Ten-man Town fell to a 3-0 defeat away against fellow play-off challengers Birmingham City with Will Buckley, Jon Toral and Maikel Kieftenbeld on the scoresheet. Buckley made the most of some hesitant defending to put the home side ahead on 23 before Douglas was shown a straight red card just prior to the break and Toral and Kieftenbeld smashed home stunning second-half volleys to seal the victory.

As expected, boss Mick McCarthy reverted to the team which drew 1-1 with Preston last Saturday, having changed his entire XI for the FA Cup replay at Portsmouth on Tuesday.

New signing Kevin Foley’s international clearance came through and the full-back took a place on the Town bench, while loanee Paul Digby was included in a Championship matchday 18 for the first time.

The home side made one enforced changed from last week’s 3-0 win at Derby with Jacques Maghoma unwell. On-loan Sunderland winger Buckley came into the side for his full Birmingham debut.

After a quiet opening few minutes, the Midlanders created the first opening in the fourth minute, Buckley, often a thorn in Town’s side when a Brighton player, finding himself space 20 yards out but scraping wide.

A minute later, Stephen Gleeson, who played for Blues boss McCarthy at Wolves, scuffed another effort well past the post.

Town weren’t far away from going in front with their first chance of the game on six. Ryan Fraser laid the ball back to Kevin Bru on the left and the Mauritius international whipped over a cross which Daryl Murphy headed just over Tomasz Kuszczak’s crossbar from six yards.

Soon after, Clayton Donaldson thought he’d failed to take the chance of the game up to that point when he slid in but failed to connect with Maikel Kieftenbeld’s cross from the left but the linesman’s flag had been raised.

Murphy went close again for the Blues in the 11th minute when Bru fed the Irishman just outside the area to the left, where he flicked the ball up and smashed a strike across the face of goal.

Both sides were continuing to have chances and on 14 Jon Toral struck a powerful 25-yard effort which Blues keeper Dean Gerken did well to bat away from goal.

On 21 Birmingham defender Paul Caddis inadvertently presented the ball to Fraser on the Town left when trying to avoid conceding a corner, allowing the Scotland U21 international to whip over a cross which Freddie Sears flicked towards goal, however, Kuszczak was able to claim above his head.

Two minutes later, the visitors went in front via a goal Town will think they really ought to have prevented.

Tommy Smith’s headed clearance only reached Jonathan Grounds, who crossed from the left. The ball was turned away from goal but hit Douglas and ran to Donaldson, who hit a shot which Gerken saved superbly at point blank. However, the rebound fell to Buckley, who tapped home his first Birmingham goal from close range.

As the game moved towards the half hour mark Gleeson picked up the game’s first booking for a blatant trip on Fraser as the winger broke down the left.

After the resultant freekick had been worked down the left, the ball came out to Cole Skuse midway inside the Birmingham half but the midfielder’s shot flew well over.

Kieftenbeld went close to adding to his side’s lead on 40 when he made the most of more hesitant Town defending on the edge of the area, but the Dutchman’s shot was deflected wide.

Next it was the Blues' turn to threaten. With Kieftenbeld down injury and the home crowd calling for play to be stopped, Fraser cut in from the right and hit a powerful low shot which Kuszczak saved down to his right. Sears was first to the rebound which the Polish keeper again saved.

The ex-Colchester man got the the loose ball first again but his strike was deflected behind for a corner. From the flag-kick, Sears was just unable to get a touch to Christophe Berra’s header before Kuszczak claimed.

In first-half injury time Fraser crossed from the left and Murphy glanced a header well wide.

Seconds before the whistle Town were reduced to 10 men for the second successive game.

Douglas dived in for a ball which had run away from him midway inside the Blues half and caught Buckley with a one-footed but studs-up challenge on his shins.

Referee Michael Bull had no hesitation in issuing the 34-year-old with what looked a correct straight red card, Town’s first of their Championship campaign. Douglas now faces a three-match ban.

There hadn’t been much in the half as a whole with both teams having created opportunities - Town’s best was probably Murphy’s early header - and the two keepers each having made saves.

The Blues were made to pay for poor defending for the goal and having been reduced to 10 men have an uphill task to get back into the match in the second half.

Town switched Bru for the more combative Luke Hyam ahead of the start of the second half.

