Wigan stretched their winning run to eight games in all competitions after coming from behind to beat the Blues 3-1 at Portman Road. Tommy Smith put Town in front in the 19th minute, but goals from James McClean and Leon Barnett saw the Latics go in ahead at the break with McClean adding his second and Wigan's third in 77th minute.

Loanee Jonny Williams was handed his full Town debut with Sylvan Ebanks-Blake dropping to the bench in an otherwise unchanged side.

Williams started behind Daryl Murphy in a 4-4-1-1 formation, while former Blues loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe was in the Latics XI.

Smith blocked an early Martyn Waghorn shot after the on-loan Leicester man had cut in from the right but otherwise there was little action of note in either penalty area in the opening five minutes.

The Blues threatened for the first time in the sixth minute after Emmerson Boyce had fouled Stephen Hunt on the Town left. The Irishman whipped over the freekick and Paul Anderson sent a looping header onto the roof of Ali Al-Habsi’s net.

Jordi Gomez shot wide from distance for the Latics in the 15th minute, however, it had been the Blues doing most of the pressing, although without having created an opportunity. One or two debatable freekick decisions hadn’t endeared referee David Coote to the home crowd.

On 17 Paul Anderson, now on the left with Hunt on the right, crossed low and Murphy hit a shot on the turn which had Al-Habsi scrambling across to his left to paw the ball wide.

Two minutes later, the Blues went in front. Anderson was fouled just outside the area to the right and Hunt laid the ball to Cresswell, whose shot was blocked.

It ran to Cole Skuse, whose effort was also blocked but Wigan were unable to clear and the former Bristol City man eventually nodded the ball back into the danger area and Smith hooked home his fourth goal of the season from eight yards.

But the lead would last only three minutes. Boyce fed Marc-Antoine Fortune down the Wigan right and the former West Brom man cut the ball back to James McClean, who had pulled off his marker and slammed the ball past Dean Gerken from 10 yards.

Leon Barnett did well to head Williams’s cross out ahead of Murphy on 26 Town having broken quickly after a spell of Wigan possession in the Blues’ half.

Soon after McClean had been booked for a 37th minute foul on Williams, the Blues had a great chance to go back in front. Cresswell cut the ball across from the left, Anderson laid it back to Luke Hyam 10 yards out but the midfielder smashed the ball deep into the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand when he ought to at least have hit the target.

Three minutes before half-time, the visitors went ahead. Skuse fouled McClean on the Wigan left and Gomez curled the ball to the edge of the Town six-yard box from where Leon Barnett powered home a free header which Gerken couldn’t stop.

Neither side threatened to add to the goals in the remaining minutes with Town probably feeling they really oughtn’t to have been behind at the break.

Having gone in front, McClean was given far too much space in the penalty area for the first goal, while the Blues’ defending from the freekick which led to the second was even more questionable with Barnett and a number of his team-mates having escaped their markers and the ball in an area where Gerken could have claimed.

Hyam will feel he should have put his team back in front via his chance just prior to Wigan’s second goal.

Town threatened to equalise soon after the restart when Williams hassled Boyce into giving the ball away inside the Latics’ area. His shot from a tight angle deflected to Hunt, whose low cross found Murphy, but the striker was unable to divert the ball goalwards.

The Blues continued to push to get back on terms and on 53 Murphy tried to burst between Ivan Ramis and Barnett but the former Norwich centre-half stabbed the ball out of play.

From the corner, the Latics broke in numbers with Cresswell left three on one. Fortunately, James McArthur underhit his pass to Fortune and the Blues’ left-back intercepted.

On 57 Hunt and Ramis were both booked, the Blues winger for inadvertently catching the defender with an arm and the grounded Wigan man for swinging his arm at the Irishman as he remonstrated with him for his exaggerated reaction to the aerial challenge. The Sir Bobby Robson Stand were calling for a red for Ramis, which some referees might well have issued.

Paul Green replaced Skuse two minutes into the final half hour, then the visitors switched one-time Town target Nick Powell for Waghorn.

Green was booked within five minutes for a foul on Gomez. From the freekick, Barnett was just unable to get a touch at the far post having again escaped the Town backline. Paul Taylor replaced Anderson for the final 19 minutes, then soon afterwards Rob Kiernan replaced Barnett, the Wigan defender having suffered a knock.

