Ten-man Town fell to a 3-1 home defeat to Brentford as their now all but faded play-off hopes suffered a further setback. After Bees winger Alan Judge had been stretchered off early on with a broken leg, the visitors went ahead through Sam Saunders before the Blues were reduced to 10 men when Luke Hyam - whose challenge had led to Judge's injury - was shown his second yellow card for a clash with Ryan Woods just before-half-time. After the break Lasse Vibe sealed the win for the West Londoners with two quick-fire goals with Liam Feeney netting late consolation for the Blues.

Boss Mick McCarthy made four changes with Feeney, Tommy Smith, Jonathan Douglas and Brett Pitman dropping to the bench and with Hyam, Kevin Foley, Ainsley Maitland-Niles and Luke Varney all starting.

The Blues started in a 4-4-2 system with Foley at right-back and skipper Chambers at the centre of the defence alongside Christophe Berra.

Ben Pringle and Maitland-Niles were out wide in midfield with Cole Skuse and Hyam in the centre and Varney and Freddie Sears up front.

David McGoldrick was again on the bench but there was no place in the 18 for Teddy Bishop, who made his return as a sub against Charlton on Tuesday.

The game started in steady rain and was quickly brought to a halt when Hyam made a strong challenge on Judge, who was close to joining Town in the summer of 2013, leaving the former Blackburn man clearly in a lot of pain and requiring very lengthy treatment on the pitch for a broken leg.

The Blues midfielder looked to have made a genuine challenge and to have won the ball, but his momentum had taken him through the winger.

Hyam was booked with the Brentford players calling for a red, while Judge - who looked to be in the running for a place in the Irish squad for the Euros - was eventually stretchered off to applause from all sections of the ground. Konstantin Kerschbaumer took over in the Bees’ midfield.

Following a freekick after Varney had been somewhat cynically caught by Woods as he broke forward midway inside the Brentford half - far from the only niggly challenge from the visitors - Sears was played in down the right by Foley but Harlee Dean turned the ball behind for a corner.

On the quarter hour, with the game still to settle after the long stoppage, Brentford broke through three on one after Town had surrendered possession on halfway. Vibe found Kerschbaumer but his shot deflected off Berra and into Bartosz Bialkowski’s arms.

The visitors began to get on top but were unable to create an opening until the 29th minute when they scored a controversial opener.

Cole Skuse turned away from Kerschbaumer midway inside the Town half and was tripped by the Austrian. However, referee Phil Gibbs waved away the Blues’ protests and Kerschbaumer brought the ball forward into the right of the area before cutting it back to Sam Saunders, who smashed the it past Bialkowski from 15 yards.

While the Bees may have had the benefit of a poor refereeing decision, they had got themselves on top and had been looking the more likely scorers.

The Blues continued to struggle to make an impact on the game and in the 39th minute the visitors weren’t too far away from a second on the counter-attack, but Sergei Canos, having run from his own half, scuffed his shot wide. Referee Gibbs inexplicably awarded a corner, adding to the frustration of the home support.

On 42 Town created their first significant chance, Sears threading in Maitland-Niles on the left of the area, but the on-loan Arsenal youngster’s shot was too close to Bees’ keeper Button, who saved.

Judge’s treatment led to nine minutes of injury time in which the afternoon got worse for the Blues.

Woods caught Hyam on halfway and the Blues midfielder reacted by shoving the former Shrewsbury man, who pushed him back. Referee Gibbs booked both players and, having yellow-carded Hyam for the challenge on Judge, had no alternative but the show the Town midfielder his red card.

The Brentford players, clearly angered by the challenge which had led to the red card, had continued to bait Hyam throughout the half and it was probably only a matter of time before the midfielder reacted.

Having been reduced to 10 men, Town had their best spell of the game with Knudsen making a couple of strong runs down the left.

Following a corner, the Dane saw a shot blocked, Maitland-Niles crossed back into the box and the ball fell to Pringle, who also saw an effort stopped.

Soon after the referee’s whistle ended a half to forget for the Blues. Brentford had settled better after the early stoppage and were on top when they scored, even if the goal owed much to poor refereeing.

Hyam’s red card was foreseeable and the Town management may well have been planning to take him off at half-time. As it was, the Blues switched Maitland-Niles and Pringle for Jonathan Douglas and David McGoldrick ahead of the second half.

