Jeremy Sarmiento’s first goal for the club grabbed a deserved late point for the Blues as Town returned to second in the Championship following a 1-1 draw with leaders Leicester City at the King Power Stadium. Town had gone behind to a 31st-minute Leif Davis own goal but the Blues improved after the break and on-loan Brighton forward Sarmiento followed-up Massimo Luongo’s saved shot to claim the draw in the penultimate minute.

Luongo returned to the Town line-up having missed the 2-1 win at home to Sunderland just over a week ago due to an ankle injury with Jack Taylor dropping to the bench.

Elsewhere, the team was the same as the one which started against the Black Cats other than Marcus Harness coming in for Nathan Broadhead, who was also among the subs.

Skipper Sam Morsy was again absent as he served the final game of his two-match ban.

For Leicester, whose manager Enzo Maresca was serving a one-game touchline ban, Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall was fit enough to start having been a doubt with a knock picked up in their last game, the 3-1 defeat at Coventry.

Cesare Casadei, who has been recalled by parent club Chelsea, and Abdul Fatawu, suspended having been sent off against the Sky Blues, were replaced by Hamza Choudhury and Kasey McAteer.

Veteran frontman Jamie Vardy returned to the bench, having been out of action since December with a knee injury.

Town won a corner within the first 30 seconds but it was the Foxes who would cause the first moment of defensive concern in the third minute, Lewis Travis missing the ball and allowing Tom Cannon to break into the area. Harry Clarke slid in to dispossess the former Everton striker and Luongo subsequently got in McAteer’s way after the loose ball had run to the Leicester wideman and Vaclav Hladky was able to claim.

On 12, Harry Winks, who played for Blues boss Kieran McKenna in the Tottenham academy, hit a shot which deflected through to Hladky from the edge of the box after Town had failed to properly clear their lines.

There was a bigger scare for the Blues in the 16th minute when Foxes skipper Ricardo Pereira cut out an under-hit Wes Burns pass to Travis and burst down the left flank before cutting back to an untracked Dewsbury-Hall, who scuffed his shot well wide when he will feel he should have done better.

A minute later, Town lost possession midway inside their half as they were passing out from the back and eventually Cannon was fed in on the left of the box but Luke Woolfenden got across to block.

Despite those chances, it hadn’t been entirely Leicester with the Blues also having spells on the ball, although without being given time to pass out from the back in comfort - and giving away possession too easily on occasion - and having failed to cause the home side’s backline any problems.

Hladky was forced into his first save in the 26th minute when Choudhury hit a curling 20-yard effort towards the left corner of the Czech’s net but the keeper got cross to comfortably palm wide.

Town carved out their first chance of the match on 28, Davis crossing low from the left and Kayden Jackson turning into the path of Conor Chaplin, but the stand-in skipper’s shot flew well over.

But three minutes later, the home side took the lead. Stephy Mavididi and Ricardo exchanged passes on the left of the box, the wideman crossed, Hladky got a hand to it and the unfortunate Davis was unable to avoid diverting it into his own net from a couple of feet.

McAteer struck a shot which deflected wide for a corner on 37, from which Jannik Vestergaard nodded straight at Hladky.

A minute later, Ricardo missed a great opportunity to make it 2-0 when Woolfenden’s under-powered headed clearance landed at his feet 12 yards out but the home captain stabbed his low shot well wide. On 42, McAteer curled a strike well over.

In the final scheduled minute, Hladky saved across to his right from Cannon’s low shot from just outside the area, the loose ball falling to Wout Faes, who was in an offside position.

As the half moved into one additional minute, Burns cut inside from the left but sent his shot deep into the stand.

That was the last action of a half from which the Foxes deserved to be in front having been in charge for the most part, creating most of the game’s opportunities, even if Davis was a little unfortunate to concede the own goal.

Town had struggled to cause the Leicester defence many problems, finding it hard to pass their way out from the back and perhaps not positive enough when getting into dangerous areas.

The shots over the bar from Chaplin and Burns were the nearest to threatening home keeper Mads Hermansen’s goal.

As they had done in the first half, the Blues won a corner within 30 seconds of the restart. The ball was played to Luongo, who crossed deep to Clarke breaking beyond the far post but the full-back was unable to nod back into the danger zone.

Town continued to pin the Foxes back in their final third, winning two more corners. After the second had been cleared, Clarke nodded back into the left of the box towards the breaking Burns, whose shot was well saved by Hermansen, the keeper conceding another corner.

However, as the game passed the 50-minute mark, Leicester won a series of corners from which they weren’t far away from a second goal. First Travis diverted Justin James’s header away from the line, then Luongo blocked McAteer’s shot.

