Jamie Mackie’s 14th minute goal was the difference between the sides as Reading defeated the Blues 1-0 at Portman Road. The Scotland international was given time to shoot from 25 yards and his effort just crept inside the post, while the Blues never really looked like getting back on terms.

Town boss Mick McCarthy named an unchanged side with new signings Richard Chaplow and Luke Varney on the bench.

Teddy Bishop, who signed a new contract until 2018 yesterday, was on the right of midfield with Daryl Murphy up front wearing a mask to protect his nose, which he broke at Fulham last week.

The 21-goal Irishman was the first player to threaten when he brought the ball forward from halfway having been found by strike partner Freddie Sears in the sixth minute.

Murphy looked to return the ball to the ex-Colchester man but it ricocheted back into his path off a defender and he took it on into the the box before hitting a right-foot shot which failed to test Adam Federici in the Reading goal.

Three minutes later Kevin Bru unleashed a well-struck 25-yard effort which Federici saved down to his left with the Blues starting the stronger of the two sides.

On 13 Murphy broke away down the left and held off Alex Pearce before crossing to Sears, who flicked his header well wide. Moments later, after good work from Bru and Tabb, the ex-West Ham youngster hit a shot straight at Federici from the edge of the box.

Despite the Blues having had the better of the early stages, the Royals went in front in the 14th minute via their first shot of the game.

Tyrone Mings stood off Mackie and allowed him to shoot from 25 yards, the ball creeping into the corner of Bartosz Bialkowski’s net with the keeper likely to feel he might have done better.

Two minutes after going behind the Blues felt they ought to have been awarded a penalty when Murphy’s cross from the right struck Pearce on the arm. Spot-kicks have certainly been awarded for similar incidents in the past.

The Royals went close to going two up when Mackie beat Mings down the Reading right before cutting the ball across to Hal Robson-Kanu, who shot well over when he should have done better.

Town weren’t too far away from an equaliser in the 21st minute when Sears sent over a deep cross from the right and Tabb, facing his old club on his 31st birthday, headed wide from a tight angle.

There was another scare for the Blues in the 29th minute when Robson-Kanu played a chipped pass over the top for Mackie, whose first touch on what was a difficult dropping ball took it through to the advancing Bialkowski.

The Town players claimed another penalty in the 36th minute when Bishop fed in Mings on the left and the full-back sent over a cross to the far post from where skipper Luke Chambers nodded down to Sears, who turned his shot against Pearce. Referee Eddie Ilderton indicated that he felt the ball had struck the ex-Norwich loanee’s thigh.

Three minutes later Pavel Pogrebnyak sent Robson-Kanu away on the left but the Wales international failed to find Mackie with his cross with the former QPR man in acres of space breaking into the Town box.

On 40 Simon Cox hit a shot on the turn which scruffed through to Bialkowski, then at the other end a Sears effort from inside the box was blocked.

In the penultimate minute of scheduled time Sears again failed to get enough on a cross from the left, then Bishop skipped his way into space in the area but failed to trouble Federici with his shot. Neither side threatened again before referee Ilderton brought the half to a close.

Town had started brightly and had created a couple of openings before Mackie’s against-the-run-of-play goal. From there the Blues’ performance had deteriorated somewhat and with the Royals having carved out a couple of openings from which they might have increased their lead.

Three minutes after the restart Mings played a ball into Sears’s path on the left of the area, but the striker hit his shot wide.

On 50 Nathaniel Chalobah forced Bialkowski to save down to his left from a 25-yard freekick.

Town should have made more of a 53rd minute break after Sears had sent Murphy away down the centre. The striker cut back inside but couldn’t find space to shoot. Tabb eventually moved the ball on to Bru, whose effort from distance was straight at Federici.

Tabb had another chance to score against his old club - as he did on the opening day of last season - in the 54th minute after Sears had flicked on a long diagonal ball from the right to the left of the area. The midfielder slid in but cut the ball between the far post and his on-rushing team-mates.

