Town and Wigan played out a disappointing 0-0 draw at a snowy Portman Road. Jay Tabb had the best chance for the Blues in the first half, while David McGoldrick and sub Freddie Sears had opportunities after the break, but overall a goalless draw was a fair reflection of a drab game.

McGoldrick’s return from his knee injury in place of Daryl Murphy, who has a calf strain, was Town’s only change from the team which lost 3-2 at Brighton 10 days ago.

The Town number 10 who had missed the previous two games, was partnered by Noel Hunt with recent signing on the bench.

The visitors carved out the game’s first chance in the fifth minute when Don Cowie sent James Perch away on the right and the ex-Newcastle man whipped over a cross which Marc-Antoine Fortune headed high and wide at the near post when he ought to have done better.

Town created their first opening a minute later, McGoldrick, skipper Luke Chambers and Paul Anderson exchanging passes on the right before the winger sent in a cross which Tabb was unable to head towards goal.

After Tommy Smith had eventually dealt with a difficult bouncing ball ahead of James McClean, Kevin Bru just overhit what would have been a superb pass into the path of McGoldrick.

On 14 Tyrone Mings fed in Tabb on the left of the area but the midfielder hit powerfully over when he should have played the ball across the six-yard box to the waiting Hunt, McGoldrick and Anderson.

The game developed into a scruffy affair on a pitch which was cutting up with neither side able to create much but with Wigan having the upper hand. Town were very much missing Murphy’s aerial presence up front with high balls regularly punted forward but defended comfortably by the Latics’ backline.

As the match moved towards the half hour mark snow began to fall steadily and the Blues managed a couple of shots. First McGoldrick hit a deflected effort through to Ali Al Habsi in goal for the Latics, then Hunt’s strike flew high and wide from distance.

Moments later, Smith was yellow-carded for a foul on Martyn Waghorn, then Wigan’s William Kvist joined him in the book for a challenge on Bru. Five minutes before the break McClean picked up a caution for tripping the breaking Bru.

Tabb headed Hunt’s right-wing cross to Al Habsi in the 43rd minute but neither side looked like breaking the deadlock as a dull half came to a close with the snow by now falling more heavily.

Under par Town, who were clearly missing Murphy, had been unable to create anything of note, Tabb’s opportunity just before the quarter hour when he should have passed rather than shot perhaps the best of them.

Wigan had similarly failed to significantly test Bartosz Bialkowski - Fortune’s early header was their best chance - in a forgettable first period in which there had been little between the teams, despite the Blues’ presence in the top four and Wigan’s current position second-bottom.

The Blues switched Anderson for Teddy Bishop at the start of the second half with the snow having momentarily subsided.

Nine minutes after the restart, Bishop, who had made an immediate impact going forward on the right, found Cole Skuse to his left, the central midfielder playing a ball in behind Perch to Mings, but the left-back’s cross was blocked.

Tabb felt he had been impeded as he broke into the area but referee Charles Breakspear, who had frustrated the home fans and players with a few decisions before the break, waved away his protests.

The game continued in the same less than inspiring manner of the first half with the snow having resumed. Just after the hour, Fortune cut in from the right but scraped his shot well wide.

The Latics went closer on 62 when Perch flicked Cowie’s left-sided corner from the left beyond the far post when he should have scored.

Three minutes later, with Wigan looking the side most likely to break the deadlock, home debutant Sears took over from Hunt.

Town carved out a rare opportunity on 72 when Mings crossed from the left but McGoldrick headed weakly to Al Habsi.

As the match moved towards its final 15 minutes Tabb flicked a header into McGoldrick’s path on the left and the striker did well to cut it back to Sears, who could only divert straight at Al Habsi at the near post.

The Blues were starting to look a bit more of a threat, but on 79 Berra cut out McClean’s dangerous cross from the left ahead of Fortune.

A minute later, Emyr Huws was booked for blocking off McGoldrick as Town broke. From the freekick deep on the left, McGoldrick headed Tabb’s ball wide. Jonny Parr replaced Tabb at left midfield for the final six minutes.

Two minutes before the end Sears had the ball in the net but having been flagged offside, although with the Town players complaining that the ball had been played into his path by a Wigan player.

After three minutes of uneventful injury time referee Breakspear confirmed Town’s first home 0-0 draw since the Blackpool game last February with frustrated boos greeting the whistle.

In truth the game didn’t really deserve a goal with both sides as poor as one another. Neither keeper was forced to make a serious save in either half.

After the break, Wigan probably should have scored through Perch’s header, while Town, who never put the struggling visitors under any real pressure, came closest via McGoldrick’s header straight at Al Habsi and Sears’s effort which the former Colchester man couldn’t divert away from the keeper.

Overall, a disappointing result for the Blues against struggling opposition, who battled gamely but showed little quality. Town remain fourth but are now three points behind leaders Bournemouth and Derby and two behind third-placed Middlesbrough with all three having a better goal difference.

