Freddie Sears struck the post and Leon Best and Cole Skuse both had the ball cleared off the line in a frantic final few minutes but Town had to be content with a 0-0 draw with Aston Villa at Portman Road. Until the closing stages it had been a close game of few chances but in the end the Blues were unlucky not to claim all three points.

Freddie Sears and Tom Lawrence replaced Kevin Bru and Conor Grant, who both dropped to the bench, in an otherwise unchanged side. Lawrence started in the hole behind Brett Pitman with Sears on the left.

Villa, who made four changes from the side which drew 1-1 at home to Brentford in midweek, were without striker Ross McCormack, due to a knee problem, while fellow frontman Rudy Gestede also missed out.

Right-back Ritchie De Laet was another absentee as he requires a knee operation, while Aly Cissokho dropped to the bench. Nathan Baker, Leandro Bacuna, Jordan Amivi and Jack Grealish all came into the starting line-up.

Villa started on top and in only the second minute Jordan Amavi sent a dangerous ball from the left across the Blues’ six-yard box but no one was on hand to add a touch.

Town’s first chance came in the fourth minute when Pitman hit a shot from outside the area which Villa keeper Pierluigi Gollini palmed behind.

Lawrence took the resultant corner, which dropped on the edge of the six-yard box but fortunately for the visitors not to a Blue shirt.

However, Villa were looking the more dangerous side in the opening minutes and on 12 Jack Grealish cut in from the left and saw his shot blocked.

On 17 Sears felt he should have been awarded a penalty when challenged on the left of the area, then a minute later the former West Ham man struck a shot from just outside the area but too close to Gollini.

The Blues were beginning to get on top, winning a number of corners and throws on the left.

In the 19th minute Pitman flicked a header on to Lawrence, who had found space in the the area, but Baker got across quickly to block the full debutant’s strike.

Six minutes later Lawrence picked the ball up after a spell of head tennis midway inside the Villa half. The Wales international took it on a couple of paces before hitting a powerful shot not too far past Gollini’s left post.

Villa were forced into a change in the 28th minute when Baker suffered a knock and was replaced by former England man Micah Richards with the visitors moving into a back three.

As half-time approached the Midlanders were having most of the ball but without being able to create an opening with too many crosses from the left hit too long.

On 41 Sears was sent away on the right of the Villa area by Lawrence but hit his shot into the side-netting from a tight angle when he ought to have waited for a team-mate and crossed. A minute later, Sears was again found in a similar area but this time looped his cross deep to no one.

With a couple of minutes of scheduled time remaining Pitman did well to dispossess James Chester in the area and win a corner. Following Lawrence’s flag-kick Ward hit a shot which was blocked, then at the other end Grealish shot wide.

After a minute of added time referee Tony Harrington ended what had been an evenly balanced first half.

Both sides had had spells on top but with neither able to force a serious opportunity to take the lead.

Villa, and Grealish in particularly, had looked dangerous around the Blues’ box but similarly Sears and Lawrence had shown their willingness to shoot in the final third.

Sears sent over a cross from the left four minutes after the restart but too long for Ward.

On 52 Lawrence was booked which the referee indicated was for the latest in a succession of fouls.

Four minutes later Ward won a freekick on the right and Lawrence sent over a ball which flicked off a Villa head before reaching Jonathan Douglas, who was unable to divert goalwards.

There was a big scare for the Blues on 57 when Jordan Ayew latched onto Luke Chambers’s weak backpass and rounded the advancing Bialkowski but Webster got back to slide in and brilliantly take the ball away from the striker.

Teddy Bishop replaced Lawrence a minute later with the loanee applauded off warmly after a very promising first appearance for the Blues at Portman Road.

Almost immediately Bishop was involved in a nasty clash of heads with Ashley Westwood and the pair both required lengthy treatment, the Town sub for a nosebleed, before carrying on.

Grealish cut on from the left and hit a shot which Christophe Berra blocked and Jonas Knudsen turned behind on 67, before Cissokho replaced Amavi for the visitors.

