Town’s first ever visit to the New York Stadium ended in defeat as a goal in either half from Matt Derbyshire and ex-Blues loanee Conor Sammon saw Rotherham to a 2-0 victory. Derbyshire nodded home the opener in the 38th minute and Sammon added the second on 64, while Daryl Murphy, who failed to take two early opportunities for Town, saw a header cleared off the line and Luke Chambers had an effort well saved.

Murphy, back after missing the Wigan game with a calf strain, took over from Noel Hunt up front in an otherwise unchanged Town side.

Rotherham included three former Blues loanees, Sammon, Frazer Richardson and Paul Green.

Murphy had a golden chance to net his 19th goal of the season after only 18 seconds when he latched onto skipper Chambers’s ball down the right and outmuscled Millers’ captain Craig Morgan. The Irishman brought the ball into the area but scuffed his shot to keeper Adam Collin when he really should have scored.

On seven, Chambers scraped a weak effort wide with neither side having been able to create another clear-cut chance. The home side’s greatest threat so far had been a long throw from Kari Arnason on the left towards Sammon which the Blues defence repelled.

Murphy had another opportunity to add to his season’s haul in the ninth minute when Jay Tabb’s corner from the left landed at his feet having been missed by Christophe Berra, but the Town number 10 blazed over. The Blues striker, who complained that he had been dragged back as he unleashed his shot, again probably should have scored.

Cole Skuse picked up the game’s first booking for a foul on the breaking Paul Green in the 17th minute. From Ben Pringle’s freekick, Arnason’s downward header deflected through to Bartosz Bialkowski.

McGoldrick sent a weak shot through to Collin on 27, then a minute later Chambers exchanged passes with Bru but the Town captain’s shot was blocked.

Moments later, with the Blues briefly putting the Millers under pressure, Bru and Tabb interchanged on the left but the Mauritian international failed to find a team-mate with his low cross. The ball eventually ran out to Skuse, whose strike failed to trouble Collin.

Just after the half hour, after Town had cleared a corner, Richie Smallwood floated a ball into the area towards Derbyshire but just beyond the former England U21 international.

On 33 Tabb smashed a powerful volley wide after the ball had fallen perfectly for him on the left just outside the area.

Rotherham had been at their most threatening from set pieces throughout and in the 38th minute a freekick on the left saw them take the lead. Pringle sent the ball in, Conor Newton flicked it on, Morgan nodded it back across the area from the right and Derbyshire headed past Bialkowski from close range.

Town were unable create an opening from which they could get back on terms prior to the break.

On the balance of the half overall, the Blues probably didn’t deserve to be behind with the Millers’ goal having come from their first serious shot on goal of the afternoon.

Up to then Town, without ever really playing particularly well, had had the better of another not overly enthralling game’s opportunities with Murphy having had two very good chances to add to his 18 goals.

Newton lashed well wide six minutes after the break prior to a double Town change. Teddy Bishop and Freddie Sears took over from Anderson and Tabb with the Blues moving to 4-3-3.

Town went close to getting on terms in the 54th minute after Zeki Fryers had been booked for a foul on Bru on the right. Skuse sent the ball into the area, Chambers headed goalwards but Collin rose superbly to tip over. From the resultant short corner, Chambers nodded Mings’s cross well over.

On 58 Derbyshire was unable to divert Pringle’s cross from the left past Bialkowski but in the main it was Town on the front foot with the substitutions having made a difference.

A minute later, Mings’s long distance shot landed at Sears’s feet five yards outside the area and the former Colchester man hit shot on the turn which Collin uncomfortably bundled behind down to his left. Sears took the flagkick himself and found Murphy, whose powerful goal-bound header was nodded off the line by Fryers.

The Blues continued to push, Chambers doing well on the right of the box but twice his crosses were cut out, the second falling to Bishop, whose shot was also blocked.

But despite Town having been on top since the break, the Millers increased their lead in the 64th minute, again from a set piece. Pringle whipped over a corner from the left and, as Berra and Arnason tangled, the ball was knocked down to Sammon, who gleefully slammed home his second Millers goal against his former loan club.

The Blues had a chance to pull goal back in the 69th minute when Arnason missed Chambers’s low cross from the right and the ball fell to Murphy. The Irishman turned a shot goalwards but it struck Morgan at point-blank and the ball ran harmlessly to Collin.

Another former Town loanee Green volleyed Pringle’s deep left-wing cross against Skuse on 74 before the Blues replaced McGoldrick with Noel Hunt and the Millers Sammon with Danny Ward.

Sears saw a shot blocked after exchanging passes with Hunt on 84, then at the other end Ward scuffed wide. Moments later, Derbyshire was replaced by Jordan Bowery.

Town never looked like getting back into it in the closing minutes and the Millers might have increased their lead in injury time when Bowery was sent away one-on-one with Bialkowski but the Polish keeper blocked and the ball bounced over the bar.