The Latics increased their lead in the 77th minute after Green was hassled into surrendering possession to Gomez just inside the Town half. The Spaniard found Fortune on the right and the striker sent over a low cross and McClean tapped home his second of the afternoon at the far post.

Having gone 3-1 behind, Town switched Williams for Ebanks-Blake. Moments later, Green’s 25-yard effort was deflected wide, then after the resultant corner had been half-cleared and sent back into the box, Ebanks-Blake took the ball down on his chest but his shot ricocheted wide off a defender. Soon after, Taylor hit a low shot from the left which Al-Habsi saved.

Christophe Berra failed to get a touch on a dangerous Cresswell freekick from the left as the Blues continued to push, albeit not overly convincingly. Wigan remained a greater threat on the break.

Town once again gifted the visitors an opportunity in the 89th minute, Hyam surrendering possession to Powell, who rather fortunately for the Blues screwed his shot well wide.

In injury time Taylor and Murphy both saw efforts blocked but a Town comeback never seriously looked in prospect once they had conceded the third Wigan goal.

Overall, the Blues could have no complaints about the result. As at Leicester recently, they were beaten by a better side but one they had given a significant helping hand by gifting them their goals.

Manager Mick McCarthy is likely to have been less than impressed by his side’s defending for all three Latics goals.

Town pushed for an equaliser in the early stages of the half but probably ought to have conceded prior to McClean’s second with Wigan spurning decent opportunities, particularly their three on one break after a Town corner.

The scoreline and results elsewhere see the Blues stay in ninth in the table, but now six points from sixth with a trip to Brighton up next week.

Ipswich: Gerken, Chambers (c), Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Skuse (Green 62), Hyam, Anderson (Taylor 71), Hunt, Williams (Ebanks-Blake 78), Murphy. Unused: Loach, Mings, Tabb, Richardson.

Wigan: Al Habsi, Boyce, Perch, Ramis, Barnett (Kiernan 74), McArthur, Tunnicliffe, Gomez, Waghorn (Powell 64), McClean (Crainey 82), Fortune. Unused: Carson, McEachran, McManaman, Maynard. Referee David Coote (Nottinghamshire). Att: 16,047 (Wigan: 381)

Photo: Action Images

TimmyH added 18:18 - Mar 15 Seems like today's game was similar to the QPR one and actually what Mick likes to pride himself on (the defense) was his downfall and once again have to rely on a defender to score! - Please please midfield do something for once - we can't keep relying on dead ball situations for our scoring opportunities. Have to admit I found the 4411 formation a bit strange although happy we had genuine wingers although has to be said both of them are natural lefties so one's playing out of position and I don't think the idea of Williams playing in behind Murphy worked. Found out again by one of the genuine play-off contenders again unfortunately.

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ChayITFC added 18:23 - Mar 15 Gerken is rubbish get loach back in goal
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Jimmy86 added 18:26 - Mar 15 Im afraid that is the difference between a team who is going to finish in the play offs and a team who prob wont, barring a bad run of form for either forest, reading or brighton. We had a taste of being in 6th at the turn of the year and the jan window was a cross roads, either invest for the final push or dont invest and carry on battling, Sadly it was the latter. Wigan have premier league players and weren't overly great, but they were clinical when it mattered. We gave away some soft goals again today and our lack of finishing let us down as was demonstrated by hyam blazing well into the alf ramsey stand. Sadly just a few decent players short of being a play off side. In the summer Evans needs to back mick with a bit more funds than he did last summer, but I fear this wont happen, so its doing it on a shoe string again. No disgrace losing againt wigan who have won 8 on the bounce, including beating man city. But season over perhaps

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thebeat added 18:27 - Mar 15 No problem with the commitment today, i think their 3 goals summed up why we arent anywhere near the play offs. The first was a great through ball to their striker, he cuts ut back 2 count them 2 midfielders busting a gut to get in the box and finish the move off. QUALITY! The second goal was first class delivery from a set piece, their big men knew exactly where the ball would be to attack. QUALITY! The third goal was a typical away from home goal scored on the counter attack with pace. QUALITY! We never ever score goals like that because we have no pace, no vision and no cutting edge. Until we bring in quicker players in midfield with vision we will get nowhere. Aside from that thought Williams was bright 1st half, Murph worked hard with little to no support, SEB looked sharp in the box and Taylor put some good balls in. This seasons gone now, lets try new things for next year now

