Town recorded their fifth consecutive draw as their home game with Wolves ended in a drab 0-0 stalemate. The visitors came closest to winning it late on when Jon Dadi Bodvarsson and Ben Marshall both struck the woodwork.

Toumani Diagouraga replaced Emyr Huws, who suffered a hamstring injury during Saturday’s 1-1 draw with Brentford, in the Town midfield, while Josh Emmanuel took over from Jordan Spence at right wing-back.

Tommy Smith was handed his first start since undergoing back surgery in September with Jonas Knudsen switching to left wing-back and Myles Kenlock moving to the bench.

Wolves, who had lost their last six matches, made five changes from the team which lost 2-1 at Reading at the weekend, bringing in Danny Batth, Matt Doherty, Jack Price, Andreas Weimann and Jon Dadi Bodvarsson for Mike Williamson, who was suspended, Dominic Iorfa, Conor Coady, Helder Costa and Nouha Dicko.

As so often in recent weeks the Blues started slowly with Wolves enjoying most of the early possession but without creating a chance.

However, in the fifth minute Town carved out the first opening when David McGoldrick found Tom Lawrence with a cross-field left-to-right pass. The Blues’ top scorer fed the overlapping Emmanuel but his low ball ran between the Town players in the box and McGoldrick who was breaking into the area.

The first quarter of an hour continued in much the same vein with Wolves having most of the ball but without threatening and Town making the occasional foray forward.

On 16 McGoldrick rode a challenge and fed Skuse on the edge of the area to the right but the midfielder appeared undecided whether to cross or shoot and the ball wafted harmlessly wide.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 21st minute when Knudsen handled as he tripped with Doherty breaking into the area behind him.

Wolves claimed a penalty and the Danish international, who was booked, was fortunate but it did appear he initially touched the ball with his hand outside the box. After a lengthy build-up, Romain Saiss shot well over from the freekick.

The incident briefly seemed to wake Town up with skipper Luke Chambers forcing his way into the Wolves area after an Emmanuel cross from the right had been cleared to him.

On 31 Diagouraga came a couple of yards from scoring his first goal for Town when Lawrence played a corner from the right to him on the edge of the box from where he smashed a powerful low drive not too far wide of Wolves keeper Carl Ikeme’s left post.

Wolves again claimed a penalty in the 35th minute when Ben Marshall crossed from the right to Dave Edwards at the far post. The former Luton man nodded back across goal but McGoldrick slid in and diverted the ball behind, off a hand according to Edwards, although it had appeared to strike the Irish international’s body.

Three minutes later, Lawrence carved out an opportunity in the 38th minute, the Wales international’s clever flick from Diagouraga’s pass taking him beyond Kortney House but wide and his well-struck low cross was cleared by Doherty.

As what had been a dull half moved into injury time McGoldrick and Lawrence forced an error from the Wolves backline and the on-loan Leicester man fed the Town number 10 on the left of the area but the Irishman’s low shot was saved by Ikeme.

That was the final action of an unmemorable half in which Town had never taken the game to an opposition who had had a lot of the ball without ever actually looking comfortable in possession.

Neither keeper had been particularly tested with the Blues’ best opportunities McGoldrick’s shot shortly before the whistle and Diagouraga’s strike, while for Wolves Saiss should have done better with the freekick from the edge of the area earlier in the half.

Town began the second half more positively and in the 47th minute Smith won a freekick midway inside the Wolves half on the left, visitors skipper Danny Batth picking up a yellow card for the foul.

Lawrence’s ball into the box seemed to be on its way towards Berra’s head until George Saville’s boot took it away from him.

Town felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the 52nd minute when Lawrence exchanged passes with Grant Ward and broke into the area before Doherty ran into him and sent him tumbling.

Referee Darren Deadman, perhaps recalling the two earlier Wolves calls for penalties, waved away the protests, however it looked a better shout than the earlier claims.

Town won a series of corners with Ikeme just about dealing with balls curling under his bar before Wolves broke through Weimann following a Smith error. His cross was deflected to Bodvarsson, who fed Marshall, who shot wide.

