Freddie Sears drops to the bench as one of three changes to the Blues’ side facing Brighton at Portman Road this evening with Adam Webster and Brett Pitman out injured.

Kevin Bru comes into what looks like a central midfield three with Tom Lawrence likely to start on the left and Grant Ward on the right. Leon Best makes his first start for the Blues as the central striker.

Sears, whose goal drought has now stretched to 35 games, had been nursing a tight groin in the wake of the Leeds match.

Josh Emmanuel is at right-back with skipper Luke Chambers at the centre of the defence alongside Christophe Berra.

Brighton are without the suspended Gaetan Bong and Sebastien Pocognoli comes in at left-back. Oliver Norwood replaces the injured Beram Kayal in midfield.

Town: Bialkowski, Emmanuel, Chambers (c), Berra, Skuse, Douglas, Bru, Ward, Lawrence, Best. Subs: Gerken, Kenlock, Digby, Bishop, Grant, Dozzell, Sears.

Brighton: Stockdale, Bruno (c), Dunk, Duffy, Pocognoli, Knockaert, Norwood, Stephens, Skalak, Murray, Hemed. Subs: Maenpaa, Hunt, Goldson,Sidwell, Murphy, Baldock, Manu. Referee: Andy Davies (Hampshire).

Photo: TWTD

itfc4e added 19:10 - Sep 27 Are we only playing with 10 men??
0

floridaboy added 19:11 - Sep 27 Really hope I am wrong but can see a bit of hammering tonight But maybe someone is smiling on the team and we can scrape something from the game. Need a boost from somewhere!!
1

Terry_Nutkins added 19:13 - Sep 27 Given the amount of injuries we have you would have to say thats still a decent bench with some game changers! If we can hit a bit of form with the players to come back i still think we can do something in this division. Tough ask tonight though.
-2

TractorBeezer added 19:13 - Sep 27 Knudsen?
2

Blue_Meanie added 19:15 - Sep 27 Skuse, Douglas & Bru...........FFS try something different.
13

jas0999 added 19:17 - Sep 27 Gutted because due to work commitments I can't make the game. However, this is good for ITFC as they are bound to win! We are at home, should attack, with sole intent to win the match.
1

Surco72 added 19:19 - Sep 27 Exactly Blue Meanie ... That pair or trio have been given repeated games without performing over last two seasons , at the end of last year MM blamed injuries to creative players !! What do Bishop ,Dozzell and Sears have to do to get a start in there proper positions in a team not even getting shots on target let alone goals
2

prebbs007 added 19:21 - Sep 27 So still mr slow skuse mr slow Bru and mr slower Douglas. Oh dear dinosaur. Still blind to the reasons why we are soooo sh1te !!! Conor Grant gets new long term contract at a club in top 5 of premier league and he still can't get in team in front of those 3. McCarthy you're an absolute joke man !!!!!!!!!!!!
7

northstand78 added 19:22 - Sep 27 Skuse and Douglas at home.....really inspiring...MM going for the draw and hoping to nick a win...Christ what is happening...
6

HackneyBlue added 19:23 - Sep 27 BORING
2

Esteemed_Canon added 19:23 - Sep 27 We are playing with nine men no Knudsen and Kevin Bru who's basically like having one man less
0

jollyroger added 19:27 - Sep 27 Only 10 men ? We will struggle to win with 11
1

tractorboybig added 19:33 - Sep 27 What, resigned to boredom at home, before we even start. Joke selection me's fear.
1

Sixto6 added 19:38 - Sep 27 I know Mick would bite your hand off for a point away every time ! Looks like that's all he's after at home as well !!
4

Mick_Mills_Tache added 19:43 - Sep 27 Skuse, Douglas and Bru again. How many more games does the dinosaur need to play that trio before he realises that they just don't work and offers us nothing. I can see it now come the end of the season....McCarthy - "We were lacking that creativity in the centre of the park"....despite having Grant, Bishop and Dozzell all fit now and Williams and sick note (Didz) coming back in a few weeks and one of them will get a look in.

4

Pip50 added 19:45 - Sep 27 Can't blame a few injuries he was leaving these guys out a game or two ago. I'm torn wanting to mug them yet pathetically hope we get stuffed so Mick moves closer to the door.
6

cornishblu added 19:46 - Sep 27 ....just sadly proves once again MM has no plan b ..,Sears was "excellent according to a report earlier on last week ...and he gets dropped and we keep a midfield three that not one supporter agrees is the right combination ......Know that will get me marked down but when is he going to learn COYB
8

jeera added 20:52 - Sep 27 Piece says Sears has been nursing a strain, and we know he's not been confident, so understandably gets a back seat. Ward is back, Lawrence and Best are starting, as is Emmanuel in That Right Back position and some of you are still whining, saying it's 'same old' when it clearly isn't.
1

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