Paul Anderson and Paul Green were on target as Town and Bournemouth drew 2-2 at Portman Road. Anderson put the home side in front on 36 but the Cherries hit back via Steve Cook's overhead kick just before the break. Green's first Blues goal restored the lead on 56 but Matt Ritchie's deflected freekick gained a point for the Dorset club.

Christophe Berra and Luke Hyam missed out due to injury with on-loan Middlesbrough man Frazer Richardson handed his first Blues start at right-back. Skipper Luke Chambers moved to his preferred position of centre-half alongside Tommy Smith.

Anthony Wordsworth continued in central midfield in Hyam’s absence with Anderson returning on the right and Stephen Hunt on the left, with Frank Nouble dropping to the bench.

Neither side was able to carve out an opening in a scruffy first 15 minutes of over-hit passes at both ends of the field.

There was a scare for the Blues on 14 when Chambers lost his footing but the ball ran through to Gerken before Lewis Grabban was able to get onto it. Two minutes later, the former Millwall striker hit a low effort wide from distance.

On 25 Yann Kermorgant headed well over with chances still rare but with Bournemouth having most of the ball.

Two minutes later, the Frenchman went closer when he nodded Marc Pugh’s cross from the left just over. Soon after, Eunan O’Kane lashed wildly into the upper tier of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand when he should have done better after Ritchie’s mis-hit effort fell to him inside the box.

Hunt switched to the right and Anderson to the left as the Blues looked to get more into the game. On 34 Jonny Williams sent Aaron Cresswell away down the left but the full-back shot wide.

Despite the visitors having been the better of the two teams, the Blues went ahead in the 36th minute. Cole Skuse was found in unfamiliar territory on the right and sent in a low cross. Daryl Murphy couldn’t reach it, but Anderson smashed his fifth goal of the season into the roof of the net from a few feet out at the far post.

Town were close to adding a second two minutes later after Pugh had fouled Williams not far outside the area. Cresswell curled a goalbound freekick but Cherries keeper Lee Camp did superbly to tip it onto his right post.

Richardson did well to divert Ritchie’s low cross away from Pugh at the far post as the visitors looked to get back on terms.

On 41 Grabban shot wide after a blocked Ritchie shot had deflected to him in a good position in the area.

And it wasn’t long before Bournemouth were back on terms. A Charlie Daniels freekick from deep on the left was headed into the air by Cook at the far post and Cherries the defender acrobatically overhead kicked into the roof of the net.

Just before the whistle Wordsworth hit a shot into Camp’s arms when he might well have tested the one-time Town target more.

It would have been harsh on the visitors to have found themselves behind at the break as they had shaded what hadn’t been a great half, creating most of the better opportunities with Town having gone in front from their only clear-cut chance.

However, the Blues could easily have found themselves two in front before the equaliser but for Camp’s excellent save from Cresswell’s freekick.

Ahead of the restart, Town switched Wordsworth for Green and Anderson and Hunt swapped back to the right and left respectively.

The Cherries started the second half on top and on 50 Grabban almost latched onto a ball over the top having got beyond the Town backline. On 53 Nouble replaced Anderson, who had suffered a knock soon after the break.

Town went back in front with their first chance of the second half. After Williams was fouled by Simon Francis on the left, Cresswell sent over a freekick, Smith flicked it on and sub Green stooped to nod home his first goal for the Blues.

Murphy thought he was away and in the clear from Williams’s pass on the hour only for the linesman to raise his flag, wrongly according to the Town players.

The Cherries should have been on terms in the 65th minute when Francis crossed from the right and the ball deflected to Pugh who really ought to have scored but lashed wildly over. That was the former Hereford man’s last involvement as Bournemouth boss swapped him and Daniels for Tokelo Rantie and Adam Smith.

Having gone in front Town were largely content to sit back, soak up everything Bournemouth could throw at them and catch them on the break. On 77 Tyrone Mings replaced Williams with Cresswell moving to an unfamiliar right midfield role.