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blueboy1981 added 18:27 - Mar 15 AndrewPC - agree with you, the potential 'in the squad' including the Players out on loan elsewhere that is - is reasonably OK - and in my opinion, capable of much more that what is consistantly being served up. The problems are as I've said - team selection and tactics - from the OFF every week. Being NEGATIVE - has cost us so many points this season. If I were Evans, I would not have the confidence to open the purse strings to the Manager - bacuase, although we will have had a reasonable season, hopefully anyway, we could have had much better. YES, with this squad of Players we have / had.

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Town4me added 18:28 - Mar 15 Hyam, head and shoulders above the rest!? What game were u watching? Murphy ran tirelessly all game, u can't knock him.
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prebbs007 added 18:31 - Mar 15 Muccletonjoe are you serious ????? Hyam head and shoulders out best player ??????? That is surely a tongue in cheek comment ????? The guy is truly USELESS. Once again he should take up rugby because every pass is backwards. He runs round like a headless chicken, creates absolutely nothing, slows down play every time he touches the ball and is continually the source of good attacking platforms for the opposition. Possibly one of the worst midfielders I have ever seen in a town shirt in 25 years of watching Ipswich. Anyone who says different should watch the "shot" he had today from 8 yards out in the first half, it nearly went down the tunnel. We have overachieved this season with a number of average players. We are not good enough for the play offs and won't be until our owner invests in the team. MM continues to pick hard workers rather than good footballers. His tactics are negative and he suppresses flair in preference of effort. We have failed all season against top 6/8 teams. We have done better than most expected but realistically we are in about the best position we could hope for with this personnel.

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JWM added 18:41 - Mar 15 That's right boys slag off our youngsters when they play and then you moan when they aren't being picked! How pathetic! And Blueboy you are such a joker!
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muccletonjoe added 18:48 - Mar 15 Anyone else other than luke Hyam and it wouldn't have got a mention. Just goes to show how one of our own players having a good game can upset the donkeys on here.
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blueboy1981 added 18:48 - Mar 15 JWM .......... go back to whatever planet you're on - certainly not this one. You should know all about being Pathetic, and being a Joker. Whenever you're cornered with the truth some of you - that's all you have to resort to.
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Sindre94 added 19:10 - Mar 15 The will to win* i mean
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JWM added 19:13 - Mar 15 THE TRUTH....According to Blueboy lol
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blueboy1981 added 19:19 - Mar 15 ............. and many others - is again, true, Hard as it is for some of you to accept.
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marco007 added 19:20 - Mar 15 Elizabeth.....granted they beat man city but they must have been tired and we somehow made them them look good with an inept,sub standard,display. Yes Wigan may be capable of a one off freak result against City but they are an an average side that were relegated last year, have lost key players and are a rugby town followed by a handful of fans That's the reality check!!!!

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JWM added 19:36 - Mar 15 Marco are you living on some kind of parallel universe along with Blueboy? How can the Wigan result last week against Man City be a freak result when they also beat them at Wembley at the end of last season! Wigan have been playing in the Europa League this season and they are now favourites to go up via the play offs. If they are an average side in your eyes then I suggest that you don't get out much! They are packed with premier league experience and quality for Christi's sake your comments obviously show that you have a very limited knowledge of football.

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blueboy1981 added 19:40 - Mar 15 JWM ........... keep digging deep, you obviously need to.
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TimmyH added 19:44 - Mar 15 Hyam was actually a better player under Jewell, it makes you wonder if it's the coaching he's currently under. We all know MM likes his central midfielders to be work horses and probably not stray out of position to much or to play defensively hence so many sideways and back passes. This maybe the reason Williams was not an option in center midfield today as he's to creative and probably wants to get forwards too much for Micks liking in a 442 hence why Mick went for the strange 4411 formation. Have to say been disappointed with Hyam this season although it has been stop start for him and hoped he'd 'push on' certainly after I remember him being fairly good for the first few months in 2012. shame.

