the past few games, and he had no chance with either goal today neither, the 1st was down to poor defending and a good finish, the 2nd was a wicked deflection. he also made a couple of good saves towards the end of the game which at least ensured we got a point

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rollercoastertown added 18:38 - Apr 21 Just before MM took over this club I watched us play probably the worst performance I have seen in 40 years of watching Town when they sat bottom of the championship and surrendered a 3-0 defeat to second bottom Sheffield Weds. The ground was a horrible place to be, no atmosphere, so negative. And I honestly thought we were going down, and worse, couldn't see what would stop us going down again. Next week I shall travel to Burnley with belief, faint belief, but belief all the same. Anyone who honestly thinks MM has taken this club backwards is a fool.

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Jimmy86 added 18:45 - Apr 21 Without a shadow of a doubt this was 2 points dropped in a game we really needed to win if we are to make the play offs. When is mick going to learn that trying to defend a 1 goal lead is asking for trouble, the opposition only need to score once and then its 2 points dropped straight away!! Plus it was bournemouth who were going all out for the win and we were left hanging on at the end, happy to defend for a draw whilst bournemouth were going for it and could have won. Too many miss placed aimless passes and bournemouth got in our faces and we couldnt cope, they were very tidy in posession and were certainly better on the ball than us. In the summer, providing mick is backed we need to sign confident ball players who are comfortable on the ball, no kick and rush when we get flustered. Still we are still in the mix just, COYB

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smithy91 added 18:53 - Apr 21 Frustrated and ultimately disappointed after todays game. Think this was the 4th time i can remember this season where we have had a chance to break into the top 6 in our hands, and have not taken it. Today Bournemouth were a good side, and looked up for it more than we did at times. Which is why i could not understand why (again) we went ultra defensive when we went 2-1 up? Micks ways/tactically countering the opposition, but it sure as hell played into Bournemouth's hands who werent particularly creating chances until we went defensive and then looked like scoring a third. Also our passing was poor today, with alot of hoofball ending in no end product because Murphy was inneffective mostly. On to the positives- Richardson looked a good solid right back with some good attacking runs. Chambers did well at cb with Smith, and Nouble did well from the bench. Still in with a chance, but we need reading to lose tomorrow and Brighton to slip up once more whilst we need to win the last two ideally. I think we should accept playoffs would be a bonus ultimately now and hope we can strengthen and learn from mistakes when in good positions for next season, COYB

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TimmyH added 18:53 - Apr 21 @pinewood - exactly! take note people who say it takes time to progress, the fact is sometimes it doesn't! who would have thought Burnley who I believe came 12th last season under Dyche and with a smallish budget would have automatically got promoted. Somehow he's got them playing with quality with good work ethic, in my mind probably alongside Pulis managers of the season.

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bring_back_Wickham added 19:00 - Apr 21 Blues1 - I think the reason mick started with 1 up front is because we tried 2 or 3 against blackburn and watford and it didn't work
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bring_back_Wickham added 19:00 - Apr 21 Blues1 - I think the reason mick started with 1 up front is because we tried 2 or 3 against blackburn and watford and it didn't work
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bring_back_Wickham added 19:00 - Apr 21 Blues1 - I think the reason mick started with 1 up front is because we tried 2 or 3 against blackburn and watford and it didn't work
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bring_back_Wickham added 19:00 - Apr 21 Blues1 - I think the reason mick started with 1 up front is because we tried 2 or 3 against blackburn and watford and it didn't work
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bring_back_Wickham added 19:00 - Apr 21 Blues1 - I think the reason mick started with 1 up front is because we tried 2 or 3 against blackburn and watford and it didn't work
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StowTractorBoy added 19:01 - Apr 21 Think some on here are being a tad harsh on the players and MM. I don't know who comes up with these ideas of us having to play Saturday then Monday when the majority have a two day break by playing on the Friday. Such is the high tempo that we play we just could not keep it going today and I agree with a previous post Bournemouth box to box are the best team I have seen this season. We were lucky to get a point at the Goldsands and a draw was fair today. With what we have MM has done a tremendous job but the most frustrating thing for me is our lack of pace as we have no outlet hence the long ball up to our lone striker. Mick must address this for next season otherwise it could be more of the same. We missed the boat on Ritchie who PJ wanted but we need someone of his ilk to vary our play. Its still all in the melting pot but with Forest in the pack as well now it is going to be difficult to get that 6th spot. Amazing that we got one point over Easter and we are still in there with a shout.