The sub was quickly into the action, heading the ball away from goal after Rantie had nodded it beyond the advancing Gerken who was outside the area as the Cherries broke following a Town freekick.

Ten minutes from time, the visitors equalised for the second time. After Smith had fouled Rantie five yards outside the area, Andrew Surman played a freekick short to Ritchie, who hit a low shot which took a huge deflection off Skuse at the end of the Town wall and beat the wrong-footed Gerken.

On 84 Mings flicked Cresswell’s freekick from the left just beyond the far post as the Blues looked to restore their lead once again.

The game was now an end to end, very open affair. Richardson dispossessed Grabban in a dangerous position inside the Town area, then almost immediately at the other end Murphy and Hunt were just unable to get on a Nouble cross from the left.

Bournemouth continued to take the game to tiring Town as the match moved into its final minutes. On 88 Gerken saved Kermogant’s shot from the edge of the box, then as the fourth official announced four additional minutes the Blues keeper did well to get down to his right to push Grabban’s low shot wide.

The visitors presented the greater threat during injury time, a mis-hit Skuse shot after a corner had been cleared to him 25 yards out the nearest the Blues came to a winner.

There was almost a moment of controversy right at the end when referee D’Urso blew the final whistle as Kermogant headed a cross narrowly wide.

A draw was probably a fair result. Bournemouth were the better side before the break, while Town presented a greater threat in the second half before going in front for the second time.

After that the Blues - who had had a day fewer to recover from their first Easter weekend game - defended in depth and were unfortunate with the Cherries’ second equaliser. But overall it would have been harsh on the visitors had they taken nothing from the game, particularly given some of the chances they created but spurned.

With Brighton drawing 1-1 at home to Blackpool and Nottingham Forest winning 2-0 at Leeds, Town are eighth a point from Brighton in sixth, while Reading, a point and a place behind the Blues, are in action at home to Middlesbrough on Tuesday.

Town: Gerken, Richardson, Chambers (c), Smith, Cresswell, Skuse, Wordsworth (Green 46), Anderson (Nouble 53), Hunt, Williams (Mings 77), Murphy. Unused: Loach, Tabb, Taylor, Marriott.

AFC Bournemouth: Camp, Francis (c), Cook, Ward, Daniels (Smith 65), Surman, O'Kane, Pugh (Rantie 65), Ritchie, Kermorgant, Grabban. Unused: Allsop, Elphick, Harte, MacDonald, Fraser. Referee: Andy D'Urso (Billericay). Att: 20,356 (Bournemouth: 890).

Photo: Action Images

gippeswyk added 20:00 - Apr 21 Poor start from Town. Bournemouth passed the ball well and we were lucky not to go behind several times. We missed Hyam and Berra. Much better second half but still struggled to string attacking passes together and Murphy was poor up front. Hunt and Green worked hard. Williams was creative as ever but you could see he was knackered when he was subbed. 2 hard games in 3 days took its toll and we sat back and invited pressure onto us. Cressy denied by a fine save onto the post. Chambo missed an easy header by his standards. Woody shot straight at keeper. On another day we could have scored 3 or 4 goals but the Cherries would prob say the same about their chances. Overall a fair result against a team with a good solid record over the last 10-12 games. The season isn't over yet and we are only a point adrift so I really dont understand all the negative comments. MM has done us proud and our lads have worked their socks off to match much more expensive squads. COYB!!!

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nix290 added 20:00 - Apr 21 *ive read. Bloody autocorrect!
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HackneyBlue added 20:05 - Apr 21 I am of course grateful for my club being in a more stable position but do find it difficult to enjoy many games of football at Portman Road.SOOOO many times passes from the back or midfield not remotely close to their target and with so much space to make sure .,these are basics and so easy for opposition to collect,why can we not just think before we hoof,the players are surely not that poor but must be under instruction to get rid as early as possible and to anywhere-VERY FRUSTRATING.Bournemouth made football look so easy and even under pressure kept possession to us its quick get rid quick.We need better players if that's the case or better instuctions.

