Town’s play-off aspirations suffered a significant blow as they were beaten 2-1 at Huddersfield. Nahki Wells and James Vaughan gave the Terriers a two-goal half-time lead and despite Luke Varney netting three minutes after the break the Blues were unable to get back on terms.

Town boss Mick McCarthy made two changes with Richard Chaplow and Chris Wood coming into the team for Teddy Bishop and Freddie Sears, who dropped to the bench alongside Jonny Williams but there was no place for David McGoldrick.

The Blues, wearing their orange away kit, threatened for the first time in the third minute when Chaplow crossed from the right and the ball reached Jay Tabb at the far post, Huddersfield defender Tommy Smith - one of their three centre-halves - cleared his effort on goal off the line.

The home side went in front via their first serious chance. Left-back Zeki Fryers, in for Tyrone Mings, who was serving the second game of his ban, tried to play the ball inside to Christophe Berra but instead fed one-time Town trialist Wells, who cut into the middle and curled a left-foot shot from the edge of the area beyond the diving Bartosz Bialkowski’s right hand.

Having gone in front the Terriers, previously without a win in seven, gained greater belief and soon after Wells might have done better from James Vaughan’s cut-back from the left but scraped his shot out for a throw.

Sean Scannell, who was giving Fryers a difficult afternoon, claimed a penalty when he clashed with the loanee left-back as he broke beyond him but referee Tony Harrington, probably correctly, felt he’d made a lot of not much contact.

Huddersfield continued to look much the more dangerous side and on 21 Vaughan went close to making it 2-0 when Christophe Berra headed a cross from deep on the left up in the air but the former Norwich man’s overhead-kick flew straight at Bialkowski. A foot or so either side of the keeper and he would have doubled his team’s lead.

A minute later the Blues weren’t far from getting back on terms. Varney flicked on a long ball sending Daryl Murphy in on goal to the right of the area. Town’s 23-goal top scorer took the ball around keeper Alex Smithies but Terriers defender Smith got back to clear off the line.

It was a missed chance the Blues would rue on the half hour when the home side doubled their lead.

Jacob Butterfield chipped a cross to from deep on the right to Vaughan at the far post from where he nodded an inch-perfect header over Bialkowski, under the bar and into the corner of the net.

After Oscar Gobern had shot well over for Huddersfield, Berra picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Scannell with the home side still well on top against a lacklustre Town side which had never really recovered from going a goal behind.

On 40 Bialkowski was off his line quickly to clear ahead of Vaughan after Varney had under-hit a backpass from halfway. Two minutes later, Town’s Tommy Smith was booked for a foul on Vaughan.

The Blues never looked like pulling a goal back before the half was brought to a close by referee Harrington’s whistle.

Town, as poor as at any time this season, could have had few complaints about the half-time scoreline, the Terriers having been well on top having gone in front.

Front two Wells and Vaughan had given their backline as difficult an afternoon as they’ve had this season, while at the Blues had rarely threatened, although Tabb may feel he should have done better with his early chance and Murphy might have opted to shoot rather than take the ball past the keeper when he had his opportunity.

Manager McCarthy opted to make two changes ahead of the second half with Teddy Bishop and Freddie Sears replacing Chaplow and Wood.

Three minutes after the restart, the Blues pulled a goal back. Tabb crossed from the left and Varney flicked his first Town goal into the corner of the net across Smithies.

The early goal woke the previously quiet Town following behind the goal and almost immediately the Blues went close again. Berra headed Tabb’s left-sided corner back across the area from deep but Smithies grabbed the ball ahead of Smith.

There was a big scare for the Blues on 51 when Wells escaped on the right of the box but shot off skipper Luke Chambers and into the side-netting.

From the resultant corner the Terriers would have regained their two-goal lead but for a remarkable double save from Bialkowski, who somehow blocked from Hudson at close range and then Vaughan after he seized on the loose ball.