The Blues were left rueing failing to take their chances, while Rotherham made the most of their opportunities. Derbyshire’s goal was the Millers’ first significant shot on goal, while Sammon’s second came just as Town were starting to put the South Yorskshiremen under pressure.

Overall, there wasn’t a lot in a typical Championship battle, while manager Mick McCarthy is likely to be less than pleased to see his side concede twice from set pieces.

The Blues drop to fifth in the table, now six points off the top, having taken just four points from their last 15 since the turn of the year.

Rotherham: Collin, Richardson, Arnason, Morgan (c), Fryers, Newton, Green, Smallwood, Pringle, Sammon (Ward 75), Derbyshire (Bowery 85). Unused: Thompson, Broadfoot, Milsom, Ward, Hammill, Frecklington.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Mings, Berra, Smith, Skuse, Bru, Anderson (Sears 52), Tabb (Bishop 52), Murphy, McGoldrick (N Hunt 75). Unused: Kenny, Parr, Clarke, S Hunt. Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey). Att: 10,336 (Town: 1,879).

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich58 added 19:46 - Feb 7 I have supported this club since my Dad took me to PR on 1968 I think we beat Burnley 3-2. I love them with a passion. Frank Clark up front Jimmy Robertson flying down the wing Colin Viljoen etc. So does my son. The rhythm of our weekend is dictated by our result. It is because I care I am so angry. I am entitled to be as I pay my money and often travel 400 miles round trip. I haven't been so despondent for years. Yes MM staved off relegation. But his pyrolysis repeating itself with MM. He is so limited. Can take a team so far then is found out. He cannot change. Doesn't have the nous. It has to change or at least MM has to. It's his last chance with a club as he himself has said. So come on do the right thing, grow a pair and polar players YOU bought but ignore while sticking with at best League 1 scuttles.

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runningout added 20:02 - Feb 7 depending on one surprisingly in form scorer doesn't help anyone... I could score against our naive defence and midfield, and I'm garbage... Sorry to be harsh to all those sensitive types
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BillBlue added 20:44 - Feb 7 BlueandTruesince82- if only that was all that is needed - hell!
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StowTractorBoy added 20:55 - Feb 7 Just back from the Bronx sorry Rotherham but stadium is decent. Lots of moaning on here when half of you didn't even go. Answer this - where did you expect us to finish this season - answer should be play offs at best. We are still in there so all is not lost. Football is about fine margins and Murphy gets my vote for costing us this game as he missed three golden chances especially chance number one after a matter of seconds. Had that gone in it could have been so different but I'm not going to smooth over the cracks because they are most certainly there. Chambers must go back to central defence and allow Parr to come forward. Smith was poor today and has not been the same since the Derby error so give him a rest. Skuse was stifled after his early booking and Tabb was totally ineffective. Time for Bishop to step in on Tuesday and what the hell was the matter with Mings today who felt the wrath of both MM and Chambos tongue during the course of the game. Rotherham did to us today what we have been to many teams this season they worked tirelessly and scored their goals at the right time. All is not lost but there needs to be a dramatic turnaround from todays awful performance.

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glenwarner1977 added 20:56 - Feb 7 I just think this goes to show that we have been punching well above our weight for far to long but we have loved it whilst it lasted
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wayway added 21:05 - Feb 7 The corporate Evans is the problem. He (if he exists) knows nothing about football and runs the club as a loss making arm to his business empire. How can he (or they) justify not strengthening the team in the transfer window? The fans mean nothing to him and don't give me the old crap about him saving the club. This is purely a business to him and nothing more. Would any other chairman be happy with the current squad and the style of football the manager plays? I said earlier in the week what other top ten championship team would Smith, Skuse, Anderson Tabb and the Hunts get in? While Hyam would struggle in the Jewson league. Oh and where was Ambrose today? The one player we have of true class. Perhaps that's why he will not play him and Bishop as they will show up the other donkeys

