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

itfcbam added 18:26 - Apr 9 Firstly Hyam should have known better full stop. His fault no one elses. Your payed a lot of money, rightly or wrongly provocation is part and parcel of the modern game, to control yourself, he didn't. Manager makes changes people moan. Starting McGolgrick ahead of Varney, sure MM would've done but Didz is prob only fit enough for 45 mins at mo. Positives Sears (as usual), anything decent we did went through him. Knudsen improving every week. Have feeling that's the last we will see of Maitland- Niles (no great loss as VERY poor today).

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Knightsy added 18:26 - Apr 9 HarryS_H.....we're going backwards with MM. If you want to buy me a season ticket I'll go, that's the only way you will see me at PR whilst MM is there. Poyet + Tarrico for me.
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blueboy1981 added 18:27 - Apr 9 Mystified ........... you ask about a 'Club Plan / Timescale' - it is/ was for the Club's debt to the owner to continuously increase, the Manager to safeguard his income with a contract extension / renewal - and for the paying public to keep quiet, and keep coughing up. Results and entertainment - of totally secondary importance. Seems everything is on course ..... unfortunately.

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blueherts added 18:28 - Apr 9 Well that was as about as bad as it could have got As soon as I saw TWO DMs - why was I not surprised Emmanuel could have played rb and Foley in the middle of midfield But you know what , I actually think some of the players are starting to realise MM does not know how to set up a team to win a game Dids should have started - Varney ! really ? I assume Bish and Bru had injuries / Anyway I am sure we will hear the usual BS from MM I just hope some of the those that still think MM is the man to move us forward after 5 wins in 19 may start rethinking ?

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TractorBoy666 added 18:29 - Apr 9 The sooner this season is over, the better. Another clueless display by McCarthy leaving out our most consistent defender in Smith, and not being able to see the Brentford plan to wind up Hyam to get him sent off. It could well have been more than 3 after they took their foot of the gas and we started to get chances. The problem is these results aren't really attracting Villa to get MM. Brentford are the team who made today's game more watchable being able to pass the ball on the deck making us chase shadows and getting the ball and hoofing it up to nobody. I've had enough of watching this awful style of football. It's all well saying Mick doesn't have funds but he did choose to bring in the journeymen such as Douglas. The squad is aging and needs fresh players introduced. Evans needs to wake up and start investing a bit of cash if he has any interest in the football club or please leave, and please Ian Milne go with him!

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jas0999 added 18:44 - Apr 9 Firstly congratulations to Brentford thoroughly deserved victory. It was actually a pleasure to see a team pass the ball and play some good football at PR. They were the better team throughout even 11 v 11. Clearly this is a very disappointing result, but there can be no excuses. It's a worry looking forward. We have an owner not prepared to invest at the level required, particularly as a number of players are past their best and certainly won't get any better next season. Today, again proved what an average squad we have. The manager must take responsibility for the tactics, selections and to an extent the players signed. However, when you have a very limited budget there is only so much available to you. That doesn't excuse his arrogance of selecting the same old players who perform so badly week in week out. I really don't know where we go from here which is so disappointing. The quality of football/entertainment is woeful. The players on the whole not good enough. The owner lacking ambition and refusing to invest significantly. Not good. Not good at all. In regards to people leaving early and booing ... Well they are entitled to their opinion and perhaps Evans may finally listen.

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itfcbam added 18:51 - Apr 9 Meant to add to the 1st post massive thumbs up to the morons signing after the game that Hyam has done us all a favour!! Really call yourselves supporters gloating that we lost!!!!!!!!
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Fatcatevans added 18:51 - Apr 9 What a shame that an inept individual like Hyam gets picked to play at this level and then breaks the leg of one of the leagues most skilfull players.Sheme on him and the ref for not producing a straight red. And why didn't MM substitute him immediately. It was obvious he wasn't gonna last the full game
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happybeingblue added 18:52 - Apr 9 Hyam let us down today and the game itself was woeful some of the shooting second half when in good positions was abysmal ...truly depressing coming away from portman rd these days ...mass clear out in the summer as we have limited quality in most areas of the pitch, or else we will definetly be fighting relegation next year,how we are still 8th is bonkers :)
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brittaniaman added 18:56 - Apr 9 McCarthy did not look interested today, Glancing at him on the touchline he just stood there with his hands in his pockets. no direction from him whatsoever ??? Have known a time when his arms would have been going round like windmills !! but today he looked a well beaten man ??? Did he put Douglas on to defend a one goal Deficit I ask myself ??? Well MM. your tactics are none !!!!!

