Town fell to another home league defeat, their second in a week, this time to Crystal Palace. The Blues went behind to an Andy Johnson goal but got on back on terms as Darren Ambrose headed his eighth goal of the season. However, Danny Butterfield gave the points to the South Londoners late in the day.
Joe Royle's side was the same as the one which finished Thursday's game with Slovan Liberec. Darren Bent came in for the suspended Pablo Couñago and Thomas Gaardsøe took over from John McGreal at centre-half.
The away side had the first serious chance of the game in the fifth minute, Finnish international Riihilahti's header saved easily by Marshall.
Town were having a lot of the ball without creating anything and in the tenth minute Palace threatened again when Adebola put a dangerous ball across the Blues' box, Hreidarsson having to put the ball out for a corner.
Palace were to go ahead in the 19th minute, before Town had even threatened Kolinko's goal significantly. Again it was Adebola who was to create the opportunity, crossing from the left to Andy Johnson fifteen yards out, who struck a shot past the unsighted Marshall into the corner of the net.
Alun Armstrong finally made Kolinko work for his money three minutes later when his header made the keeper pull off a save.
On 25 Darren Ambrose's freekick whipped in from the right and struck a defender, sending the ball into the air. With Darren Bent in attendance, Kolinko's clearance fell to Hermann Hreidarsson who fell as he struck his shot, screwing the ball wide of a gaping goal.
Town were starting to look like a goal might be in the offing and on the half hour Hreidarsson created another opportunity, getting to the byline but a combination of a number of players only succeeded in putting the ball out for a goalkick.
Joe Royle made his first substitution of the afternoon as Kolinko prepared to take his kick, Alun Armstrong, who had appeared to overstretch in an earlier attack, being replaced with Jermaine Wright, Darren Ambrose moving up front.
Darren Bent came close two minutes later when he headed Ambrose's cross just wide. The Bent-Ambrose strike partnership appeared to be giving the Palace defence more trouble and it wasn't long before there was a goal.
Inevitably, it was Ambrose who would score it, heading in from a few yards out after Wright had headed Clapham's deep ball from the left back across the box.
Trevor Francis' side were also threatening and on 39 Friedman headed over from an Adebola cross from the right. Shortly afterwards he saw another effort go over the bar, Johnson latching onto a loose ball and playing it wide to the dangerous Adebola who again provided the pass.
Town were applauded off at half-time but Palace were to threaten shortly after the break, sub Julian Gray crossing for Freedman whose header was impressively tipped over the bar by Andy Marshall.
Hermann Hreidarsson provided something to cheer about for the home fans in the 52nd minute as he made a strong run at the Palace defence but failed to find room for his shot and the chance was gone.
The Blues were not creating chances and were looking frail at the back with Gaardsøe having a particularly tricky time of it against Adebola. However, as the game approached the hour mark Town had a spell of pressure, Holland having a cross mis-cleared and Jamie Clapham hitting the rebound straight at Kolinko.
Chris Makin became the first name in referee Colin Webster's book after he blocked Freedman, although in truth the striker looked to have run straight into him. From the kick Marshall made another excellent save, flicking Popovic's header over the bar from virtually point-blank.
Former Grimsby man Danny Butterfield found his way into the book on 66 after he repeatedly took an age over taking throws.
Hermann Hreidarsson saw a header from a corner which looked to be on its way wide cleared by Tommy Black, but Town chances were few and far between.
Despite his two previous saves it was another Andy Marshall error which would prove decisive and give the points to Palace. Town failed to clear a ball on the edge of their area and Freedman played a ball across to Johnson on his right who passed to Butterfield in space on the right of the Blues' box. The full-back took the ball on a stride and hit a powerful shot which beat Marshall at his near post.
Joe Royle swiftly decided to make a change, Finidi George coming on for Chris Makin, the Nigerian joining Bent in attack. With ten minutes left on the clock Jermaine Wright his a speculative effort well over as a charged down Matt Holland effort was cleared towards him.
Marshall made up for his error with another save in the 84th minute, again from Freedman. Palace were having the best of the late chances, Johnson's header from a corner requiring Jamie Clapham to clear off the line.
With a minute to go both Bent and Ambrose failed to get a shot onto Finidi's cross, Ambrose taking the ball wide before the attack broke down.
The Blues' final throw of the dice saw Hermann Hreidarsson head the ball wide when well placed in the area. Bent had headed a Jim Magilton cross from the left on to him.
Boos again rang around Portman Road as another depressing result leaves Town in 20th place in the First Division. Much of the optimism from Thursday's UEFA Cup win appeared to vanish along with many of the more positive elements from that performance.
Town were once again a bit of a mess at the back while the number of chances created and saves forced from Kolinko were far too low. A fair bit for Joe Royle to work on prior to the visit of Middlesbrough on Wednesday night.
Town: Marshall, Makin (George 79), Gaardsøe, Brown, Hreidarsson, Ambrose, Magilton, Holland, Clapham, Armstrong (Wright 30) and D Bent.