Town’s FA Cup run ended at the third round stage for the sixth successive year as the 10-man Blues were beaten 2-1 by League Two Portsmouth at Fratton Park. Former Blue Gary Roberts netted a penalty in the 32nd minute, then Marc McNulty added a second five minutes later to give Pompey a comfortable 2-0 half-time lead, then after the break Ainsley Maitland-Niles pulled one back before Piotr Malarczyk was sent off for two bookable offences.

Boss Mick McCarthy named the anticipated entirely changed XI from the side which drew 1-1 with Preston on Saturday.

Bartosz Bialkowski returned in goal with Josh Emmanuel at right-back, Myles Kenlock left-back and Malarczyk and Paul Digby the centre-halves, as they were in the first game between the sides at Portman Road 10 days ago, which ended 2-2.

In midfield, Luke Hyam skippered and was joined in the centre by Jay Tabb with Maitland-Niles on the right and Tommy Oar on the left. Up front, former Pompey striker Luke Varney was partnered by Brett Pitman.

The bench featured Joe Robinson, Kyle Hammond and Shane McLoughlin, all yet to make a first-team appearance, and Adam McDonnell, whose only previous senior game for the Blues came in the Capital One Cup at Doncaster.

Portsmouth named both their ex-Town players, keeper Brian Murphy and winger Roberts, in a team featuring three changes from their team at Portman Road with skipper Michael Doyle, Gareth Evans and Christian Burgess replacing Danny Hollands, Ben Close and Adam McGurk.

The home side created the game’s first opening in the third minute when Kyle Bennett was sent in on the left of the area but hit his shot across the advancing Bialkowski and wide.

Town, wearing their orange and black third kit, threatened for the first time a minute later when Pitman reacted quickly to reach an under-powered Doyle header back towards keeper Murphy, but looped the ball on to the roof of the net.

But as in the first game the League Two side were seeing most of the ball and on nine Roberts shot straight at Bialkowski.

Malarczyk was handed the game’s first yellow card for blocking Marc McNulty in the 14th minute. Roberts slammed the freekick against the wall.

The Blues started to come more into it after the quarter-hour, Pitman’s header from Maitland-Niles’s cross from the right was diverted away, then the former Bournemouth man tried to slip Varney in on goal, but the ball caught the one-time Pompey striker’s heels.

But the home side were still having more of the ball and on 19 Bennett cut in from the left and scraped a shot wide.

Emmanuel did well to get in front of Evans on 21 as he looked to head home Ben Davies’s dangerous cross from the right.

Neither side was able to create another opportunity until the 31st minute when Barton played in McNulty but Bialkowski quickly came off his line to block.

However, the home side kept hold of the ball and got it back in the box where Roberts was scruffily felled by Malarczyk. Referee Andy Woolmer considered his decision before pointing to the spot, leading to Blues’ protests, although the Polish defender kept out of it having already been booked.

The ex-Town winger took the kick himself and Bialkowski was unfortunate not to save it, diving to his left and clawing it into the opposite corner of the net with his right hand.

Bennett hit a weak effort through to Bialkowski, before the home side increased their lead in the 37th minute. Evans drifted a cross over from the right and McNulty placed a header past the Blues keeper from six yards.

Having gained their two-goal lead Portsmouth had their tails very much up and were continuing to take the game to the lacklustre Blues. Just before half-time, McNulty was threaded in on goal but Bialkowski came off his line quickly to claim.

The home side were good for their two-goal lead at the break having created the game’s best opportunities - Pitman’s early moment of opportunism the nearest the Blues came to a goal - and as at Portman Road having played the better football.

Aside from a spell in the middle of the half prior to the goals when they had been unable to create a chance, much-changed Town had been on the back foot throughout.

Five minutes after the restart, the home side almost added to their lead. Evans played in McNulty on the right of the area, beating the offside trap, according to the linesman, but saw his shot blocked by Bialkowski as he rushed off his line. The on-loan Sheffield United man looped the rebound well over.

