Town’s winless league run stretched to seven games as the Blues drew 0-0 at home to Cardiff City. Daryl Murphy went closest to breaking the deadlock in the first half when Bluebirds keeper David Marshall tipped his header from a Kevin Bru corner against the woodwork.

Jonny Parr replaced the injured Jonas Knudsen at left-back in an otherwise unchanged Town side, the Norwegian having taken over from the Dane early on at Nottingham Forest last week after he suffered a hamstring problem. Knudsen is expected to be fit for Tuesday’s home game against Bolton.

Manager Mick McCarthy lined his team up in a 4-3-3 formation with Murphy, Freddie Sears and David McGoldrick all up front as they were at Forest.

The Bluebirds made two changes from the team which drew 0-0 at home to Bristol City on Monday with Joe Ralls and Sammy Ameobi replacing the injured Kagisho Dikgacoi and Craig Noone, who dropped to the bench.

Suffolk-born former Blues academy schoolboy Stuart O'Keefe was also amongst the Cardiff subs.

The visitors had most of the ball in the early stages but without threatening Dean Gerken’s goal.

On nine Town claimed a perhaps ambitious penalty when Kevin Bru’s strike was blocked by Fabio after a well-worked move down the left involving the Mauritius international and Murphy amongst others. Two minutes later, Ameobi was booked for a foul on Parr.

As the game hit the 15-minute mark Murphy came within a whisker of opening his goals account for the season. Kevin Bru sent over a corner from the right and the Irishman flicked a near-post header which Marshall tipped on to the upright. The loose ball fell to Sears at a tight angle but the ex-Colchester man blazed over.

A minute later Icelandic international midfielder Aron Gunnarsson, who had a trial with the Town academy as a schoolboy, struck a powerful effort from the edge of the box but Gerken did well to get down to his left to push it behind.

Cardiff continued to take the game to the Blues and on 22 Christophe Berra cut out Ralls’s low cross from the left.

Town began to take charge and in the 27th minute, shortly after Ainsley Maitland-Niles had seen a strike blocked on the edge of the box, Luke Chambers fed Sears to his right and the striker’s low cross was diverted towards his own goal by Sean Morrison, keeper Marshall doing very well to keep it out.

Fabio suffered an injury as Cardiff had sought to defend the cross and the Brazilian was replaced by Scott Malone in the 31st minute.

Three minutes later Parr’s mis-hit clearance led to Sears breaking away into the Cardiff half before he was halted by Matthew Connolly’s foul, which saw the defender join team-mate Ameobi in referee David Coote’s book. Cole Skuse laid the freekick off to McGoldrick but his shot curled wide.

McGoldrick seized on a loose Cardiff pass on 39 and sent Murphy away towards goal but last season’s 27-goal Championship top scorer took an extra touch and Morrison got across to block his shot. Maitland-Niles was first to the loose ball and sent it back over from the right and Sears eventually hit a 25-yard shot which was straight at Marshall.

Two minutes before the break Ralls had his name added to referee Coote’s book for a foul on Bru the, as the game moved into injury time, Tommy Smith joined him somewhat harshly for following in Murphy’s hooked attempt at goal as keeper Marshall claimed following the second of two Town corner.

The scoreline remained level at the break with the Blues having got on top after making a slow start.

Town had had the half’s two best chances with Murphy unfortunate not to have broken his duck for the season with his header and Morrison lucky his keeper prevented him from scoring an own goal.

Neither side made a change of personnel at the break, although with the Blues now at 4-4-2 with Maitland-Niles on the left and Sears on the right.

Chances were rare at either end in the opening minutes with both defences remaining solid. For Town, keeper Gerken claimed a couple of crosses safely, while Berra made important interceptions or blocks as Bluebirds strike pair Joe Mason and Alex Revell looked for goal.

In the 61st minute Gerken reacted superbly to save from Ameobi, getting down to his right after the on-loan Newcastle man turned Malone’s cross goalwards from six yards.

A minute later, Murphy headed on to the roof of the Cardiff net from Chambers’s right-sided cross.

Maitland-Niles turned a Murphy cross from the left over in the 72nd minute after McGoldrick had won the ball midway inside the Cardiff half. The Blues were on top but unable to create too many clear-cut chances, while the visitors were a danger on the break.

A minute later, after one of those counter-attacks had led to a corner, Gunnarsson shot well wide at the far post.

Murphy was sent away on the right of the area on 76 but a defender got across to block. Chambers subsequently sent over a cross but again it was cleared.