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phillo added 19:00 - Apr 9 I said on the chat room today (which was lively!) that my biggest disappointment overall is that my great club which was once just about everyone's favourite "second" team because of its history, style of play, youth policy etc is now beginning to be a "hated" side - seen in the same context as the likes of Millwall, Stoke, Leeds etc. ..... and Hyam's tackle today will not change that ! Negative football, a reputation for being a "physical" side, continual signing of "journeymen" instead of investing in youth (who honestly would have loved to have seen Sam Ford - a young prospect supported by the academy staff as worth a contract but turned down by Mick - given a chance instead of another year of Douglas ...... & who knows what is happening with young Dozzell) & divided fans (apparently fighting in the sands today) ........ what is happening to the club I love. I DON'T blame Evans & investment - think that is a red herring as you can play decent football whatever your budget (look at Portsmouth against us this year !) & much as Mick supporters like to remind us constantly of how Mick saved us when he first came (which is true ........ but 3 years ago now!) Marcus saved us from going bust ...... surely a bigger thing to be thankful for !. I want to see good football with young talented players given a chance (not sent on loan to Accrington Stanley & whilst they are there we get another "journeyman" in who has "experience" so that when they come back there is "no room" in the squad for them & they leave!) ........ even if it means we take a while to get back to challenging for play offs ....... truly I do. I want to enjoy going to PR again, I want to be excited, I want to be that young exciting team that goes well in a cup & everyone talks about ....... not that dour "Mick Mcarthy" side that fights/muscles/kicks its way into the play offs ....... then watches as a classier side outplays us with football ...... I want my club back ...... please do the honourable thing & give it back to me Mick.

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TrueBlue1998 added 19:09 - Apr 9 I'm not one to over-criticise Mick but I thought the line-up was strange today. Dropping a centre half after two clean sheets is strange initially and, despite the hysteria surrounding him, Douglas is a steadying influence and wouldn't have lost his head like that. I think he's got a bit more on the ball than Hyam also.
1

DebenBlue added 19:14 - Apr 9 Time to go MM. You've taken us as far as you can. Thanks for stabilising the club and moving us in the right direction, but please go before you undo your good work. Time for a fresh, bright, new manager to try and push the club forwards.
12

blueboy1981 added 19:22 - Apr 9 phillo - great post - echoes many of our sentiments. I'm sure of that.
6

Geoff added 19:23 - Apr 9 Mick do the honourable thing and go you now look as lost as Douglas,this club is now in free fall with you at the helm. We need a forward thinking young manager with ambition and a new owner who will back him.
3

Dozzells_Bobblehat added 19:27 - Apr 9 Pretty horrendous all-round. No idea why Smith was left out. Berra has been poor for a while now. Hyam should have been sent off for the first tackle, a ridiculous lunge that he didn't need to do. He then shouldnt have reacted knowing he was on a yellow. How people can criticise MM for not substituting him after two minutes i don't know. He's a professional footballer and should know better. The ref then let's an obvious foul on Skuse go and we are one down. Down hill from there. Knudsen, McGoldrick, Varney and Sears ( Feeney whilst on) were the only ones looking interested. Several players need to look at themselves this season, it simply hasn't been good enough. Changes needed in the summer without a doubt.

7

layhamite added 19:34 - Apr 9 took my 8 year old today,i looked at him a couple of times and he wasnt even looking at the pitch,so sad,he was so bored and he loves his footy.this club needs change and now,i will always support the club but the style of play is not acceptable for the money .
13

RegencyBlue added 19:45 - Apr 9 Dozzels Bobblehat Hyam shouldn't have reacted but MM should have seen what was going to happen, like everyone else in the ground did, and substituted him. The fact he didn't was p1ss poor management in my view!
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yorksblue added 19:47 - Apr 9 I'm happy. I've finally got a result on the prediction league
2

blues1 added 19:49 - Apr 9 Prebsa. What are you on about? Knudsen was the only player to come out of this game with any credit whatsoever. Generally defended well, got forward on many occasions, a great piece of play to set up sears near the end which sears spurned. Was a dismal performance. Clearly something is deeply wrong in the club. It's not just McCarthy to blame but he needs to go asap because if things don't change next season we'll be relegated.

5

Gremloid added 19:59 - Apr 9 Well that's the season over and done with. Thanks lads. So glad we didn't take the FA Cup seriously - that really made a difference didn't it?
6

righty added 20:01 - Apr 9 Only one thing to do with this shower get a new manager get some decent players get rid of the garage players this awful manager has brought to the club. Then bring in a manager who plays football the way we all want to see . McCarthy OUT
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phillo added 20:04 - Apr 9 thks blueboy ...... couldn't hold it in anymore :)
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groundhog added 20:07 - Apr 9 This is starting to resemble the last few weeks of jewells tenure. Now just waiting for TC to take a post match interview as apparently mccarthy is watching a video of the latest debacle.
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prebsa added 20:14 - Apr 9 Blues1 my opinion is he was not great. Was so far up the pitch for the first goal that when Skuse lost the ball (I thought it was a foul) that Berra had to come across and cover his position! Also didn't close their guy down quick enough for the cross which lead to the second goal. And then to top it all off a very poor throw to Berra to leave him under a lot of pressure which lead to the third goal. The boy has a lot to learn in my opinion.

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