Town were denied what would have been a deserved first away victory of the season at Wolves after Daryl Murphy had a perfectly good first-half goal disallowed, apparently for offside, the game ending 0-0. The Irishman headed home a Grant Ward corner, keeper Bartosz Bialkowski having saved an earlier Jon Dadi Bodvarsson penalty.

Boss Mick McCarthy made two changes to the team which lost 2-0 at Brentford on Saturday with Teddy Bishop and Jonathan Douglas coming into the side for Kevin Bru, who dropped to the bench, and the injured Conor Grant.

The Blues lined-up in a 4-3-3 formation with Freddie Sears and Ward either side of Daryl Murphy up front, while Bishop started in midfield with Cole Skuse and Douglas. Luke Varney was named among the subs for the first time since rejoining the club for a third spell.

Town started slightly nervously with Bialkowski twice scuffing clearances in the opening minute but with the home side unable to profit.

Wolves took the game to the Blues in the early stages but without being able to find a way beyond Town’s well-drilled defence and midfield until the seventh minute when Conor Coady’s ball sent Joe Mason away on the right but the former Cardiff man crossed into an empty box.

Town threatened for the first time two minutes later. After Douglas had won the ball, Bishop’s right-wing cross was cleared back out to Ward, whose lofted ball towards Murphy at the far post was diverted away from the striker by keeper Carl Ikeme’s flick.

The Blues began to see more of the ball and on 14 Ward’s cross from the right found Sears at the near post but Kortney Hause turned the ball out for a corner. Ward’s flag-kick was cleared out to Jonas Knudsen, but the Danish international half-volleyed well wide.

Hause picked up the game’s first yellow card in the 20th minute for tripping Ward after the former Spurs man had neatly spun away from Matt Doherty and was taking the ball away from the former Wycombe Wanderers defender. Ikeme somewhat flapped at Bishop’s freekick under pressure but the ball fell safely for the Midlanders.

The Blues had been on top since the early stages but in the 24th minute Wolves were given a golden chance to go in front from the penalty spot.

Joao Teixeira played Bodvarsson in on the left of the area and Adam Webster rather needlessly slid and sent the Icelander tumbling. There were no protests from the Town players after referee Peter Bankes pointed the spot.

Bodvarsson took the kick himself and hit it low to Bialkowski’s right but the Pole got down quickly to stop it with a strong right hand, much to the relief of Webster.

A Wolves lead would have been harsh on the Blues, who four minutes later thought they had gone in front.

A Knudsen cross from the left was bundled behind ahead of Douglas and, after his first corner had been headed behind, Ward whipped in a ball to Murphy, who flicked a header home.

Just as the Town players started to celebrate, referee Bankes noticed that the linesman had raised his flag and ruled the goal out, presumably for offside as an indirect freekick was awarded.

Blues assistant Terry Connor subsequently spent several minutes in conference with the fourth official, who seemed equally bewildered regarding the decision.

Replays suggested the linesman may have thought Sears had added a final touch after Murphy’s header, however, he didn’t appear to and in any case looked to be onside.

Despite the disappointment, the Blues continued to have the better of the game and in the 36th minute Bishop screwed a shot well wide after a quickly taken freekick on the right, then soon afterwards the 20-year-old made a typically strong run into the area from deep before being crowded out.

As the half moved into injury time former Wolves defender Christophe Berra lost his man as Bishop sent over a freekick from the right but sent his header wide.

Knudsen won a corner on the Blues left just as referee Bankes brought an entertaining half to an end.

Town will be pleased with their 45 minutes’ work but disappointed to have had what looked a perfectly good goal ruled out.

Aside from the first few minutes the Blues had been on top and - other than the penalty which was well saved by Bialkowski - had created all the chances.

Wolves switched Dave Edwards for George Saville at the start of the second half, while Town remained unchanged.

Teixeira shot not too far wide two minutes after the restart after Webster had been caught in possession.

On 55 Bishop was yellow-carded for a mistimed challenge on the Portuguese midfielder, then two minutes later the academy product was replaced by Kevin Bru.

Wolves switched Bodvarsson for Helder Costa in the 65th minute with the Blues shading a half of few chances, while the home fans were becoming increasingly frustrated.

In the 67th minute a long spell of neat and tidy Town possession ended with Knudsen sending over a cross which was just too high for skipper Luke Chambers beyond the far post.

As the match moved into its final 20 minutes, Ward brought the ball forward from deep before hitting a shot which flew wide. Knudsen has his name added to referee Bankes’s book in the 72nd minute for a foul on Teixeira.

From the resultant freekick, a bouncing ball fell to Costa not far outside the area and the sub hit a powerful volley which Bialkowski did well to save across to his left.

Bru shot through to Ikeme after the ball fell to him on the edge of the area on 75 - Town’s first shot on target of the evening - the disallowed goal aside - then Murphy hit an effort on the turn, also straight at the Nigerian international keeper.