A minute later Pompey went close again. A well-worked freekick routine on the left was played inside to skipper Doyle, whose strike flew not far wide of Bialkowski’s right post.

The home side continued to present the greater threat, Evans breaking away on 56 but shooting well over.

The Blues had made little impression on the second half when Maitland-Niles pulled a goal back out of nothing. The on-loan Arsenal man curled a superb strike into the top corner of Murphy’s net from 25 yards to claim his second senior goal.

Pompey weren’t far from restoring their two-goal advantage four minutes later when McNulty was fed in on the left of the area and cut the ball across the six-yard box, but no one was on hand to apply the final touch.

Pitman looped an ambitious effort into Murphy’s arms from well out on the right on 66 but Blues chances remained rare. On 71 Tabb was replaced in central midfield by Giles Coke.

A minute later, Varney and Pitman conjured an opportunity after an error from Burgess, the former Pompey man laying the ball back to his strike partner, who screwed his shot well over.

Larsen Touré, back after his groin problem, replaced Varney as the game moved into its final quarter hour.

A minute later, the Blues were reduced to 10 men. Roberts got away from Malarczyk midway inside the Town half and the already-booked defender caught his legs, probably inadvertently.

Referee Woolmer showed the Pole, making only his third Town start, his second yellow card of the evening and then the Blues’ first red of the season. Sub Coke moved into the back four.

In the final minute of scheduled time U21s skipper Joe Robinson was handed his senior debut in place of Maitland-Niles, taking up his usual role at the centre of the defence with Coke moving back into midfield.

Town pressed for an equaliser in injury time but Portsmouth keeper Murphy was never seriously tested and referee Woolmer’s whistle confirmed Pompey’s first victory over the Blues at Fratton Park since October 1966.

The home side thoroughly deserved the victory on the balance of both games with the Blues never really looking like getting anything out of the replay, despite Maitland-Niles’s excellent second-half goal.

A stronger Town side would almost certainly have given Pompey - who face Premier League AFC Bournemouth at home in round four - a more significant test in both games, but as manager McCarthy made clear with his line-ups, the Championship is very much his priority.

Reading’s 5-2 victory at home to Huddersfield means Town’s Championship game against the Royals set for a week on Saturday will be postponed and will be played on Tuesday 2nd February.

Portsmouth: Murphy, Davies, Webster, Burgess (Close 85), Stevens, Barton, Doyle (c), Evans, Roberts (Chaplin 82), Bennett, McNulty. Unused: Bass, May, Tollitt, Naismith, McGurk.

Town: Bialkowski, Emmanuel, Digby, Malarczyk, Kenlock, Hyam (c), Tabb (Coke 71), Maitland-Niles (Robinson 89), Oar, Varney (Touré 76), Pitman. Unused: Gerken, Hammond, McDonnell, Touré, McLoughlin. Referee: Andy Woolmer (Northamptonshire). Att: 15,179 (Town: 796).

Photo: Action Images

CambridgeBlue added 22:45 - Jan 19 If you went all the way to Portsmouth expecting anything other than a reserve XI and a loss then you're an idiot. I'm really not bothered about the cups, we can't afford any injuries and we'd be playing a premiership team next round. Probably earn us half a week's wages for the squad in terms of extra cash so not really worth the risk for the money.
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jpring89 added 22:49 - Jan 19 May not go down well but Mick did the right thing tonight the league is more important we have more chance of promotion than winning the fa cup. I would love a cup run dont get me wrong but when we are a stable premier league side and have a decent chance of winning the cup. The people who went tonight knew it was going to be a weakened side so knew there was a good chance we could lose this game. Good effort to those who went though. Im sure a big result against brum and all this will be forgotten

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essex57 added 22:51 - Jan 19 Blue lady no matter what the game most posters are over dramatic when we lose and underwhelming when we win
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stormypetrel added 22:52 - Jan 19 ....a club nothing without the fans?....look at the gate revenue vs TV monies, advertising monies and then gate revenues.....look at FA cup revenues vs Premier League....it's a hard fact business fact....the club hasn't got charity status ...get real ....how much in salaries was on the pitch tonight.....?????....how much in back room staff and overhead to play that match???....a calculated, albeit unpalatable decision made....for the longer term benefit of the club,....take the glasses off and see reality.....