McGoldrick looped an early overhead kick wide, then on 57, as Portman Road found its voice, Sears was sent away on the right but his excellent cross failed to find a team-mate. A minute later, Varney was booked for a mistimed tackle on Woods.

The Blues were getting on top, despite their numerical disadvantage and on the hour Sears sent over another ball from the right, but Maxime Colin cleared ahead of McGoldrick at the far post.

On 62 Varney cut inside past Youann Barbet into the right of the area but lost his footing as he did so, the striker indicating that he hadn’t been fouled.

Play immediately moved to the other end and Canos hit a shot which took a deflection and looped on to the bar, VIbe following up headed on to the roof of the net.

However, the visitors didn’t have to wait too long for a second goal. In the 64th minute Colin crossed from the right and Vibe, ahead of both centre-halves, stooped to head past Bialkowski with Foley appearing to playing him onside.

Four minutes later, it was 3-0. Vibe caught Berra in possession on the right following a Town throw and brought the ball into the area before beating Bialkowski.

Sears saw an effort blocked as the Blues went about trying to get back into a game which was by now realistically out of reach, then at the other end Bialkowski blocked Woods’s long distance effort, then got up to get in the way of Vibe’s follow-up. On 75 Feeney replaced Varney, while Andy Gogia took over from Canos for the Bees.

A minute later, Sears sent over a corner from the left and Chambers’s glancing header bounced across the face and McGoldrick was unable to get an a touch.

Kerschbaumer forced Bialkowski into a save down to his left on 78 having cut into the area.

Town continued to toil and in the 84th minute McGoldrick shot over following a Blues freekick, then a minute later Sears was played in on goal by Knudsen but somehow shot wide when he seemed certain to score.

Feeney shot wide on 87 with the Blues still looking for their first goal since the Blackburn game.

And a minute later it came. Skuse won the ball midway inside the Brentford half and found McGoldrick, who played it to Feeney to his left and the on-loan Bolton man struck a low shot under Button and into the net to claim his first goal for the Blues.

That proved to be the last significant action and boos once again greeted the final whistle at Portman Road, the Blues now having won just once in their last seven games.

After the long early stoppage for Judge’s injury, Brentford settled better and were on top when they scored their first goal which owed much to a poor refereeing decision, although was well taken.

Following Hyam’s red card, which was predictable given the attention paid to him by the Brentford players following the injury to Judge, the Blues were always up against it to get back into the game but made a bright start to the second half, however, the game was killed by Vibe’s two goals.

The win is Brentford’s first ever victory at Portman Road and it’s their first over the Blues anywhere since 1955.

Town, still eighth with five games left to play, would seem to have little hope of making the top six with the gap eight points plus goal difference, although both Sheffield Wednesday, who the Blues travel to face at Hillsborough next Saturday, and Cardiff lost today, while Derby and Birmingham, who are now only a point behind the Blues with a game in hand, both won.

Town: Bialkowski, Foley, Chambers (c), Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Hyam, Pringle (McGoldrick 46), Maitland-Niles (Douglas 46), Sears, Varney (Feeney 75). Subs: Gerken, Smith, Pitman.

Brentford: Button, Colin, Bidwell, Dean, Saunders (Hogan 82), McCormack, Woods, Judge (Kerschbaumer 8), Vibe, Barbet, Canos (Gogia 75). Subs: Bonham, O’Connell, Clarke, Ferry. Referee: Phil Gibbs (West Midlands). Att:18,845 (Brentford: 559).

Photo: Action Images

BoredWithThisNow added 17:25 - Apr 9 Clueless, inept, and embarrassing. Just resign, you archaic waste of space.
25

MicksZzzTactics added 17:27 - Apr 9 Luke Hyam just soooo ooZzzees of footballingSKILL!!! :-) Some will argue that Lucky Luke over-all e is a little LESS-terrible than the other 2 of The Dinosaur's personal pet favorite ever soooo awesome 1-dimensional-without-1-ounce-of-creativity-in them super midfield stallwarts: Skuse and Douglas .... and they might have a point ... but on the other hand he is also now pretty much a proven liability of sorts with his recurring poorly timed and sometimes reckless tackling/challenges!!! Thumbs up to The Dinosaur then for yet ANOTHER game, where him, TC and their Hoof Town boyz CLEARLY took the field .... in another MUST-WIN game .... 97%-hyper-concerned-with-not-losing rather than showing up with anything remotely resembling that "killlaaar let's win this m*****f***" mentally!!! First serious Ipswich chance worth mentioning: 42 minute, repeat 42 minute .... kind of tells it all doesn't i, lol ...... and shortly afterwards Luke "Sorry I just wanna be like Vinnie Jones" Hyam saw RED! End of game, End of story, End of season ..... and by the Voodoo Power bestowed within my 90 old deaf-mute Haitian auntie: THE END OF THE DINOSAUR'S REIGN!!!! So begone Yorkshire Mick, you "sadistic" fan-disrespecting, ultra arrogant, ultra stubborn, inept prehistoric football & football tactic inclined waste of space!