Doherty shot wide for the home side in the 79th minute but Town continued to look the more threatening of the two teams.

Three minutes later, Blues skipper Chambers was booked for a foul on Doherty not far outside the area on the left. Douglas blocked Evans’s freekick. With six minutes left on the clock Teixeira was replaced by Jed Wallace, a one-time team-mate of Webster’s at Portsmouth.

With a minute of scheduled time remaining, Ikeme failed to claim a Knudsen throw and Bru hooked goalwards but Danny Batth headed away with Berra looking to add another touch. Seconds later, Bru was somewhat harshly booked when Ikeme kicked the ball straight at him.

In three minutes of injury time Knudsen shot wide from distance, then Varney made his third debut for the club taking over from Sears.

Just before the final whistle Berra was more understandably booked for impeding the keeper as he sought to get rid of the ball quickly.

A 0-0 draw of the more entertaining variety - the second successive stalemate between the teams at Molineux - with Town certainly the better of the two teams having put in their best - and most stylish - display of the season.

A point would have been welcome at the start of the game but after the performance and particularly the disallowed goal the Blues will return to Suffolk disappointed that they hadn’t claimed all three.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Bishop (Bru 57), Ward, Sears (Varney 90), Murphy. Unused: Gerken, Smith, Emmanuel, Kenlock, Dozzell.

Wolves: Ikeme, Iorfa, Batth (c), Hause, Doherty, Coady, Edwards (Saville 46), Evans, Mason, Bodvarsson (Costa 65), Teixeira (Wallace 86). Unused: Lonergan, Henry, Price, Deslandes. Referee: Peter Bankes (Liverpool). Att: 19,991.

Photo: TWTD

GerkensBeard added 22:39 - Aug 16 Also Douglas is NOT a defensive midfielder. He likes to get into the box as I saw at Stevenage he was constantly trying to get in there. He got us a couple of key goals last season from doing it. 8 for Brentford the season before. Reason he was so poor last season was he was asked to do a defensive job. He is the right player for this Sunday to play in the role he played in tonight. Offering protection but a license to get forward. He's also aggressive. Loves a challenge and is very strong. But as soon as Conor Grant returns I'd love to see him play there. You saw at Brentford and Barnsley his ideal role is LCM. Has an eye for goal. Creative. Skillful. And with skuse and Bishop that is a very competitive 4-3-3

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Penguinblue added 22:53 - Aug 16 Think I had my post 'time is up - McCarthy out - taken down earlier, but my view remains. I agree with posters who think our expectations should be higher than a 0-0 draw even though McCarthyis probably pleasuring himself over it
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bohslegend added 23:02 - Aug 16 What makes anyone think we should be able to roll over a club like Wolves? Arguably a bigger club than ours. But most likely the same size and same potential. A 0-0 away to them, by the sounds of it a clear goal disallowed and overall a much improved performance. But no, to some of the usual "Realists" if we don't all believe that we are on a par with Barcelona and Real Madrid then we lack ambition. I'll take small improvements week on week if that's okay. We have no God given right to victory in any game, regardless of manager, players, owners, anyone. And whether you choose to ignore it yet again, this league is a swamp. It sucks big clubs into it and doesn't let them out, even if they spend money. Ask Fulham. Ask Derby. Ask Newcastle. This fantasy world that some refuse to let go of is actually counter-productive to the team doing well and getting out of this poxy division.

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BlueMachines added 23:23 - Aug 16 ^Only comments when we don't lose.... ^
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runningout added 23:39 - Aug 16 Can't believe those satisfied with a point.. We are better than this
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bohslegend added 23:41 - Aug 16 BlueMachines only comments when he's criticising someone.
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GiveusaWave added 23:47 - Aug 16 Didn't expect this, so happy with a point against Wolves. Miracles by Bart yet again.
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Theipswich added 00:22 - Aug 17 Well done to the players. After what the score was Saturday i am very proud of what happened today. The only thing that I would want to change about the club is the style of football. Ipswich always had the history of being a small town club but with a great fan base and a amazing football style of play. The fan base is always amazing but the style of football has downgraded. But we are a great team. COYB

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MickMillsTash added 01:00 - Aug 17 We were the better team but our keeper made the best 2 saves Ipswich played well but final ball is not good enough- Sears, Knudsen and of course Chambers. Neither team looked like scoring despite our possesion. Something to build on but if Norwich are more adventurous than Wolves you sense they will score Ward looked knackered in the second half, Webster tidy- finding his feet, Scuse good, Ward good first half, Murphy needs help. Bishop used the space that he found in the middle. Sears tidy but out of possession on the left and would be dropped if there was anyone to come in for him. The bench looked so weak.

