Leon Best’s goal a minute before half-time saw Rotherham United to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at Portman Road. The former Irish international scraped home from close range from a Matt Derbyshire cross, the Millers having caught Town on the break after they had lost possession from a freekick in the visitors’ half.

Boss Mick McCarthy named the same team which beat Blackburn 2-0 on Tuesday with new loan signing Liam Feeney amongst the subs.

Also on the bench were ex-Miller Ben Pringle and Ainsley Maitland-Niles, who came in for the injured Luke Varney, while Michael Crowe took the place of the ill Dean Gerken as the sub keeper.

Rotherham included former Town loanee Paul Green on their bench, while Paddy Kenny, who was on a short-term deal with the Blues last season without making an appearance, was the Millers’ sub keeper.

The Blues created the game’s first opportunity in the fifth minute when skipper Luke Chambers crossed from the right and Freddie Sears, playing on the left of a front three with Daryl Murphy on the right and the more central Brett Pitman dropping deeper, headed over.

Town had the better of the opening quarter of an hour but without threatening again until the 16th minute when, after good work down the left from Jonathan Douglas, Pitman teed up Sears, but his shot failed to test Lee Camp in the Rotherham goal.

On 21 Lee Frecklington claimed he’d been fouled by Douglas as he broke into the area chasing a pass over the top but the former Peterborough man appeared just to have been out-muscled.

A minute later, with the visitors now on top, Richard Smallwood brought the ball in from the left and hit a low shot which Bartosz Bialkowski claimed easily.

In the 37th minute, after Bialkowski had been crowded out as a long throw came in from the right, Frecklington looped the loose ball wide.

Two minutes later, the Blues carved out an opportunity but Camp confidently dealt with Chambers’s shot, to ironic cheers from a section of the Town support in the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

At the other end, Grant Ward struck a deflected effort from the edge of the box which Bialkowski pushed behind to his left.

Rotherham had shaded a not overly engaging half and a minute before the break they went in front.

Following a Town freekick in the Millers’ half, Douglas played a loose pass on halfway and Derbyshire broke away down the right before crossing to the unmarked Best, who turned home before Christophe Berra could get back to intercept.

There was no time for the Blues to hit back before referee Stephen Martin blew his final whistle, signalling boos from a frustrated Town support.

Even before the goal it had been a disappointing half from Town, who after starting positively had allowed the visitors to get on top and on the balance of the half overall they deserved their lead.

Unsurprisingly, the Blues made a switch of personnel at the break with new loan signing Feeney handed his debut and Douglas making way.

Town began the half brightly and soon after the restart Chambers fed Sears on the right of the area and the former Colchester man hit a low shot which was cleared from inside the six-yard box.

The Blues kept up the early pressure, Pitman forcing Camp into a brave save as he sought to latch on to a loose ball in the box.

On 53 Feeney whipped over a cross from the right which Jonas Knudsen headed against a defender and out for a corner. From the flag-kick, the ball reached Chambers but the Town captain was unable to make significant contact with his header. Seconds later, as Rotherham looked to break, Knudsen was booked for a foul on Ward.

In the 57th minute Feeney battled for the ball with Joe Mattock on the right before sending over a cross which Knudsen headed straight at Camp.

As the game moved past the hour, Pitman did well to find Sears on the left as he was fouled by Greg Halford, referee Martin waving play on. Sears took the ball into the area and shot well wide before Halford was yellow-carded for the foul.

Town were still less than convincing with the ball being given away cheaply on too many occasions, while cross after cross was claimed by Camp in the air.

But on 67 Pitman worked himself a chance on the edge of the area and was fouled by Lloyd Doyley as he hit a shot which was deflected wide.

Town’s top scorer took the freekick himself but blazed well over. Three minutes later, ex-Miller Pringle took over from Pitman.

On 74 Kevin Bru replaced Hyam for Town and four minutes later Joe Newell came on for Derbyshire for the Millers.

The Blues continued to make little headway and on 88 Rotherham created their first chance of the half, Halford cutting back to Ward, who screwed his shot wide.

The fourth official’s board indicated an additional four minutes with Town still rarely looking like getting back on terms.

Feeney, the Blues’ main second-half threat, broke away on the left and cut the ball across when he might have shot but won a corner from which Town came as close to a goal as they had all match.

A loose ball fell to Pringle beyond the far post but he hit his shot from a tight angle across the face of goal and wide with none of his team-mates able to add a final touch.

Soon after, the referee blew his whistle signalling boos and chants of ‘What a load of rubbish’ from the home support.