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jas0999 added 19:12 - Apr 21 Firstly, I thought Bournemouth played well and thoroughly deserved a point. This seemed like a game too far for our small squad and evidence if needed that ME needs to wake up and realise that with the smallest squad in the league, we will struggle if injuries hit or have to play two games in two days. This takes nothing away from Mick and the payers though. Although now unlikely, we still have something positive to play for with two games left. However, we still look vulnerable against teams with pace whilst there is only so far a team of average but extremely hard working players will take you. Keeper remains a concern, and we need pace in he midfield. An attacking option from the bench would also be good! However, a decent season considering the rubbish of previous years. I remain hopeful, but realistically head says its over now.

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TimmyH added 19:13 - Apr 21 Oh by the way - who ever you are @greentractorboy how about adding something to this forum other than pressing the minus button, thank you!
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truthhurts added 19:19 - Apr 21 Lets be fair here. Who honestly thought we would be in with a shout of the playoffs with 2 games to go!? The work MM and TC have done is incredible. On the flip side we aren't a top 6 side in terms of personnel. If we buy wisely in the summer and keep hold of our best players then next year we can give it a real go. Only negative i have is some of the tactics. Don't wish to contradict my previous comments but MM must not always sit back! On saturday at Watford - a game we threw away - he brings on Green when chasing 2 goals. Today he takes of Williams and brings on Mings. All these kind of decisions do is add extra incentive to the opposition! If Williams had a knock then Taylor or Marriott were waiting on the bench. Doubt anyone was surprised when Bournemouth levelled at 2-2... Anyway. Been a better than expected season. Well done everyone involved. Next season could be exciting!

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mow_the_lawn added 19:57 - Apr 21 Just don't understand the tactics and substitutions being used at present. If he took off Williams against Watford to protect him for Bournemouth, did he sub him today to protect him again Burnley? You can never rest on a one goal lead. It looked today like he brought on a tall (defender) for a short (midfielder) just to play long ball or hope to sneak a goal from a corner or set piece. Smacks of desperation. I'd rather we went for it and risked conceding rather than sitting back and trying to bravely hold on.

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brittaniaman added 19:58 - Apr 21 How the hell did Sheffield wed. beat these on there own ground on Friday ??????????????? Like us they only got 1pt out of 6 over the Easter period !!!!!!!!!
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nix290 added 19:59 - Apr 21 Hahahahahahahahahahaha. What a joke! We are 1 point off the playoffs and still people complain. Quiver read on this thread that apparently it's worse than the a jewell/Keane era! Really? I seem to remember standing in the away end at Posh being beaten 1-7. Now we are contending for a place to potentially get promoted into this countries premier division after spending little more than a family monthly shopping budget on new players!!! What is wrong you some of you people on here? It's meant to be a forum to support the club, not drag it down. Pathetic!

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Keaneish added 19:59 - Apr 21 How our management can not see the basics is beyond me. Murphy was dead on his feet after 20 minutes. His flick ons never found anyone, the ball kept bouncing off him, he was being out muscled and he couldn't close down the centre halves for love or money so how did he manage to stay on the pitch for 90 minutes when we have Marriott, Taylor and Nouble on the bench??? I'll tell you how. Its because he only had one game plan today and that was the long ball into a target man. It was woeful. it was painful. In fact it was atrocious viewing. Why start players who aren't fully fit on the back of Watford when we have other squad options? I cut my weekend break in the lake district to go to that game and did the 6 hour drive before then driving back to London. What a di*k!!!

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