Another Town corner saw the ball just fail to fall for Berra then, with the half more open than the first, Bodvarsson crossed into Bartosz Bialkowski’s arms from the right.

On 61 Kenlock took over from Smith with Knudsen moving to the centre of the defence.

Wolves continued to have most of the ball but without testing Bialkowski, while the Blues were unable to keep possession and never threatened until McGoldrick hit a low shot to Ikeme from just outside the box in the 79th minute.

Two minutes later, Diagouraga sent McGoldrick away down the left with a clever pass with the outside of his right boot but the striker’s low cross to Ward was cut out.

On 82 Wolves brought on Helder Costa for Weimann, then two minutes later Kieffer Moore took over from Emmanuel for Town with Ward moving to right wing-back.

The visitors came close to winning it with five minutes left, Bodvarsson cutting in from the right and hitting a shot which Bialkowski pawed onto the post and wide.

Wolves threatened again a minute later after Skuse had conceded a freekick 25 yards out. Marshall’s shot struck the top of the bar and Knudsen nodded over and behind before any of the Wolves players were able to react.

The end of two minutes of uneventful injury time was met by boos from the home support after another frustrating evening at Portman Road.

The Blues, who badly missed Huws’s presence in midfield, looked a shadow of the team which dominated against Reading and Leeds and it was a display which will have done little to persuade any fans wavering over whether to renew their season tickets to part with their cash.

Wolves will feel they did enough to win having had most of the ball but without ever looking particularly comfortable in possession with Bodvarsson's late strike which Bialkowski palmed on to the post their only shot on target, while the Blues managed just two during a game which won’t live long in the memory.

Town, who are now unbeaten in seven but having won only one in their last 11 in all competitions, drop a place to 16th, nine points from the relegation zone ahead of Saturday’s trip to 11th place Barnsley, who lost 2-1 at QPR.

Town: Bialkowski, Emmanuel (Moore 84), Chambers (c), Berra, Smith (Kenlock 61), Knudsen, Skuse, Diagouraga, Ward, Lawrence, McGoldrick. Unused: Gerken, Pitman, Spence, Bru, Sears.

Wolves: Ikeme, Doherty, Edwards, Batth (c), Saville, Price, Bodvarsson, Saiss, Hause, Weimann (Costa 82), Marshall. Unused: Lonergan, Stearman, Dicko, Coady, Iorfa, Cavaleiro. Referee: Darren Deadman (Cambridgeshire). Att: 15,076 (Wolves: 443).

Photo: TWTD

bohslegend added 21:04 - Mar 8 Poor result and by all accounts (from those who were there) poor performance too. But not a loss. You know how you forget to bring your phone charger to work some days and by the time you get home there's few energy bars showing?? When we get a bad result it seems to be much the equivalent of putting your phone on charge for the full night - 100% energised! Shame on all of you who continually look forward (Yes, look forward) to Ipswich getting a bad result just so you can jump on here or on to some poxy radio phone in to educate the world with your armchair expertise. We never get the same amount of posts when we win. Wonder why??? I think it's obvious, and it has nothing to do with the manager.