Manager Mick McCarthy immediately made his way down the tunnel, unusually not staying on the pitch to shake his players’ hands along with assistant boss Terry Connor.

As at Cardiff last week, having gone behind, the Blues were huffed and puffed but - after their post-half-time flurry - were devoid of ideas and were unable to seriously threaten Rotherham’s lead, a couple of Feeney crosses aside.

It was as poor a performance as Town have put in at home in what’s generally been a disappointing season at Portman Road.

Given the toughness of the Blues’ remaining away games, missing out on three points from what looked on paper to be a very winnable home match is a significant bow to Town’s up and down play-off aspirations.

Rotherham, now unbeaten in five, winning four, are out of the bottom three and up to 10th.

The result sees the Blues stay eighth but now four points - plus goal difference - from the play-offs ahead of the two-week gap for the international break with Town next in action at Wolves on April 2nd.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Smith, Berra, Skuse, Hyam (Bru 74), Douglas (Feeney 46), Sears, Murphy, Pitman (Pringle 70). Unused: Crowe, Maitland-Niles, Digby, Foley.

Rotherham: Camp, Mattock, Broadfoot (c), Frecklington, Kelly, Halford, G Ward, Derbyshire (Newell 78), Smallwood, Doyley, Best (Clarke-Harris 84). Unused: Kenny, Wood, D Ward, Green, Burke. Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire). Att: 20,318 (Rotherham: 344).

Photo: Action Images

babyblueboy added 21:22 - Mar 19 D
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warktheline added 21:38 - Mar 19 McCarthy and 'club' peaked last season, it isn't going to get any better until major changes are made. McCarthy's initial job was to re-establish Championship football, thereafter I presume it was hoped promotion would occur, on the 'cheap '. His CV suggested this as quite possible, but evidently, he himself ,lacks the confidence in his team of 'cast-off' etc to achieve nothing more than competitiveness in division. At present , the club lacks any kind of direction, the buck always stops at the manager, but there is more to this than that. Let's not forget this manager achieved 'success ' to a point, but at such crossroads 'they sat on their hands '. The point is who are 'they'...McCarthy or Evans, or both? When the big fella moves on , our club will be again be at another crossroads, I sincerely hope the correct turn is made, otherwise we may soon be looking up to the Championship with the odd fond memory!

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blue86 added 21:48 - Mar 19 Didn't go to the game, haven't been to a town game now since pompey at home in the cup, Which was a joke. Sick of the false dawns and boring negative football we play. Thing is will it change next season? .... no it won't! Mick did a great job from saving us from relegation and steadying the ship, but we need a new approach now with fresh ideas. I love the town always will, but I'm staying away until this nightmare ends.

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BlueMachines added 22:00 - Mar 19 I would hate to think that people feel that the booing was due to today's performance. It wasn't. It's just that people have reached their tipping point. The booing is a result of continued poor performances. In fact, I can hardly remember a really good performance from Town. There have been many comments from MM of late that lead me to believe he is a crap manager. But to hint that today might have been due to tiredness was laughable. What game does he watch? We were awful on Tuesday but he thought we would suddenly be decent with the exact same team starting? I hate that fans felt the need to boo but we can't watch this 'football' much longer. I booed MM and I stand by that decision. I feel today could be the beginning of the end. I truly hope the end isn't another 3 years off awful hoofball away, but I guess time will tell.

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BlueMachines added 22:02 - Mar 19 Bohslegend, I am genuinely interested in your thoughts at the current situation?
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Cloddyseedbed added 22:16 - Mar 19 How the hell can MM say the players are tired, we haven't had any cup runs! The result of this game was the result of team selection and tactics. Booing was a reflection of both. MM has really lost his way now. Why are all the interview questions after the game so tame? WE have
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Cloddyseedbed added 22:18 - Mar 19 How the hell can MM say the players are tired, we haven't had any cup runs! The result of this game was the result of team selection and tactics. Booing was a reflection of both. MM has really lost his way now. Why are all the interview questions after the game so tame? We have a good selection of strikers but no midfield to compliment them. Well not on the pitch at the right time. Midfield that were selected to start a disgrace in selection by the manager.

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TimmyH added 22:27 - Mar 19 I remember when the KLF burnt £1Million pounds for 'arts sake' back at the turn of the 90's - I wish I'd done the same to my £30 before travelling up the A12 to that shambolic game, only 10 minutes at the start of the second half did we see any passion or actual attempt to pressure the opposition the rest just ressembled an under 10's game. We're not even any good at set pieces going by the corners and free kicks we had today. Wrong starting midfield today (well done Mick) - not sure where the defence went for their goal and all in all froze my bolloxs off watching dross. Would be embarrassing going up with this manager and the style he plays! (never going to happen though).