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BlueandTruesince82 added 21:14 - Feb 7 Bill if we'd taken our chances we would have won. Its a funny old game is a trueism. Am I happy no, but as I have said before, playoffs was a pipe drwam on day one and now Mick has raised expectations many want to hang him for it. Man City should have beaten Hull at Home today, they didn't. Chelsea should have beaten Bradford in the FA cup, they didnt and they shipped 4. Man U should not need a replay to beat Cambs, they did. Thats football. is our form crap right now? Yes, Do I think we are better than Rotherham, yes but again we dominated and rued missed chances. MM only takes clubs so far? Maybe but i seem to reacall he took Wolves and Sunderland to the prem, that would be far enough for me. We all knew we would have a blip and we're having one, should it come against the teams it has? Probably not, but as the examples above show, football does not run to what it says on paper and I for one am not ready to slate the man who has delivered our best season in years yet. Now I'm not saying results like todays are acceptable but I am sensible enought to understand it happens, to all teams and I am prepared to give the man who has raised our expectations so high (for it was he who got us up therw in the first place) chance to deliver on that. If we make top 6 that is a good season and aim achieved. We still can. Like it or not MM aint going anywhere for a while. This constant knee jerk, daily mail/twitter hyped up over reaction to every setback is just sad. Christ, he might as well $hag Josie Cunningham and and big up Katie Hopkins so the rest of the countrycan join in this steroid ininjected castrigation. Its child like. For the record, shouldn we have won? Yes, were we the better team today? Yes, do like it when we lose? No. Can Mick be stubborn, sometimes but then Utd fans are trying to figure why Herera aint playing, all managers are, just like all show favouriteism. I'm as pissed of as everyone but as always I will allow time before I start foaming at the mouth because I beluve stability is usually good for clubs, this is a project and it continues. That said I reserve the right to change my mind if a top 6 place isnt delived, which i do believe should be the expectation given the 1st half of the season, but should it not happen I'd still wait to see where we are come Nov next season befoe getting and itchy trigger finger. If you disagree that's fine, i don't care. Now I'm off to cheer the Mrs up by telling her that Ashe can feel free to stay out the way coz of my foul mood, as always when we lose and B she wont have to sit through the championship tonight. Lucky cow.

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bellazzurri79 added 21:33 - Feb 7 No more 'where did you expect us to finish'!!!!! On boxing day I expected us to kick on... Simple If someone had told me we would have been top on Boxing Day and where we are now less than a month and a half later (spiralling down hard) I would have been p*****! And I am!!!!!
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PJH added 21:41 - Feb 7 Just got back. Disappointed as I expected us to win and I think we would have done so comfortably if Murph had buried the 1st minute chance(as at Brentford). As at Brighton we looked much better with Bishop and Sears on and they plus Parr really should start on tuesday. We need to try to regain the form that we produced in December. Disappointed but not (after several hours thinking about it) as downhearted as I was at final whistle. If return to form can be achieved there is still plenty of time to put things right. COYB

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dirtydingusmagee added 21:49 - Feb 7 Well some interesting views so far, and i agree with some of those frustrated by players that are not being given a chance to show their worth whilst others are off form.However,i still firmly believe ITFC are and will continue to be held back by finances.M E came in and ''saved the club'' but he, cant or wont invest further.He has always been faceless,and as such detached from the game and supporters.This season until recently M M has done well with a team put together on a tight budget.It was doubtful that that momentum would be kept up all season.Even if we did achieve promotion ,the present team would not survive beyond one season,Does anyone believe M E would act any different, ? i dont.I think ITFC will always be a mid table Championship side.Do i think that is enough, ? no, but we will have to accept it while the club is flying the ME flag .Some will and have said change manager! What and start all over again to eventually [if lucky ]get to where we are now,and again be stunted from getting further by ......money .

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Akaroablue added 22:12 - Feb 7 I recently received a rather negative response when calling for the removal of McGoldrick as he is far to selfish and out of form, suggesting that Chris Wood or Billy Sharp were much better options. Those options are now gone but the way McGoldrick and several others are playing I cannot see where the goals will come from! Parr must start Smith benched, Bishop, Sears, Ambrose must start also. And if MM mentions the term 'Bonkers' again I will never read another one of his dreadful pre match interviews, is he still locked into the 1970's or what, his style of play kind of reflects that really. ME. time to start looking for a creative Manager with some guts to demand Transfer Funds.

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cornishblu added 23:16 - Feb 7 ....hhhhmmm very noticeably quiet from my biggest detractor but maybe that is because he has realised that it is him that speaks the rubbish and drivel that he is so quick to suggest that I do. The Cornish contingent has once again conspired to travel to an away game that saw us witness a abject performance .walking out of the ground the Rotherham fans were saying how disappointed they were in us.."expected a lot more" ...,and one said our most effective player was the "coloured guy in the middle"....what you mean didzy our striker!!....summed up the match that one of our forward players had to play so deep No doubt about it heads have been turned....mings looks out of sorts didzy despite being our best player still looks way short of last season and murphy currently can't buy a goal. ...but Mick please read what the supporters are saying the solution to this isn't hard. When you have a right back ..play him...our turn of form after a sticky start this year happened when parr chambers Berra and mings played in the back four...switch to that . Chambers time after time today showed from a standing start that he has no belief in taking on players on the wing so he always stopped , foot on ball and passed it...we need a right back confident on taking players on Skusless is skusless ...drop him, tabb looks knackerred and ando too inconsistent....FOR goodness sake start bishop and sears drop anyone of the three...and all three when Luke is fit. Play sears up front with murphy...but both down the middle neither should be pushed out on the wing ..didzy can then play the wandering roll just behind the front two making sure mings and parr are putting in the crosses ...finding murphy rather the an murphy out on the wing crossing in looking for himself. We are dropping like a stone but this is still in our hands...what we are loosing belief in is that the management team can't see what the supporter can....we are however often wrong but the. Growing number of similar messages must mean something needs to change. 1900 fans ...incredible away support.....please give us something to cheer about and be hopeful for ...So wished we could have sung happy birthday to you.....can't help but think the cava will taste a bit flat tonight.....COYB