Skuse struck the first shot after the restart from distance but it gave Kuszczak little problem, then Paul Robinson got his name in the referee’s book for a foul on Fraser with the Blues starting the half on the front foot, despite their numerical disadvantage.

But nine minutes after the break the home side doubled their lead. Donaldson knocked down a long kick from Kuszczak and on-loan Arsenal midfielder Toral smashed an unstoppable volley past Gerken from 25 yards.

Despite what now looked a hopeless cause, the 10-man Blues kept pushing forward in ever greater numbers, Sears winning a couple of corners with strong runs into the area from first the right and then the left, but without the set pieces coming to anything.

On 64 Murphy fed a speeding Fraser down the left and the on-loan Bournemouth man took the ball into the area before hitting a low shot across the face of goal from a tight angle.

Two minutes later, again after Fraser had outpaced defenders down the left, Murphy laid the ball back to the Scot but his shot flew well over.

At the other end Gleeson saw a 67th minute shot deflected through to Gerken from the edge of the area, off a Town hand claimed the Birmingham players and fans, but not referee Bull.

Any doubt about which way the points would be were going were ended in the 70th minute when Kieftenbeld made in 3-0 with the afternoon’s second stunning volley.

The Blues again made heavy weather of clearing a ball in from the left and Chambers’s hook away fell to the former Groningen midfielder lashed past Gerken and into the corner of the net.

Sears looped a Fraser low cross over on 75, then a minute later Smith was booked for a foul on Donaldson on halfway.

With 12 minutes remaining Brett Pitman and Luke Varney replaced Sears and Murphy, then a minute later James Vaughan replaced Buckley for the home side.

Four minutes after coming on, Varney fed Fraser to his left inside the area when he might have shot himself, but the winger’s effort was blocked.

Birmingham’s Grounds was extremely lucky to avoid a red card on 84 when he caught Fraser in the face with a high boot just outside the area. Amazingly referee Bull failed to see the challenge as a foul let alone a card. If Douglas’s challenge warranted a red card, then that certainly did.

Gleeson smashed a shot not too far over, then Gerken required treatment after colliding with Vaughan as the two went for a Donaldson knockdown. The Blues keeper was eventually able to continue.

Deep in injury time Fraser, once again Town’s outstanding player, cut in from the right and struck a shot which flew just over the bar.

The game had been an even affair with both teams creating chances until Douglas’s red card, Birmingham having made the most of poor Town defending for Buckley’s opening goal.

The Blues continued to take the game to the home side in the second half and had a number of decent chances, but holes began to open up in the Town backline and Birmingham capitalised with first Toral’s and then Kieftenbeld’s brilliant strikes.

While the scoreline was a reflection of the 90 minutes overall, the game had been much tighter when 11 against 11.

The result sees the Blues - previously undefeated in seven away from home in the Championship - drop to eighth with Birmingham moving ahead of them but only a point behind Sheffield Wednesday in the final play-off place.

Town have a free Saturday next weekend with scheduled opponents Reading still in the FA Cup. The game has moved to the following Tuesday, February 2nd.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Bru (Hyam 46), Fraser, Sears (Pitman 78), Murphy (Varney 78). Unused: Bialkowski, Digby, Foley, Hyam, Maitland-Niles.

Birmingham: Kuszczak, Caddis, Morrison (c), Robinson, Grounds, Gleeson, Kieftenbeld (Solomon-Otabor 74), Davis (Adams 90), Buckley (Vaughan 80), Toral, Donaldson. Unused: Legzdins, Spector, Lowry, Brock-Madsen. Referee: Michael Bull (Essex). Att: 18,272 (Town: 1,887).