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Gcon added 22:52 - Jan 19 With an owner that lacks ambition you will never have the strength in depth for a serious cup run so the manager is left having to prioritise. Quite rightly he is focussed on the league. To be surprised by this outcome you would have to be a hopeless romantic.
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sproughtonblue added 22:53 - Jan 19 Cambridgeblue You my dear boy are a prize prune.... 400 of us idiotic fools turned up to support our team and got cheated by the club.
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CambridgeBlue added 22:56 - Jan 19 Can't see how you were cheated. If the first eleven had played we'd probably have won, but then he'd have to have played then in the next round as well by that logic. Games coming thick and fast and any injuries at all and one of those players you view yourself as being cheated by would have been playing away at a playoff rival and possibly lost us the game. If they can't beat Portsmouth they won't beat boro. It was the obvious and logical choice. I'd never slag people off for going to Portsmouth, but expecting the best eleven is imbecilic.

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ElvisMariner added 22:58 - Jan 19 The FA Cup - one of the greatest football tournaments in the world and we treat it with total disrespect... Very disappointing.If footballers cannot manage more than a game a week with the modern training and diet etc available there's got to be something wrong.Under Sir Bobby we had a much much smaller squad and Always gave the Cup everything we had.... Rant over!!!

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essex57 added 23:02 - Jan 19 Sproughton blue whilst I don't think that Cambridge blue should describe fellow fans who travelled idiots he is correct Mick said after the first leg there would be plenty of changes so as someone who has only missed 1 away game you pays your money and take your chance
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Minneapolis_ITFC added 23:03 - Jan 19 Just about got the full picture of what occurred today and it's going to be difficult to duplicate any that has already been mentioned. Right off the bat, just a feeling of disappointment. Disappointment (for those) showing a level of apathy for this once great competition, Disappointment our "great" manager decided ahead of time it wasn't a viable challenge and not worth fighting for. Disappointment I - no WE - won't get another opportunity to savor another FA Cup experience for another twelve months. Disappointment most of all perhaps for our traveling support who made the journey to the opposition venue with a level of expectation - and were let down big time. It's been said on many responses, but to be beaten by a team that sits two or three leagues under us - especially spurning a first time opportunity at home - is simply unacceptable. Sure they'll have something of a glamor fixture with Bournemouth next up - BUT THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN US, AND WITH A GOOD CHANCE OF PROGRESS TO ROUND FIVE WITH IT. Apologize for the upper case there, but just wanted to emphasize the frustration of not being involved after today and everything from the lousy squad selection to the unambiguous apathy with some of our support regards this competition. This touney is often quoted as "The best Cup competition in the World" - Guessing whoever came out with THAT gem had never had the misfortune of meeting Mick McCarthy. Say again can only apologize to those who made the effort to attend the game today - and those (seems like a minority sometimes) who actually WANTED to do something in this competition and progress to the next rounds. Here's an idea - why doesn't McCarthy reimburse those poor fans who made the trip out there out of his own pocket ? After this unacceptable encounter, it's the very least he can do.

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CambridgeBlue added 23:03 - Jan 19 In those days getting promoted wasn't worth £100m. The lower leagues are littered with teams who went on cup runs and then crashed. Portsmouth for example...
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Kikapu added 23:06 - Jan 19 Two good contributions by you, stormypetrel. Wish you wouldn't use so many full stops though..................................!
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derby123 added 23:34 - Jan 19 What a surprise keyboard warriors out in force. May I suggest something if your all that upset with ownership, management etc at next home game or away game. After all we are told you are the majority. Look forward to seeing you on Saturday.
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derby123 added 23:35 - Jan 19 Supposed to say stage a demonstration.
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kevtblue added 23:42 - Jan 19 Whilst I am not surprised we made a number of changes I think that it was clearly too many as some have already alluded to on here. That said the most dissappointing thing for me is that we couldn't even give a team from league two a decent game and given the financial plight they are in they seem to have players who can at least Play decent football. Over the two games they clearly deserved to go through that doesn't make it right for those who travelled all that way. I don't agree with the thought that playing your regular first team or some of them is going cause you to suffer injuries and lose games winning is a habit even against the lower league teams and let's face it there is no guarantee we will make the promised land come the end of season. Unfortunately I have changed my plans to fly to India on business so I could see the reading game or the cup tie now there is no game at all. Lesson learned never bother to trust your football team.