On the hour, Travis was shown the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Ricardo, then a minute later on the on-loan Blackburn man and Harness were replaced by Taylor and Sarmiento.

Three minutes after the changes, Hladky found Clarke in acres of space down the right. The full-back broke towards goal and might well have shot but instead cut the ball inside and Choudhury was able to cut it out.

Soon after, Luongo was somewhat harshly booked after Faes headed his shoulder, then on 69 Clarke joined him for a firm but fair tackle on Dewsbury-Hall.

In the 71st minute, a corner reached Mavididi on the left of the box from where he struck a shot which Hladky palmed onto George Edmundson, then Cannon sent an overhead kick well over the bar.

A minute later, Town made two more changes, Broadhead and Omari Hutchinson taking over from Jackson and Chaplin.

Broadhead was straight into the action, first losing the ball on the edge of the box on the left, then hitting a shot against a defender on the other side but with Burns having been in space to his right and a better option.

On 75, Hladky saved Cannon’s well-struck shot from not far outside the area away to his left.

Town had been much better since the break and continued to knock on the door, Choudhury cutting out a Broadhead cross from the left towards Burns in the 77th minute.

Within a minute, Broadhead hit another shot against a defender after good work from Hutchinson with Burns again in a better position to his right.

Leicester made their first changes in the 81st minute, Vardy and Yunus Akgun replacing Cannon and Dewsbury-Hall.

Town continued to look for the equaliser, Clarke crossing low from the right and Justin cleared against Vestergaard and out for a corner, the Blues claiming in vain for a penalty, referee Josh Smith probably making the right decision.

From the flag-kick, Edmundson beat Hermansen to it in the air but sent his header looping wide.

The Blues had had most of the chances in the second half, but on 84 Leicester weren’t far from a second, Hladky reacting very quickly to dive at McAteer’s feet from sub Akgun’s pass. Town subsequently broke and Ricardo was booked for pulling back Davis.

The goal Town’s second-half display deserved finally came in the 89th minute. Broadhead teed-up Luongo on the edge of the area, the Australian’s shot was parried by Hermansen and Sarmiento was quickest to the loose ball the slam the ball under the keeper and into the net, the Ecuadorian international’s first goal for the club.

Shortly before the final whistle, Leicester swapped McAteer, who had suffered a knock when Hladky dived at his feet, for Marc Albrighton.

In the end the game was a very similar story to the corresponding fixture at Portman Road on Boxing Day.

Leicester were the better team in the first half of both matches with the Blues perhaps showing the league leaders too much respect.

But on both occasions Town came out after the break looking a different prospect. Subs Sarmiento, Broadhead and Hutchinson all made an impact with the Foxes appearing to tire, and the late goal was well deserved when it came and had the game run for another 10 minutes, the Blues were looking much the more likely winner.

At the other end, Hladky made some really important saves in both halves.

The point moves Town back up to second, a point ahead of Southampton in third and still seven behind Leicester.

The Blues are next in action on Saturday when they face National League South Maidstone in the FA Cup fourth round at Portman Road before a return to Championship action the following weekend at Preston North End.

Leicester: Hermansen, Faes, Vestergaard, Justin, Choudhury, Winks, Ricardo (c), Dewsbury-Hall (Akgun 81), McAteer (Albrighton 90), Mavididi, Cannon (Vardy 81). Unused: Stolarczyk, Coady, Doyle, Praet, Marcal, Nelson.

Town: Hladky, Clarke, Woolfenden, Edmundson, Davis, Travis (Taylor 61), Luongo, Burns, Chaplin (c) (Hutchinson 72), Harness (Sarmiento 61), Jackson (Broadhead 72). Unused: Walton, Tuanzebe, Ball, Humphreys, Hutchinson, Aluko, Broadhead. Referee: Josh Smith (Bedfordshire).

Photo: Matchday Images

hello66 added 03:50 - Jan 23 In Australia on holiday of a life time, we booked this trip before McKenna became manger ! Wife and I are Season ticket holders, we only miss one league game in four weeks away ( because of FA cup ). Up early followed match on my phone then at breakfast too (Tuesday morning here) absolutely ecstatic when my phone alerted a 1-1 situation … especial as we were sharing a table with a Australia Leicester supporter… made my day ! …. Well done boys … I want to shout out and say to our special supporters at the game today, Monday night game your are true blues and kept singing and kept the boys going right up till whistle…hat off to you all ! “ We are Ipswich town, blue blood flows in our veins… we Never give give up, we never give in !! … We are Ipswich town the best football team, with the most unique supporters this country has ever seen!!! “ One happy town fan other-side of the world …. Back at Portman road soon !

