Debutant sub Kenwyne Jones headed an 82nd minute equaliser as Town and Bournemouth drew 1-1 in an exciting top of the table encounter at Portman Road, Freddie Sears having put the Blues in front in the sixth minute.

Mick McCarthy, whose side had dropped to eighth following the day’s earlier games, made three changes to the team which won at Watford a fortnight ago with Zeki Fryers making his debut at left-back for the suspended Tyrone Mings, while Teddy Bishop, back after a shin injury, came into the middle of midfield for Kevin Bru, who missed out with a calf problem.

Sears started up front alongside 23-goal Championship top scorer Daryl Murphy with David McGoldrick and Jonny Williams, who received a warm ovation as he walked to the dugout, both on the bench. Luke Varney began on the right of a four-man midfield.

For Bournemouth, top scorer Callum Wilson started up front despite manager Eddie Howe having said he expected him to miss the Easter matches.

The visitors carved out the game’s first chance in the fourth minute, Simon Francis laying the ball back to Matt Ritchie, who whipped over a cross which Ryan Fraser headed wide having got ahead of Blues skipper Luke Chambers.

A minute later, Town went in front via their first opportunity of the game. Cole Skuse’s cross from the left found Daryl Murphy at the back of the box. The Irishman was given time and space to play a pass across the area to Sears, who slammed home from six yards with Steve Cook playing him onside. It was the ex-Colchester man’s fifth goal for the Blues and his 19th this season.

The Cherries immediately looked to hit back, Ritchie finding Andrew Surman, who sent a ball across the Blues’ six-yard box from the right.

Moments later, Brett Pitman just failed to reach a cross from the left, the loose ball eventually falling for one-time Town trialist Harry Arter, who blazed over.

The visitors had been on top since the Blues’ goal but on 12 Varney fed Fryers in space on the edge of the box, however, the debutant left-back shot well over.

At the other end, Christophe Berra blocked from Wilson, then, as what had been a pulsating first quarter of an hour came to an end, Francis just got in ahead of Varney after the on-loan Blackburn man had been threaded in by Sears. Referee Robert Madley awarded a goalkick, however.

The Cherries continued to look threatening every time they went forward but with Town so far preventing them from creating any big chances. On 25 Chambers was booked for a late tackle on Ryan Fraser.

There was a scare for the Blues on 31 when Bishop stabbed the ball away from a Bournemouth player into the path of Pitman, but the striker turned his shot straight at Bartosz Bialkowski from the edge of the box.

The Town keeper was forced into his first serious save of the game six minutes later. Ritchie fed Fraser in space to his left and the Scot hit a shot which Bialkowski did well to push past his left post.

Arter was booked for a cynical foul on Tabb as Town broke before Bialkowski again saved from Fraser. The winger whipped over a cross which swerved towards goal and the Pole did superbly to tip the ball over at his far post as it appeared to be dipping under the bar.

Moments later, Chambers and Berra reacted angrily to Wilson rather obviously diving between them inside the area. The Cherries striker then shoved the Town captain and was spoken to along with his skipper Tommy Elphick but referee Madley kept his cards in his pocket.

Varney felt the Blues ought to have been awarded a penalty in the 42nd minute when his cross struck Elphick’s arm. Referee Madley awarded a corner from which the visitors broke after Fryers had slipped, the on-loan Crystal Palace man perhaps fortunate to avoid a booking for fouling Ritchie.

Bialkowski was in action again two minutes later, the Polish keeper punching away Ritchie’s well-struck 25-yard shot. The loose ball fell to Fraser on the edge of the box but his shot screwed well wide.

The Cherries kept up the pressure in the closing stages, Chambers blocking a shot from Francis on the left of the area, the full-back having got away from Jay Tabb. Soon after, referee Madley brought an riveting half to an end.

Having taken their early chance the Blues had largely been on the back foot with Bournemouth passing the ball around slickly and looking dangerous whenever they went forward.

However, for the most part Town had been able to limit the Cherries’ significant opportunities, while Bialkowski made a number of important and impressive saves towards the end of the half.