Just after the hour mark Bishop skipped away from two Huddersfield players in the middle of the field before feeding Sears, who cut in and hit a shot which was too close to Smithies.

Jonny Williams made his long-awaited return to action in the 67th minute, taking over from Tabb. The on-loan Palace midfielder’s most recent game was the final match of his previous spell with the Blues - the 1-0 home victory over Watford when he suffered his groin injury - back in November.

The Blues had been better after the break with Bishop adding some creativity and Sears more of a threat but without ever putting the home side under any major pressure.

On 78 Butterfield hit a 20-yard strike which Bialkowski saved to his left then Berra did well to get ahead of Wells as he ran onto a ball from the left.

From the resultant corner, Bialkowski failed to claim but Wells shot over from a tight angle on the right.

Smith curled a shot wide for Town on 87 but the home defence were still looking comfortable as the fourth official’s board announced four additional minutes.

Despite Berra having been sent forward to join the attack the Terriers were able to see out the final moments with little drama and referee Harrington’s whistle confirmed the Blues’ defeat.

After the dismal first half, Town improved after the break having pulled back the early goal but they never really got on top and rarely threatened to get back on terms with Smithies not forced into a serious save.

Half-time subs Sears and Bishop made something of an impact before fading, while Williams fleetingly showed his class but unsurprisingly after so long out looked a touch rusty, but even so Huddersfield had the better chances and would have won by more but for Bialkowski’s excellent double save.

The result sees the Blues stay seventh - for the moment with Wolves in action at home to Leeds later this evening - but now a point behind Brentford who drop to sixth after drawing 2-2 at home to Nottingham Forest and three points off Derby in fifth, who have a significantly better goal difference.

Huddersfield: Smithies, Scannell (Wallace 90), James, Hudson (c), Smith, Lynch, Coady, Gobern, Butterfield, Wells (Edgar 83), Vaughan (Lolley 90). Unused: Allinson, Holmes, Carroll, Majewski.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Fryers, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Chaplow (Bishop 46), Varney, Tabb (Williams 67), Murphy, Wood (Sears 46). Unused: Gerken, Clarke, Anderson, S Hunt. Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland).

Photo: Action Images

superblue70 added 17:36 - Apr 6 Mick likes his players to be big and brave if only he was!! Negativity all the way ,so scared of losing its blinding his judgement , need pace and skill to win football matches and that sat next to mm on the bench sorry but lost faith in mm now. Oh and would Tabb be a regular in any other championship side I think not!!
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carlo88 added 17:37 - Apr 6 Only saving grace seems to be Derby and Brentford playing each other next game, and our two winnable home games coming up. Otherwise, oh dear.
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Kesblue66 added 17:39 - Apr 6 Lack of quality and class,as Friday proved.
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boysinblue added 17:42 - Apr 6 Let's face it, since the turn of the year we just haven't been good enough to get promoted, all other top 8 teams have been consistent, whereas we consistently dropped points against bottom half teams. If it weren't for that run around November December time we'd be bottom half. Don't give up hope just yet we're only 2 points off with a few games yet to play, but I see us dropping more points cos the standard just isn't there at the moment. Hopefully I'm wrong.

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jpring89 added 17:48 - Apr 6 time to look forward to anything year in the championship
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Kirbmeister added 17:51 - Apr 6 I said weeks ago - do we really want to be playing in the premiership next season? Of course not, we are in no position to even give it a stab. We need to be a decent footballing side first. Let's do our best for the rest of the season and build from there for next year.
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blueherts added 17:52 - Apr 6 I think Mick enjoys a 'tactical' battle against the top teams - sometimes he comes out ahead - but when we need a more 'technical' game and take it to lesser opposition we seem to be found wanting Having said all that Fryers - a £5m footballer - he is English so triple his value ! my Palace mate saw him once and couldnt believe they had him anywhere near the squad The pass today was shocking , and the space allowed for cross in second goal ?? If my Kids team had done that - we would have been disappointed ! Mings and Parr coming back would be helpful It is a lottery and we can still get in the playoffs but shows how starved some of us have become for even a gilmmer of competing that we still hope and believe The 1999/2000 squad had a 'style' .. If we dont make play offs - we need to find some 'style' cos I actually think we have players who can play football .

