Town are 1-0 behind and down to 10 men at half-time at home to Brentford, Sam Saunders having scored the Bees' goal and Luke Hyam having seen red just before the break, while visitors' winger Alan Judge was stretchered off early on with a broken leg.

Boss Mick McCarthy made four changes with Tommy Smith, Jonathan Douglas, Liam Feeney and Brett Pitman dropping to the bench and with Kevin Foley, Luke Hyam, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Luke Varney all starting.

The Blues started in a 4-4-2 system with Foley at right-back and skipper Chambers at the centre of the defence alongside Christophe Berra.

Ben Pringle and Maitland-Niles were out wide in midfield with Cole Skuse and Hyam in the centre and Varney and Freddie Sears up front.

David McGoldrick was again on the bench but there was no place in the 18 for Teddy Bishop, who made his return as a sub against Charlton on Tuesday.

The game started in steady rain and was quickly brought to a halt when Hyam made a strong challenge on Judge, who was close to joining Town in the summer of 2013, leaving the former Blackburn man clearly in a lot of pain and requiring very lengthy treatment on the pitch for a broken leg.

The Blues midfielder looked to have made a genuine challenge and to have won the ball, but his momentum had taken him through the winger.

Hyam was booked with the Brentford players calling for a red, while Judge - who looked to be in the running for a place in the Irish squad for the Euros - was eventually stretchered off to applause from all sections of the ground. Konstantin Kerschbaumer took over in the Bees’ midfield.

Following a freekick after Varney had been somewhat cynically caught by Ryan Woods as he broke forward midway inside the Brentford half - far from the only niggly challenge from the visitors - Sears was played in down the right by Foley but Harlee Dean turned the ball behind for a corner.

On the quarter hour, with the game still to settle after the long stoppage, Brentford broke through three on one after Town had surrendered possession on halfway. Lasse Vibe found Kerschbaumer but his shot deflected off Berra and into Bartosz Bialkowski’s arms.

The visitors began to get on top but were unable to create an opening until the 29th minute when they scored a controversial opener.

Cole Skuse turned away from Kerschbaumer midway inside the Town half and looked to be tripped by the Austrian. However, referee Phil Gibbs waved away the Blues’ protests and Kerschbaumer brought the ball forward into the right of the area before cutting it back to Saunders, who smashed the it past Bialkowski from 15 yards.

While the Bees may have had the benefit of a poor refereeing decision, they had got themselves on top and had been looking the more likely scorers.

The Blues continued to struggle to make an impact on the game and in the 39th minute the visitors weren’t too far away from a second on the counter-attack, but Sergei Canos, having run from his own half, scuffed his shot wide. Referee Gibbs inexplicably awarded a corner, adding to the frustration of the home support.

On 42 Town created their first significant chance, Sears threading in Maitland-Niles on the left of the area, but the on-loan Arsenal youngster’s shot was too close to Bees’ keeper Button, who saved.

Judge’s treatment led to nine minutes of injury time in which the afternoon got worse for the Blues.

Woods caught Hyam on halfway and the Blues midfielder reacted by shoving the former Shrewsbury man, who pushed him back. Referee Gibbs booked both players and, having yellow-carded Hyam for the challenge on Judge, had no alternative but the show the Town midfielder his red card.

The Brentford players, clearly angered by the challenge which had led to the red card, had continued to bait Hyam throughout the half and it was probably only a matter of time before the midfielder reacted.

Having been reduced to 10 men, Town had their best spell of the game with Knudsen making a couple of strong runs down the left.

Following a corner, the Dane saw a shot blocked, Maitland-Niles crossed back into the box and the ball fell to Pringle, who also saw an effort stopped.

Soon after the referee’s whistle ended a half to forget for the Blues. Brentford had settled better after the early stoppage and were on top when they scored, even if the goal owed much to poor refereeing.

Hyam’s red card was foreseeable and the Town management may well have been planning to take him off at half-time. As it was, the Blues switched Maitland-Niles and Pringle for Jonathan Douglas and David McGoldrick ahead of the second half.