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MicksZzzTactics added 21:06 - Mar 8 @Geddis (and others) I agree (and I think the vast majority of all our otherwise somewhat divided fans does too actually) that: Of course it's "Not ALL down to the manager"!!! ... whomever he might be, and no matter how archaic, tactical inept, 1-dimensional, 'friends' & 'proper blokes' obsessed and beyond deluded etc. etc. he might happen to be as well. And while I personally have a real had time **FORGIVING** our players for not performing remotely acceptable or up-to-standard from: 1] A Purely Financial POV (i.e. their hourly salary is pretty darn nice compared to that of so many other jobs isn't it now??? Even for a so called nowadays penniless & messed-up club like ours!) .... 2] A Purely Pride POV (In a perfect world at least :-) every single one of our 1st team players should just AUTOMATICALLY give not only their 100% physically but also basically their very best skill-wise... every darn game!!! .... while experiencing that "privilege" of wearing this here 'Once-Upon-A-Time-In-The-East-Of-Anglia" proud & revered ITFC shirt!!!). ....I can however identify myself with & understand fairly well their "occasional" collective as well as individual failure to perform from a more **BASIC HUMAN** perspective mind you!!! For example just imagine YOURSELF as a squad player turning up pre-game and be informed -- for the umpteenth time under MM! -- that one or several of the vital key players are being DICTATED to play out of their favorite position (yesterday is was happening to even super potential game-changer Mr. Lawrence for crying out loud!!!) .... and on top of that also imagine being informed -- also for the umpteenth time under MM! -- that we are for all practical purposes are to play with AT LEAST 7 defensive-minded / defensive-preoccupied players, from the very 1st whistle (0-0) thus setting-up & trying UNMISTAKABLY of course 'Not-To-Lose'!!! .... rather and in direct contradiction to MM's official ITFC broken-record-like lie: i.e. that him & we as a team: "Obviously are fully intend, tactically and otherwise, to a winning mentallity & and clearly are 'Going-For-The-win' nearly EACH & EVERY time")!!! A pathetic MM 'Official Lie' that btw is utterly repulsive in it basically being extremely and-then-some **fan-disrespecting**, in just about any way imaginable! Now playing even professional fairly well-paid football under these here prehistoric, hedgehog-like, turgid & rather negative.... shall we say "Dinosauric Conditions & Instructions" :-) .... week after week after week for the 4th+ year running, can simply NOT, fundamentally speaking, be neither especially "motivating" nor remotely "fun" in and by itself, can it now??? :-)

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MicksZzzTactics added 22:27 - Mar 8 Epilogue: Sigh Sigh Sigh Sigh If only we had an XI ... and a manager & a managerial ideology! ... with about say ehhhh roughly 1/10 ? :-) lol of Barca's 'Winning Mentality'! Sincerely hope our self-perceived ingenious Dino McCarthy watched that unforgettable Barca-PSG game tonight .... as even a man as archaic & ultra stubborn fossil as him might, just might! :-) lol, be able to pick up "a thing or two"not only about how to genuinely "GO-FOR-THE -WIN" but particularly about really really TAKING THE GAME TO THE OPPOSITION ... and not the the other way around (or somewhere in the murky & muddy in-between!), in both cases!

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surgery added 22:46 - Mar 8 MicksZzzTactics. Shame on you. That's not proper football. Too many goals by far. Barca need our old mate Mick to sort out their defensive frailties
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grumpyoldman added 23:09 - Mar 8 Bobslegend it has everything to do with the manager, he decides players, he decides on tactics, he decides style and he decides on substitutions. If you can think of anybody else to comment on please feel free, I personally never want to see us lose and comment on wins and losses. I do not go anymore because his turgid tactics and inexplicable selections, it took me until September last season before I gave up so I did give him a chance, if you think he is doing a good job fair enough others disagree.

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Seasider added 00:37 - Mar 9 Interesting that Bohslegend spends a few words about the game,which he never attended;and then devotes 2 paras slagging off most of correspondents on here,many of whom(including me)who actually spends our money to go! When Skues was out we played better;but when a reporter had the temerity to ask if his favourite Cole might have difficulty in getting back,McCarthy retorted who says he will,and promptly as always put sideways Skues straight back in.This sums up the bloody minded Yorkie who subsequently repeated that he is impervious to criticism. The interview afterwards shows that he has lost the plot,saying how good Wolves were,and seemingly unable or unwilling to discuss the match,simply saying he will not criticise his players.

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MicksZzzTactics added 02:17 - Mar 9 @ Seasider & @Grumpyoldman) Ahhh yes Gentlemen, those indeed sometimes quite undeniably **mind-boggling** Argumentative -- ehmmm shall-we-call-them -- "Tactics" ??? :-) lol, deployed regularly by both The Dino McCarthy himself in his awe-inspiring interviews as well as certain of his die-hard & blind-faithed worshippers in their posts.... Well personally this here immaculate tandem of in this special regard "repeat offenders" :-) lol particularly here on these sacred TWTD page (and apart from Master Mick I'm obviously alluring to posters exactly like say @bohslegend and of course the even more "brilliant" @swn , as well as others cut from more or less the same "cloth" so to speak) pretty darn often makes me not only flat out giggle or laugh out load! (no matter where I happen to be situated at the time btw) but also immediately upon having completely finished reading their interviews or said member posts then also darn automatically start reciting out somewhat loud to myself these imho extremely fitting following choice words from our very own British biology braniac, ethologist etc. Mr. Richard Dawkins and his undebatably super dazzling **Solemn Promise** of sorts: "I SHALL NOT MAKE AN ARGUMENT 'AD HOMINEM'! .... MY ARGUMENT IS 'AD BULLSH@TEM'!" Lmao! HaHaHaHa