Town were beginning to create chances with greater regularity and on 58 Bishop saw a strike from the edge of the box deflect wide. A minute later, after a Tabb freekick from the left had been half-cleared to the edge of the box, the 18-year-old screwed another effort well past the post.

With 25 minutes remaining Blues boss McCarthy switched Tabb and Bishop for Paul Anderson and Jonny Parr, the Norwegian going to left midfield. Two minutes later, Bru was booked for a foul on Danny Williams.

Cox shot through to Bialkowski, then at the other end Murphy fed Anderson, who failed to significantly test Federici with a low shot. The Australian keeper’s time-wasting was increasingly frustrating the home crowd but not yet leading referee Ilderton to take action.

The Blues continued to press and on 73 Anderson cut the ball back from the right to Sears but the striker turned the ball straight at Federici.

On 79, after the Royals had switched Garath McCleary for Robson-Kanu and Hope Akpan for Cox, Varney was handed his Town debut in place of Sears.

With seven minutes left on the clock Varney was fouled by Michael Hector just outside the area but Anderson curled his freekick just over.

Mackie missed a good chance to seal the win for his side in the 83rd minute when he scuffed wide at the far post after McCleary found him following a Reading break.

As the game entered four minutes of injury time Anderson sent over a freekick from the left but Murphy’s flicked header bounced just wide of Federici’s left post.

Federici blocked Murphy’s shot, Reading sub Jake Cooper doing well to get to the loose ball to nod it behind.

From the resultant corner, Chambers headed it back into the danger area, Varney nodded it down and Murphy shot against a defender, the Town players again appealing for a penalty, although perhaps more out of frustration on this occasion.

Soon after, referee Ilderton’s whistle went to confirm the Blues’ second home league defeat of 2015.

Having started on top, the visitors’ goal against the run of play rather knocked the wind out of Town’s sails.

In the second half the Blues huffed and puffed against a Reading side happy to sit back on their lead, but were never really convincing. Reading keeper Federici saw a lot of the ball but without having to make any over-taxing saves.

The defeat and results elsewhere see Town stay in fourth but now five points behind new leaders Derby, who beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-2.

Second-placed Middlesbrough were defeated 1-0 at home by Leeds and Bournemouth in third lost 3-1 to seventh-placed Brentford, who are now only two points behind the Blues, while Norwich, who Town face in the East Anglian derby at Norwich next Sunday, are now fifth just a point behind McCarthy's men.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Bru, Bishop (Parr 65), Tabb (Anderson 65), Murphy, Sears (Varney 79). Unused: Gerken, Stewart, Chaplow, Clarke.

Reading: Federici, Kelly, Obita, Pearce (c), Hector, Chalobah, Williams, Mackie (Cooper 90), Robson-Kanu (Akpan 77), Cox (McCleary 77), Pogrebnyak. Unused: Andersen, Norwood, Blackman. Referee: Eddie Ilderton (Tyne and Wear). Attendance: 21,298 (Reading: 433).

Photo: Action Images

BringBackFinidi added 20:41 - Feb 21 Some fans on here are moronic and contradictory . Another defeat and its all doom and gloom again. YAAWNNNN. Mick McCarthy is the best manager we've had at this club for the last decade. He's turned a team rotting at the bottom of the table to play off contenders in just over two years without spending a penny. How can you 'fans' expect to win every game? It doesn't happen.... Bournemouth lost today, Middlesborough lost today and Derby were fortunate to turn it around at Wednesday and we are still FOURTH in the league. I can't wait to read all the posts on Tuesday night when we beat Birmingham and the same fans slagging us off today will be posting how amazing we are again.

