Town’s goal drought stretched beyond the 10-hour mark as they drew 0-0 at home to AFC Wimbledon, their fifth stalemate in eight games. Dai Cornell saved a Joe Pigott penalty in a first half dominated by the visitors, while the Dons striker also went closest for the Blues when he headed against his own bar in the second half.

Cornell and Oli Hawkins were handed their first starts under Paul Cook and Teddy Bishop returned to the XI.

Cornell replaced Tomas Holy in goal, while Hawkins, who had made three sub appearances since the change of manager, was the lone striker with Bishop, who missed Tuesday's 3-0 defeat at Northampton as he was ill, behind him in the number 10 role.

The Blues were otherwise unchanged from the team which lost to the Cobblers with left-back Stephen Ward again skipper with Luke Chambers on the bench.

Holy and Kayden Jackson, who started at Sixfields, were among the substitutes, while Freddie Sears dropped out of the squad.

For Wimbledon, Ryan Longman replaced the injured Ollie Palmer up front, while ex-Blues youngster Shane McLoughlin was on the bench.

Ahead of kick-off both teams and the officials took a knee in support of Black Lives Matter with the visitors, in form having won their last four, starting the stronger.

On four, Luke O’Neill crossed and Will Nightingale, the scorer of the Dons’ first goal in their 3-0 victory over the Blues earlier in the month, headed over.

The Londoners continued to have the better of it and on 10, George Dobson was teed-up just outside the area but his powerful, seemingly goal-bound shot was charged down by Luke Woolfenden.

From the resultant corner on the left, the ball fell loose to Jack Rudoni and this time it was Mark McGuinness who got his body in the way to block.

Town finally began to show something and on 11 they won their first corner, however, it came to nothing.

A minute later there was a big scare when McGuinness and Cornell miscommunicated with the keeper on the edge of his area and Dobson almost seized on a loose ball until the on-loan Arsenal defender managed to get back on it and clear the danger.

Keanan Bennetts struck Town’s first effort of the game on the quarter-hour, taking the ball into the area on the right from Hawkins’s flick but his low side-footed effort went well wide.

Wimbledon continued to look the most dangerous side with an Ayoub Assal shot blocked on 16 before the visitors had an even better opportunity.

After Gwion Edwards had lost possession on halfway, skipper Alex Woodyard cut inside from the right to Rudoni in space just inside the box but the midfielder shot wide when it seemed easier to hit the target. On 20 Cornell saved O’Neill’s strike from the right.

Town Town goal had been living a charmed life and in the 21st minute the Blues had keeper Cornell to thank for the scores remaining level after Wimbledon were awarded a penalty.

The ball had fallen for Joe Pigott in the area but as the striker worked himself to shoot, he was pulled back by one of several defenders around him and referee Ollie Yates pointed straight to the spot. Skipper Ward protested in a less than convincing manner.

Pigott took the kick himself but Cornell with his leg as he dived to his right, then got back across to stop the striker’s subsequent effort as Ward did as much as he could to make it difficult for the Wimbledon man to get to the ball.

Town, who had made very little headway all half, moved Bishop out wide and Bennetts into the centre to the left of Hawkins, then on 34 Edwards shot well over from distance.

In the 40th minute Pigott broke into the area to the left and was charging towards goal but Ward came across to slam the ball out of play before the striker was able to get in his shot.

A minute before the end of the half, Edwards was shown the game’s first yellow card for a late tackle on Nesta Guinness-Walker.

The Blues could count themselves very fortunate to go in level at the break with the shot count of Wimbledon 12, four on target, Town three, none on target, giving an accurate summary of the period.

While the penalty was obviously the best of the opportunities, the visitors had a number of other chances which they will feel they should have taken.

The lacklustre Blues had almost entirely been on the back foot with Bennetts’s shot their only real chance.

That the scoreline remained level was pretty much the only positive to take from the first half.

Town swapped Bennetts, who again failed to impress, for Armando Dobra ahead of the second half.

Wimbledon again went very close to going in front in the opening minute, Pigott escaping down the left and cutting back for Assal. Cornell first did well to close down the midfielder and then dived at his feet to claim the ball.

