Town’s play-off push looks all but over following a 0-0 home draw with relegation-threatened Charlton Athletic. Ben Pringle came closest for the Blues in the first half with a strike well saved by Addicks keeper Nick Pope, while Jonathan Douglas headed and then shot over in the second.

Boss Mick McCarthy named an unchanged side the same 4-3-3 system they utilised during Saturday’s 0-0 draw at Wolves with Pringle in a central midfield role ahead of Cole Skuse and Douglas with Liam Feeney on the right and Freddie Sears on the left and Brett Pitman in the middle.

Teddy Bishop returned to the bench for the first time this season, alongside David McGoldrick, who made his first appearance since mid-December as a sub late on at Molineux.

The Addicks included one-time Town schoolboys Pope in goal and Morgan Fox at left-back and ex-Blues loanee Stephen Henderson on the bench.

The visitors struck the game’s first shot in the fourth minute but Johann Berg Gudmundsson’s effort was straight at Bartosz Bialkowski.

Two minutes later, Sears seized on a loose ball on the right of the area and from a tight angle sent a low strike not too far wide of Nick Pope’s right post.

There was a big scare for the Blues on 12 when a mix-up between Bialkowski and Christophe Berra saw the keeper rush off his line as the defender looked to head it back to him from the edge of the box.

In the end, both left it and the Scotland international was able to get back to clear ahead of Yaya Sanogo before the on-loan Arsenal man could make anything of the error.

Three minutes later, Jonas Knudsen was booked for clattering into Gudmundsson late as they challenged for an aerial ball. After treatment, the Icelander was eventually replaced by Marco Motta.

Charlton threatened again in the 21st minute when Sanogo teed-up Callum Harriott on the left of the area, the former Colchester loanee hitting a low strike which Bialkowski did well to stop. Douglas was first to the loose ball but took too long to clear and was dispossessed but Sanogo’s effort was snuffed out.

Moments later, Pringle found himself some space just outside the area and hit a curling left-foot shot which looked bound for the top corner until Pope somehow got across to superbly tip the ball wide.

In the 26th minute Sears cut in from the left and hit a low shot which Pope was able to claim.

But Charlton, quick and incisive going forward, were having the better on it and almost carved their way through the Blues in the 35th minute, skipper Luke Chambers cutting out Jordan Cousins’s final pass through to Sanogo when he might have shot, before Ademola Lookman screwed wide from the edge of the box.

Three minutes before the break, with Town by now having moved to 4-4-2 with Pringle on the right and Feeney the left, a move down the Blues left saw Knudsen cross and the ball eventually fall to Sears, who looped a bouncing ball over.

On 44, after Charlton had surrendered possession in their own half, Pitman shot wide having brought the ball forward towards the edge of the box.

As the half moved into four minutes of injury time, Lookman whipped over a corner from the right and Jorge Teixeira flicked a header at the near post, which Bialkowski tipped over his bar.

Town won a late corner after Pope had punched a Knudsen long throw out, but neither side threatened again before the break.

The visitors will have gone in at half-time disappointed not to have been in front having looked the more dangerous side, particularly on the counter-attack.

Town created fewer opportunities, although Pringle would have scored but for Pope’s excellent save.

Ex-Addick Luke Varney replaced Pringle ahead of the second half with the Blues continuing in a 4-4-2 system.

Town started the half brightly and Teixeira picked up an early yellow card for pulling back Sears as he took the ball towards the area. From the resultant freekick, Chambers hit the wall.

Charlton again threatened on the break in the 50th minute and Berra made an important block from Harriott after he had been found in space on the edge of the area by Lookman.

Two minutes later, the Blues went close when Skuse stood up a cross from the right of the box but Douglas couldn’t get over it and his header looped into the stand.

On 55, Sears, now out wide on the left, cut in and skipped past a defender but saw his shot blocked. From the resultant corner, the ball fell to Douglas on the edge of the box, but the Irishman shot over.