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Jimmy86 added 20:44 - Feb 21 Ultimately it was a bad day at the office today, especially as other teams slipped up, another opportunity missed. We must take care of our own results though and not worry about other people. We were in the driving seat up until the goal and had chances, but just failed to take them. The goal was completely against the run of play and really knocked the stuffing out of us. They then did a number on us, defending the 1 goal lead, then came the time wasting and gamesmanship. How the ref only gave 4 mins of added time is beyond me. Our lack of creativity and quality again shone through today unfortunately. Square pegs in round holes and the "10 million pound" man was poor today. He seemed yards off the pace and when he loses the ball he just gives up. Never worth 10 million and that's the reason no one bought him. He played better after he was benched against Wednesday. Maybe gave him a kick up the arse, to say he's not too big for his boots. Big game Tues night and will help set us up for the scum, who have closed the gap on us big time.

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PJH added 21:03 - Feb 21 Have to get to 4th page of this forum before anyone really puts the situation in perspective. well said BringBackFinidi. We have recovered from setbacks before this season and need to do so again, starting on tuesday. It is disappointing that we have missed a chance to improve our situation even further but we proved in November and December that we could string a run together and need to do the same again now. I know that some of the upcoming games look daunting but maybe that is not a bad thing because some of the points we have dropped recently have been against supposedly weaker teams. I am sure that some of the posts on here from true supporters are out of frustration but there is still the possibility of what so far has been a very good season turning out to be a great one. COYB

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oldegold added 21:04 - Feb 21 Don't think Town fans are moronic and contradictory but are just fed up seeing sub-standard and dull soccer and a manager incapable of taking the initiative and getting the team to play for once with an attacking philosophy.It can only go so far the discourse that we have to be eternally grateful to our manager for turning things round.I think we all acknowledge that but now we need action and a change in tactics, and variation in the style of play.We are not morons to want this and I certainly am not contradictory as I have been espousing this philosophy since August and even when we were on our winning runs.Tone down the insults against fellow supporters and open your eyes..

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Kesblue66 added 21:05 - Feb 21 Another weekend ruined.Seems to as much heartbreak as happiness following town.Why oh why didnt we invest in some quality players,how i envy derby supporters .Remember we did last time we went up with Marcus Stewart,his goals got us up.ME a successful business man must surely realise you sometimes need to invest to succeed .
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BlueMachines added 21:29 - Feb 21 Atrocious substitution decisions today. I genuinely dispair at some of MM's decisions at times. But please never ever say this football is worse than that played under Paul Jewell. We may lack flair and creativity under MM but under Jewell we lacked everything including respect. Now that was awful stuff.
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runningout added 21:29 - Feb 21 would say no games are daunting... if they are, someone needs to get grip
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warktheline added 21:37 - Feb 21 Couldn't sleep. Thanks for your genuine concern blueboy and pinewoodblue. Billblue, do I detect a touch of sarcasm...maybe something I've said? Extremely poor today by all accounts and , without doubt a massive 3 pts dropped. Wouldn't say Birmingham game is a must win, but thereafter games are very difficult. Really can't understand the' RB SAGA' , it's turning into a no brainer! Can we win without Murphy scoring? There has to be contribution from elsewhere, with the introduction of Parr, I believe, the balance of the whole team is far better, including going forward. Please Mr McCarthy sort this out, and while your at it, add some injection of pace....about time Stewart earned his wages...surely fit! Although many have slated the signings of Varney and Chaplow, don't be surprised if both play a big part in coming games. Both could have a positive impact on team. I'm still very confident we will be in the shake up come end of season, but fully understand the frustration on forum this evening.