Villa were awarded a freekick on the right not far outside the area on 73 after Berra had tripped Ayew. The initial set piece was cleared by Pitman and Town players blocked three subsequent Villa shots at goal.

Soon after, Jonathan Kodjia was yellow-carded as the Blues prepared to take a freekick, presumably for something he said.

In the 80th minute Pitman smashed a 25-yard freekick straight at the wall, then Berra headed Knudsen’s ball in from the left from a subsequent freekick wide at the far post. Villa switched Bacuna for Albert Adomah for the final eight minutes.

A minute later Bishop found himself some space on the Town right and sent a low ball across the area but behind his team-mates, then at the other end Webster, who put in another impressive display at the back, took the ball off Ayew after he had broken into a dangerous area from the left and looked set to shoot.

As the game moved into its final three minutes Luke Varney replaced Pitman and Leon Best was handed his Town debut in place of Bishop.

The former Newcastle man immediately won a freekick not far outside the area from which the Blues almost took the lead. Sears curled a shot which caught the wall and just flew wide before hitting the stanchion.

From the resultant corner the Blues went close again, Best heading powerfully towards goal and Kodjia nodding off the line and over.

Deep in eight minutes of injury time Varney won another freekick in almost the same spot as the one moments earlier. Again Sears took the kick and this time Gollini impressively got across to his right to paw the ball behind for a corner.

From the resultant flag-kick the Blues went close yet again. The ball reached Skuse on the edge of the area on the right and his chip was nodded off the line by Cissokho.

Unbelievably Town went even closer before the whistle. Sears cutting in from the left and hitting a low shot which struck the post.

The unlucky frontman, who is now without a goal in 34 games, sent over a late freekick but too deep and not long afterwards referee Harrington blew his final whistle.

Town had been very unfortunate not to win it in a frantic end in which the ball was cleared off the line twice, Sears had struck the post and had twice gone close from freekicks.

Prior to the final minutes the half had been much the same as the first with neither keeper particularly busy.

Villa, whose best chance was Ayew’s one-on-one, failed to hit a single shot on target in the entire game.

However, in the end the Villans will have been glad to hear the final whistle while Town will have been confident of winning it had the match lasted a few more minutes.

The Blues are now 11th but only two points behind Brentford and Brighton in fifth and sixth.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas, Lawrence (Bishop 58 (Best 87)), Ward, Sears, Pitman (Varney 87). Unused: Gerken, Kenlock, Bru, Grant.

Aston Villa: Gollina, Bacuna (Adomah 82), Elphick (c), Chester, Baker (Richards 28), Amavi (Cissokho 67), Westwood, Jedinak, Grealish, Ayew, Kodjia. Unused: Bunn, Kozak, Hutton, Gardner. Referee: Tony Harrington (Cleveland). Att: 19,249. (Villa: 1,882).

Photo: TWTD

Superblue95 added 17:12 - Sep 17 Last 4 games: 0-0 1-0 (keeper mistake) 2-1 (all penalties) 1-0 Are we the most dull team in the world? We must be a contender
-24

iaintaylorx added 17:13 - Sep 17 Sounds like we were unlucky but weathered the storm at times and massive credit to Webster who again sounds like he put in a cracking performance!
30

Michael11 added 17:15 - Sep 17 I thought we played very well today. Lawrence looked bright in the first half and Sears seemed to have his mojo back in the 2nd half. We were very unlucky not to score in the last 15-20 minutes. Nice to see us go for the win rather than sit back and play for the 0-0.
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Tractorboy1985 added 17:16 - Sep 17 Got chambers out of a terrible mess with an awful back pass! When we went with 2 up top we looked dangerous and could have won the game! Changes should have been made 15 minutes before to give best and varney 20 minutes! It just won't go in for Sears.. Inside of the post in the last minute! Skuse and Douglas are not my pick for centre mid but if they play and ward one side and Sears/Lawrence the other we have to play 2 up front! Pitman as a lone striker is not the answer especially at home! Came so close at thee end to winning it but a brave manager would have made the changes/started with more of an attacking threat! When u put villa on the ropes they buckle! Saw it week after week last season! With villa dominating so much of the ball prior to our on slaught in the final 5 I think we take a point and move on.. Although we should not accept it as I said with a more attack minded manager this game is one we could have walked away with 3 points! COYB