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Adrian_Paz added 23:47 - Feb 7 It seems like the last few weeks have really knocked confidence in the fans and players. The poor lethargic performances, our lack of ambition for new signings, poor results against some of the worst teams in the division etc etc. The fact is though those players got us to 2nd in the table at Christmas and we don't suddenly become a terrible side. I'm hoping this is a dip and we can recover and find some momentum again. I don't think we are good enough for automatic but a couple of good wins would get the feel good factor back. I'm as frustrated as anyone, it hurts to feel like it's slipping away and feels so much worse today when everyone else won. They can't all keep winning though and there will be dips in form for others too. its only Feb so let's keep behind them, hopefully with a couple of quality loan additions we can get back on track. COYB

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Lightningboy added 23:51 - Feb 7 @jas0999 Yeah,sorry I only picked Tabb as I was overlooking Bishop! As I said but with Bishop for Tabb (or Hyam for Tabb if fit).
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portmanteau added 00:32 - Feb 8 MM said " result never in doubt after 2nd goal went in". so thats when he gave up? terrific, I suppose he passed that out to the team, " ease up lads this one's lost already". what a confidence builder, not.
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bluetoba added 03:11 - Feb 8 Yes Rolly, (mr top six). We were top three with comparatively easier fixtures imminent. Found your muppet jibe bit ott...Muppet.
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NoelTheDub added 03:15 - Feb 8 ADRIAN PAZ i respect your comments but this is not a blip its not about new singings there on the bench or gone out to other clubs fact.We are gone stale big time and need changes but our Mick dosent see we are in trouble.Come on we play crap football its got us to where we are but the arse has falling out of us.NO MORE EXCUSES PLAY FOOTBALL FOR GODS SAKE ITS KILLING OUR CLUB..

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bluetoba added 03:24 - Feb 8 and Rolly, i suppose when MM came in and turned our season around... on form, were we 'top six'? Agree with many of comments tho, season is still alive if players are played in rightful positions.
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skinnyman27 added 03:45 - Feb 8 biggest mistake made was not sell dids, end of
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skinnyman27 added 03:46 - Feb 8 bring back joe royal
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 07:00 - Feb 8 Huge credit to the 1900!
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warktheline added 08:14 - Feb 8 Blueandtrue, top post as always. Some of the venom vented on here is quite remarkable, with all things considered, and yes, it probably does look like I'm glossing over our current form, things can change very quickly with a win or two and the reverse inflicted on our rivals. Results yesterday went against use, and magnified the Rotherham outcome, but apart from possibly Blackpool, there is no cannon fodder in the Championship. For people to say season is all over is ridiculous, Brentford, Watford and Wolves have had dips in form, we are no different. Apart from Bournemouth, who score goals for fun, the rest are, in my opinion, much the same. Tuesday night is a very big game, obviously we need to recover form quickly, and I'm confident Mick will address this with changes, starting with the back 4 I'd imagine! The balance of the team always looks a lot better with Parr at RB.

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Harlowtractorboy added 08:47 - Feb 8 I throught we had some easy games comming up but we always make it hard . But I don't think mick won't change the team he needs a more balance team put parr in and play bishop and Sears from the start . Why build Rotherham up and they are in the bottom three we should be beating team like this for fun
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callmeted added 09:10 - Feb 8 Firstly I have to agree that some of the tactics have been negative and we have become stale at the moment. It certainly needs freshening up whether from within or loans. I am disappointed as anyone on here. However, once again the knives come out with "I told you so "and we are not this and that. Maybe , when we dip, it is a time to get behind the team. interesting the response from management players and supporters Tuesday night. We are 5th , one point behind 4th and still in the well in the mix. Come on, stand up and be counted not sink to the blame game at such a vital time . I couldn't care less if you told us so. It's small margins that can turn a season around again and you have to get behind the team that we have and has got us this far. I get no pleasure to say this but I hope to see egg on some faces ( as I am sure you do to) . Up the Town.

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PJH added 09:22 - Feb 8 cornishblu-I agree with much of what you say about yesterday but not about Skuse,I thought he was by far our best player. Most people seem to agree on the need to start Parr,Bishop and Sears and I hope that MM sees it that way on tuesday. Imagine that the Rotherham fans you spoke to could have been talking about Bru rather than McGoldrick but both were ordinary yesterday.
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