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PJH added 21:39 - Feb 21 runningout-judging by some of the posts on here Ipswich are so bad that almost any game should be daunting. My point was that fixturewise March is one of the more difficult months(in theory)but as we have been dropping points in games where we are probably not expected to, having supposedly harder fixtures may not be a bad thing.
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bellazzurri79 added 21:51 - Feb 21 Mccarthy has to stop making excuses on the opposition having 'premier league players' ... Of course the f****** have as almost all of the championship have been in the premier league in the last 10 years and we haven't! Today was a dreadful result albeit we played better than when we have dropped points against other strugglers. The table looks worrying now
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blue_moon09 added 21:53 - Feb 21 Surprise surprise, the usual reaction to a defeat from the same Arm chair know it all idiots, its boring, Support the team and the manager, still a lot of football to be played hopefully Ipswich will be in the mix, even if there not I'll still be going home and away next season. that's all..
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BrettenhamBlue added 22:14 - Feb 21 Reading's formation was ready for our hoofball which we then gave them in abundance. God knows how many times the ball was passed back to Chambers who hoofed it aimlessly forward. So frustrating as we do know how to pass the ball; we just chose not to. A very easy win for Reading. The subs today were just bizarre, they weakened us rather than strengthened us. Varney looked out of sorts, maybe he should have been given some time to climatise before being handed his debut. We do need some kind of perspective here: we are fighting for promotion with a much weaker team than many of the sides around us. The fact that we are competitive at all is a great credit to MM and TC.

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oldegold added 22:14 - Feb 21 Armchair Know it all idiots? Me thinks not,oh wise one.Probably seasoned comments from fans who spend their hard earned money watching this mediocre soccer and in the cauldron of Portman Road and most certainly not from the armchair like you.Watch your tongue sonny and think before you write.
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Umros added 22:23 - Feb 21 Dear football league, please, please can we have a decent ref. whilst all teams including us time waste to see a reading defender con a ball boy by asking him to roll the ball onto the pitch to him rather than the goalkeeper then let the ball run past him and walk away is an utter disgrace. More cards for this type of behaviour needed, don't just keep 'having a word' with the goal keeper, snuff it out early!!!! Inept.

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DerryfromBury added 23:26 - Feb 21 Before the players had even changed ready for todays game MM knew Boro had dropped points against Leeds, surely we should have tried to capitalise on this and started with 3 strikers up front, killed the game off then reverted to our normal game. For the life of me I can't understand why MM insists on playing people out of position. The only positive for me today was Varney who looked useful when he came on. I'm not that naïve to think we should, or will, win every game, but surely we should be able to deal we teams in the lower echelons of the league, we seem completely void of any plan B, it's hoof ball or nothing. I believe the season now hangs on Tuesday evening, loose that one and I think mid table at best.

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DerryfromBury added 23:38 - Feb 21 A lot of people keep criticising ME for the lack of investment, I think the criticism might just be pointed in the wrong direction.
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GiveusaWave added 23:45 - Feb 21 armchair idiots? I know many of these forum posters from actually speaking to them in real-life at Fort Portman Road. Many of them attend long and often very expensive away fixtures. well said oldegold- a good response. frustrating result and a frustrating game. Too much hoofball (as has already been said by numerous other posters) and the whole Team generally lacked energy. We have been punching well above our weight for some time and we should feel great pride that this team is even in a play-off place. Problem is, we are running out of steam whilst others are starting to accelerate. If I was a betting man at this point, I would 't be betting on us. We lack ideas, creativity and our general team tactics (hoofball) is woeful. If we do get in the play-offs (big if) it's going to be fairly easy to know how to deal with us from a tactical perspective. I wouldn't want us to be 1-0 down against Norwich with 25 mins left; we simply don't know how to score if the opposition scores first. We would probably hoof and puff (like we have just done against Reading) with nothing like an end product. I really do hope that Varney turns into a wonder-signing, but I doubt it.apart from winning a free kick he looked clueless when he was on and just watched as huge hoofballs went over his head.still think we need a really huge forward if we continue to play like this. remember Sheffield utd used to play hoofball all the time but they had Jostein Flo up front. Swindon Town had the same tactics for a while but they had Fjortoft. wimbledon had fashanu and Ekoku. Yes, we have Murphy but if he gets Injured or is out for any reason we are really going to struggle. We just seem aimless and clueless. Got to admit, been really impressed by Sears but he doesn't seem to fit in with our hoofball strategy. Frustrating day from an ITFC perspective. This really is our first opportunity to do something amazing for years, but I fear we are blowing it. the Jan transfer window was critical and we didn't utilise it, plus we are paying a huge sum for a player who isn't even at the club (Taylor). That situation is bordering on insane but it just seems to be overlooked by most and ignored.