Sears scraped the first opportunity of the second period wide three minutes after the restart when playing the ball to Murphy to his left might have been a better option. Soon after, Bishop scuffed a shot through to Cherries’ keeper Artur Boruc.

There was a mix-up between the on-loan Southampton keeper and Cook soon after, the defender laying the ball back to him when he wasn’t expecting it and the Pole was forced to clear ahead of Sears.

But soon the pattern of much of the first half was restored with the Cherries looking for the goal which would get the back on terms.

On 51 Bialkowski was off his line quickly to paw the ball out of play after Charlie Daniels had escaped down the left. From the resultant throw, the keeper comfortably stopped Surman’s low 25-yard effort.

The chances began to come thick and fast for the visitors. Fraser crashed a shot into Chambers’s face from the edge of the area, then Berra blocked from Ritchie and Wilson shot into the side-netting from a tight angle on the left. Three minutes before the hour mark, Richard Chaplow replaced Bishop.

Town began to look more dangerous, but Varney’s 63rd minute effort from distance flew well over. Two minutes later, Yann Kermorgant replaced Pitman for the Cherries.

Fraser broke away down the Bournemouth left in the 69th minute and crossed to Wilson, who was unable to find himself space to shoot under pressure from Berra. Eventually, he stabbed the ball back to Ritchie, whose shot was blocked before Berra cleared the danger.

Despite that opportunity, the Blues were presenting more of a threat going forward than they had in the first half. Murphy failed to make the most of a break on 69, then four minutes later the Irishman won a freekick on the left, which was headed over ahead of Berra, who committed a foul, according to referee Madley.

Chris Wood replaced goalscorer Sears with 11 minutes from time, while Bournemouth brought on Kenwyne Jones and Adam Smith for Cook and Fraser.

Moments later, Varney went close to increasing Town’s lead, the 32-year-old tenaciously battling for the ball and breaking into the area before finding his path blocked by Boruc.

The Cherries finally broke through the Blues’ backline with eight minutes of scheduled time remaining. Ritchie whipped over a corner from the left and Jones got ahead of Smith to head home a debut goal with what must have been his first touch of the ball.

In the final minute Matt Clarke replaced Varney, who had suffered what appeared to be an ankle knock in his earlier collision with Boruc.

As the game moved into four minutes of injury time Arter scraped a shot wide, then moments before the whistle Berra conceded a needless corner from which the Cherries almost won it.

Ritchie sent over a ball to the far post which Kermorgant nodded back towards goal and Bialkowski reacted superbly to claw it away from goal. Adam Smith’s rebound was blocked by Skuse and moments later referee Madley sounded the final whistle.

While Town fans will be disappointed to have conceded from a set piece so close to the end, a draw - the fourth in a row between the two sides - was a fair result on the overall balance of the game.

Bournemouth again impressed with their trademark passing and movement, but the Blues showed their battling qualities to stay in front having come under a great deal of pressure having taken their early chance.

Man of the match Bialkowski made a number of vital saves, not least in the final moments from Kermorgant.

The result moves Town back to sixth but with fourth-placed Watford and Derby in eighth in action later this evening.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers, Smith, Berra, Fryers, Skuse, Tabb, Bishop (Chaplow 57), Varney (Clarke 90), Murphy, Sears (Wood 79). Unused: Gerken, Anderson, Williams, McGoldrick.

AFC Bournemouth: Boruc, Francis, Cook (Jones 79), Elphick, Daniels, Ritchie, Surman, Arter, Fraser (Smith 79), Pitman (Kermorgant 65), Wilson. Unused: Camp, Ward, Gosling, MacDonald. Referee: Robert Madley (West Yorkshire). Attendance: 22,672 (Bournemouth: 963).

Photo: Action Images

Kentish_Tractor added 19:36 - Apr 3 Ironic that the only way they managed to get something from the game was by switching to hoofball themselves. Would have taken that result before the game. Disappointed we didn't really work their keeper all game after the goal, but the team worked hard to shut Bournemouth down. And a draw was a fair result. I doubt many fans will argue that who actually watched it. I'd love to see their grumbling fans now!