Photo: Action Images

Mr_Evans added 16:24 - Apr 9 Absolute idiot, you'd expect that in Sunday league, not a professional. Hyam is average at best, he would not warrant a starting place in any of the top half teams in the Champ
5

BoredWithThisNow added 16:24 - Apr 9 Just when you thought it couldn't get any worse.......
1

superblues9 added 16:28 - Apr 9 Just go McCarthy
2

essexboy added 16:32 - Apr 9 I'm lost for words.Down to ten men,2 shots on goal.Season over.Things have got to change,and quick.Totally gutted.Cannot wait for the final whistle so I can get out of here.!!😡😡😡😡
3

blueherts added 16:34 - Apr 9 Why we had two defensive mids on the pitch at start still baffles me - no it doesn't actually
2

cartman1972 added 16:34 - Apr 9 Complete shambles, awful management awful team and hyam is atrocious, they should have subbed him straight after that horrendous tackle. idiot boy.
3

Lightningboy added 16:35 - Apr 9 Hyam off..at least Mick's got an excuse for another abysmal display.
3

Mick_Mills_Tache added 16:35 - Apr 9 Although Hyam getting sent off isn't strictly MMs fault...why has he still insisted in playing two central defensive midfielders? Not a single shot at/on goal in the opening 35-40 minutes. Thought every game was a must win game if we wanted to reach the playoffs, Mick? Then to take Pringle off to put on ANOTHER central defensive donkey in Douglas when you're chasing the game is beyond words. I just can't comprehend what goes through his mind? Seems he is unable to play less than two defensive midfielders. Even when we're chasing the game. Unbelievable.

3

Mick_Mills_Tache added 16:36 - Apr 9 3-0 now. Time to go home.
1

Lightningboy added 16:38 - Apr 9 As if things weren't difficult enough why do we always seem to get that boring tit tony cottee reporting on our games on sky..the bloke is the kiss of death on just about every game he covers.
2

blueherts added 16:39 - Apr 9 Spot on mick mills keen to see how the MM defenders read this one even worst than my worst nightmare !
1

babyblueboy added 16:42 - Apr 9 Just gone 2 down what a fxxking shambles no idea from owner manager and half hearted players that should be ashamed to wear out once great shirt correction 3 down totally pissed of now this is now embarrasing pls so one out that but our club get in a young manager with some flare and players that want to play for the club not just turn up get paid and toss it off at our expense reason ticket next season no way of rather have a good summer holiday most of our players have been on holiday this season writing this in the black horse leftground at half time has enough of this shix

2

Bluetone added 16:49 - Apr 9 This will give the dinosaur the excuse to drop Bart and bring back another favourite. Surely it is time for McCarthy to hit the highway and take his dreadful hoofball with him/
2

babyblueboy added 16:50 - Apr 9 Players and manger should issue public appology and donate sweeks wages to charity because they donated this match to the Brentford charity crazy team selection school not tackled and no idea where the oposition goal is days like this Fuxx I hate football next just stay here get plastered and forget a crap day
1

Bob7881 added 16:55 - Apr 9 Never mind and just to think his job is totally safe. Remember guys dont have ago at McCarthy plenty on here think hes doing a great job.
3

blueherts added 16:59 - Apr 9 Joke yet again he cannot go out and win when it matters especially as Cardiff and sheft w lose Sets up not to lose as ever .two defensive midfielders why exactly ? Who is gonna ask him questions that matter
2

grumpyblue1966 added 17:00 - Apr 9 And milne has told ipswich fans to stick with Mick and the team. Mick should pee off to villa never liked him and his style of football we will never get proper money to spend on players only loans and freebies time for a cgange
4

Bubba32 added 17:19 - Apr 9 Disgraceful . Words fail me. Awful result, awful team.
3

Bluetone added 17:20 - Apr 9 McCarthy set your sat-nav for B6 6HE and just drive.
2

bingboast added 17:21 - Apr 9 On towns recent form - would Villa give MM a second look??
1

Suffolk_n_Proud added 17:23 - Apr 9 Season over. Prepare for the next one. I would like to see mick have another season with Ipswich before moving on if we don't make play offs next year. This season has been poor compared to last but there is still 2/3 of the division worse off than us currently. We are also in a good shape compared to the last 15 years as a whole. I'm a realist and rarely do my emotions take control and post extremes on here. I think people just need to calm down and engage their brains for a little while before posting

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grumpyblue1966 added 17:33 - Apr 9 Suffolk n proud I think you need to go to A & E you muppet
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Bob7881 added 17:37 - Apr 9 Suffolk n Proud is it all about league position what about how we play the game?
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Suffolk_n_Proud added 17:49 - Apr 9 Its not all about league position, but its more about league position than anything else. Its disappointing we've gone backwards from last season I know but its not as bad as some of the comments suggest and could be a lot worse. I would like to see us get promoted but so would every teams fans want their team to do well but only 3 will go up and that's what matters most. 21 teams will not

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Bob7881 added 18:09 - Apr 9 I understand your viewpoint but premier league lets face it the whole squad would have to be replaced we are no where near prepared for promotion.
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