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Orraman added 22:29 - Mar 19 Despite the awful quality of the Blackburn match, I was looking forward to today and seeing what Feeney could do for us. I heard the team news while sitting in the car park and was tempted then to start the car and go home. How could the dinosaur pick the same team again. Unbelievable!!!! I remember about 20 - 25 years ago on a horrible cold wet Tuesday night watching us draw 0- 0 with Grimsby in what I have considered up until now the worst game of football I have ever seen. That was until today. A defensive midfield at home to Rotherham??? This was an insult and an affront to all Town fans. If the impact Feeney had at the start of the second half had been there from the beginning we might well have seen a better game and result, but then maybe not as he was starved of the ball not long after he came on. A lot has been said about our poor midfield but the defence must take a great deal of blame as well. Enough has been said about Chambers at RB but Knudsen is well short of what it takes in this division, Berra was at his hoofball worst today and Smith just seemed terrified every time the ball came near him. Hoof, hoof, hoof. I've had my season ticket for 36 years but it will not be renewed until that stubborn, tactically deficient out of time dinosaur McCarthy has left our club. A very sad day today in the history of Ipswich Town FC.

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richard_4_itfc added 23:07 - Mar 19 What a load of rubbish...I am losing the will to support Town. It takes tremendous strength of character to support this awful football constantly from Town, with no sign of any improvement . They are playing rubbish football at the moment and they deserve everything they get... :-(
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del45 added 23:37 - Mar 19 Hope the players read the comments on this site on how the supports feel on their performance at home this season not all the blame on MM when they are on the pitch they should take responsibility they are well paid professionals.
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GiveusaWave added 01:14 - Mar 20 I really do think that's the end of our season. It was a terrible decision to use 3 "grinding" midfielders in the centre. Given the way Foley and Pringle have played recently it's a travesty of justice that they didn't start. Feeney played well it's just a shame he didn't start the game. It's hard to know where to go from here. The hoofball on display is losing so many fans. My two nephews (who both supported Town) have switched their allegiance to Norwich as they "play football". It was gut-wrenching to hear that from them but deep down I understand the disillusionment. We don't entertain. We attempt to stifle the opposition and then just punt aimless balls up the pitch. We do grind out results but it's horrific to watch and I have now had enough of going to live games. It's commentary for me now from now until the end of the season. Honestly, we make the Wimledon of the 80's look like a footballing team. Why on earth did MM leave Foley on the bench? I don't understand it.

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itfchorry added 01:16 - Mar 20 Not interested in the League Cup Not intersted in the FA Cup Not intersted in Promotion Time to go MM
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martleshamitfc added 01:55 - Mar 20 Every fan looked at that team sheet and thought "what the F..." Skuse , Hyam and Douglas , so why would Mick a professional manager pick that team? It is not rocket science! Well angry!
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BrettenhamBlue added 02:24 - Mar 20 Positives Ok defensively. Bialkowski commanded the area and really knows how to direct the defence. Feeney looked impressive in the time he was on the pitch. Same for Bru and Pringle. Sears ran a great deal. Negatives Reaction to HarryS_H not on. We have had a few good results and are in a reasonable league position so to sing "what a load of rubbish" isn't appropriate, and all of the minuses to Harry aren't appropriate either. If we were 3rd from bottom that is understandable. Midfield beyond woeful, no creativity and lacking any imagination. Boring, boring hoofball pretty much from start to finish and team devoid of ideas. Why did Sears spend so much time on the wing when we didn't really need wingers? We may as well have played 4-2-4 if we are going to hoof it continuously. Rotherham dealt easily with our game plan and looked comfortable on the ball. Surely Pringle should have started against his old club? why leave Foley on the bench when he's been our best passer by a considerable distance? Season FiNITO. Mick does need to go. He's done all he can for our club and we need an injection of new blood for next season. The hoofball is beyond boring and makes looking at paint dry seem to be a valid activity. Nobody is going to pay to watch that week in, week out. We will lose an entire generation of supporters if something isn't done.