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bostonusablue added 19:39 - Apr 3 How on earth did we get a point from that game? We kept hoofing it away, so it kept coming back to us. We had no one who could put their foot on the ball and give us a breather. Bournemouth had 10 players who looked comfortable on the ball and who could retain possession. Make no mistake, they are good. Someone tell me how Tabb stayed on for 90 minutes; I've said it before and I will say it again, he wouldn't be anywhere near any of our rivals teams. I'm happy with a point, but Evans needs to get his check book out and buy us some decent players in the close season. Enough of being proud at only spending 10 grand; that will ultimately get us nowhere. Let's get 3 points on Monday! It's going down to the wire.

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battyblue added 19:41 - Apr 3 stole a point again dreadful really to have won would have been daylight robbery completely outplayed by a better team but we got a point somehow.
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ShropshireBluenago09 added 19:41 - Apr 3 Once again a lot of hoofball, but my we work hard and challenge hard these days. Shame we let Jones in for the goal. I think we contained them very well up until then. Sears, Varney and Skuse were my top 3 today.
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bluefeast added 19:41 - Apr 3 Smith player watched as opposed to concentrating on the ball ,that was the ultimate difference. Jones made his run kept his eye on the ball and smith did not. The difference between success and failure rests with small margins. Outside of that we are in there fighting , and it will go to the wire. * clubs battling it out. As for Fulham letting 4 goals in at home vs brentford ,they are an absolute disgrace.

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Leather24 added 19:42 - Apr 3 Good result however trying to sit on a 1 nil lead for 80 odd minutes probably cost us the win
3

boysinblue added 19:44 - Apr 3 Bit gutted but a good result considering we got absolutely pummeled
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mow_the_lawn added 19:45 - Apr 3 A real shame we couldn't hang on to the win but a very credible point against a good footballing team who could've thrashed us. Also a shame Bishop and Sears went off when they did. The longer the game went on the more stretched it got and those two would've got more space to play and run into. Thought Varney was very impressive both defensively and attacking.
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topguy added 19:45 - Apr 3 Nobody can criticise micks choice and the team played fantastically well congrats lets look to the last 6 games top players bk and the best season for a decade maybe a few quid spent next year who knows but 1-1 against bornemouth I am well impressed and fryers was fantastic on his debut and varney was an Ipswich player in the making playing like that a full contract mayb e next year would be nice COYB been a big supporter since the 70s and will always will be love you all

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topguy added 19:49 - Apr 3 if we are honest take the loan players out of the main sides eg derby middlesbough they would be nowhere near when we just spent at most a couple of hundred thousand compared to bornemouth and wovles 2 or 3 million spent next season and who knows
4

yerfdog87 added 19:51 - Apr 3 Battled well. Did us proud. Sears was running them down, Chris wood look looks more like dead wood. Barney did well. Shame smith had one slip up but so did whoever let it go for corner. Cudnt see if chambers or smith. Surprised we hung on for so long
7

blueboy1981 added 19:52 - Apr 3 No need for Eddy Howe to worry about Dick Turpin on the way home - it happened here at Portman Road. How did we manage to get a point out of this.......???
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Lightningboy added 19:52 - Apr 3 Decent point that could make all the difference at the end of the season..what we lack in quality we make up for in guts and determination but that'll only get you so far..we desperately need to sign a midfielder who can control a game this summer..hoofing it forward at EVERY opportunity is NOT the Ipswich way. I'm One who believes you shouldn't make subs when you're defending a narrow lead - taking off Sears for Wood was a bit of a booboo by Mick,then again Chambers should've cleared the ball which lead to the corner for their goal.