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warwickblue added 20:05 - Apr 21 I'm sorry but I've got to join the "Two points dropped" negative posters on here tonight. The extent to which we sat back after scoring our second goal was truly ridiculous today. Do you recall the moment when one of their players was standing on the ball on the edge of the centre circle, in his own half, and not one of our team was within twenty five yards of him? Just two rows of five on the edge of our box? Bournemouth looked a really bright, lively passing team (again). The way to have secured the game was surely to push up the pitch and give them something to worry about. It seems Bournemouth couldn't believe the time and space we afforded them to build their attacks after we scored our second. Our gormless long-balls out of defence were embarrassing at times. To be fair, Murphy got several headed flick-ons - but who were they supposed to be picked up by? A really patchy, scruffy game against a side whose ability to find a man with a pass put us to shame. And yet we're STILL in with a shout for the play-offs! COYB!

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Elizabeth added 20:11 - Apr 21 You are all obviously football managers in disguise and quite honestly I don't care whether or not you agree with my comments ! We are all entitled to our own opinion. If by some miracle we do make the play offs , I wonder what you moaners will say then .
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Hegansheroes added 20:19 - Apr 21 This is proof that McCarthy is out of his depth even at this level, the man is tactically inept, a complete buffoon. He may have had little money to improve the squad but the players he has brought in are on very good wages otherwise they would not have come. Let's face there are players MM keeps playing who would not get a look in at Div 2 level. I went today and was appalled at some of the football. Time for McCarthy to go. How about poaching Eddie Howe.

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Hegansheroes added 20:19 - Apr 21 This is proof that McCarthy is out of his depth even at this level, the man is tactically inept, a complete buffoon. He may have had little money to improve the squad but the players he has brought in are on very good wages otherwise they would not have come. Let's face there are players MM keeps playing who would not get a look in at Div 2 level. I went today and was appalled at some of the football. Time for McCarthy to go. How about poaching Eddie Howe.

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Letchworth_Blue added 20:55 - Apr 21 Keanish, Hackney and Warwick spot on. Elizabeth get a grip. Just because we don't see a faultless performance each week, doesn't make us less of a supporter than you. Mick has been great this season, with what he has had to work with etc etc. BUT he has not been without fault, as have certain players. It is called an opinion and should be allowed to be expressed on here just the same as all the lovey dovey "we play brilliant very week" posters.

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blueinblue added 21:14 - Apr 21 Hegansheroes, are you by any chance the same idiot who called Radio Suffolk post match? We are much improved and clear progress has been made, the lost 24 hrs is why we couldn't win today, no question (when was the last time you saw us get cramp?). Agree with comments about Mick Mills, great player and captain but talk about spoiling a fan phone in, just takes the calls over, not surprised they hardly get anyone bothering

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blueherts added 21:20 - Apr 21 Yep , just back and as usual a real cross section of opinions and all valid I have been , and will be, a supporter for what MM and TC have done on a very limited budget - with an owner looking at FFP and hoping to get Academy One status .. If you had offered us still in chance of P offs with 2 games to go all would have taken it !!! Most , if not all the teams around us have bigger budgets for adding players , and many did in Jan window tHE OLD SAYING 'Silk Purse , Sows ear' etc The players are playing to max of their abilities and MM is getting the best out of them BUT as with Satday and other times this season , tactically , some of the selections/changes are baffling As I have said before it is the difference between managers who ; Set up not to lose ( MM) vs Setting up a team to go and WIN a game - there is a big difference I believe we are better sometimes if we go behind - it forces MM into something Whenever we take a lead we just sit back .... Today we effectively asked our LB to go and play RM and man mark Ritchie with 10 mins or so to go to 'protect our 2-1 lead ??!! In a MUST WIN GAME strange If we do not make the Poffs ( and even if we do . no guarantees we go up !) I do hope ME will see what a good job MM has done and give him funds I have my doubts - and unless we sell AC we may have limited resources