On 48 Rudoni smashed a shot into the side-netting at an angle from the left, then at the other end Dobra hit a shot against a defender, then Edwards scuffed a rebound to visiting keeper Nik Tzanev.

Despite the early Wimbledon chance, the Blues had started the second period more on the front foot than they had been in the first and in the 52nd minute they hit the woodwork.

Dozzell whipped over a corner from the right and Pigott diverted it on to his own crossbar as Hawkins prepared to head goalwards.

Town swapped Bishop for Cole Skuse in the 63rd minute, the veteran taking up a deep midfield role alongside Andre Dozzell with Flynn Downes ahead of them and Dobra on the right.

Moments after the change, Dobra forced Tzanev into his first serious stop of the afternoon, the keeper parrying his effort from the right of the box just past Downes. On 68 Hawkins was switched for Aaron Drinan.

In the 70th minute, Cornell, Town’s man of the match on his return, dived across to his right to palm Pigott’s 25-yard free-kick wide. The clock crossing the 71-minute mark took Town’s goal drought past 10 hours.

Wimbledon made a double change two minutes later with ex-Blue McLoughlin and Cheye Alexander taking over from Assal and O’Neill.

On 77 Jackson replaced Dozzell with Downes moving back alongside Skuse and the sub joining Drinan up front.

Dobra, Town’s most effective attacking player since his introduction, used his pace to beat a defender to the ball on the right on 79 before using a trick to work himself space and send in a cross which flew just behind Drinan.

A minute later, Town forced Wimbledon to give the ball away midway inside their half. Drinan fed Jackson on the right of the box and the sub hit a shot from a tight angle which Tzanev blocked.

In the 83rd minute Edwards was fouled to the left of the box but sent his free-kick into the area not only over the bar but over the net erected behind the goal and deep into the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

Three minutes later, Woodyard blazed over from distance following a corner with Wimbledon chances having been much rarer events in the second half.

Town’s goalless streak now stretches to 619 minutes and in truth they again rarely looked like ending it. That Wimbledon striker Pigott came closer than any Town player to beating Tzanev summed up the afternoon.

The Blues, still unbeaten at home under Paul Cook, were better in the second half having been as woeful as at any time this season in the first and Wimbledon should have been out of sight by half-time.

Yet another 0-0 draw, Town’s eighth 0-0 of the season, sees them stay 11th ahead of next week’s trip to Swindon, whose relegation to League Two along with Bristol Rovers was confirmed following today’s 5-0 thrashing at MK Dons.

The Blues' longest ever goalless streak, the 714-minute run in the 1994/95 season in the Premier League, will be surpassed if the Blues fail to find the net at the County Ground and in the first six minutes at Shrewsbury in the following match.

Town: Cornell, Vincent-Young, Woolfenden, McGuinness, Ward (c), Dozzell, Downes, Bennetts (Dobra 46), Edwards, Bishop (Skuse 63), Hawkins (Drinan 68). Unused: Holy, Chambers, Nsiala, Jackson.

AFC Wimbledon: Tzanev, O’Neill (Alexander 73), Woodyard (c), Nightingale, Rudoni, Assal (McLoughlin 73), Guinness-Walker, Heneghan, Dobson, Longman, Pigott. Unused: Cox, Oksanen, McLoughlin, Harrison, Kalambayi, Osew. Referee: Ollie Yates (Staffordshire).