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EssexTractor added 19:48 - Mar 15 More than two hours since the final whistle and now trying to be fair, calm and reasonable after today's loss to a determined and professional Wigan side.Instant 5.00pm reaction was a mix of anger, disappointment and a desire to post scathing remarks about everything and everyone. Two hours later not much has changed other than to accept that we shouldn't be surprised at the outcome of this and many other results this season. The reasons. We all have are opinions and are entitled to have them, particularly those supporters who have invested not insignificant money and time over many years. The plain and simple explanation is this. We have an invisible owner who having had his bank balance devastated by Keane and Jewell decided upon our current incumbent and a determination to rely upon salvation being achieved by MMs resolute but limited tactics , rather than giving further access to more funds. That was achieved by creating a strictly middle of the table turgid style of play, the introduction of players beyond their sell by date who have brought very little to our wonderful club. Entertaining , edge of seat stuff football dying before our very eyes. It is not as if we are on the verge of relegation and all realistic supporters know that a play off spot has a huge dependency on much better teams than us imploding. But still we play one forward at home! Ten years ago we were challenging Wigan for Premiership status. Wigan then on gates less than ours. Compare and contrast the respective fortunes of the two clubs since then . And compare the visibility and football understanding of the two owners since then.

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h32 added 19:51 - Mar 15 So disappointed with the entertainment recently, and attempts by people to try and defend the indefensible. Be glad when the season is over now, when we can all reflect on much and make our own personal decisions, after more years than I care to remember following ITFC, if the value for money and enjoyment is still there.
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RegencyBlue added 19:53 - Mar 15 Sorry but Hyam was poor today. He dwelt on the ball a number of times and had it taken off him easily by a Wigan player as a result. He offers nothing going forward and really looks out of his depth at times. Skuse is head and shoulders above him in midfield!
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warktheline added 19:53 - Mar 15 Not going to make excuses, there's no point.....we all have our own views on where we are as a club, right now. I will admit to being over zealous after the Yeovil game, no apologises though, can't help my loyalty and feelings towards club. Certainly don't believe we can make top 6 now, in any case, if we did, really don't think we have enough from midfield or up top, to hurt teams over 2 leg games. Top 8.....yes. Good evening to you all. Bring on Brighton, and let's move on.

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jas0999 added 19:54 - Mar 15 Disappointing result. Sadly, after seeing the team news I feared he worst. Just one striker on the pitch ... Why? At home? And Murphy at that! Don't get me wrong, like most of our players, Murphy tries his absolute best, but goal scoring isn't his strongest point. He did well in trying circumstances today though and am not pointing the finger at him ... Just can't understand why he was played as a lone striker to match their formation? We were the home team! Again today proved that we have a squad of hard workers who give their all. No one can fault that. But quality, creativity and a goal threat is sadly lacking. Wigan had some class and punished our mistakes. Personally felt they deserved the win despite our effort. Season over.

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StowTractorBoy added 20:01 - Mar 15 I don't very often question our Managers tactics but after Tuesday night when we played Ebanks-Blake and Murphy up front we looked very effective as a unit and created several chances. Why then leave Ebanks Blake out and leave Murphy up top all on his own. OK Anderson and Williams offered support but they are not strikers. I do not understand when we have nothing to lose why we have to match other teams tactically when we should let them worry about us especially at home. We clearly need a new goalkeeper next season as neither Gerken nor Loach are good enough and oh for some pace in the team which Wigan had in abundance. The cause was not helped by Hyams miss from 8 yards in the second half but he lost his head and should undoubtedly have scored and who knows what might have happened had he converted that glorious opportunity. It is of course not all over for us yet but our record against the top teams is not good and this has to improve over the next 3 games. Heres hoping.

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BlueMachines added 20:02 - Mar 15 groovyASH. I'm astonished that today was the first time you were disappointed with the starting line up!
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TimmyH added 20:08 - Mar 15 @warktheline...not even sure top 8 as I can see Brighton, Wigan, Forest, Reading and even possibly Blackburn being above us. Nice to see a balanced post though.
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