Photo: Action Images

Bob7881 added 17:54 - Jan 23 Bossman you have to remember the MM brigade are very sensitive please reserve your comments until after 7pm when they will have gone to bed.
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Walk_the_Wark added 17:57 - Jan 23 Want to eat some words Essex? lol
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Bluebongo added 17:57 - Jan 23 Timeto face facts, we,er just an average mid table Championship side. We,ve had bad luck in losing the services of didzy and Bish this season, and untill we get these two back into the team or get a couple of really good replacements, we,er gonna remain an average side. Time to spend some money Mr. Evans.
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petersongoal added 17:57 - Jan 23 If you weren't at the game I don't think you should be commenting. The scoreline was no reflection on today's game and the town fans outsang the home crowd throughout, which says a lot when you're 3-0 down. Fraser was brilliant today. Sometimes the ball just won't go in the net - that's football. Now to drink Birmingham dry! Up the town!
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warktheline added 17:59 - Jan 23 It's a bit harsh,and too soon, to say 'told you so' I give reference to 'cup reserve side ' midweek and then today's defeat. Circumstances today weren't too clever, playing with 10 men, against a side who were more than capable of exploiting such scenarios. BUT I personally believe momentum is a key factor in football, and with that in mind, today's result wasn't surprising. With that said, who knows, McCarthy's rag-tag team may return to winning ways in next game! McCarthy enjoys proving fans wrong, over to you boss!

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CharlieITFC added 17:59 - Jan 23 This is hilarious. A few weeks ago we had won 5 away games in a row, our starting 11 were great, and no one could stop us. There are 46 games this season, and one defeat against a rival, when down to 10 does not make us a bad team. I'd love to know who the 3/4 quality players would be? The reality is, we have a very good team, and getting in players better than we have, without spending millions, is impossible. And please stop going on about the FA cup, what I shame, we've missed out on an extra game against a premier league side that would have likely beaten us, and if they didn't, it would take something very special for us to go any further. Given how competitive this league is, I'd much rather be out of the cup to focus all attention on trying to get out of this league!

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Bob7881 added 18:00 - Jan 23 Wow is there premier league for out singing home fans.
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Tractamatt added 18:00 - Jan 23 Can't comment on the game but we need money invested in defense and in the middle we just have no real creative players other than Sears and fraser but nothing in the middle and our defence in looking leakier every game. This isn't a Mick out post just please spend some money on decent players under the age of 30.
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Westy added 18:01 - Jan 23 Another limp cup exit with no ambition to win created some anger and has left a sour taste and negativity that has carried over.
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StochesStotasBlewe added 18:02 - Jan 23 Loyalblue, no I didn,t & yes I am................If some supporters are happy with lack of ambition, poor football on the whole and eternal championship membership, good for them. Many of us are not. It seems changing the team has had a detrimental effect on results, no surprise there, winning breeds confidence & generally becomes a habit. Timmy, completely agree with your post. The squad needs to be strengthened if we are to keep up near the play off places, though can,t see it happening to be honest. Shame.

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Jimmy86 added 18:04 - Jan 23 Seemingly not many positives can be taken from today and Mick's decision to rest his preferred starting 11 has now not been vindicated, this has put more pressure on Mick in his own words. With Oar leaving too, it's not been a great week for the club. Mick and TC, who have done a great job thus far have secured contract extensions, on the back of last season and I can see why they have been rewarded. This club is now at a real cross roads, show some ambition and make the 2 or 3 quality signings the club needs to really challenge the promotion shake up, regardless of it costs money. Or keep plodding away in the championship, being there or there abouts for the play off places, operating on a cheap budget. I don't think it's all ME not willing to invest, Mick isn't blameless in this policy. Why is he not banging on ME'S door asking for some funds, answer is he is perhaps a little too comfortable with the whole situation. He will be on a nice contract, which has just been extended further and providing he keeps us challenging and competitive, that's all ME probably asks. The style of play isn't great, but was bearable last season, because it achieved relative success. Mick also has his favourites as he pretty much confirmed after pompey. If you're not in his "best 11" you prob won't get much of a chance. Disappointing result, won't miss Douglas that much, who was sent off as a result of letting the ball run away from him, due to a terrible touch. Time the club decides what it really wants. Genuine promotion material or plucky also rans. 1 requires ambition, the other less so

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Wigster added 18:07 - Jan 23 Mick i am still a fan .... Just I went to Man U for the league cup when u rested everyone to lose 3-0 n then gain a 2-2 draw with Bristol City at home after . League more important . History repeats n drop everyone to lose at Portsmouth for what ?? To lose 3-0 at brum. Questioning the logic & I feel sorry for the away fans travelling to these games!! We are not good enough to have squad rotation !!!! . That said lessons learned n moved on MM you are stubborn As . Final push COYB