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jas0999 added 17:53 - Apr 6 Pathetic. After a decent home point on Friday; we needed to follow it up with three points today. The reality is Huddersfield had won just one game in eleven. There can be no dressing this up, it's a totally unacceptable result and performance. Mick sadly has to take some of the blame. He chose a more defensive team, where we should have been taking the game to them. His selection didn't work. As we have said on many occasions, hard work only gets you so far, to be outplayed by Huddersfield proves yet again that we lack that little bit of additional quality, creativity and pace. The lack of goals in midfield remains a worry. The season isn't over, but our form is not good. Considering where we were at the turn of the year, it's inconceivable that we are now fighting for sixth. If we don't make it, it won't be just because of today. Away showings at Brighton, Rotherham, Middlesboro and Leeds; along with home performances against Wigan and Reading have been our downfall. Although ME invested on very short term loans recently, the January transfer window policy will surely be called into question if we don't make the play offs. This type of showing suggests we won't. Bitterly disappointing.

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Len_Brennan added 17:54 - Apr 6 Just not good enough. Bournemouth & Brentford showed what they are made of, when up against it, versus bigger & better opposition than we had today. Really disappointing, where the performance was even worse than the result in a crucial match. I thought we were a better side than Wolves & Brentford and would clinch one of the 2 playoffs spots still outstanding - I fear I might be wrong.

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dukey44 added 17:59 - Apr 6 Surely mm must see that starting with Wood twice now we lose? He dont want us going up does he(
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TimmyH added 17:59 - Apr 6 Not for the first time this season @jas0999 - spot on! - reminds me a little of the first part of the season Mick was in charge (2012/13) did well but struggled against the smaller teams which is becoming more then a coincidence in my mind. This could well be our undoing in the remaining fixtures!
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confoosed_dot_com added 17:59 - Apr 6 Being objective we are two points off with four to go and so it is still very much possible. I am not going to slate MM as he has been the best thing to happen to us for a long while, and is playing to the limited resources he has. I just do not understand, however, why he didn't start with Sears at the very least, and possibly Bishop too. And maybe Murphy does rely on McGoldrick then maybe givehim a rest - he has been fantastic for us but of late has dried up. I agree with Kirbmeister that on balance we are not strong enough for Premier League but it is BS to "wait until you are ready" - you grab the chance for promotion when you have it and worry about staying up afterwards, and with 120m in the bank..... Stay postive people, four to go. Wolves is going to be MASSIVE

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NoelTheDub added 18:01 - Apr 6 carlo88 Two winnable games coming up,you have to put a bloody team on the pitch thats capable of doing so.That team today beggers belief as it spelt out one thing and one thing only is dont bloody lose.The little bit of pace,skill we have is been frozen out and it kills me to see our club stooping so low to survive.
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bluelodgeblue added 18:06 - Apr 6 Defensively we have been all at sea since Christmas, Smith is the weak link there?
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Lightningboy added 18:12 - Apr 6 Pfffffffffffft. A manager who's udone all his good early season work by resorting to type by being far too stubborn and far too negative...we will finish the season about where we deserve to be i.e.8th...far too many comings and goings of very average players since Xmas...the midfield is beyond average at times unable to thread 3 passes together with no pace down the flanks...we sign wingers but never see them?..we have a striker (Sears) who's been our standout player over the last 3 months but keeps getting dropped?..we've got 2 decent right backs who can't oust a totally out of his comfort zone central defender at right back? I find Mick's decisions baffling (and SOOOOO bloody annoying) at times to say the least and these decisions are what's cost us over the last few months. We should be burying Blackpool next weekend Not just beating them but it wouldn't surprise me if we go and cock that one up too.