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warktheline added 21:44 - Apr 21 Thanks Blueherts, you saved me a long post.....totally agree with your well constructed post.
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Edwardebenezer added 22:03 - Apr 21 Tell me why they did not take Wordsworth off in the first half. He was injured after two minutes and hobbled around all half, it was as if Bourmouth were playing against ten men.
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Reece87 added 22:07 - Apr 21 I simply dont understand how any true ITFC fans can come on here and question Micks 'Tactics'. Yes we may have gone defensive to early and maybe there were players he could of brought on to try and kill the game off, but i'd dread to think were we would be if it wasn't for Mick, probaly playing in League 1 or again fighting for championship survival. Just look at the teams that QPR, Reading, Wigan and derby have and compare it to ours. It's been an incredible season for me being a ITFC fan and you Moaners may say we have lost big number of points from winning positions because of Micks tactics, well we have gained alot of points from loosing positions because of the bond and amazing chemistry that Mick has given this team. These players play for the shirt not the money and as a fan that's all i ask for. No matter how good or how bad we play i'm Proud to be a ITFC through the bad and good. COYB

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Keaneish added 22:18 - Apr 21 It's because it was abysmal to watch win, lose or draw no matter where we are in the league Reece87. We were out played by a very average side at home in a must win fixture and seemed powerless to alter the onslaught.
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TractorBoy666 added 22:38 - Apr 21 Reece87, the reason we have gained more points from losing positions is because when we do start losing, Mick then decides to bring on more attacking players, and we play more attacking. If instead today we went and got another goal at 2-1, that may have killed the game for Bournemouth but instead we always invite the opposition on and eventually (like today sitting back so early) the opposition are going to score.

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Reece87 added 22:39 - Apr 21 I understand what your saying Keaneish but can you really look at the team we have now and say it's far superior to Bournemouths? In my opinion out of the top 8 or 9 teams we have the weakest squad. I was simply stating out that because of the squad we have now, what we have achieved this year has been great. And it's been nice to finally get excited towards the end of the season and be excited for the future of ITFC. I'm not saying i havn't been left baffled by Micks decisions at times but unlike others i look at what he has achieved at the club with such poor financial backing and don't Moan when thing goes wrong. We dont have the best squad in the league Far from it, but Mick is the perfect manager to build a squad for us cabale of reaching the big time. Yes maybe this year might not be the year, but who is to say that next year won't be. IF ME backs him and gives him some money that he deserves then we will go that little more closer to were we belong. Just think abouts what he has done for us before looking at what he has done wrong.

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IvorFeeling added 22:42 - Apr 21 Over 20 thou watched a numb performance. Yes, I am thankful we are no longer the PJ joke of a team but when i spend money i want to be entertained. The times we managed more than 5 passes were less than a handful and we were woeful at best, and truth be told deserved not even a point. Why did Hunt not go off instead of Williams was beyond me and i would personally like to see Cresswell in front of Mings as i beilive that would be a strong pairing on the left. To win you must not be afraid to lose - until our mindset changes our results, over the course of the season will not change. I live in hope re the playoffs but believe our chance has gone with Burnley only losing twice at home all season.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 06:52 - Apr 22 The amount of negativity on here just reflects increased ambition, I suppose, which in itself shows just how far MM & TC have already taken us. Did anyone really think last August that with two games to go, we'd still be in the play-off mix? Sure, I'd love to find a Messiah who somehow manages to put together a team that plays attractive, attacking football AND consistently wins matches, but for every Sean Dyche, there are probably 20 who don't make it. If MM & TC next season made the same progress with the current team that they have made with the team they started out with (big ask I know!) then we would certainly be in the mix again. Give MM a year or two: building consistency is our best bet for promotion, even if it's not always exciting.