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Seasider added 18:07 - Jan 23 Positives:-Ryan Fraser;trouble is he is only on loan. Douglas red card,means he will be out for three games,trouble is who is to take his place? MickMac has softened his attitude to signing new players;but says he has Tabby and AMN to call on(Yes he did say that really) Negatives-This defeat means we slip to 8th,this time last year the club were 2nd. More important,our goal difference is so bad compared with other teams at the top,that this makes 1 or 2 places difference. I am not sure quite what Mr Evans is thinking,he must be paying his Manager a good salary,and obviously has confidence in him;but acts as though the club are not ambitious enough to spend any money on transfers despite the club being six places lower than this time last year. It could of course be his Manager who by his utterances gives the impression that he need not strengthen.Are there are no players out there better than Tabby, Coke,Toure,Varney,Alibi,Malarcyk,Henshall and Douglas;not forgetting Cameron Stewart,Mick? Well other clubs seem to finding them,was Jonny Williams not considered,after heaping praise on him previously or are the above dead wood costing so much,our now small club attitude means we cant even afford Loan layers anymore. Makes you wonder if the club does now have enough desire to try a bit harder for promotion this year,or are Messrs Evans and McCarthy happy each year to just be near enough to the top to keep the outside chance of a play off place/promotion dream alive. Time will tell.

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essexbluey added 18:07 - Jan 23 Evans gave mick a new contract so as he believes he is the right man he can give him a few million to spend. Twtd would not let me post my first comment as it said a blanked out word and was offensive! I find it offensive that mick finds the fa cup below him and again that form has followed on into the league.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 18:10 - Jan 23 Would everybody please stop getting sent off, off, off
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essex57 added 18:11 - Jan 23 Boss man as ive said numerous times we should judge at the end of season.
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Bob7881 added 18:11 - Jan 23 Winning breeds winning show me one footballer that dont wanna play every game in a winning team i'l show you a loser. Squad rotation resting players is B@ll#cks any true footballer wants to be on the pitch playing.
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prebsa added 18:14 - Jan 23 Just awful. Good thing we rested our team midweek though. And also good thing we aren't signing anyone because we can't get better than what we have. I recon the teams above us might have something to say about that. Douglous offers our team zero he can't pass forwards and he can't run at all. So him getting sent off will actually break the way for someone who is better suited to football than he is. We need players in January otherwise we will start falling down the table like we did last year. The only difference is it doesn't look like we will have Derby to save us this time!

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tractorboybig added 18:14 - Jan 23 finding our level at last, oar saw the writting on the wall. The thicko's on this site won't.
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BanksterDebtSlave added 18:17 - Jan 23 We didn't play badly today...just one of those days. However if we'd have played our first eleven at Portsmouth we would definitely have won today and on Tuesday!! Seriously........just think a lot of you on here are cheesed off 'cos you got done by Liverpool in extra time!!! x
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TimmyH added 18:22 - Jan 23 I must of received a record -80 odd down marks on the first post on Mick's extension to his contract yesterday and mentioned that our results hadn't 'improved year on year' which I backed up also yesterday statistically. Strangely other than essex57 I don't think I've seen one of them post this evening (so far). Just to remind them Micks win% and points per game has gone down just that notch further and as another poster mentioned we were 2nd this time last season, to those people I say hows the pie tasting?!

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afrodids added 18:25 - Jan 23 maybe mcCarthy doesn't want any money to spend because if he goes out and spends say £5 million on a few players then expectancy goes up not just by fans but by ME. MM perhaps likes the easy life consolidating our position in the championship if we don't go up people will forever say"He's done well with no money" "he's worked well with free's, loans etc", I for one am tired of it , show some bloody ambition. As for hoofball don't even get me started. food for thought.

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grumpyoldman added 18:30 - Jan 23 If the people you hint at are Norwich supporters they would enjoy our team struggling in mid table as we at present are not threat to their claim to be the best team in Anglia. We would all like us above them but playing the style we do with a dinosaur manager it will take a long time to overtake them. I do not like the style we play but will always want us to win

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blue24 added 18:37 - Jan 23 Apologies to the few that anything constructive, positive or just supportive to say (there aren't many) but you lot must be the most negative, boring, predictable bunch of morons since ukip! I hope you all drink in a horrible dark little pub somewhere making each other misrule because sure as f I don't ever want to be stuck in a room with you
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SW1_Blue added 18:43 - Jan 23 Hoof
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