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Keaneish added 23:54 - Jan 19 Stormypetrel - sorry but I don't agree with your post or think it stands the acid test. There's plenty of revenue to be made by the club out of the FA cup, namely the next round against premier league opposition. Granted the FA cup will never bet you as much as the promotion to the premier league but it's irrelevant, it's still additional income and the expenditure is the little additional as wages, contracts etc are paid weekly regardless of the competition. The side Mick put out tonight was there for the slaughter. I'm in favour of using the cup to test fringe players, youth players, different tactics etc... But 11 changes and 5 youth players on the bench is frankly waving the white flag before a ball is kicked and that, like many others on here, completely goes against the values I hold dear: pride, integrity, passion, effort, desire and endeavour all in the name of winning. It wasn't just the side we put out, it was the selections. Tabb and Hyam as a pairing?? Really? Digby and Mally after Digby got pulled form that position after 25 mins last week. Really? Come on... This bloke had better start giving a "flying one" about something other than his own personal goal to manage in the premier league again because I'm at breaking point with utter litter he serves up week in week out win, lose or draw in the name of football.

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bressinghamblue added 23:57 - Jan 19 Cannot believe the negativity on here tonight. Was at the game. It was exciting, and there were lots of POSITIVES coming from it. Fringe players Kenlock and Emmanuel got a good, real test against seasoned pros, and showed they play well going forward, but need to work on positioning and defending. Piotr was excellent in the middle of defence - put aside the sending off (the ref gave two very soft yellows) - and on that performance MM has recruited a gem. The new lad from Barnsley was pants though. In the middle Tabb and Hyam played ok, as did AMN. The real diamond in there was Oar who showed again (especially in the first half) that he will be an able replacement when AMN and Ryan go back to higher circles. Last but not least Pitman and Varney worked well together - and it was a great run out for LV who has seen precious little action due to his injury. OK - we didn't win, but for all the stay-at-home nay-sayers, we played better, proper football tonight than the crap served up at times on Saturday with hoof ball up to Murph. Don't care about the undoubted negative rating I'll no doubt get from people who weren't there. Well done Mick. Those young guys ARE the future. Get off their backs, trust in Mick, and if you did not go, don't give the team a load of rollickin based on bloody Radio Suffolk!

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algarvefan added 00:06 - Jan 20 This site is becoming so gloomy I think I'm going to bed!! Where are you lot when we win, do you sit in a dark cupboard waiting for slip ups? Of course it was disappointing to lose, these things happen in the FA Cup, it was a deserved win for Portsmouth, we didn't risk players already carrying knocks (sensible) and got a look at the fringe players. The only way we have a chance of getting out the mess we are in is via the Promotion Play Offs, the FA Cup for us is just window dressing, it hasn't been a great competition for 20 years!!! Move on guys!

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Orraman added 00:12 - Jan 20 I was disappointed but not surprised by tonight's defeat but my disappointment turned to anger as I listened to the post match interview with that arrogant pr@t McCarthy. He could not give a toss about tonight's defeat. He showed a complete disregard for the supporters and a complete disregard for our wonderful club, it's history and integrity. There was not a shred of humility about the way we lost tonight. He was totally disinterested. Ipswich Town are highly regarded everywhere for upholding the highest standards in everything they do and that includes our wonderful supporters but all this is being eroded by one man's arrogance. He will never take us up as he considers himself so good that he thinks promotion can be achieved without spending a penny while other clubs in all four divisions are currently trying to strengthen and improve...but not mighty MM. Consider the effect that winning the FA cup had on our club and it's reputation. Consider the fact that Sir Bobby got through a season of 1st Division, FA Cup, League Cup and UEFA cup whilst only using 15 players then consider what McCarthy is doing now. Time for this arrogant, outdated pr@t to go and the sooner the better