After one win in six games in all competitions, the Blues need to get their stalling promotion challenge back on track with a win away against Rotherham, another of the teams at the wrong end of the table, next Saturday.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Bru, Anderson (Bishop 46), Tabb (Parr 84), McGoldrick, N Hunt (Sears 65). Unused: Kenny, S Hunt, Clarke, Ambrose.

Wigan: Al Habsi, Taylor, Perch, Barnett, Ridgewell,Huws, Kvist, McClean, Cowie, Fortune, Waghorn (McKay 78). Unused: Carson, Boyce, Pearce, Kiernan, Cosgrove, Flores. Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey). Att: 19,155 (Wigan: 225).

Photo: Action Images

tomitfc added 19:44 - Jan 31 Too many of our players treat the ball as if it's a hot potato. Get it. Hoof it. If it doesn't work.. Hoof it again. We've been crying out for a creative player for years. It's fine loaning one in (eg Williams) but then we're stuck in the same position when the loan expires. Check book out please Mr Evans.
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Kirbmeister added 19:55 - Jan 31 StowTractorBoy - at last some realism in all this gloom from some of our hypocritical supporters. I was there today and we were poor. We have hit a bad spell but i cant see why we cant pull out of it. We WON'T be spending any money cos we are in loads of debt already so get used to it. We may make the top two or playoffs, who knows. But we are generally improving year on year. It makes me frustrated when the some supporters on here (in fact pretty much all of them) turn on the team and management as soon as he going gets tough.

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bellazzurri79 added 20:15 - Jan 31 We will not pull our way out of this if we continue to play those players in that formation. It feels like other managers are doing a number on us since the start of the year and is mccarthy doing the same to our opposition? The only good thing that has come out of today is that we were reported to be interested in Marc antione fortune and after seeing him today, thank f*** we didn't sign him!!!!!!!!!!!! We need to get some new faces in midfield to replace Anderson who is not good enough at championship level and get another out and out striker to replace mcgoldrick when he performs like he did today ..I'm afraid to say I'm starting to see why nottingham forest fans couldn't stand him .. I hope it's just cos he is not 100% fit

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warktheline added 20:16 - Jan 31 Kirbmeister spot on post.....unfortunately it appears some seem to be willing the team, or should I say, Mick, to fail....guess what, we have the best man for the job, please go check his CV, doubters.
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purplealien added 20:18 - Jan 31 I wasn't there today, so can't comment too much, but I thought I'd respond to the point about Brighton getting beat. Apparently the conditions were dreadful at Blackpool, totally different from the Amex. Brighton are c**p in physical contests on poor pitches. I was at Brighton for our game and we failed to get in their faces. Instead we let them play. That's why we lost. What worried me the most from that game was a loss of confidence/desire on the part of some players. Mick Mills seemed to have a similar view about today. Mings in particular seems to have lost his way. Time for him to be dropped for a few games in my opinion.

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dubblue added 20:20 - Jan 31 Some common themes - We missed Murphy, should have played Sears. Long ball tactics not entertaining or effective given our shortish strikers. I have my doubts we will get any new signings between now and the deadline. Automatic promotion now looks unlikely the squad simply is not strong enough. But play - offs still realistic. Let's get behind the team now is when they need our support COYB

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Cakeman added 20:25 - Jan 31 Difficult to find a positive out of today, although ,Sears looked ok and had a bit about him when he came on. Bart in goal did all that was asked of him as well. January's have historically been a bad month for us over the past few seasons, so hopefully we can move on into February and get back on track. Obviously missed Murphy but Cannot rely on one man up front. not sure if McGoldrick is fully fit or just out of form? Not too disheartened but we need to get back to the type of performance that took Brentford apart not so long ago.

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bluefeast added 20:29 - Jan 31 Match report should of just said it snowed , as that was the highlight
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thebeat added 20:30 - Jan 31 warktheline i wouldnt say people are willing Mick to fail. I know some say everyone jumps on here when we lose etc but come on that was Sunday league standard today and i wouldnt have a problem if all 19,000 fans came on here to air their views. That simply wasnt good enough and there can be no excuses, Wigan are woeful and should have been dispatched. My neck is still hurting from watching football in the sky. I stand by my first status that Mick needs to regrow the pair he had before Christmas when we were destroying teams with 4-3-3 using Parr and Mings as potent attacking threats and Didz should be utilised behind Murph and Sears. Its not a coincidence our best spell of results and quality of football was produced using 4-3-3. When the team sheet was announced today we all feared the worst. And we were right.

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NoelTheDub added 20:33 - Jan 31 It makes no difference who we play up front the 40yard punt up to them will not work and what striker would join us looking at that.As for new faces in midfield what would Ambrose or Parr think they have to do to start a game.Mick picked Ambrose v a very strong Saints side and he got into their box to score.Parr came on v Millwall and got an important goal when we were struggling to put a very poor loins team away.I think our team can do much better if the right front footed players are picked as our hit and hope it lands at our feet style wont get us anywhere in the long run.Our legs are gone so give others a chance Mick please..