16

GoldieBlue added 17:19 - Sep 17 Why wait till 85th minute to try and nick a win. Same tactics same old story, and even more frustrating to see how well we can actually play when we attack. Also give Chambers a rest at RB, he become utterly demoralised towards the end.
26

sproughtonblue added 17:21 - Sep 17 Result..ok..Game on a whole certainly wasn't the worst but nor the best, 0-0 fair to both of us.....but sorry to the rose tinted die hard chambers fans he was ruddy awful. very lucky to not have given them the lead with that back pass. Positives was webster ,what a player he will be in a couple of years ,Best and Lawrance look good.Sears played better than of late but still no goals.

16

Currie10 added 17:22 - Sep 17 Defensively we were superb today, stopped Villa doing absolutely anything. Attacking wise, until the subs we were non-existent. Very impressed with Best, deceptively quick and the sooner he's fit to lead the line in place of Pitman the better. No offence meant to Grant but he's not suited to the lone role with no-one anywhere near to him. I think Best could prove a shrewd acquisition. Shame we didn't give it a go until so late in the game.....

7

midastouch added 17:23 - Sep 17 The game was akin to watching paint try until Best and Varney came on at the end. Very exciting end to the game but the first 86 minutes was pretty awful from both sides! Leon Best deserves a start. He looks hungry. Just hasn't quite happened for Pitman. Gutted Sears didn't break his duck this season, he deserved it. And we might of finally found a decent free kick taker in Sears!

10

midastouch added 17:26 - Sep 17 Defensively though we were sound, can't fault them at all from that aspect, it's the other end that is the big concern. Although Best might be able to step up as he looked well up for it at the end of the match. He was very unlucky not to score with his header cleared off the line.
6

obliquewordsmith added 17:26 - Sep 17 Not a fan of Pitman, but I felt sorry for him today being so isolated. Chambers had a shocker... Introducing Best and Varney was a revelation though, an actual strike partnership (though why leave it so late?). Best looks hungry, pacy and strong - a proper striker - he needs to start next match in 442 alongside Varney who I think brings way more to the side than Pitman.

8

SheptonMalletBlue added 17:26 - Sep 17 McCarthy so dull, boring , predictable. Dreadful, dreadful football!!!!
-8

StirlingArcher added 17:28 - Sep 17 We should and could've won that. some dire football all round, but we wore them down and then changed shape for the last ten mins or so and my god we were all over them. I think if we'd changed shape earlier, we wouldn't have had the impact, before that one is hurled. Webster and Sears were brilliant and Sears hasn't been closer to scoring in a long time than he was today however be prepared for reactions akin to if we'd just got spanked 9-0

6

BlueMachines added 17:28 - Sep 17 I really enjoyed that game. We competed well and we even went for it! Unbelievable. Chambers the only weak link today. Much better going forward as a team. The whole atmosphere was enjoyable and every stand got involved at the end. That's what going for it brings. People will want to come back. Even I'm happy with a point. Credit where it's due. I hope that continues game after game.