8

MonterreyBlue added 19:55 - Apr 3 Well, it is what it is and although i didnt particularly think we deserved a point, purely based on effort and committment our lads, every single one of them deserve 10/10. We all know its not how we would "prefer" to see Ipswich play and i dont buy into the "cheap squad, no talent" theory, am quite sure they can all thread a 10 yard pass BUT that isnt what MM wants them to do, and we are becoming a damn hard side to play against.... even if its not pretty.... So well done to the boys, they must of ran 10k each today, fought like lions and should be proud. On a different note, am completely sick of the negative commentary towards Ipswich, like Bournemouth are Barcelona and we are a pub team. SKY i think your commentary is completely disrespectful to our Club and players, is not the first time and i find it extremely offensive. Down to the wire!! COYB

10

JWM added 19:55 - Apr 3 Oh look the whinging moaners are back.
-6

TimmyH added 19:57 - Apr 3 Reasonable performance in regards to stopping the opposition playing (as we all expected would be the case) and certainly commendable in players efforts re Berra, Skuse, Sears and even Varney but can't help thinking we're going to need more than effort if we are to make the play-offs and more of a creative forward purpose and hence I fully expect the introduction of Williams and McG away at Huddersfield on Monday. Quiet Ironic we were done 'by our own game' with the Jones equalizer but this is just a taste if we were ever to make it to the Premiership that such teams have strikers both of footballing pedigree and for set pieces. Maybe a point just about deserved but I would like to see us end the season trying to get into the play-offs giving it a good old go rather than relying on effort and closing down teams into making mistakes.

8

OldClactonBlue added 19:58 - Apr 3 Damn, thought were going to hang on for all 3 points. Wouldn't you like to watch a team play like that every week though!
2

OldClactonBlue added 19:58 - Apr 3 Damn, thought were going to hang on for all 3 points. Wouldn't you like to watch a team play like that every week though!
3

warktheline added 19:58 - Apr 3 Would of taken point before game, but with the boys again showing such determination to hold on, it's a shame we didn't take all 3 pts. Couldn't believe some on forum laughing at B'mouth signing Jones on loan!!!! 14 goals to date this season? Howe signed him to give his team another dimension, and that's what happened today, things weren't going their way, so he throws the big fella on to mix it up. Smith outmuscled, bang! Results haven't gone our way today, but the lads are still in there giving their all...we move on to Monday, and the pressure continues to build for all concerned. At least we've found some form, and we can go to the Alpine with considerable confidence. My bloody nerves are shredded!

10

Pip50 added 20:03 - Apr 3 Having watched at PR we were battered why was point a good result Derby get something at home tonight we are out of top six. I feel sorry for Sears dealing with the constant long ball. Jones only scores with his head but Bournemouth scoring was inevitable. Frankly we will never finish in play offs with these tactics.
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muccletonjoe added 20:07 - Apr 3 A good point which keeps us in top 6
4

blueherts added 20:08 - Apr 3 We draw with the best team in the divison and win away at Watford in last two games and still they moan - just love our 'fans' but as I always say , I 'respect' your opinion We reduced them in second half and the only real disappointment to me was we lost it to a set piece I thought team selection was right - bringing on Dids and Williams in this type of game having played little or no football this year would be a unecessary , especially with game on Monday Wilson was a joke , btw , falling over at every opportunity A point against Bournemouth and a win at Watford is a great return Wonder what our 'experts' thought we would do ? Wolves is a huge game - and still all to play for , although some , as usual on here have thrown in the towel already - funny Got some really winnable games next three !COYB Skuse was great today

21

carsey added 20:09 - Apr 3 That was typical MM style. Hard working lots of effort and not pretty. No amount of money from Evans will change that. Thought everyone gave 100% today just couldn't keep hold of the ball long enough to threaten them. Bournemouth will fit right in to the premier league with their possession play and style and their ability to fall over when someone looks at them. Don't fancy our chances if we do go up

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bostonusablue added 20:15 - Apr 3 minus 4, really? What was so wrong with what I said? Some fans on here just don't like honesty.
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StochesStotasBlewe added 20:15 - Apr 3 Got a bit of a pasting to be honest, but, having weathered the storm & kept Bournemouth quiet(ish) for a quarter of an hour before KenwynJones goal, I was thinking we might just nick the points. Ironic they should score from a set piece but to be fair they deserved at least point. On another note, I,m sick to death of players, big strong ones at that, diving like f#####g ballerinas, someone needs to take a firm grip on this. The ref today should have booked Wilson (twice) for that as he gave no foul/penalty. I,d have a lot more respect for Bournemouths obvious talents if they cut that out.

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