11

Bluetone added 17:28 - Apr 9 McCarthy set your sat-nav for B6 6HE and just drive.
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norfstanda added 17:29 - Apr 9 Lol!! 😁😁😁😂😂😃😃😁😁😅😅😁😁😁
0

TractorCam added 17:30 - Apr 9 Embarrassing all round. Fans in the corner singing "we're f**king bored" Our most consistent defender gets dropped when Berra has been awful Player who is about to be nominated player of season hasn't scored since December and misses a sitter from 8 yards out. Hyam no surprisingly gets booked before some fans have taken their seats and everyone can see he's going to get a red, but remains on Kevin Bru, the only central midfielder who can create anything again is left in the dugouts Shocking but not surprising

41

trueblue16 added 17:30 - Apr 9 McCarthy just go, leave us to rebuild next season with a manager that doesn't make the wrong changes like you do, your time has come McCarthy, Thankyou for saving us from relegation and bringing in a good squad but now your stubbornness has got to the limit where we can't get results, MCARTHY OUT
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EssexTractor added 17:33 - Apr 9 Of all the stubborn decisions ever made by Mr McCarthy today's was the worse. Luke Hyam who only has one style, if style is the right word committed a terrible tackle on Alan Judge. It may not have been with malicious intent but it was hideous. A nine minute break tells us that. Given that is Hyams only purpose, to stop play then at that time he should have been substituted , in his interests, in the interests of his opponents, in the interests of the match. His manager should have done it. He didn't. The aftermath was clear to all. It happened. After much goading of him he lost himself again and a justifiable red card was shown Pitiful player Pitiful manager. No words left to describe the rest of a totally humiliating day for Ipswich Town Football Club

28

Kesgraveblue57 added 17:34 - Apr 9 No need to analyse this game McCarthy should fall on his sword for that is the only honourable thing to do
18

Blue_Again added 17:34 - Apr 9 This year has been an anis horribles
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jpring89 added 17:34 - Apr 9 Such a Sh1te time to be a town fan what a joke we have become over the past few months pathetic.
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Mick_Mills_Tache added 17:34 - Apr 9 Why is McCarthy incapable of setting a team up to win? Yet again, 2 defensive midfielders started. Hyam should've been substituted not long after his first yellow in the opening minutes as he's young, passionate and hot headed. Another failure of Micks to not see this. We're 1-0 down and chasing the game....So what do we do? Take off Pringle and replace him with....yes, that's right, ANOTHER defensive midfielder donkey. Unbelievable. I guess one positive is that there's only 5 more games left of the season and, if there's any justice in the world, 5 more games with the dinosaur in charge.

31

Ruddockclyro added 17:35 - Apr 9 Regardless of today's result I'd like to wish Alan Judge a speedy recovery.
88

Elizabeth added 17:36 - Apr 9 Just gutted .. With others losing could have made for an interesting end of season ! What a shower we've degenerated to! I think Mick has now lost the dressing room , if he ever had it ! Hopefully he'll be offered the Villa job and we can start to rebuild a team that is worthy of the shirt! Get rid of the wasters NOW !!
19

prebsa added 17:38 - Apr 9 Only a short post today. Because words cannot describe what I witnessed today. Hyam we all know can't go a game without getting booked so a red for him is much more likely than anyone else on the field. Again Skuse and Hyam from the CM positions not offering any forward thinking play starving the forwards of any clear cut chances. Couldn't create a chance until 40+ mins which is a disgrace. He changes the line up but not how it should be changed. Still with a one dimensional midfield and Varney ahead of McGoldrick upfront really?! Also what has smith done wrong he has been alright on the wrong side of defence. If I would of dropped anyone it would of been Berra. Knudsen again slow and out of position far to often. Finally I read and heard from people that there were fights umongst our own fans in SBRL if so then this is awful. If this is what has happened to our football club then something has to change. Nearly empty stadium near the end and rightly so. Look forward to seeing what the dinosaur has to say today about that! Only positive I can take from today is Douglas didn't play! Mick leave our club!