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derby123 added 00:50 - Jan 20 Bressingham blue and algarvefan great sensible posts. Sadly lost with many on here.
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BrettenhamBlue added 04:47 - Jan 20 We should have taken this more seriously. We have lost 40,000 immediately from not getting through to the fourth round (prize money). We would also have received nearly 10,000 for TV revenue (i.e. showing the highlights of the Bournemouth game), and lost (approximately) 200,000 from gate receipts (if we had managed to get 20,000 fans in to watch the game against Bournemouth). This works on the basis of us getting a 45% share of the home match. Alongside other potential profit areas we have lost something in the region of between 250,000-300,000 (which would have been enough to bring in that creative player on-loan for the rest of the season). These are conservative estimates too. Simply not good enough that we capitulated the game before kick-off. Players played ok, but nowhere near good enough. Last 20 minutes of the game was particularly awful. Our midfield for that last section was hopeless, which led to far too much pressure on the back 4 (which led to our eventual sending off). I understand that we are gunning for the big one (promotion). But a good cup run could have helped in that endevour.

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GiveusaWave added 06:22 - Jan 20 Trying to look at the positives. Thought Piotr was pretty good up to his sending off : not his fault,one of our midfield players didn't track back. AMN was always dangerous and Tabb and Hyam both looked decent on the ball. Oar got into good positions and our 2 strikers worked hard with very little service. First half we were second best,but the first 20 mins of the second we looked sharp and did a few good runs. Once Tabb went off we played some of the worst football I have seen in a VERY long time ,particularly in mf, and we caused them very few problems for the rest of the match. Bialkowski for me was our MOM. Kept us in it and read the game well. A few things to take from the match: Piotr could be used for cover for Smith or Berra. Not ideal but if one of them is injured he'd do a solid job. Digby should not be signed at the end of the season. Coke was way out of his depth against League 2 opposition. Doubt we will be seeing him again in a ITFC shirt. Oar is ready to come on as a sub for the first team. Onwards and upwards. Time to concentrate on getting back into the play-offs.

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geminimustang added 06:51 - Jan 20 If MM wanted to show ME the club needs more and better players and within this transfer window,he did the right thing at Portsmouth.Point well made and proven.You can't keep taking out of contract players,non league prospects and low priced journeymen and win the championship and have good cup runs.MM & TC are doing a great job spending very little but the top 2 requires more quality in depth,serious fighting for places and regular and continous investment in the team.A week to go before the window shuts,there's still time.Over to you,ME!

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essex57 added 06:57 - Jan 20 Bressingham blue brilliant post Orraman don't think Mccarthy was arrogant at all disappointed perhaps in some of the players that he gave a chance to show what they could do I prefer to take the positive remarks from Bressingham blue who was actually there. Pjewellisgod not so sure you would get 20k at Portman Rd even if he put the first team out secondly I would doubt that from your figures you would achieve 250k net profit and say Fraser and Sears picked up longterm injury or any of the team I doubt if you could get a suitable replacement for 250k

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boncho added 07:01 - Jan 20 ok i admit , what a shocking result, but any town fan that went to the game can not complain about a weak team being played as this was the only thng that was going to happen. personally i couldnt care less. yes iwant ipswich to win every game but promotion is the main aim, surley. i cant see how this can have a negative effect for the next game as every player is going to be different, it doesn't mean we are garunteed to win the next game at all but i am happy that we will be at full strength for a tough championship fixture. and if you dont like the football being played its simole, don't go, no one is forcing you. i dont go anywhere near as much as i used to, i think its a rip off and cant afford it but it doesnt mean i have to moan every day about a manager that has saved the club that i have been supporting since i was 4 and have had a seaon ticket for 10 years previously. i am loving the last 2 seasons, just being in with a shout of the play offs is very exciting for me COYB!!!

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