Returning keeper Scott Loach made three important saves from Blackpool midfielder Faris Haroun as the Blues and Seasiders drew a blank at Portman Road. Top scorer David McGoldrick headed disappointing Town's best opportunity wide in the ninth minute with Loach thwarting Haroun twice in the first half and once late on in the second.

Loach came in for his first league start since August with first-choice keeper Dean Gerken missing out having woken up with a stiff neck.

Midfielder Paul Green was handed his full debut and his first appearance for Town at Portman Road, while Luke Hyam returned to the starting line-up after his gashed leg.

Frank Nouble and Jay Tabb dropped to the bench, alongside Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, back from his hamstring injury, and academy keeper Michael Crowe.

Former Town striker Michael Chopra was on the bench for Blackpool, alongside ex-Blues loanee Ricardo Fuller.

Following a minute’s applause in tribute to Sir Tom Finney, McGoldrick went close to breaking the deadlock in the third minute. First he just failed to get a touch on Chambers’s cross from the right, before David Perkins blocked his shot after Stephen Hunt had cut it back from the left.

Daryl Murphy went close in the sixth minute, breaking into the area on the right and hitting a low shot which Seasiders’ keeper Matt Gilks could only palm away, fortunately for the visitors just beyond Green.

Town had started well and in the ninth minute again went close, Luke Chambers crossing from the right and McGoldrick heading just wide at the near post. The Blues number 10 will feel he should have been celebrating his 17th goal of the season.

Both sides were forced into substitutions after only 12 minutes. Hyam, who had been out with a gashed leg, was replaced by Tabb, while Andrew Halliday took over from Jack Robinson at left-back for the Tangerines.

Blackpool’s first chance fell to Kirk Broadfoot, the Scot turning a 16th minute freekick from deep into the side-netting.

Town had been unable to make their early dominance count and in the 29th minute the visitors weren’t far from going in front when Stephen Dobbie played in Haroun and the Belgian midfielder forced Loach to save well down to his left. The ball ran loose but Chambers did well to get to it and stab it away ahead of Perkins.

Haroun picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Tabb soon after, then Steven Davies lashed well over from distance.

The Seasiders were by now on top with the Blues making little headway in the Blackpool half and giving the ball away too easily in their own territory.

On 40 Loach again had to save down to his left from Haroun after Smith had given the ball away on the Town left.

After a bright start in which they should have gone in front, McGoldrick’s chance having been the best opportunity, the Town performance drifted and only a couple of sharp Loach saves had prevented the visitors from being ahead after a not overly enthralling half.

Haroun, who was linked with Town prior to his move into English football with Middlesbrough in the summer of 2011, threatened again within a minute of the restart, hitting a right-footed shot across the face of goal from Dobbie’s pass.

Boss Mick McCarthy had switched around his midfield at the break with Green moving into the centre and Tabb going out to the right. In the 50th minute MacKenzie was booked for a foul on McGoldrick.

Murphy shot not far wide from the left of the area on 54 after latching on to Christophe Berra’s clearance with Town looking more dangerous in the opening minutes of the second period than they had in the closing stages of the first. Two minutes later, Hunt shot over from Murphy’s knockdown.

Blackpool boss Barry Ferguson switched strikers Davies and Keogh for Fuller and David Goodwillie in the 63rd minute, meaning there would be no appearance from ex-Blue Chopra, who earlier had been booed by Town fans as he warmed up.

Perkins was booked for a blatant trip on Murphy after the Irishman had got away from him 10 yards inside the Blackpool half. From Hunt’s quickly taken freekick, Murphy teed up Tabb, who scuffed weakly to Gilks.

On 70 McGoldrick and particularly the Sir Bobby Robson Stand felt Broadfoot had handled in the area as the striker tried to take the ball past him, but referee Mark Haywood waved away the protests.

On the touchline manager McCarthy made his feelings known to the fourth official before switching Green for Paul Anderson, who moved into his usual right midfield role with Tabb switching back to the centre.

Four minutes later, as the game moved into its final quarter of an hour with rain by now falling heavily and the pitch increasingly difficult, Ebanks-Blake was handed his league debut for the tiring Hunt, Murphy moving to left midfield.

MacKenzie headed wide for Blackpool from a freekick on the left but having strayed offside, then Dobbie’s 83rd minute shot deflected wide off Tommy Smith.

The Seasiders were looking the more likely scorers and in the 86th minute Loach again thwarted Haroun, this time blocking from the Belgian from close range. Two minutes later, Dobbie shot well over from distance.

In the final minute of scheduled time, Murphy brought the ball forward from deep but wasted the opportunity. As the game moved into three minutes of injury time the Irishman’s strike deflected wide.

The Blues finally added some urgency to their game in the final moments with a number of crosses flying into the box, McGoldrick scuffing well wide when found in space by Cresswell 14 yards out.