The Cardiff backline dealt with another cross from the right, this time from Sears, before Bluebirds sub Craig Noone stooped to head wide beyond the far post from a cross from the left.

On 79 Bru was booked after referee Coote adjudged that he had dived when he went to ground as he skipped past Morrison in the area, much to the anger of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

Two minutes later Murphy and Maitland-Niles were replaced by Brett Pitman and Tommy Oar. Soon after, Revell was booked for a wild lunge on Smith which hurt the Cardiff man more than the Blues defender.

With just over five minutes of scheduled time remaining, Peter Whittingham was booked for a cynical foul on Pitman as the Blues sub broke away from him. Bru’s freekick was headed clear and as Cardiff went on the counter-attack Skuse was cautioned for a foul.

In the 88th minute Noone volleyed well over when unmarked from Whittingham’s freekick on the left, something of a let-off for the Blues.

In injury time Revell’s looping header was no problem for Gerken and neither side went closer than that to breaking the stalemate, Town’s second 0-0 at home in succession, something they last managed in December 2009.

Having come close twice in the first half, albeit once via Cardiff defender Morrison, the Blues never seriously tested Bluebirds keeper Marshall in the second half, while Gerken - Town’s man of the match - made a number of important saves, the best the stop from Ameobi, who really should have taken the opportunity.

The Blues have now won just one of their last 10 in the league and have drawn their last four matches at Portman Road, where they haven't won in five. They have also scored one goal in five matches.

Cardiff have kept four clean sheets in four successive games and have lost just four of their last 24 league matches.

Town, who are now down to 14th following today’s results, have another chance to get back to winning ways when second-bottom Bolton visit Portman Road on Tuesday.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Parr, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Bru, Maitland-Niles (Oar 81), Sears, McGoldrick, Murphy (Pitman 81). Unused: Bialkowski, Malarczyk, Emmanuel, Douglas, Coke.

Cardiff: Marshall (c), Peltier, Morrison, Connolly, Fabio (Malone 31), Ralls, Gunnarsson, Whittingham (Pilkington 88), Ameobi (Noone 75), Revell, Mason. Unused: Moore, Tamas, O’Keefe, Kennedy. Referee: David Coote (Nottinghamshire). Att: 17,169 (Cardiff: 222).

Photo: Action Images

warktheline added 07:21 - Nov 1 Pjewellisgod, from heroes to zeros!!!! Have you had a brain transplant? Last week you posted you were more than happy after the Notts forest game, and fending off relegation was quite an achievement! People are strange lalalala ......!
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sidtheswan added 07:27 - Nov 1 Slight improvement in centre midfield with Bru . Would be nice if centre of defence could play it out instead of hoofing it mainly into touch . Very toothless up front and Sears doesn't look good playing out of position . Think someones upset Murph as a shadow of former self . And why has McGoldrick gone all premier league and started diving ? Need 3 points on Tuesday if not surely MM's position needs looking up as getting dragged lower & lower down the league . Think there was a major sulk after the Man Utd game and we haven't been the same since .

1

blueboy1981 added 09:09 - Nov 1 ...... from the Stand yesterday, I looked to my left and emblazoned in large letters:- SIR ALF RAMSEY - to my right:- SIR BOBBY ROBSON. Those really were the days .......... I remember them well. What either of these fine people would think of our Club today, and what's being served up, - doesn't bare thinking about. At least we have a very fine 'link with the past' - if very little else.

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hogster1970 added 09:47 - Nov 1 well i could repeat basically what most have said. for me since the huddersfield dire performance we have improved slightly at nottingham and again improved on that perform,ance today, for me cardiff wasnt going to be a easy game as they are veru hard to brake down and find space. gerks had a good game i thought and at times layed the ball out to be played through the middle, and made some great saves. the improvement has defo been because of bru in midfield, he attacks players who are on the ball , tackles and come out with looking forward to do something with it. but the midfield as a whole still isnt good enough to supply them killer passes at the right time for our forwards to feed off, loosing fraser has been a great loss, so MM get your butt out to the loan market and go and find a replacement winger and some one to replace skuse and douglas, because as keanish says he was woefull yesturday, to may passes going missing and not finding our players, a matty holland he isnt, and i dont think douglas is neither, hyam when he gets fit may be a better replacement or even better once teddy boy is fit use bru as the go getter as thats what he is doing well atm and use teddy as the runner and killer passer, which also means we have 2 center midfielders who can do some good stuff with the ball, it was evident yesturday we just arnt good enough in the middle of the park, we can use oar and niles as the 2 wingers for the moment . also our back line aprt from parr are just not comfatable on the ball and just dont pass to midfield, when they do pass to scuse all he does is pass it back, berra at one time had all the time in the world to feed parr down the left in the first half who was near the center line , what did he do yep passed it back to gerks, these things just aint helping. defo need to win the next 2, and we need to smash the granny out of them if not we will be cannon fodder for the rest of the season