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del45 added 00:14 - Feb 22 Why are we dropping points, answer 0 goals against Derby, rotherham, wigan, and reading which tells you we are not good enough to be in the top 6, sorry to say look at Norwich who score in most games this is main problem because you cannot keep a clean sheet every game. Come on MM play a more attacking selection.
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pablo123 added 00:18 - Feb 22 Well said oldegold and guenchev !!! Im 9 years a season ticket holder , and go to at least half the away games , so i can safely say i'm no armchair supporter bluemoon 09 !!!! If evans wont back us at a time like this , then he isnt getting my money any more !!! Derby and that lot up the road are far better than us (due to owners backing) and they will both go up !! Naaaaarwich are gonna rip us a new one next wknd

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thebeat added 00:51 - Feb 22 Cant be bothered to borr people because i'd just be going over old ground but i'll just say this. Round pegs in square holes. Creative youngster hung out to dry by playing on the wing. Player who plays well every time hes on the pitch yet again starts from the bench.
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kidsurello added 01:35 - Feb 22 Bart Parr Chambers Berra Mings Skuse Bishop Bru Sears Mcgoldrick Murphy Had to be the team!!! Mick won't switch from long ball, 4-4-2, chambers RB, tabb, anderson. Too scared to get the ball down and play, even though we have the right players with bishop, bru, mcgoldrick, 4-3-3 attacking football has to be the way to play, long ball leads to scrappy uncertain games where any team can knick it 1-0, luckily we've had our fair share this year. Every week I'll post this until some attacking football is being played with some creativity!! P.S Anthony Wordsworth scores today, Elliott Hewitt got an assist, and even Freddie fricking Veseli scored a goal!

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kidsurello added 01:42 - Feb 22 Bart Chambers Berra Smith Hewitt Mings Bru Skuse Bishop Sears/Mcgoldrick Murphy Another perfect option for Mick!!!! 3-5-2!! Two flying fullbacks in Hewitt and Mings who evidentially are better going forward but both can fly up and down the wings all day their so energetic, 3 top class class centre half's!! But only when their played at centre half and all on the right side to suit the strong foot. It doesn't seem that difficult but this formation is far too attacking for Mick and is too stubborn to switch it up even though we'd create a lot more clear chances!!

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skinnyman27 added 02:51 - Feb 22 here we go again, beat fulham, we are going up lose one game and micks crap, marcus evans doesnt know anything. do you guys listen to yourselves, you are like a bunch of 3 year olds having a tantrum. up the town
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KiwiTractor added 05:31 - Feb 22 Unfortunately I can't get to games now, so this forum is great for me in terms of keeping a finger on the pulse. There appears to be a real black or white view on here from supporters, but I would suggest there is a plausible grey view...... Does Mick often appear stubborn in his team selections - yes. Is Mick playing some players out of position - yes. Has Mick achieved some great results this season - yes. Is the football pleasing on the eye - probably not most of the time. Would a lot of other clubs in this division want to be where we are - I'd say yes going by (the great) previews from 'Harry from Bath' If you compare where we were before Mick arrived, has he done a fantastic job to get us the 'right' end of the table - yes. Will he lead us to the Premiership - I don't know, but how good is it that we can actually ask that question, rather than asking if he can actually keep us up ...... as we did under Keane and Jewell. Anyway, keep up the comments fellow fans, you are my link to Portman Road from the other side of the planet. And given the consistency of the teams around us, I'm still hopeful of a top 6 finish - there will be a few twists and turns to go me thinks.......

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bazza added 06:55 - Feb 22 Is suggesting Marcus Evans pays McCarthy to keep us down, to use us as a tax loss libellous???, I've heard some sh@t in my time, but that has to take the crown!!! There's clearly some poisonous and delusional people on here when we lose.
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