Town were beginning to create chances more regularly and three minutes later Sears crossed from the left and Douglas laid it back to Pitman, whose low shot was saved by Pope down to his left.

As the game moved towards the hour mark, Harriott shot high and wide from a tight angle on the right.

With 26 minutes remaining McGoldrick made his entrance in place of Feeney with the crowd singing the striker’s name. Pitman moved to wide right.

Town were having most of the ball but without being able to create a chance, however, on 69 Cousins struck a powerful effort from the edge of the Blues box which Bialkowski batted away. Three minutes later, Harriott hit a low shot into the side-netting from wide on the right.

McGoldrick made his first impact on the game in the 72nd minute when his shot from the right was deflected over.

Following the corner, Douglas won the ball and fed Sears, who cut in and crossed deep but just too high for Pitman.

As the game moved towards its final 10 minutes the Blues were looking less threatening and only a brilliant double save from Bialkowski prevented the visitors from claiming the lead, first blocking from Lookman and then after Town had failed to clear from Sanogo.

In the 82nd minute Bishop made his long-awaited return to action, replacing Pitman and taking up a role behind what was now a front three of Varney, Sears and McGoldrick.

With five minutes remaining Cousins was booked for stopping Bishop from taking a quick freekick.

On 88 Varney did well to divert a corner whipped in from the left just wide of his own post from a couple of yards out.

In the final seconds of scheduled time McGoldrick brought the ball in from the left and hit a shot straight at Pope.

Neither side was able to find a goal in three minutes of injury time, in which Charlton did most of the pressing, and boos again greeted the final whistle.

A point apiece was probably a fair reflection of the game, neither team having been particularly convincing with Town’s best second-half chances both falling to Douglas, but with Bialkowski the busier of the two keepers and Charlton always the more dangerous-looking side going forwards.

The Blues have now gone 273 minutes since they last scored a goal, the second in the 2-0 victory over Blackburn last month.

Town last drew back-to-back games in December 2009 when Roy Keane's side recorded a stalemate at Bristol City and then at home to Peterborough.

A 0-0 draw was little good to either side and the play-offs now look well beyond the Blues, who are still eighth but seven points from the play-offs, while Charlton are still 23rd, seven points from safety.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Pringle (Varney 46), Feeney, Sears, Pitman. Subs: Gerken, Foley, Hyam, Bru, Bishop, McGoldrick.

Charlton: Pope, Solly (c), Fanni, Teixeira, Fox, Diarra, Cousins, Gudmundsson (Motta 19 (Makienok 86), Lookman, Harriott (Vetokele 74), Sanogo. Subs: Henderson, Suk-Young, Lennon, Jackson. Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands). Att: 17,787 (Charlton: 552).

Photo: Action Images

essex57 added 08:03 - Apr 6 Wayway do you seriously believe that views on this site represent the views of the majority of town fans?
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Tractorboy1985 added 08:04 - Apr 6 Essex57.. How doesn't 17,500 pay the wage?? 17,500 X £30 (taken an average) is £525,000!!! Either prices fall to compensate the shower of sh1t we have to watch or Evans u need to dust off that cheque book and give us some entertainment by investing in better quality players! Knudsen Douglas chambers wouldn't look out of place in league 1!
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TimmyH added 08:27 - Apr 6 @essex57 - well some of the views on this site might have been a minority of the total views of Town fans but undoubtedly now the discord will be growing, like it or not mate. Even Stuart Watson of the EADT has more or less been expressing the same thoughts!
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essex57 added 08:38 - Apr 6 Tractorboy1985I would think the average ticket price is 25.00 x17500=437,500less less vat=364,580 first team wages plus on cost £224,000 leaves 140,000 to pay the rest of staff and all the other costs of running the club,in my opinion we only pay a small contribution to running our club, onto last night's game. Not as much hoof ball and still we didn't win! Apart from the woeful Douglas the other players put in their usual solid shift Bart mom again kept us in the game but that is what his paid for Knudsen put in a good shift he does a lot of running off the ball and next season think he will make a good player was interesting to see another comment about Sears being another Lee Martin tries to beat one player too many he looks very good because of his running at players but at the end of the day when your comparing him to at best average players it makes him look good Pringle was very average Saturday at Wolves (and yes I was there)and not much better tonight. Tommy Smith solid, Berra Skuse sound Pitman did what he could with what supply he got to sum up,as on Saturday we created enough chances to win comfortably so shout for the managers head boo the team, but as I've said before this squad of players are not good enough.