Photo: Matchday Images

ringwoodblue added 17:32 - Apr 24 If all our players threw a regular dice, they would all manage to throw a 0. Words fail me.
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too_true_blue added 17:35 - Apr 24 I used to play for AFC Wimbledon when they first founded as a club. I can't believe we have lost and drawn against them this season - how far we have come. A big clear out has to happen this summer for us to move forward. There is deep rooted rot set in that needs clearing out. Onwards and upwards.
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Skip73 added 17:36 - Apr 24 I agree with Clint. All these English managers aren't working, lets try a European approach.
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EssexTractor added 17:42 - Apr 24 Well having watched this awful series of iFollow productions nd the unbelievable statistic of over 10 hours of failing to score the following has to be be said that the local lads are just not up to it...many have hoped that we will pay the money and see Bishops mazy dribbles into the penalty area, Dozzells rapier passes splitting the best of defences and Downes puffing out his cheeks and dominating midfield ...sadly not ...none have the impetus , the ooomph , the dynamism ..all are lightweight ...they must move on...be replaced You could sew together , if you could find them , the best bits of Drinan and Hawkins and still not make a half decent village footballer.. Edwards ...once had pace and control ...and a knack of finding the net ...his quality today summed up by a free kick and corner kick both of which just stayed in the ground ..his day has come and gone... Ward made one good lunging stop in first half but overall pays the ball backwards or 40;yards too far up the pitch ..a man to take us forward ..I think not...similarly Skuse a man of yesterday ... Wolfenden ...once another golden boy for the the future may still have that in him..but needs coaching...a lack of which seems absent at this club from well before PCs tenure... To be fair Cornell today earned his money..but as a 46 game keeper in a team heading for promotion next season I am sure not.. Ignoring Loanees McGuiness ( a tryer) and Bennett's ( a flop) neither of whom will wear the shirt next season leaves just two ..both of whom do deserve some plaudits ..KVY who does have class and the diminutive Dobra ..sadly his lack of inches and physical strength may hold him back but how pleasant to see him come on , take on a defender and Shoot! Oh sorry have missed Jackson ...but politely best to say nothing .... So that rebuilding job is immense ..the USA owners who come over well in interviews and their CEO and PC ( or whomsoever) will need more than one magic Wand to make their aspirations come true... But first how are next season ticket holders to be enticed into parting with money which at this time still does not guarantee admission at every game?

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jas0999 added 17:42 - Apr 24 Shockingly bad. The players should be ashamed of themselves. Not good enough.
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eddiespearitt03 added 17:43 - Apr 24 Just as well Cook dropped Sears out of the squad as he won,t score either. Obviously the midfield are not doing the business and we have front players who can,t score.
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Henrietta_R_Hippo added 17:50 - Apr 24 It's Deja Vu .... all over again! In analogical terms, our shortage of goals is beginning to rival the North Chinese Drought of 1876! This obvious still poorly MANAGER-trained-&-motivated hapless & lethargic bunch, could play until the next full solar eclipse .... and still not score! Hmmm alas in honor of our new US investors, I hereby suggest the current team temporarily changes its name to the IPSWICH FIRESTARTERS. They are that burning hot up front!!! Whatever undeniable magic the granted still refreshingly honest speaking Cook ONCE had at Chesterfield, Portsmouth and Wigan, sadly seems "Gone With The Wind" (or maybe "Gone With Leam Richardson" ???). --- And thus to make status as of this very day, Yes even I feel sorry for what hand Paul The IIII has been dealt at itfc, however even all your die hard Cook enthusiasts (with among other subtleties "it's not his signed players" archaic de facto excuses) must admit that the dubious FA reward: ****Brand-New-Manager-With-The-Most-NEGATIVE-Impact-On-His-Team Year Award**** should unanimously go to the this guy, the super brave perilous voyage taking Captain "I just might be seriously out of my sea depth HERE" Cook!

3

martin587 added 17:53 - Apr 24 PC called us a Sunday league team and that just about sums up another pathetic performance.Nothing more to add.
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Umros added 17:54 - Apr 24 Pre Madonna Fraudsters!. 2 weeks to go 🪓
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richardpaul added 17:58 - Apr 24 Next up Swindon Beaten 5-0 today and relegated They won at Portman Road They will have nothing to play for but to do the double over Ipswich which they will surely do I cannot see a win in the final two matches with the current attitude of the players So the points end here I do have my reservations about Paul Cook Surely if he as good a manager as claimed he would have motivated this team of players to a better points return than he has The jury is out on this one

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richardpaul added 17:58 - Apr 24 Next up Swindon Beaten 5-0 today and relegated They won at Portman Road They will have nothing to play for but to do the double over Ipswich which they will surely do I cannot see a win in the final two matches with the current attitude of the players So the points end here I do have my reservations about Paul Cook Surely if he as good a manager as claimed he would have motivated this team of players to a better points return than he has The jury is out on this one

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BettyBlue added 18:01 - Apr 24 What is the point of Paul Cook? Have the "players" ganged up to take revenge by not training, playing or shooting? Is Chambers behind our players downing tools? Get Chambers and Cook out now. We will have to keep half of this rubbish team because no-one will join a club who don't shoot and can't score. Someone from the club come out and tell us what the frickin' hell is goin on. This wouldn't be allowed at any other club. What is wrong with ITFC????????

