Town’s penultimate home game of the season against Fulham remains 0-0 at half-time.

Sixteen-year-old Andre Dozzell was handed his full debut, while Cole Skuse and Brett Pitman returned to the Town line-up and Kevin Bru, Kevin Foley and David McGoldrick dropped to the bench.

The Blues started with Dozzell in a central midfield three ahead of Skuse and Jonathan Douglas, with Liam Feeney on the right Freddie Sears on the left of Pitman up front.

Former Town loanees Richard Stearman and Ryan Tunnicliffe started for the Cottagers at right-back and in midfield respectively.

Neither side threatened in the early stages, although the Blues saw most of the ball. On 12 Dozzell fed Feeney to his right and the on-loan Bolton man sent over a cross towards Pitman, who claimed he was fouled but referee Paul Tierney showed no interest.

A minute later, Sears crossed low from the left to Dozzell, but he was unable to find Douglas with his lay-off.

Fulham subsequently broke down the Town left but Ross McCormack’s cross was too deep and Jonas Knudsen saw it out of play. On 19 Moussa Dembele shot powerfully wide from just outside the Blues area.

Chances continued to be far and few between but on 34 the Cottagers almost went in front. Ex-Blues loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe was played in on goal by Lasse Vigen Christiansen and tried to stab the ball past Bialkowski, who did superbly to get an arm down to his left to divert it wide.

Four minutes later Fulham skipper Scott Parker caught Douglas in possession midway inside the Town half and found Dembele, who took the ball into the area before shooting well over.

Referee Tierney ended what had been a hardly enthralling half after one additional minute.

It had been a 45 minutes typical of an end of season game between two teams with nothing left to play for.

Fulham came closest to scoring when Bialkowski saved from Tunnicliffe, while the Blues had seen a fair amount of the ball but without being able to create any serious opportunities.

Town’s biggest threat had been Feeney crosses from the right but too many of them flew behind.

Full debutant Dozzell, had shown one or two nice touches and had got into the box on a number of occasions as he looked to add to Saturday’s goal at Sheffield Wednesday.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Douglas, Skuse, Dozzell, Feeney, Sears, Pitman. Subs: Gerken, McGoldrick, Bru, Hyam, Kenlock, Digby, Foley.

Fulham: Bettinelli, Stearman, Hutchinson, Burn, Ream, Tunnicliffe, Parker (c), Ince, Christensen, McCormack, Dembele. Subs: Lonergan, Garbutt, Fredericks, Smith, Cairney, Woodrow, Baird. Referee: Paul Tierney (Lancashire).

Photo: Action Images

Surco72 added 21:09 - Apr 19 Poor Mm so desperate to get a goal with Skyse and Douglas on pitch
2

Mick_Mills_Tache added 21:10 - Apr 19 Not surprised we've not had a single shot when we're playing TWO Defensive midfielders again....better still....just gone 1-0 down. Come on then MM lovers....what are your excuses now? (Or should that be exSkuses?)
4

martin587 added 21:12 - Apr 19 This just cannot get any worse.Not one shot on target.This is total cr@p.Worse than watching paint dry,wish I had stayed at home or even work.😡😡😡😡
2

martin587 added 21:15 - Apr 19 I hate to say this must MM just has to walk.we cannot accept this dire football(no cr@p) anymore.😡😡
2

babyblueboy added 21:23 - Apr 19 #and now the end is here we have had the final curtain# Please God let this shxx season be over overhaul the whole club another embarrasment not renewing next season DONE 🐵
3

Bigalhunter added 21:25 - Apr 19 Martin587...are you actually at the game? If you're pretending to be there, you're a complete tool. If you are sending these messages from the game, then you're an even bigger tool.
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blueboy1981 added 21:27 - Apr 19 So glad I couldn't be bothered to go - same old, same old......... boring garbage. Bet there'll be a few more who wish they hadn't bothered either. Loyalty is one thing - but being mugged is another.
4

martin587 added 21:30 - Apr 19 Bigalhunter,yes I'm sitting behind you.😀😀
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midastouch added 21:54 - Apr 19 Sounds like i missed another Mick MuGarthy classic! Really surprised to see ExSkuse hasn't hit the target. If we put the goals either side of the half way line our midfield would be prolific with all their side passing!
2

midastouch added 22:02 - Apr 19 Being mugged would be preferable blueboy, it would be a lot cheaper, quicker and less painful than watching this lot pass it side to side for another season! ExSkuse is pretty useless. He's a division 1 midfielder at best IMO!
3

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