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neillrumsey added 09:48 - Nov 1 Sidtheswan spot on MM has destroyed the team spirit by dropping his regulars for the Old Trafford match. This could have been the pinnacle of their careers so to deny a professional this opportunity was indeed poor management and the results have reflected this. Any average Championship player would love to play against ManU. I applaud a lot of what MM has achieved regarding stability and work ethic but football is where we come unstuck.

6

blueboy1981 added 12:36 - Nov 1 ........ who's this Bert .... ?????? .......... can think of a better configuration of four letters.
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tallguy6767 added 14:22 - Nov 1 Keanish. What happened to your confident 13 points from the next 15 ??? You must of been pissed when you wrote that !!
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Keaneish added 14:37 - Nov 1 Ha! I need 4 straight wins from the next 4 now. Thought we'd get a scrappy 1-nil yesterday and draw away with Rotherham. Still, the bets still alive!
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blueherts added 14:39 - Nov 1 Creativity , goal scoring midfielders ( goalscoring anybodies!!) , passing on the floor , moving the ball at speed across the pristine PR surface ..... picking the ball up in defence and moving the ball 'through' the team , ball slotted through the middle , .... I sometimes sit and reminisce .... It all seems such a long , long ,long time ago ... And , NO ,I do not live in the past , but , we need to find a better way of playing than this .. Sears , Pittman Murphy and Dids are not BAD players but we are playing them ( as the late great Eric Morecombe said) in the wrong order .... Roll on November ... We will get a HATFUL vs BOLTON !!!

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runningout added 15:58 - Nov 1 Dross
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Seasider added 16:02 - Nov 1 Agree with almost everyone on here including Cloddyseedbed,Cursey,blueboy81,Timmy86,Essextractor,Sidtheswan,bluehertsand UncleTom Cobbly(lol).The in Mick we trust brigade seem a bit thin on the ground at the moment. Am starting to do a 'Lens lens'and concentrating more on tactics etc,presumably as football so uninspiring,and have the following observations. Being starved of money for players has meant that the Manager has had to rely mostly on other clubs rejects,most of whom are just not good enough for challenging for summit. His football approach is so predictable to a layman like me; so opposing managers know exactly what to expect with ball being passed around at the back before somebody hoofs it upfield usually onto the head of opposing defender.Presume Mick then expects his players to pick up second ball but this isn't happening. Very little running at the opposition,passing and movement,or shooting on sight and therefor defenders find it easy to stop us getting through,especially when we come up against a good keeper,Marshall being the best in the Championship and Scottish international. Yes good coaching can get you so far;but even Magnificent Mick cant make a silk purse out of a sows ear!Evans either has to put some more money in or sell the club on as the club under its present structure and management seem incapable of being good enough to reach the Premiership. However the four of us who have over 150 years combined support for the club will continue to go and hope by some miracle we get back to the top flight this season.

6

battyblue added 16:03 - Nov 1 The plain and simple explanation is McCarthy has ruined us as an attacking side with his style of play the forwards feed off scraps and have to go back to halfway line to find the ball there are no forwards who can find the net on a regular basis with this style of play...the same thing is happening with Man United Van Geal is killing them as an attacking team until things/tactics change we will struggle to find a goal a game.

5

Bert added 16:59 - Nov 1 Blueboy1981 sounds a bit like a record that's got stuck; same old tune played again and again....
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blueboy1981 added 17:42 - Nov 1 Bert - whoever you are - are obviously describing your contribution to this forum. And, of course, MM's production.
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brittaniaman added 17:52 - Nov 1 WE have got to get MAX points Tues. because on present form we will not beat Rotherham next Sat. ? Last season we were playing well and we lost 2-0 so what happens NEXT ???? I and several others believed we would have got the 6pts. at home but NO WE WERE LET DOWN AGAIN !!!!! It is no good saying what is wrong with our team because Stubborn Mick says My way or no way !!! Come up to the upper tier of the now Co-op stand Mick and see a different game to what you see Just till half time will do ???