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Swn98 added 07:44 - Mar 9 Surgery??????
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Swn98 added 07:46 - Mar 9 Mickszzzzzzzzztactics Remember one thing old fella this site is for views of all people please respect that.
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grumpyoldman added 08:41 - Mar 9 Swn98 read what Mickszzzzzztactics actually said about Barca, he did not say we should play the same way as them, but have their winning mentality which is surely what a sports team should have, unlike the present regime of setting up not to lose, how else can anybody explain having seven defence minded players in a game against a team that had lost consistently recently.

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MicksZzzTactics added 16:01 - Mar 9 @Swn98 Regarding your little cute reminder that this site is for "views of all people and please respect that".... Hmme dear fella, have you ever, by pure random chance of course lol, heard the expression: "You should be the LAST person saying (preaching) this!" ??? :-) Lmao! As I have confronted you with on previous occasions dearest, than unless you take some weird pleasure from getting beat-up to a somewhat bloody pulp, METAPHORICALLY speaking of course! :-), then you should definitely not go down that particular 'Path' with one as shrewd & recollective as me! :-) ... and besides I've have PLENTY (as in an abundance!) of 1st class premium examples from the annals of TWTD where you @Swn98 -- while imho quite eagerly displaying what could be construed as a general psychological-flawed behavioral pattern -- do absolutely nothing but ****DISRESPECT**** the views of others!!!, incl. on occasion just basically very rudely & degrading (meaning non-sarcastically!!!) attack named others, (myself incl.) simply for no other apparent reason than because their views ("long-winded" or not) happens to differ from yours! I will personally always embrace the fact the we in the UK live in a Democracy ... still! (Because beware folks! The partly Anti-democratic & very Anti-Freedom-of-Speech "Closet Trumpist" could be everywhere nowadays! :-) lol) .... and thus I have written, also here on TWTD, innumerous times: "Everybody is ENTITLED to their opinion. Period!" And that they still are.... However that doesn't mean that I'm somewhat strictly FORCED BY PRINCIPLE to literally "respect" the very contains of their expressed opinion though!!! And very very sadly in fact, in your personal case @swn (but also in the cases of a few other so called 'McCarthy-Next-Akin-like' accounts lol) I bloody DON'T! ... the vast majority of the time! As at least two thirds of said posts contains opinions or fluffy beliefs with little or no hold in actual REALITY imho! ... but above all an awful lot of said posts (including the outright & vicious "Ad Hominem' ones) are virtually soaked, repeat soaked!, in a delicious yum yum marinade of very repugnant HYPOCRISY!!!!!!!!!

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Swn98 added 16:39 - Mar 9 Could you put in plain english what you mean MICKSZZZZZZ.
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Swn98 added 16:48 - Mar 9 Grumps so the eleven that set foot on the pitch every game wish to lose, i have the winning mentality every time i place a bet sometimes they win some times they lose.
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BillBlue added 18:06 - Mar 9 Mickszzzz - thanks for cheering me up and making me laugh.
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grumpyoldman added 18:13 - Mar 9 Again Swn98 you have put your own angle on a comment, where in any part of my post does it say the team wishes to lose, there is a big difference between setting out not to lose and trying to lose. And using the analogy of betting is ridiculous of course by betting you are trying to win, nobody bets trying not to lose. You really do not seem to grasp any other concept that is different to yours.

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Swn98 added 07:49 - Mar 10 mIckszzzzzzzz it would of been much easier to say you don't agree with me as I don't with you.
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