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BettyBlue added 18:04 - Apr 24 Can we play Keiron Dyer?
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Davidwb20 added 18:04 - Apr 24 Same old 0 Same old 0!!!!!!!
0

planetblue_2011 added 18:04 - Apr 24 I've never known anything like this before in my life of supporting Ipswich!! It's such an embarrassment🙈 how come these players could produce goals early on in the season & can't do it now, what's changed? New manager, new owners & new staff, big deal you are still taking home your high wages for not even playing the game what you love properly. PATHETIC

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Nobbysnuts added 18:09 - Apr 24 Surely we must of set a record for most minutes played without scoring a goal???? This sh#te football deserves a record... pathetic dire absolute cr#p.....
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KenHancocksBoot added 18:10 - Apr 24 having just read Paul Cook's rant in the Star, I feel he has nothing to lose to pay off the contracts of those he doesn't intend to keep NOW and get them out the building. This is beyond a joke. Been watching since 1962 and this is even worse than the Jackie Kilburn era
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Bert added 18:12 - Apr 24 I'm surprised we got a point given that many of the players are in the departure lounge. Probably the worse season in my 50 plus years not helped by empty stadiums allowing this dross to continue. I cannot see us getting a point or a goal so all we can hope for is major surgery in terms of playing staff, positivity from our owners, investment of course, well priced season tickets to encourage people to give it a go, COVID under control and Paul Cook has either worked it all out or .....

2

SickParrot added 18:16 - Apr 24 Just 2 wins & 6 goals scored in 13 games since PC became manager and 10.5 hours since we last scored. Awful statistics but what do they tell us. That PC is no good without his usual coaching team or that the players are sulking because he has questioned their fitness, mentality and ability? I suggest it is the latter. Some might say that if the players are sulking it is a man management issue but I take the view that it proves PC's assessment of the squad is correct. Paul Cook will be successful here with the squad that he assembles. Bring on next season.

1

Blueactually75 added 18:19 - Apr 24 Why do people say let PC sort this mess out in the summer? Surely he's part of the problem. Woeful. I'm beginning to think he was brought in by the new owners to get us up to the playoffs and then get a decent manager in for Championship. Surely he won't be in charge next year.
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reva added 18:20 - Apr 24 why keep playing a system that doesn't work with one up front? Put three up front and we may stand a chance of an own goal!! Seriously I'm beginning to doubt Cook simply because it seems he is stuck with his preferred system of playing and seems unable to change things even experiment. The same players who were doing the business at the beginning of the season haven't become that bad or mediocre over night so something not working - yes a clear-out needed and I'm questioning Cook as well!

2

blueboy1981 added 18:21 - Apr 24 Futile comments about Cook as usual, by those who know no better, and have no understanding of the massive job he has to sort this bunch if failures. If anyone can sort it - he will - other than that, who do you expect Pep ?? Whoever the Manager is here with us needs time to correct, and build again from this mess - a root and branch clear out required, and it takes time ... !!! Those who know no better, would be best to keep their futile comments to themselves - the wording of their posts speaks volumes. Enough said. We now have one of the most honest Managers in the game - what more at this time can you expect ?? Just check his record, don't judge him yet, he has proved himself previously, just let him do it right here for us.

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Barty added 18:25 - Apr 24 Pathetic - nothing else to say
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blueboy1981 added 18:38 - Apr 24 Too many of these out of contract players on the phone every two minutes throughout the day to, and being ‘conned' by their ‘Agents', that every other Club in the Country wants them - instead of getting behind Cook, and getting their heads down to what they are paid extremely well to do. Some, if not all, will be in for a shock - and wish they had more respect for playing for ITFC. Let's hope one reaps, what they sow - they are letting themselves and every single Supporter of this Club down. It's there for all to see - anyone think I'm joking, then I suggest you think again ... !!!

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OliveR16 added 18:39 - Apr 24 Nilwich Town.
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