0

warktheline added 18:34 - Nov 1 Ultimately McCarthy's stubbornnness will cost him his job, but as some have touched upon, more importantly,Evans lack of investment is extremely worrying. After last seasons minor miracle, surely the owner would of seen it as an opportunity to of enhanced the squad with some recognised talent, with money from the Mings sale. Sorry but McCarthy can only do so much with cast offs, this of course doesn't excuse some of the glaringly obvious wrongly positioned starting back 4, week in week out!

6

bluefeast added 20:47 - Nov 1 Look at the top 6 and the football they play. We are currently a sham , with no creativity and so many players not in their best slot ,ffs put sears in the middle and play pitman with him. Play McG in centre mid as the collector and giver. Get an f -ing right back and lose one of the two centre halves with only a left foot.
7

wayway added 20:59 - Nov 1 Good God Bluefeast do you expect our glorious leader to apply logic? You will be expecting him to play the ball on the ground next
1

cossy81 added 21:29 - Nov 1 can't believe some people on here are saying Berra played ok.I know it's too much to expect Alan hansen style of bringing the ball out of defense and to pick a decent pass out but his constant hoofing the ball into R ow Z (half the time he doesn't mean it to go there!) is truly awful
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bohslegend added 22:46 - Nov 1 All the moaners having their time in the sun. Make no mistake, the team will turn this around. To hear so-called supporters of the club slate anyone who dares to attempt to encourage the team by mocking them, I'm thankful that (as is usually the case - thinking the same is happening to Jose Mourinho at the moment) the noisy annoyance comes from such a small percentage of the clubs fan base. Blueboy I'm sure it galled you to hear the genuine fans cheer MM showing sincere appreciation for his efforts. And yet you try to turn it into something to suit your argument "oh well, he better appreciate the fact that WE cheered for him, WE Deserve better than this" Real football people understand that little details make the difference. MM has rightly addressed the fact that we were too gung-ho earlier in the season, he has rightly decided to make us hard to beat again, from which we can then look to build winning situations and move back up the table. There's no magic wand, even if some of the moaners got their way and the manager was sacked.

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bohslegend added 22:59 - Nov 1 To provide me with further encouragement that the Boo Boys are in a significant moaning minority this item on the far-more-reasonable TWTD Forum would suggest that MM and the team are still well supported (in its truest form) at Portman Road. "Just goes to show that despite our frustrations and bad form, we are still in this together and that most of our more passionate fans are sensible and fully behind Mick, TC and the players. MM and the players will get this right, keep the support up and we'll get back to winning ways."

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warktheline added 06:48 - Nov 2 @bohslegend, you keep plugging the same old lines, but when questioned for your views on team selections you turn a deaf ear!
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bohslegend added 10:57 - Nov 2 @warktheline I've already mentioned that I would like to see Bart in goal and Chambo at CB but ultimately I'm not the manager so I let him do what he does (manage) and I do what I do (support) and unfortunately there are a few (minority) others who do what they do (criticise). Even though I prefer Bart in goal, Gerken gets far too much criticism from so-called fans who have no idea about football management, but simply call for change for the sake of change. As for Chambo, I do think he's a better CB than a RB, but so was Richard Stearman and yet many on here who like to criticise the manager were calling for him to be brought back at the start of the season. Again, I think Chambo does a decent job at RB, and I also think that tactically it makes us more versatile to go three at the back if necessary during games. So I hope that answers your question warktheline, unless that is you just want me to agree with you??

1

blueherts added 13:10 - Nov 2 To me , bottom line is this - For afew years we have had a manager with a 'play not to lose ' mentality . Great and fine when you are in a fight and need to grind it out We then progressed and thanks to Murph reached a respectable sixth place In 'must win games' this - play not to lose mentality aint gonna work and we have seen it before in other games eg , to send us top or move us on . MM has bought in some 'flair players' that is not the issue but it really is how he plays them ... I am afraid at this stage in his career he will not change If 0-0 draws are seen as progress , then we have slipped a long way down the expectation tree - cue ' Bolton have a premiership squad and are in a false position' pressie today - I hope that Portuguese or spanish lad is not playing - he skinned us last season

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blueboy1981 added 18:14 - Nov 2 bohslegend ......... you've surfaced again - maybe in anticipation of a win tomorrow night ?? - if that doesn't happen, we won't see, or hear, much from you. Nothing changes there. Just keep being 'happy' with what you get - it suits you, so why expect anything else ?
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