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therein61 added 18:19 - Apr 6 After another long journey I was appalled at the x1 put out and we got what we deserved eff all! if the championship is "bonkers" then Mick matched it today with his selection that was set up for a point!!!!! at best!!!! we are now in a situation again where we have to rely on others slipping up to get back in the top 6 I hope I'm wrong but I think it's goodbye to our hopes of going up I find it hard to understand why we are not having a go at sides we should be beating(4 points Huddersfield have taken off us!) the games are running out a point was a good point 15 games ago!! we need more adventure and 3 points Mick you might not bother about what we have to say, but after supporting this club through thick and thin for over 50 years i deserve better than the crap you served up today.

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Elizabeth added 18:19 - Apr 6 I was at the game .. Absolutely dire !! I'm afraid Mick got his team selection totally wrong . Couldn't string more than three passes together . We need a miracle now !!
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Walk_the_Wark added 18:21 - Apr 6 Come on McCarthy lovers- warktheline etc.. Aren't you going to come on and tell us how much you trust Mick, how lucky we are to have him, how he has done so well with no money, and how we don't play one dimensional hoofball?
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Geoff added 18:25 - Apr 6 Time for the big changes MM will not get us up without investment in quality i fear we will lose some decent players at the end of the season, probably one has already gone send Wood back and Fryers not good enough for this league sort out right back position.Play Jonny no good on the bench.
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Pip50 added 18:26 - Apr 6 Not all over but now looking slim. Hopefully this is the end of a this Managers tenure. Good he got us this close but I would rather be mid table and be building with some football like Watford Bournemouth yes with a bit of cash thrown in, than watch this abysmal long ball void of tactics rubbish. Never mind least we won't be seeing them up the road next year.
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hucks216 added 18:32 - Apr 6 Just look at the teams above us - Watford have 3 players who have scored 10 or more goals this season (so far). Norwich have 4, Bournemouth 5, Middlesborough 2, Brentford 2 (with 1 other just a goal away from double figures), Derby have 1 (with Bent 1 goal away from double figures) and yet we only have 1. Shame about DM getting injured again but at the start of the season our front line was already too thin and needed investment then let alone in January. Not a great time for Murphy to go on a bit of a drought but if it wasn't for his goals this season we would be in deep trouble.

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oldegold added 18:35 - Apr 6 I've been saying since the golden, unbeaten period that this hoofball negative style of play would prove our undoing and in MM we have a manager of limited ambition and absolutely no tactical acumen whatsoever. I maintain that he bottled it starting back in early January with his Southampton FA Cup team selection and McCarthy history has always shown that he has no deference to cup matches and will play weakened teams and from that cup match, he has intransigently refused to vary his match style and all the teams have clocked us but being stubborn, he doesn't change anything. This is by far the worst Ipswich playing style in 40 odd years of following Town and i've seen some horrendous performances but the MM route one soccer method went out with the cavemen. He screwed up back in January when we could have been real protagonists but he bottled it and showed the limits of his ambitions. Time for a change as I don't want to be around with this boring, guileless style of playing soccer.

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battyblue added 18:36 - Apr 6 Thats it playoffs gone cant keep relying on others to do you a favor all the time poor team selection and tactics yet again MM.
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Bluespeed added 18:41 - Apr 6 What should we be reading into the Dids fiasco ? MM is asked why no dids very quickly says injured & moves on to something else completely unrelated , something being covered up IMO , how ironic it will be if Wolves take 6 th place , come May 2nd & we are left to ponder what if ! Although we shouldn't be suprised it's often the case with us not quite able to deliver when it matters ! Is it belief, is it desire , is it luck , is it bad management,is it acceptable ? I don't know the answers but I do know it's so frustrating supporting our team !!

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prebbs007 added 18:55 - Apr 6 Well done Mick. Poor team selection = defeat against very poor team. This lies totally at your door. You drop Bish & Freddie two of our most creative players and go with your normal rigid formation full of "hard workers" with no creative ability whatsoever. Thanks !!!
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