19

Mick_Mills_Tache added 17:38 - Apr 9 After McCarthy's praise on Judge the other day (claiming he was ripping it up at the mo), I wouldn't be surprised if he told Hyam to go in hard and give him a kick. But coincidental how it happened in the first 5 minutes to a player who was praised by our manager days beforehand?
-5

muccletonjoe added 17:39 - Apr 9 Hyam shoulhd have been subbed. Luvcky to stay on the field. Mick either dosnt care anymore or has no brain cells left
19

lightingblue added 17:41 - Apr 9 Was at west ham today. What a joy it was to watch a game of entertainment . Cressy was also great. West ham fans were laughing saying about how cheap he was. Couldn't say anything. The only thing they moan about dressy is why has not been or recently not in the England team. Ps. Does anybody want to be reminded about watching premiership football.
4

JimmyP45 added 17:43 - Apr 9 16000 people should be calling for McCarthy to go after this. Big changes needed at the club or its relegation next season!
11

jayitfc_ added 17:44 - Apr 9 Mick has completely lost the plot. First of all, why was Smith dropped? He was a liability last season but this season he has been our best defender by a country mile. After the Hyam's (terrible) challenge on Judge, why wasn't he subbed off? everyone knew he was going to get sent off. Feeney should be starting. He offers a direct threat in attack, which we don't have otherwise. Sears is nowhere near as good as he was last season, but he wants to win, the effort he puts in is fantastic. Worst performance I've seen under the footballing dinosaur. People are still saying he should stay, but after a performance like that, what justifies it? Awful, from start to finish.

17

runaround added 17:45 - Apr 9 I went to the game with low expectations & those proved correct! Brentford were by far better than us in every aspect but that has been the norm against every opposition recently but the team today totally lacking confidence, belief & attacking ambition. Knudsen stood out as by far the best player in the team today. Hyam was stupid & thoroughly deserved his red card, Skuse was awful with the ball & cost us the first goal. Centre halves rubbish. Sears once again making the wrong decision time & time again whilst him missing the sitter late on was symptomatic of a player desperately out of form ruined by being played out of position for too long. The last 10 minutes Didzy had an influence & created chances helped by Brentford stopping defending which saved the team from more stick from the few fans that hadn't left early. Never have I been so bored & down watching ITFC, including the Duncan, McGiven, Keane & Jewell eras when they went bad. The football is awful & there is little forward movement apart from hoofs. Clubs with a lot less than us financially can play passing attacking football but we can't? I hope Mick can turn it around in the summer but shows no sign of that right now & for me it increasingly looks like his time here is nearing an end. Some may say careful what you wish for or without Mick we'd be in a relegation battle....well if we play like this next season we will be anyway! Such a disappointment

25

yungblue added 17:45 - Apr 9 This dinosaur can F*** right off, boring football, new manager with creative ideas needed immediately
7

ivegottheblues added 17:46 - Apr 9 Look on the bright side. This could finally mean the demise of the dinosaur.
15

Steggles added 17:48 - Apr 9 Judge will miss euros because of Hyam. His last chance to experience such a tournament. Wish him well. No team can achieve success through the loan market. Would our season be different if Mick had money? Not sure to be honest. All I know is that next season will be almost impossible for us to go up if we continue our lack of spend. Possibly adding Sunderland and Newcastle won't help!!

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HarryS_H added 17:49 - Apr 9 For me it was a better effort by the lads today, we looked like we had a threat up top and if it wasn't for luke being targeted a couple of mistakes and some poor refereeing decisionso it could have been a better day. I feel that we aren't going to find a better manager than mick, we just need to go for it in the remaining games, see what happens and start preparing for next season. Hopefully with a bit of money. Throwing a hissy fit, leaving early and not buying season tickets is just childish and won't help us sort this out. People are behaving worse than when we were down at the bottom!! We're 8th and the players are getting booed every couple of minutes. Let's get behind that lads and try and move forward as opposed to crying and going backwards!

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superblue70 added 17:49 - Apr 9 Presba, Douglas came on at half time but your right he didn't actually play, just lumbered about the pitch as usual
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