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oldegold added 20:53 - Jan 31 I think only an idiot would say that Town supporters are willing MM to fail. We are resolutely behind our club but today was a demonstration that our Philistine route one style is not going to get us promoted.We live in a democracy and the whole point of the message board is an exchange of opinion..we agree/we disagree - but we don't offend fellow Town supporters, do we Warktheline? Bournemouth, Derby and Middlesbrough show the way and playing with one lone real striker with a hoof ball tactic against the penultimate team with one victory in 13 is not the real way. Ipswich Town has always been versed in our way of playing soccer - think of Sir Alf, Sir Bobby, George Burley, Joe Royle even John Lyall in the 91 to early 93 period.

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mikeybloo88 added 21:08 - Jan 31 Only a fool would fail to recognise that of the top 6 teams, we are the worst a playing football on the ground. You want sharp, incisive passing...don't look at us. I don't want to get promoted playing our style of football....and before someone says that if we get up, we will strengthen and change our style, boll*cks will we, we'll still have most of these players who will struggle big time in the prem. Only reason I want to go up is to get some money for the years ahead, but I don't think I'd enjoy a season in the prem from a footballing point if view.

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bellazzurri79 added 21:20 - Jan 31 We won't be going up this season I'm afraid let's face facts.... Can anyone see Derby Bournemouth or middlesbro mot going up this season?
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mickymacsbarmyarmy added 21:28 - Jan 31 Was a strange atmosphere today..didnt feel like a ground with a team playing to remain only a point of top spot..need to get that fortess portman road feel back..still no need to panic with the exception of derby weve still got all the top teams to play & though at times it may not be pretty we on our day are more than capable of beating any team in this division..

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warktheline added 21:35 - Jan 31 Many do on this forum want Mick to fail, why? Because many have been eating constant humble pie for two seasons. When we win all is dandy, regardless of performance, when we don't, all the so called 'tacticians' come out. I can accept certain people on here who can construct a decent argument, but others such as oldegold and blueboy jump on the winning side week in week out.

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SohoBlue added 21:35 - Jan 31 I was at the game, and it was a continuation of the matches that were shown on TV. I'd trekked down on replacement bus services, but it wasn't pretty. Conditions were grim, imagination lacking and Wigan chucked their weight around a bit. We looked lightweight without Murph holding the ball up, laying it off using his strength and most players few had off days. Berra won lots in the air, luckily, but couldn't pick a pass. We continually looked to go backwards rather than take a man on, and the officials were poor. We weren't at the races today, but we'll come back. Some pace and skill on the deck in midfield would have been good, but I think Wigan would have kicked any of the young 'uns off the park. Cup half full: we didn't lose. Cup half empty: 5 weeks ago we'd have hammered this shower of a side. Let's move on quickly.

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warktheline added 21:40 - Jan 31 @thebeat, many of your points are valid. Good post.
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essex57 added 21:53 - Jan 31 Some times it beggars belief the things people write on here yes it was a poor game but we got a point lets get on to the next game and get behind the team there was a distinct lack of atmosphere today and those fans who booed at the end of the game should be ashamed.
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PJH added 22:02 - Jan 31 It has been a bad month but equally February could be a very good month. Today was very poor but we could well be in an even better position(3 points off the top remember)in a month's time. I agree that at this moment things do not look as bright as they did at the end of December but it is far too early to be writing off our automatic promotion chances.
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Kirbmeister added 22:07 - Jan 31 Forget the cup our bad league run consists of 4 games, 4 points - not exactly horrendous. MM knows it wasn't great and i'm sure he will address the problems.
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NoelTheDub added 22:36 - Jan 31 Kirbmeister Mick wont and will not address our ongoing problems they have been there a long time now.Our no scoring,no forward passing,no creativity no width midfield for one,and the square peg syndrome by that I mean playing guys out of position.His refusal to give others a chance by sticking by his favs.We cant keep saying on to next week as the problems are still there.Yes teams around us can get players in the difference is they play them what Parr and Ambrose were told when they joined is beyond me even Sears has done enough to get a start.We all know the lads that are burnt out so get them out of there Mick before its to late.

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Kirbmeister added 23:25 - Jan 31 All Im saying is you weren't moaning about our 'on going problems' in November or December from what i recall of the comments back then.
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Lightningboy added 23:31 - Jan 31 Another poor January..exactly the same thing happened 12 months ago - we were on a great run then the faffing FA cup comes along and disrupts the league form..about time they shoved that competition into the middle of the week. We need to be more positive if we don't want to lose pace with the top 2.
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del45 added 23:41 - Jan 31 Sears on the bench not good enough, only played most of the season scored 13 goals ? forgot he is a forward his role to score goals why did you sign him MM number of goals scored in last 3 home games 0 today said it all.
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oldegold added 00:14 - Feb 1 Judging by the response, there are a lot of Town fans who think like me that with today's performance we will not be going anyway. I think Naarwich fans like warktheline just look for people to agree with them and if they don't, resort to offending. I think history shows that I certainly don't jump on the winning side week in week out, whatever that is supposed to mean. On the contrary, I have supported Town thru thick and thin for longer than I can remember. Regarding MM's style of football, I said it even when we were on our long unbeaten run. With other performances like today, we will be lucky to make the top half of the table.

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