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oldegold added 09:10 - Apr 22 Whilst admitting that we have progressed under MM after the soulless PJ period with his mania of at least a million loan players making up the club, no one can question the right of the supporters to expect Ipswich to play the Ipswich way. We pay our money and we take our choice and frankly it was disheartening against Bournemouth to see THEM take the game to us when we needed the victory and just played hoofing up stuff and left our attackers on the bench. Boring, unimaginative and sterile and not the Ipswich win. Look at Burnley...they were positively chomping at the bit and went for it. Nottm. Forest went at Leeds from the off and they got a great result and are above us now. Life often rewards the brave and yesterday we were awful.

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warktheline added 09:14 - Apr 22 The most contentious issue with fans this season has been undoubtedly style of play, and upon reflection that must be the core of disagreement with all fans at all clubs . If we added another 6 points to our league tally, then an over zealous me would be shouting and bragging to whoever would listen, Blueboy and TimmyH ,ring any bells! My mentality is win at all cost, regardless of style etc, whereas at least a third of hard core fans on here, would still struggle to accept how we achieved this success. Maybe we could call these fans traditionalist, and I think it's worth noting many of these in this bracket, go and watch Town, on a regular basis. Then we have another section of fans that sway each way depending upon Saturdays results. Therefore when some of us struggle to see why there is negativity surrounding us on the forum, we must take into account, how each and everyone of us approaches the club, we all love.

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gazzmac4 added 09:22 - Apr 22 I went to both games over the weekend and would agree with a number of posts on here already that over the two games we were just missing that little something extra to get us over the line. I personally would have been ok with the results had we not hit the bar while on top at 1-1 on saturday and had their 2nd goal today not been a deflection! Makes it all the more difficult to swallow haha! Many of us make some good points about the style of play and i do agree that bringing on Mings was a very negative move when playing at home but i think the real issues here are that we have a tiny squad and our only real flair player has been missing for a while through injury. Some of the lads looked genuinely shattered today and rightly so. If you look at the likes of Wigan, Reading, Brighton etc who are in and arround us and compare the squad sizes it is a miracle that we currently sit where we do with 2 games to go. Mick has his doubters but he has done a miraculous job in his 18 months. Also i thought the atmosphere at both games over the weekend was incredible, which is something we havent been able to say for quite a while! If we can keep our key players, strengthen well over the summer then the future is certainly bright for next year i reckon. Big Mick, we salute you!

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amurtiger added 09:31 - Apr 22 Boring negative football, seems a lot of fans watch with their rose tinted glasses on. Typical towns fans, can't have an opinion that differs.Where were the fans earlier in the season funny how they come out now near playoffs. I won't miss this next season
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BillBlue added 12:38 - Apr 22 rollercoastertown - I don't honestly think anyone on here is suggesting that MM has taken the Club backwards because the contrary is obvious. What a lot of people are unhappy about are the negative tactics MM employs and his apparent overall lack of understanding of, so called, modern football. You say you have been a Town supporter for forty years as though that gives you some special significance. I can no longer get to matches so I have to rely on my fellow fans various accounts and I do find the, again so called, negative comments more reliable as to what is happening at our once great Club. I have actually been a Town fan since I came home after the War so that in fact makes you something of a beginner but I do not feel it gives me any special rights re commenting etc., in fact it just makes me feel old! I think the team have done well to be where they are but I think that over the years MM is possibly the most negative Manager I can remember, not the worst but the most negative, and this goes immediately contrary to the footballing history of Ipswich Town which have always been well respected for playing good attacking football while keeping the ball on the ground. It is for that fact alone that I shall be glad when MM is no longer the Manager of this Club.

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JWM added 13:04 - Apr 22 We have certainly scraped the barrell when the old "Play the Ipswich Way" statement gets trotted out! What is this mythical "Ipswich Way"? Is it the same Ipswich way that has seen us stuck firmly in this hell hole league for the past 12 years? Is it the same Ipswich way that has only seen us in the premiership for just 5 years since its inception in 1992? Time has moved on and football has moved on and the sooner some people realise it and accept it the better! Oh and Hegans you are a muppet!

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BillBlue added 13:10 - Apr 22 Sad, sad JWM. I feel truly sorry for you.
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