24

Tractorboy1985 added 17:32 - Sep 17 My post should start.. Webster looks a very promising asset.. Got chambers......
1

cartman1972 added 17:34 - Sep 17 Some amazing comments from people on here, it was a good all round performance, excellent defensively and from that we build, ok best / varney were a little late on but we pushed onwards and against a strong side were the better team. Nowt wrong with the tactics today. Give McCarthy a break.
10

Mick_Mills_Tache added 17:34 - Sep 17 A point against Villa? Can't really grumble about that, I s'pose. I'm sure they'll be up there come the end of the season. Chambers looked like he had a nightmare today. Webster is groing into a fine defender. Pitman looked like he worked hard but he isn't a lone striker. Sears his usual energetic self and I'm sure he'll finally get his goal soon. Lawrence seems a decent acquisition. It's frustrating that we didn't seem to really got for the win until the 90th but hey ho; I don't expect much else from Mick. 4 points from two tough games this week is decent return. Looks like MM is going back to the style of the season before last and keeping the defense tight. Good news as we haven't really got an in-form striker at the mo to out score opponents. Wonder how long Huddersfield can keep this up?

7

TimmyH added 17:42 - Sep 17 Not the first and certainly not the last game at PR you'll find us start to play until the final 10 minutes...it seems to be a bug throughout the Championship mainly through blind panic or teams not asserting themselves until then. Villa looked like a team devoid of confidence...another clean sheet for ourselves which is heartening and as others have said Webster had a good game.

8

blueboy1981 added 17:43 - Sep 17 ........ a point is a point - but lets not conveniently forget that Villa had three of their key players out today. We're just not adventurous, or attack minded enough from the off - after all we were at HOME. People are, and will be, satisfied with this result - but these kind of results (at home) will again see us end up mid table I guess it's all some will continue to expect, and accept. Not for me I'm afraid - simply not good enough.

13

blueboy1981 added 17:47 - Sep 17 ....... until we address the RB position (round peg, round hole) - we will continue to have problems. How many MORE seasons will it take ...... ?? - didn't just happen yesterday ... !!! - or last season ..... !!!
18

finzha added 17:47 - Sep 17 Webster and Sears were standout, in fact everyone had a sound game tbh. Bart didnt have to do anything and how we didn't score in 10 mins off stoppage time I'll never know. Shoutout to Tom Lawrence who looked really dangerous before he came off 👍👍
7

TractorRef added 17:49 - Sep 17 Please, don't let the negatives come out here. This was a great performance against a side, man for man, better than us. Mick got the tacrics spot on. Webster was quality. Be happy. Please
9

BlueMachines added 17:50 - Sep 17 Lawrence's corners need work though. First man on too many occasions.
1

ArnieM added 17:51 - Sep 17 A good point against another team that will be top 6, but given we had 4 cleared off the line and one hit the post, how the hell didn't we will that? ? Chambers was abysmal today, but I don't he was helped by an equally abysmal Ward just in front of him. Neither of them could pass water today. Lawrence is class, and we must try and sign him - he'll not get a look in at Foxes at PL level. Webster just gets better, whilst the much maligned Douglas ws often o the instigator of Town moves, or there breaking up Villas midfield, along with Skuse. I'd be want to see Best up top with Pitman and I'm afraid Sears dropping to the bench.

1

ArnieM added 17:51 - Sep 17 A good point against another team that will be top 6, but given we had 4 cleared off the line and one hit the post, how the hell didn't we will that? ? Chambers was abysmal today, but I don't he was helped by an equally abysmal Ward just in front of him. Neither of them could pass water today. Lawrence is class, and we must try and sign him - he'll not get a look in at Foxes at PL level. Webster just gets better, whilst the much maligned Douglas ws often o the instigator of Town moves, or there breaking up Villas midfield, along with Skuse. I'd be want to see Best up top with Pitman and I'm afraid Sears dropping to the bench.

-3

cats_whiskers added 17:53 - Sep 17 While Lawrence was involved we looked decent going forward, McCarthy replaced him with Bishop in 2nd half and it then went flat until he (Bishop) was subbed with Varney and Best entering the fray. Almost immediately we were transformed into a team, that was to put pressure on the Villa defence and even likely to actually score, if it wasn't for Villa defenders on the line we would have as their goalie was beaten each time. Chambers (Captain Calamity) was the usual liability and nearly contrived to gift them a goal with a weak back pass but fortunately for Ipswich was saved by Webster, who just managing to get his toe to the ball before a Villa forward stabbed it home.

5

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