Despite a second half fightback it ended a black night for Town's black clad men, with George Burley suffering his 100th league defeat as Ipswich manager. A disappointing first half saw Blackburn two-up, but a much improved second half saw Marcus Stewart get back into scoring action, but it wasn't enough to get Town a valuable point.

Matteo Sereni returned in goal for the first time in more than two months, but it was the continued omission of Marcus Bent which caused the greatest discussion on the away terraces. Armstrong and Stewart were preferred to the man returning to his old club. In midfield Finidi George dropped out with Jermaine Wright returning to the starting line-up after his groin injury. Chris Makin replaced Fabian Wilnis in a back five which was otherwise the same as at Leeds.

The opening period of the game was tentative with neither side creating any chances. Sereni grabbed a couple of corners while referee Dowd starting as he meant to go on with a lot of freekicks.

Blackburn came closest to a real opportunity on 17 when Hermann Hreidarsson did well to get his head in before a number of Blackburn strikers. Jamie Clapham cleared up, putting the ball out with David Dunn in attention.

Matteo Sereni had been welcomed warmly by the travelling Town support and on 20 he made his first serious contribution to the game. Turkish left back Unsal brought the ball forward unchecked before hit a curling effort with the side of his boot. Sereni leapt to his left and tipped the ball wide.

Within two minutes though, Blackburn were ahead. Damien Duff picked the ball up wide in the left and brought the ball forward, beating a couple of defenders as he went. He got to the edge of the area, and with defenders standing well off him, hit a right foot shot into the right-hand corner of Sereni's net. Like Chris Marsden's goal for Southampton a couple of weeks back it was a fine goal, but one that a few sharp tackles would have stopped.

Quickly Town switched to 4-4-2. There had been problems tracking defenders like Unsal breaking from deep with Town's 5-3-2 formation not making it obvious who ought to have been following who.

Sereni was back in action again on the half hour when an again unmarked Dunn tried to chip him from 15 yards out on the Blackburn right. Six minutes later Chris Makin got himself in the book for a foul on Duff well inside the Blackburn half.

With two minutes left to half-time Town had the ball in the net. Hermann Hreidarsson played a neat ball into the area for Marcus Stewart who passed to Armstrong who beat Freidal. Unfortunately the linesman's flag had already been raised.

And things were to get worse before the end of the first period. Again a Blackburn player ran from midfield, this time Dunn. It was difficult to see who should have followed him as Hreidarsson seemed to have gone back to the centre of defence and Clapham was well away from him. Dunn made the byline and put in a low cross for Andy Cole who turned John McGreal and hit a shot past Sereni in one movement. Sereni was close to it, but was unsighted.

Before half-time Armstrong had Town's best chance so far as the Blues enjoyed some late pressure. Jermaine Wright, who hadn't had the best of halves, put a cross in from the right. Armstrong got to it at the nearpost, but he failed to connect solidly and the ball went across the face of goal.

On the terraces fans expected changes at the break after a half where Town had threatened little. However, George Burley stuck with his eleven but switched them around with Mark Venus going to left back and Hreidarsson in the centre.

The second half started much as the first had ended. On 51 Sereni made another good save from Duff after he'd made another unchallenged run forward.

Two minutes later Town won the first of several freekicks just outside the area. Matt Holland took it and the ball rebounded off the wall. It was played back in by Venus and Stewart hit a shot which Friedel put by the post. From the resultant Venus corner Stewart got away from his defender and sent a nearpost header over the keeper and into the net.

Prior to the goal Town had started to look more like themselves. Within three minutes George Burley decided to bring on Marcus Bent and Sixto Peralta for Alun Armstrong and Jim Magilton, neither of whom had had the best of nights.

From here Town took the game to Rovers and Marcus Bent was well in the action, leaving fans wondering why he had been left out of the starting line-up.

Not long after the hour there was controversy when Mark Venus spotted Bent making a run down the middle. Unsal spotted him too and pulled him back. Luckily for the Blackburn defender there was a man behind him and he received only a yellow card. Mark Venus hit the 30-yard freekick powerfully, but Freidel was equal to it.

Lucas Neill and John McGreal quickly got themselves in the book for fouls on Clapham and Duff respectively. Mr Dowd was annoying both sets of fans with his constant whistle-blowing for very minor-looking offences.

With 12 minutes left Holland hit another freekick off the wall after he himself had been fouled on the edge of the area by Tugay. A minute later Finidi George replaced Jermaine Wright.

Blackburn regained the initiative in the last ten minutes or so after Town's brief period of domination. With seven minutes left sub Taylor headed a corner over the bar. At the other end clever work from Stewart and Bent ended with Bent hitting a weak shot which Friedel had little trouble with.

With time running out Town had a golden opportunity to get on terms. Another freekick on the edge of the area, this time from Mark Venus, was cleared. Finidi crossed deep to John McGreal who hit a shot into the side-netting from a tight angle. Had the ball fallen to Stewart or Bent then it might have been a different story.

Blackburn's best chances towards the end were both broken up by Hermann Hreidarsson. First Cole took the ball off McGreal and was then dispossessed himself by the Icelander as he ran in on Sereni. Then it was Tugay who ran through unchallenged until Hermann's tackle came in.

Surprisingly referee Dowd added four minutes at the end. Blackburn kept possession for most of that time and when Mr Dowd's whistle went and Town had suffered another defeat.

A poor first half performance, but a better second period from the Blues. Better luck might have seen a second goal, although in truth there were few clearcut chances created by Town. George Burley might have a clearer idea what his best side is after this match with the likes of Marcus Bent and Sixto Peralta likely to start on Saturday at Newcastle, a game which Town now need to get at least a point from.

Photo: Action Images

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