Another unconvincing performance from Town allowed FK Sartid return to Serbia with a vital away goal, the match ending 1-1. The Blues went behind in a lacklustre first half and hit back in a slightly brighter second through Alun Armstrong.
George Burley made a few changes as he had promised. Into the side came Alun Armstrong, Pablo Couñago, Tommy Miller and Fabian Wilnis as both Bents and Jermaine Wright and Jim Magilton all sat out. Town reverted to 4-4-2 with Hermann Hreidarsson moving to left-back. Darren Ambrose and Matt Holland played in central midfield with Clapham and Miller the widemen.
Town had an opportunity as early as the seventh minute but Tommy Miller scuffed his effort from a Hermann Hreidarsson cross.
However, chances were to be far and few between as the Blues failed to get their passing together to any level of competence, although Darren Ambrose did put a shot wide after more good work down the left from Hreidarsson and a neat interchange with Couñago.
While Town were unconvincing, the visitors had little to show for their stylish passing until the 31st minute when Ramovic played in Mirosavlevic, the ball going under Mark Venus' foot. The Serb striker made no difficulty out of taking the chance and Andy Marshall was beaten before he'd even made a save.
The goal appeared to wake Town up in an atmosphere that was little above that of a pre-season friendly. As the period ended Town had a flurry of half chances, Ambrose seeing an effort deflected away after a swiftly taken freekick and Couñago having a shot saved by keeper Zilic.
Neither side made any switches to personnel at half-time, although Town went to 5-3-2. After just four minutes of the second half Sartid took off their talismanic captain Bogdanovic who clearly had not recovered from the leg injury which had made him a doubt prior to the game. On in his stead came Kizic.
Town started brightly and the crowd seemed to respond while the Serbs looked content to sit back. Couñago continued to look Town's most creative player, putting ball across the face of goal which narrowly avoided Ambrose.
On 54 Kekezovic received a yellow card for a foul on Ambrose. From the resulting freekick the ball was cleared back to John McGreal who sent in a cross to Armstrong who had got beyond his defender. He took the ball down and buried his shot past Zilic.
The goal seemed to spur Town on and an exciting run and dribble from Ambrose found him just unable to find space for his shot. Shortly afterwards Couñago crossed and saw the ball just go beyond Clapham and Armstrong and out to Wilnis whose shot was deflected over.
Town were enjoying their best spell, but a Zecevic shot which was deflected wide was a warning about the Serbs' abilities at counter-attacking.
On 63 Paunovic went into referee Tomasz Mikulski's book for a foul on Couñago while George Burley chose to take Darren Ambrose off, bringing Finidi George into the action.
Armstrong found himself in a terrific position to put Town ahead in the 65th minute but Zilic did well to save his shot after good work from Couñago and Holland had put the ex-Boro man in space on the Town right inside the area.
With 19 minutes left on the clock Town were again starting to look jaded and short of ideas and Marcus Bent replaced Armstrong who has rarely played a full 90 minutes so far this season.
As the game wore on the time-wasting tactics from the Sartid players began to get a reaction from the Town crowd. Zecevic spent time on the ground claiming he had been elbowed by Hreidarsson while two others went to ground claiming cramp.
On 78 Miller headed a deflected Wilnis cross wide and keeper Zilic became the latest Sartid player to require treatment and was roundly booed for the rest of the game.
With six minutes left there was controversy as Finidi George was pulled back by Savic on the right as he was through and about to enter the penalty area. A red card looked a formality, but Mikulski bottled it and showed only a yellow card. Matt Holland hammered the freekick well over.
Unusually, Venus hit a subsequent freekick away from the wall, but well over the bar. The veteran had a poor night with the deadball, most of his corners being grabbed with little trouble by Zilic.
As the game entered five minutes of injury time Kekezovic received a second yellow card for a foul on Finidi George. The Sartid player walked as slowly as he could from the area in front of the North and Cobbold stands to the tunnel at the opposite side of the ground, booed all the way by Town supporters.
Injury time saw the usual pressure from Town and a scramble where there were a few shots, and crosses with Hermann eventually sending an effort wide of the post.
The whistle went on another home draw and again an under par performance, against opposition who were well-pleased with their endeavours. Town found it hard to get their passing going and the midfield was particularly poor during the first half. Armstrong and Couñago both had moments where they impressed while Marcus Bent again seemed intent on playing on his own.
With fans restless and performances on the pitch not up to scratch, a win at Stoke on Sunday looks extremely important to get the season back on track.