Town had to be content with their first 0-0 home draw since February 2010 and it would have been harsh on Blackpool to have taken nothing from the game.

Having started the first half well, the Blues’ performance deteriorated and they would have been behind but for two fine Loach saves from Haroun.

The returning Town keeper made another important stop from the Belgian in the second half with the Blues again under par.

Manager Mick McCarthy will be pleased with the clean sheet — the third on the trot at home - but disappointed with the overall performance and failure to take all three points against a Blackpool side now without a win in 15 matches.

Town: Loach, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Green (Anderson 71), Hyam (Tabb 12), Skuse, Hunt (Ebanks-Blake 75), McGoldrick, Murphy. Unused: Crowe, Mings, Richardson, Nouble.

Blackpool: Gilks, McMahon, Broadfoot, MacKenzie, Robinson (Halliday 12), Angel, Perkins, Haroun, Dobbie, Keogh (Goodwillie 63), Davies (Fuller 63). Unused: Cathcart, Basham, Grandin, Chopra. Referee: Mark Haywood (West Yorkshire). Att: 16,010 (Blackpool: 285).

Photo: Action Images

oddball added 22:40 - Feb 15 Thats it billblue, dance for me, dance for me just one more time. You fool. How much of your time have you taken tonite answering my posts. Dance for me one last time. Like i said you just aint that smart :-)
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BillBlue added 22:48 - Feb 15 Sorry, I am lost. 'Red Sails in the Sunset' is my mark. I have never suggested I am clever only questioned your mental level - and still do if I am honest. The reason for that is in your previous post you said you had never sunk to personal insult (or some such tripe) now you call me a fool! Just one more major contradiction so I think my earlier assumption is most probably right. Goodnight!

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BillBlue added 22:51 - Feb 15 Oddball. Thank you, you have taken my mind right off today's miasma.
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oddball added 22:51 - Feb 15 Lol billblue, bottom line is your annoyed and im not :-). Good season, good result, looking forward to next game. Dude dont take yourself sooo seriously and never assume to know :-)
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oddball added 22:54 - Feb 15 Well i won that argument i believe :-). Goodnight and remember one thing, we are all ipswich fans wharever our views and mental state. Goodnight :-)
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del45 added 22:56 - Feb 15 Boring 30pound to watch rubbish spend my sat fishing the players should read what supporters are saying and how they feel.
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BillBlue added 22:56 - Feb 15 Hell why did I look back on here? Yet one more contradiction. Me annoyed? If that is so why are you giving every one of my posts a minus while I have given each of yours a plus - so who is annoyed? You are eithet very young or what I thought earlier! THE END
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oddball added 22:59 - Feb 15 Just gave you a plus :-)
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oddball added 23:02 - Feb 15 Oh and life is full of contradictions and again you are assuming :-)
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Dissboyitfc added 23:52 - Feb 15 cloddy... you said a former town player, tom finney never played for us!
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bluesince84 added 00:19 - Feb 16 Ok ok I got it I know what managers of teams in bad ruts say in the middle of a crisis " ok boys we haven't scored in 4 weeks and we are leaking goals, we can win a header or stop a shot" the players look down at their feet in the changing room dejected ... But then the manager looks up and says " but.... Don't worry boys .... We have an out, we play Ipswich in 2 weeks, our abysmal run shall end " the players. Nod at each other and nod in hopefully but assured agreement.

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NoelTheDub added 03:24 - Feb 16 This dross has to stop making struggling teams look good at PR is sad in my view. OK we have improved as a club but dont get pissed on by clubs that are in a worse state than we are. The manager here puts out a team that has a fear factor in their minds before a ball is kicked why I dont know.I rest my case on this....
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marshallmania added 05:08 - Feb 16 Poop game, not looking like making the play offs, hope this changes but disappointing today
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rollercoastertown added 07:33 - Feb 16 Very poor today. Positives? - just one. SEB coming on and showing he is the type of forward who plays right of the shoulder of the last man. I can see why MM wants him in the team now. This type of player would compliment McGoldricks style of playing deeper perfectly. When he reaches full fitness, this is going to be a major headache for championship defences and will push their back line further back meaning they will have to cover McGoldricks deeper play with their midfield thus stretching the play allowing Town to play as a whole further up the pitch. Another piece of the jigsaw completed.

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bennyitfc added 10:40 - Feb 16 The most disappointing thing for me is not the performance, although dire, but rather missing an easy opportunity to get back level with Reading, putting the pressure on them and Brighton, Blackburn and Wigan (who now have 2 games in hand and full of confidence) for their next games. I wouldn't have minded a win at all costs attitude today, but even that wasn't visible today, along with a shocking standard of football. Today was our chance to keep our playoff hopes alive and we've missed it. There may be 15 games left but we have Leicester next and there's no way the serious contenders of Forest Reading Brighton and Wigan will drop many points from now on. Our chance has gone, it baffles me why Mick would bring on Tabb as Hyam's replacement, some of the players sitting on the bench must be fuming at not getting regular games. I'd rather see Mings in midfield for goodness sake, at least he would go forward with the ball.