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Woodbridgian added 08:38 - Apr 6 A truly awful performance , outplayed by a team who are now set for League one football next year. Forget about talk of the playoffs and PL football at PR! Watching those to teams last night it should serve as a real warning to Evans and others in charge at PR just how easy it is for a good club who lets face it outperformed us in most areas of the pitch last night without the right level of investment, the right management and right playing staff to get relegated from this league. It time for Evans to decide if he wants to back this football club and the manager that he speaks (through third parties) so highly of or not. The club needs a complete overall in the summer without it will go only one way.

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essex57 added 08:43 - Apr 6 Look at it the other way WoodbridgeIa if we are no better than the likes of Rotherham,Charlton etc we should be heaping Praise on MM and TC for getting us to this position with our current crop of average players.
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Gazelle added 09:05 - Apr 6 12 goals in 16 games since December says it all and we havn't scored in 8 of them
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essex57 added 09:15 - Apr 6 Gandj64 it's suggestions like Holloway that make me glad of MM you must be deluded to think he's an improvement oh I forgot he over achieved at Millwall and Palace for get it the man's a clown.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 09:17 - Apr 6 Well, that was a long journey to watch some very uninspiring play. Seeing it live, I begin to understand what most of you have been complaining about. It all looked like a rather disorganised mess. The effort is clear to see, but sadly the quality is lacking. No-one (Bart excepted) covered himself in glory. Perhaps Sears, Feeney, Pringle, and Skuse did ok. Mc G. and Bishop not on long enough to judge. Disagree with booing Douglas. If a player is having a bad game, he is hardly likely to respond positively to such treatment. And despite a couple of glaring mistakes, I'm not sure he was so much worse than the rest. I'm pretty sure too that the more you boo, the less likely Mick is to take him off, just to prove his point; so the booing is actually counter-productive. I don't have an answer to where we go from here. Some of the solutions proposed on TWTD are, unfortunately, simply not realistic. See you vs Brentford.

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marshallmania added 09:47 - Apr 6 Never a 4-3-3! 4-6-0 at best On the plus side we've got a decent new free kick taker in Chambers for next season!
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Geoff added 10:05 - Apr 6 Well only yesterday i done the hardest thing i gave up me and my sons season tickets in the north stand i have been going to see town since 1974.After last nights game i feel now justified my decision,since Evans took over this club has been a shambles with poor manager appointments bad investment and no leadership.The fans of this once great respected club deserve better it is now time for change and you must start at the top the owner must go and go quick he has lost interest then the manager and his dour playing style we need an owner who wants success and a young manager like Gary Rowett who has ambition. We can play a better style of football like the past even John Duncan was not this boring to watch,i want to return but not until this regime has gone.

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judespiveyg added 10:22 - Apr 6 Time to drop Skuse, he never scores and I can't remember him creating any either. He doesn't run off the ball and only passes square, and for a defensive midfielder doesn't re ally get stuck in. Douglas looks way past it but does at least score the odd goal. Hyam is the best of the three because he may not be hugely technically gifted, but he has energy and does put a foot in to break up play.