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clint_eastwood added 05:15 - Mar 20 Marcus Evans you tool! Can we have David Sheepshagger back plz.
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geminimustang added 06:11 - Mar 20 From the comments i read coming from MM,i believe he is expecting the sack or more likely to leave by mutual consent.Prepare for the relegation fight,MM hasn't been given any money.MM must be as frustrated as anybody else.Evans putting in £7M pa just to keep ITFC afloat,that can't continue either.A dose of realism called for,methinks.
1

SpiritOfJohn added 06:43 - Mar 20 We have had the misfortune to witness a brand of anti-football since MM took over, but the team spirit and determination usually shines through the dross on view. Yesterday we lacked technical ability as usual but when this is coupled with a lack of passion and commitment the result is truly embarrassing to behold. Feeney was the only player who looked interested. The rest of them should be forced to watch the whole shambles again today with Mick and TC serving the tea and biscuits.

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Dissboyitfc added 07:32 - Mar 20 Pauljewellisgod...you agree it was woeful and rubbish and you think MM has teken us as far as he can. But you dont think the club should hear of the fans displeasure, what should the fans do? Keep buying the season tickets and applauding what gets witnessed on the pitch? people pay good money hard earned money to support our team. Football players and managers get paid very large amounts of money to entertain and provide excitement. What we witnessed yesterday in terms of football and entertainment really was inappropriate from a team going for promotion so i think the displeasure shown and vented was actually very appropriate, that rubbish must not be allowed to continue. In any other industry people wouldnt keep going back if they are disappointed with the product/service.

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essexbluey added 07:33 - Mar 20 Load's of fan's talking after the game in the pub and 99% said that mick was not the only problem, A lot of fan's are angry with the whole set up. Marcus evan's don't care about ipswich just like the yes men he employs. I also find it strange that liz edward's is in anyway the voice of true fan's when she has split loyalties. The whole club is sick from the top down to the academy,

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Gandj64 added 07:51 - Mar 20 Time for some perspective. I wrote a piece after Tuesday's game. We needed to win 6 from 9. So now we need to win 6 from 8 including tough away games at Derby, Wednesday and Middlesboro. MM has demonstrated both as a player and a long standing and for the most part successful manager that he is HONEST, HARD WORKING, THOUGHTFUL AND A DECENT human being At the end of the season, however it may end, I am sure that mick will do the right thing. there was a suggestion in his press conference that he is well aware of the feelings of the fans on the terraces and in media such as this. Telling the management to go is not the answer. Besides which who could do a better job given the resources? no disrespect to recent signings but we are not even shopping in Aldo but regularly scavenging in the local charity shops? So the best we can ALL do is get behind the team and believe.

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dirtydingusmagee added 08:39 - Mar 20 i really think Mick needs to move on now,however Evans will remain the stumbling block. Any manager that could be available and that has any real desire to succeed would shy away from the job rather than risk their reputation struggling with ITFC budget.I really dont believe ITFC will ever make the Prem under the Marcus Evans banner.The life and soul of the once proud club has been squeezed out of it ,and will continue to drain away unless things change dramatically from the top.Whilst i will always ''follow'' the club,it will no longer be from terraces im afraid..

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sproughtonblue added 08:41 - Mar 20 Gandhi64 Admire your belief /optimism but if we win 6 out of 8 I will personally purchase your season ticket for you.! And agree with Mm,s traits but you forgot to mention stubborn, pigheaded and to an extent arrogant. Let's face facts , season is over and can only hope that we do business in the close season that is required. The foundations are already there with Feeny,Foley,Pringle (if we can keep them) Out with the likes of coke,hyam,douglas. Whatever happened to Yorworth, Emmanuel, Ken lock etc....

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Dissboyitfc added 08:44 - Mar 20 but Gandj64.. mm chose yesterdays starting lining up, that midfield was set up with a view to not losing. Douglas should never have started, he is well past his best and gave away possession far to easily which lead to their goal. He left better players on the bench. He sacrificed the cups for the league. Continually plays his favourites and out of position to shoe horn them in. You say no disrespect to recent signing Foley, Pringle and Feeney have all looked reasonable to me, but he chose to leave them on the bench. Believe in what? For me to believe ( and i think i can speak for others here, based on what is being posted) i need to kid myself. We all want to believe, i once believed in father christmas and the man in the moon! And for a while i thought the moon was made of cheese, these days i know different. I also know that MM wont change and nothing will change with him in charge. And Yes i believe MM is a honest , hard working and a decent Human beingi agree !00%. But sadly they are not the only ingredients required to take us forward.

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grumpyoldman added 09:01 - Mar 20 Some on here say MM has done a great job with the players he has at his disposal and other managers would fail, how do they know this, perhaps using players in their natural position thinking of winning instead of trying not to lose would give a better outcome than MM has achieved. Who can say. As for booing I personally have never done this to an Ipswich player, I may shout comments but have never abused a player. They may not be the best but they are our team, without proper leadership they are on a hiding to nothing

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