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superblue70 added 01:35 - Aug 17 Just home from match and must admit I wasn't expecting much, but i thought we played very well and deserved more than we got, back 4 solid midfield very mobile surprisingly, only disappointment was attack never really looked like causing to many problems to an average defence , really think that's the area that needs strenghtening most, missed mcgoldrick tonight but enjoyed my first away match in over a year.

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mos added 02:20 - Aug 17 Sorry braveblue, you're completely wrong. How does a score line decide people's opinions on a player. It was a nil nil, and normally I say Douglas isn't great. But he played well today, he made a few tackles and passed it. Didn't put a foot wrong, he has some things to work on, but I was happy with him. Not because we didn't lose, because hell, we've won before and after I have been saying "Yeah Douglas, he is useless". You can't go about saying everyone who thought Douglas did OK/good has their opinion based off the result. That's completely wrong.

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BlueMachines added 06:16 - Aug 17 Completely unfounded Bohslegend. The facts speak for themselves. See first page for evidence. I stand by my second comment. Your opinions are completely unfounded, you never go to go games, you don't see what we have to watch every game, you have no first hand experience of the games to base your opinion on. You never come on and mention the teams performance, good or bad, yet you are on here criticising those that do voice an opinion. The irony in your second comment is quite something.

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BlueMachines added 06:17 - Aug 17 PS. We would all take small improvements every week. They just need to start being evident soon. It's been 3 years now.
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Keaneish added 06:29 - Aug 17 Really Bohslegend? McCarthy is in his fifth season and you're happy to look for 'small improvements'. Why?
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battyblue added 06:41 - Aug 17 Decent away point well done to the players for stepping up to the challenge playing Bishop and Douglas in there preferred roles obviously helped,well done to Bart outstanding from what i have hered,still not convinced with McCarthys style,and expect we will be playing for a dull 0-0 on Sunday and hoping to nick a goal as per usual.
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Dissboyitfc added 07:39 - Aug 17 bobslegend.. we will all take slow week on week improvement, wouldnt we but that is not happening. we have stagnated and are going backwards!
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humberblue added 08:00 - Aug 17 A good performance but the lack of goals is still a worry. I do think we should be able to make much more of Knudsen's impressive long throws. Not one chance has come from them that I can recall?. Will we beat Norwich, I doubt it but a draw and another performance like last night wouldn't be bad at all I don't think.
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Gooders7592 added 08:49 - Aug 17 Unfortunately we don't have the correct wide players to play 4-4-2. A mixture of hard work & quality is hard to come by without spending money. We should stick to 3 in the middle and give Ward & Sears more freedom out wide, further up the pitch. COYB!
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babyblueboy added 09:15 - Aug 17 Clean sheet away ok but where are the goals going to come from will need at least 2 on Sunday or more humiliation at the hands/feet of the Norfolk scummers dreading Sunday !!!
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Currie10 added 09:24 - Aug 17 Much much better. Skuse/ Webster were unreal. Berra back to his best. Douglas was very decent out of possession. Lack of creativity but nice to see Bishop back. Ward v good too.
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blueherts added 09:29 - Aug 17 We went backwards last season This season we have added threedecent players Ward, Webster and Grant ( albeit loanee) We must buy a RIGHT BACK and a STRIKER - or we do stand no chance of progressing Our young players coming through , IMO are most exciting we have had in YEARS Bish , I hope he stays fit , is best we have had for many many years I would personally like to see Morris on the bench on Sunday Young exciting player - Face it he cant score or create less than Sears and Murph at the moment - Him and Dozzer wold be great to bring on . We need goals from somewhere up front and Sears is a worry Love his workrate but needs to find the net - playing down the middle may help !! Looking fwd to Sunday and I actually think we can have em

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shortmarine1969 added 09:41 - Aug 17 Douglas was decent..!! whoppee bloody do.! the guy has a "decent" game and he is suddenly good ?? what about the other 30 odd where he has been dire..Douglas is not the answer to any problem Town have. The disallowed goal aside we still only had 3 shots on target.! We lack a real cutting edge and no amount of nice play in the middle of the park will wins games. Both MM and ME have a lot to do before we can actually challange , top 6 ?? very , very doubtful.

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Facefacts added 10:07 - Aug 17 One look on Sky Sports News last night straight after the game - not a penalty, and a perfectly good goal. Well played to team, coaches and supporters who went to the game.
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Razor added 10:38 - Aug 17 I thought Ward was a wide player? I fear for Sunday.
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pup12 added 11:25 - Aug 17 Well I was right we didn't score but at least we didn't concede .Great away point the word there is AWAY!we are at home Sunday against are biggest rivals lets hope MM is goi g to keep same starting 11.Skluse/Douglas in the middle at home would be a massive step backwards.We have to make Scum worry about us not us hanging in there from the start hoping to nick a point.Please MM start vei g a proactive manager rather than a reactive manager.Play round pegs in round holes too please.Not losing last night was very important too tho lest pick up 3 much needed points Sunday in a much over due win against those yellow things from up the road .COYB

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