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Blue4Everr added 10:47 - Feb 16 Started the game really well for the first 10/15 minutes we looked good, we got some decent crosses and looked dangerous, then when hyam came off and tabb came on we looked more defensively setup, tabb was poor, we struggled to pass the ball, when we did it didnt seem to go forward. We lacked urgency going forward. Referee had a poor game too, I was happy for Loach who had a good game, back 4 looked solid once again, midfield lacked creativity. Play-offs looks beyind us now.

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warktheline added 10:54 - Feb 16 People need to look at the whole picture in reference to what MM and TC have and are continuing to achieve for the club.Style of play is without doubt the biggest issue amongst fans but,disregarding that we are surely progressing in the right way.We now have good young players out on loan,which in turn shall benefit our club.Mick is building for the future and at the same achieving results now.He also manages to pick up good players for nowt that helps to maintain consistent results.I remember way back when Mick said style of play would improve when the club re-established itself in the championship.I don't doubt the man.Keep grinding Mick.

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jalapenosteve added 11:07 - Feb 16 Sorry but that performance was truly gutless and boring. I just cannot justify spending £30 on fuel, £20 on food and drink and £30++ to watch Town any longer.
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TimmyH added 11:27 - Feb 16 Honestly feel the attendances will plummet next season. No financial investment + Manager tactically scared to take on the opposition + over priced tickets + poor entertainment = smaller gates.
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JWM added 11:52 - Feb 16 Oh NO we are all Doomed and the club is going to hell in handcart because we only sit 8th in the league and 2 points off 6th!!
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thebeat added 12:27 - Feb 16 JWM so do you think its ok that Micks frightened of a team without a manager and who havent won in 14 games when we are in 8th and playing at home? Because that was quite clear in his post match comments. And the fact crowds are dropping like a stone? I could understand it if we were in a relegation battle and scrapping for points but before yesterday we were 3 points off the play offs playing at home against a garbage team who hadnt won since November. We should be taking the game to them and putting them away not trying to stop them and perhaps nicking a win. I know its a long rebuilding process and we arent good enough to make the play offs but there really is NO excuse for being frightened of bloody Blackpool

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IamSpartacus added 12:50 - Feb 16 A lot of negative anti MM comments on here, which I guess is an opinion, but I'm trying not to think that way just yet. Keane financially screwed the club with transfers, and Jewell continued that trend with huge wages for OAPs & terrible decisions. Mick saved us from relegation last season and is slowly turning the club round to the point where we are now even talking about the play-offs. Berra- good addition. McGoldrick- great addition. Skuse- good addition. Mings I like & Hunt is a livewire. All for a signing on fee and wages. On the minus side, we are playing bloody awful looking football, defensive & negative. I was so cold last week against Bolton that I seriously pondered over leaving 10 mins early to seek the warmth of my car heater (such was the dismal display- the only redeeming characteristic being the win) I'd like to think Mick is just slowly adding to the team, so that we can mount a proper promotion/play off push next season with a couple more additions (obviously with a couple leaving too- Edwards, Taylor and Wordsworth likely candidates to make room). All that said, I'd rather there was more entertainment on offer. If I could afford it I would go every week, regardless of results (a season ticket through the Duncan era proved that), but I should never EVER watch a match and honestly believe that I could pass better or see more inventive chance creating through balls than professional footballers. At the moment, with the lack of invention, it does unfortunately feel that way at times. We needed 'workmanlike' last season to get us out of the dismal hole Jewell dug for us, I'd just have liked to show more attacking endeavour at home against recently poor Championship sides in Bolton & Blackpool.

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thebeat added 13:03 - Feb 16 IamSpartacus totally spot on, people think us "moaners" expect us to win every game and be top of the league blah blah blah, its not that at all. Its the fact that we are scared of every team we play against and set up to stop them rather than go for the win You dont need 4 grinders in midfield you need one, two at a push, we should be attacking poor teams at home with wingers not playing green and tabb out there keeping it tight. Its cowardly and boring hence the poor gates. Next season i'll be amazed if we average 13k.

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kerryblue added 13:12 - Feb 16 Its about time that Loach took his chance and gave a good account of himself,keep it up,very scrappy game draw disappointing but at least we didn't loose
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blue_moon09 added 13:29 - Feb 16 Notice all the know it all, stay away experts are out in force again, you lot like repeating yourselves. If you lot have followed Ipswich over the last years 20 years you would know Town never do things the easy way so stop moaning, if don't like watch another sport on the TV you mugs Whatever you lot think this season is an improvement on last season relegation battle, were not a top 6 side yet as the midfield needs money spending on it Be interesting next to see if the negative posters are positive if town win COYB.

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