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ThaiBlue added 05:35 - Jan 23 Well done Town a well deserved point players so much better 2nd half.people need to remember there are no easy games in this league.lets smash a few in v maidstone this week to get more confidence going.
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therein61 added 06:21 - Jan 23 Our never say die spirit is incredible we weathered the 1st half storm and then took it to them a great performance you boys in blue so positive unlike some keyboard warriors|!
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gosblue added 07:05 - Jan 23 We ambushed Leicester. Some on here have been crying out for a plan B and then when we have one they condemn us. We played our own version of a low block in the first half and really limited Leicester’s chances. Leicester won’t have trained for that. Then we surprised them again in the second half. At halftime they’d have been talking about how to break us down, but hey presto, we changed it up. Genius McKenna. Vestergard should have been booked early on because he couldn’t handle Jackson. And how was Dewsbury-Hall not booked for that dive in the box and screaming penalty and then feigning injury after that magnificent Clarke tackle. A great point boys and it could have been so much more.

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Linkboy13 added 07:18 - Jan 23 We are not leaking goals since Edmundson has been in the team his allround game is much better than Burgess who is a useful squad player (sorry Cammy fans) . I thought along side Wolfy they were massive last night.
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Theipswich added 07:22 - Jan 23 Great fight back after poor and under par first half.Woolfenden had his best game ever for Town and really stepped up to the plate and Edmundson was very good.The national press seem to regard the teams around us as big clubs and us as a fluke teamon a good run..well tonight sent out a message loud and clear that Town are in business....well done the Blues..very good result

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Help added 07:41 - Jan 23 Our biggest problem is that we have not beaten anyone above us. No really a disappointing first half which we have seen of recent games. However much better in the second starting right from the off. The subs also made a difference and injected more into the team. Deserved the draw in the end and would have taken that from the start. It was my prediction. This team and manager never say die. Win at home draw away we will be there come the end of the season. Let's worry about us and keep backing the team. 11 players on the pitch all pulling in the same direction. Supporters should be backing all of them regardless of personal opinions as we all have a part to play in this team and promotion challenge. Onwards and upwards COYB

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Dissboyitfc added 07:42 - Jan 23 Great away performance, especially second half. If a player puts on a town shirt and gives 100% he doesn't deserve abuse! Jackson isn't my first choice for centre forward, Hirst is, but he is not available so credit to Jackson for giving his best and incidentally had a good game IMO. Pathetic comments from the minority!
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Rimsy added 07:43 - Jan 23 Talk about a game of 2 halves. First we looked liked we'd really been found out, second half we more than matched Leicester and deserved the point. Defence is looking more solid of late which bodes well for rest of the season. Subs obviously made the difference. We are so missing a good number 9. I know some people don't like to hear it but Jackson, for all his efforts, is just not up to this standard.

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Europablue added 07:53 - Jan 23 Minneapolis_ITFC Not arguably the top team, just the top team. The way Leicester play suits us fairly well. They are cautious and don't overcommit, that probably makes them more consistent. Leeds on the other hand really blitzed us. They scored so many in those games that it was difficult to come back. On their day Leeds seem like a better team, at least against us but consistency is what wins the league. Leeds, Southampton and Leicester all have to play each other so Leicester aren't there yet. I think most fans are going to be supporting Leicester in those matches. I'd take the current table as the final standings right now!

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BuckieBlue added 08:47 - Jan 23 Stats/history will record that Leicester needed an own goal to get a point from us!
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 08:50 - Jan 23 Our fixture list in April is not easy, Soton Narch, Watford, Middlsboro' Coventry Hull.
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Sandman180 added 08:51 - Jan 23 Deserved point in the end, still firm that Leeds are a better all round team than Leicester, especially from an attacking standpoint, anyway. Issues first half stemmed from the fact that our central pairing is noticeably inferior to that of Leicester's - Travis a bit too slow, and sloppy at points, and Mass definitely blowing whilst tracking back, due to lack of match fitness. Turning them round I.E playing the ball into the channels was the best route for success, Leicester's defence is shaky when you run in behind or run at the full backs, as they are constantly playing a high line. Decision making in the final third needs to improve - Broadhead still out of sorts, and made the wrong decision on three or four occasions, as did Clarke. Sarmiento and Hutchinson looked lively when introduced - if Omari can execute that explosiveness from the start, he'd be worth his weight in gold, but for now he's better coming on and running at tired legs. For the Preston game (we'll ignore the Maidstone fixture for now..) I'd look at starting Sarmiento on the left, bringing Morsy in for Travis, and keeping the rest of the side the same, albeit, a new striker 'should' be in the squad by then, so whether Jackson remains as the starting forward is up for debate, but I can't fault his work rate and effort the last few games.

