Town boss Mick McCarthy was spotted at Roots Hall watching Southend United draw 1-1 with Crewe Alexandra in League One this evening.

George Cooper put the visitors in front with four minutes of scheduled time remaining but Jack Payne equalised from the spot four minutes into injury time.

Earlier in the week, the Blues, Preston North End and Colchester United were claimed to be keeping an eye on Shrimpers’ winger Brandon Scott, however, the 19-year-old wasn’t involved in this evening’s game and is still to make his senior debut.

McCarthy will know the Southend squad well with the sides having met in two behind closed doors friendlies at Playford Road this season with the Essex club fielding strong teams on both occasions.

Shrimpers goalscorer Payne, 21, could be out of contract in the summer having so far failed to agree terms and having been tipped for a move to a higher division.

In the Crewe side, 24-year-old striker Brad Inman has reportedly been watched by Nottingham Forest, Bolton, the MK Dons, Bristol City and several League One sides having scored nine times this season.

The Australian-born former Scotland U21 international, who was with Newcastle as a youngster, is out of contract this summer.

Elsewhere, on-loan Town winger Cameron Stewart came on as a 71st minute sub as Doncaster lost 2-0 at Swindon, also in League One. Former Town loanee Richard Chaplow was sent off in the 78th minute after picking up a second yellow card.

In League Two, central defender Josh Yorwerth was an unused sub as Crawley beat Newport County 2-0, while fellow centre-half Matt Clarke was similarly left on the bench as Portsmouth drew 1-1 at Exeter.

In the Vanarama National League, keeper Michael Crowe was also an unused sub as Braintree beat Kidderminster Harriers 2-1 at Cressing Road.

Defender Joe Robinson was in the Woking’s startling line-up, however, as they defeated Molesey 3-1 in a Surrey Senior Cup quarter-final.

Photo: Action Images

blueboy1981 added 17:29 - Mar 2 ........ just sampling the Pies - nothing more exciting than that.
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ssmith added 17:35 - Mar 2 Narrow it down a bit , take outflair players and just look at the ones running around like mad
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blueboy1981 added 17:41 - Mar 2 There are players in lower divisions with potential, and keen to progress - where is our scouting network ? or more to the point, if / where do they scout ?. Seems to me as if the Club has only limited interest in such - or indeed young players with potential. Academy 1 status ? ........ forget it - it just won't happen for more than one reason. I guess many would not be interested in being weaned on hoofball anyway - which appears to be the only option at Portman Road currently.

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Gcon added 18:30 - Mar 2 Blueboy - This is an article about MM watching a lower league game with the presumption being that he is scouting and you are asking where and do Ipswich ever even scout the lower leagues?.... Your ridiculous level of negativity towards this club is stooping to new depths, old chum. PS. Sears and Mings?.....
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blueboy1981 added 18:39 - Mar 2 Gcon ....... Sears and Mings granted - Mings has moved on, and who has benefitted ?? ..... Sears, not anywhere near realising his potential having continuously been played out of position = much reduced benefit for Club and player. Being negative is one thing - stating facts is another. This Club you mention, will soon be known as a Club with an element of support that accepts everything, and pays lip service to all and everything McCarthy. This Club is better than that, and always has been. I rest my case.

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blueboy1981 added 19:21 - Mar 2 ......... give it a rest essex57 ......... you'll soon have this forum deserted other than your small band of 'forever happy chappies'. Ever realised that a MINUS is a NEGATIVE - a PLUS is a POSITIVE ?? You'll soon suffer from negative polarity by disagreeing with so many people - your little crowd excepted, of course.
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essex57 added 19:29 - Mar 2 Gcon agree entirely Blueboy and his mates never have a decent word to say about our great club in fact I think they are glad when we lose so it gives them an excuse to rant on after all they have played the game to a reasonable level and coached as well.
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essex57 added 19:38 - Mar 2 Unfortunately Blueboy most sane town fans stopped posting on the news site long ago Thanks to the rantings of your good self prebsa Diss boy and your merry band of followers.
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blueboy1981 added 20:00 - Mar 2 .......... seems you're still around - therefore not self categorised as sane then .... ??
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blueboy1981 added 20:02 - Mar 2 ........ another 'happy chappie' ............. Elto. You'll soon be able to form a quorum ..... !!!
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Elto added 20:14 - Mar 2 Not especially happy blueboy. Just tired of those that cultivate negativity. In my experience it rarely achieves anything. Then again I never played football at a high level so what do I know?
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ivegottheblues added 20:44 - Mar 2 Why is it that when some of us express a desire for our great club to play attractive successful football it's interpreted as negativity
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essex57 added 20:57 - Mar 2 I agree everyone wants success however does attractive football necessarily equal success?
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Tractorog added 21:20 - Mar 2 Perhaps he has just gone to watch a football game?
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Elto added 21:22 - Mar 2 ivegottheblues I wasn't really referring to peoples opinion regarding the quality of the football. I've attended every league game this season and very much desire to see better. The obligatory spell of head tennis that seems to go on and on every game upsets me more than the hoofing! My point was that some posters spin a positive or neutral news story into something negative whilst indicating that a number of other posters views and opinions are irrelevant simply because they claim to know better. I suspect some of it's just to get a 'bite', for personal entertainment!? I don't know, but I don't like or understand it.

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dirtydingusmagee added 21:31 - Mar 2 Looked funny ,sitting there watching game while eating candyfloss.Bonkers even .
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oldelsworthyfan added 09:10 - Mar 3 It's obvious MM has just gone to watch a player (or players) that he is interested in which is precisely what a Manager should do. Why all the fuss?
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ChrisFelix added 13:30 - Mar 3 Any Irishmen or free transfer has-beens playing
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essex57 added 19:39 - Mar 3 Well said oldsworthyfan we haven't played for 5 days so they've got nothing else to bleat on about
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