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itfcbam added 10:29 - Apr 6 Sadly our season was ruined by 4 key injuries in the similar area which have really killed our creativity, in Fraser, McGolgrick, Bishop and Bru. Take the 4 most creative players out of any team and they would struggle especially when everything else about our club is mid table eg. resources, finances, attendences, etc. Arguably at least 3 of those if fit would've been in the side. Look at how we started the season. Think the common scapegoat Douglas would hardly have played if Bishop was fit or even Bru. Bru has struggled this season with knocks etc and clearly isn't fit. However some on here expect us to start with Bish now even though he has only trained fully for 1 week!! Great idea let's ruin him for next season as well shall we!!! I would love to see him on the pitch but I want to see him next season as well when we go again

2

alfromcol added 10:33 - Apr 6 Haven't seen an IT goal at the Alf Ramsey end this year. Says it all, we are a second half team!!
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carsey added 11:32 - Apr 6 To those who blame Evans lack of investment I say it doesn't matter because McCarthy would only bring in similar players to those we have. Portsmouth who totally outplayed us twice have spent only £275,000 on fees this season and are living proof that with the right coaching and manager you can still play decent entertaining football. I have said before I believe we have the players capable of the type of passing/moving game most of us would like to see but McCarthy cannot or will not change. He is out of touch and next season will be more of the same irrespective of any money available.

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blueherts added 11:44 - Apr 6 Essex57 respect your view but if , as you say our players are just not enough , why , when apparently MM had money in January , did he say we cannot improve on the squad Now , we do not know 'How much' money he had but I am sure with Oar , Parr , Dids and Bish missing we could have found someone ? Micks decision Playing two left footers at CB - Micks decision Playing a CB atat RB - Micks decision Bringing Foley in , looking good and then leaving him out - micks decision Sears better down the middle but klets play him out wide - micks decision Our best players this season is Bart - how many games did he have to sit out ? Yes , players do take a responsibility and we lack goals but who motivates , manages and sets them up ? 5 wins in 17 tells its own story 'I set them up not too lose ' 'which is why MM in not a cup manager - need to take the game to teams - no fear - not with one foot on the brake approach

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Elto added 11:55 - Apr 6 alfromcol Murphy got one v Preston. I think it was this year. I agree though, not a lot to shout about.
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alfromcol added 12:17 - Apr 6 OOps, well spotted Elto
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warktheline added 12:29 - Apr 6 McCarthy has been head scratching for best part of season, sadly out of ideas, in part stubbornness, and obviously no investment. Evans has no interest in club, that is overwhelming obvious! The league table doesn't lie, clubs that re-invest , eg Burnley- Gray, Sheffield We'd- Hooper etc, have more points than others. Money doesn't guarantee success, but Mick deserved investment. OVER AND OUT.

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rinkydinkpanther added 13:44 - Apr 6 Re: Douglas - I've never seen anyone look so poor before in a 2 mins highlight clip. Staggering.
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andyl1971 added 14:40 - Apr 6 The club has come along way in 3 years from were we where. But Evans has to take blame as well . If keep looking in the freebie pot there is not much quality there. He should have given mm money to spend. Quality costs money simple as that
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wherescounago added 15:31 - Apr 6 Accept the fact that the season is over and give Andre and the other youngsters a few games
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Seasider added 16:12 - Apr 6 Now Dougie is a different class like Tabby was until this season;despite havng best two chances of game putting a shot and a header over the bar. Only winning 1 of last 6 games,and 5 in 18 this year doesn't bode well for next season,with half the side now over 30;and McCarthy at 57 saying he isn't going to change. When you think he took Pringle off at half time when he had only decent shot on target,and left Bru and Foley on bench makes you wonder what his agender is? I do hope that he gets the Villa job as next season,as I fear that the feel good factor will not be there at Portman Rd should the dinosaur remain

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cornishblu added 16:36 - Apr 6 Essex57 ...got to laugh he,s still going on and on and on .....must be a longer world that you live in.....but don't let it stop you makes my day reading your posts .
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BillBlue added 16:38 - Apr 6 Essex57 - Your new theme repeated about four or more times in this one report that 'the team are not good enough' is saying exactly what you are trying to avoid saying 'McCarthy is not good enough' because they have all been recruited by him, are trained by him and selected to play by him so no more of that nonsense my lad, it just doesn't wash.
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