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mathiemagic added 08:53 - Jan 23 Thought Jackson worked his socks off but is not the answer long term. There must be irons in the fire to let Freddie go to Charlton so hopefully some good news this coming week. My take on the first half was that McKenna knew we couldnt do the 2nd half press for 90 mins so hence the conservative approach. Worked well and the goal was just unfortunate. If there had been some better decision making around the box we would have come away with all three points. Subs and their timing were superb. Good night all round.

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aljames added 09:03 - Jan 23 We seemed in awe of Leicester in the first half but whatever was said at halftime worked. We were much the better side & deserved the draw. Keeper saved us tho' with 3 brilliant saves. In attack we need to get more men in box, very noticable when we were dangerous along the flanks crosses were going into a lone Jackson against 3/4 defenders. Fitness is good. No noticable let up in effort throughout 90+ minutes.

0

dirtydingusmagee added 09:16 - Jan 23 must add. i feel for Davis two own goals how ironic against Leeds and Leicester , so unfortunate. But he never let it get to him straight back into his game . Another good night thanks to the teams determination . Long may the good times last, we've had our fair share of misery over past decade or so . COYB
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gosblue added 10:32 - Jan 23 Davis was unlucky but he needs teaching which way to face. If he’s stood correctly for that cross, he can smash it back where it came from or help it on its way and out of play. Apart from that he had a great game as always. Travis had a good game but he needs to help Hladky out more when Vaz has the ball. He’ll learn all that playing alongside Sam. It takes time.
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senduntd added 11:50 - Jan 23 Jackson works his socks off, a few thickoes on here should leave him alone.
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Cadiar added 11:53 - Jan 23 Great result. As at PR we never gave up. Disappointed by the time wasting & diving from Leicester & their fans. As for Help's comments, I think he does need help. As only Leicester are above us he's correct but they haven't beaten us & we have beaten Saints away, bring them on for the return. Shame the usual suspects criticising KJ again. Playing on his own as a CF he ran his rrsss off,God knows how far he runs per game. Got no service really in 1st half & at the moment is the only option we have so get behind him. Glad to see his detractors being marked down as usual. Surprised listening to Cundy on Talksport he's never heard of Morsy, shows how dim many pundits are, perhaps his brains are in his nuts,

4

IndianaBlue added 12:38 - Jan 23 OK. Disappointed that Jason Cundy had not heard of Morsy. However, if you knew his history you would not have made that last comment about him Cadiar.
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warktheline added 12:46 - Jan 23 Injuries aside, the first half highlighted the gulf between the two teams! For credit to the players for persevering and getting something from the game. McKenna post match, made it clearly apparent…to compete the squad needs strengthening! Looking forward to seeing new additions coming to Portman rd over the coming couple of weeks!
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 13:45 - Jan 23 I don't think we have any "easier run of games" in the next ten matches or so compared with Soton or Leeds. In fact, I don't think there is such a thing as an "easy" game in this division. Anyone can beat anyone on their day, especially if luck or sendings off play a part. Having said that, I'm glad we've played Leeds and Leicester twice each now. But the KMcK philosophy is to take each game as it comes and prepare accordingly, and that is absolutely the right way to think about it. We too have a good chance of beating anyone in this division given the cohesion and spirit in our squad. COYB!

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TimmyH added 14:27 - Jan 23 Just read i newspaper write up on the game...I swear some parts of media have a bias to some clubs! They wrote that it was 'harsh' on Leicester who 'deserved' the lead and they showed why they were top...ahem! if that's the case 1. why didn't they score 2. limited to chances mainly from outside the box 3. we were arguably the better side 2nd half Personally felt Leicester were a little underwhelming but some of that credit goes to us where we showed a bit less naivety than against Leeds and looked a bit more compact, also maybe we had a bit more to play for than them with their big points difference.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:34 - Jan 23 TimmyH: I think you basically right. And one thing we can say for sure is that we have a damn sight better keeper than Leicester! -:)
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Henz10 added 18:03 - Jan 23 RobsonWark - I don't know what's wrong with you but your Jackson obsession needs to stop. He didn't have a great game but then again he is our second choice striker and he's always fully committed. Scored a crucial goal against Sunderland and I'm certain he'll contribute before the end of the season. I believe that a draw was a fair result and we should've beaten them at Portman Road. They're the best team in the league and we were playing League 1 last year. The 'performance level' that KCM mentions constantly has definitely dipped over the past couple of weeks but that's to be expected. We've come so far in such a short space of time. For the first time in almost twenty years we have an exciting attacking team who keep the ball on the ground and pass through the thirds. As fans we enjoy watching Ipswich home and away. I can't remember the last time this was the case. Southampton are also a team stacked with PL quality players. To stay ahead of them is mightily impressive. COYB

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