Luke Varney netted an equaliser just after half-time as Town drew 1-1 at home to Cardiff City, who had central defender Sol Bamba sent off for abuse towards the fourth official during a bizarre second-half temper tantrum. Aron Gunnarsson put the visitors ahead following a Bartosz Bialkowski error in the 38th minute, Varney levelled on 52 but despite the one-man advantage the Blues were unable to find a winner.

Town boss Mick McCarthy named an unchanged side, while Teddy Bishop and Brett Pitman, for the first time since suffering an ankle injury at the end of September, returned to the bench for Myles Kenlock and Leon Best.

Former England striker Rickie Lambert was back in the Cardiff side after missing last week’s 0-0 draw with Brighton through injury, while Lee Peltier returned at left-back after a one-match ban.

In steady, persistent rain and in a slippery conditions, Cardiff started the game brightly and went within a whisker of going in front in the fourth minute when Icelandic midfielder Gunnarsson crashed a 25-yard volley against the outside of Bartosz Bialkowski’s left post from a headed Luke Varney clearance.

Moments later, Bluebirds keeper Ben Amos failed to deal with a Tom Lawrence cross from the left when he punched the wet ball with little confidence, but rather fortunately it ran out to the right flank rather than falling for a Town player in the box.

Having started slowly the Blues began to get on top with visitors’ keeper Amos having another wobbly moment in the ninth minute.

After Lawrence had made a tricky run into the area on the left, Jonas Knudsen crossed to the far post and skipper Luke Chambers, whose header ought to have been claimed comfortably by Amos.

However, the former Manchester United man somehow allowed it to squirm from his grasp to Lawrence 12 yards out, but the former Cardiff loanee’s first-time effort at goal was blocked by the on-loan Bolton keeper as he chased after the loose ball.

The Blues threatened again two minutes later when Lawrence sent over another ball from the left towards Chambers but Joe Bennett got ahead of the Town captain to nod behind.

On 24 Town keeper Bialkowski was twice forced into action as the impetus moved back towards Cardiff. First Gunnarsson hit a powerful shot into the ground from a tight angle on the right, which the Pole pushed away out to the left.

The loose ball was collected by Junior Hoilett, who whipped over a cross, which Bialkowski bravely punched away before being clattered by Lambert.

Four minutes later Matthew Connolly picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Jonathan Douglas.

Just before the half hour, after Cardiff had counter-attacked quickly following another impressive Lawrence run down the left, Christophe Berra made a fine challenge on Bennett on the edge of the area as he prepared to shoot. The loose ball fell for Gunnarsson, who smashed his latest effort well back into the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

Amos had had a difficult first half hour in difficult conditions for keepers but on 33 he confidently claimed David McGoldrick’s well-struck effort from 25 hards down to his left.

Moments later, the Republic of Ireland international, who was starting to become more influential, hit a dipping effort from a similar distance which sent Amos scrambling across his goal before watching it fly past his left post. On 37 Lawrence was booked for a foul on Bennett.

While Cardiff keeper Amos had had the tougher half due to the conditions, it was Town keeper Bialkowski whose error led to the game’s opening goal.

Peter Whittingham sent over a corner from the right, Bialkowski looked to catch but dropped it and Gunnarsson slammed into the roof of the net from close range.

An Adam Webster error saw the Blues put themselves back under pressure almost immediately after the kick-off, the visitors winning another corner from which Bialkowski punched without getting any distance but fortunately without it leading to another Cardiff opportunity.

In injury time, a long spell of Town passing ended with Lawrence playing in McGoldrick but a defender just took the ball away from the Blues’ number 10 as he was about to shoot.

Town were continuing to press - Douglas feeling he had been fouled in the area as a final moments corner was sent across - as referee James Adcock blew his whistle for half-time.

As was the case at Bristol City last week, Town found themselves behind in a game which had had little in it and the scoreline was harsh on the balance of the half.

After the early stages the Blues had had most of the ball, but prior to the goal - Cardiff making the most of Bialkowski’s error whereas Town hadn’t been able to profit from Amos’s earlier slips - the visitors had created the better of the game’s opportunities.

Seven minutes after the restart, Town got back on terms. Following a corner on the right. Lawrence brought the ball into the area on the right, fed Webster to his right and the centre-half - by now wearing a bandage on his head - cut back to Varney, who slammed home off Gunnarsson before celebrating with the Blues bench.

Lawrence had proved a big threat down the left all game against his former loan side and on 54 claimed a penalty when he was left grounded as he sought to take the ball past Bluebirds skipper Sean Morrison. Despite loud appeals from the crowd it looked to have been a shoulder to shoulder challenge.

On 56 Cardiff manager Neil Warnock made a double change with Craig Noone and Anthony Pilkington replacing Joe Bennett and Kadeem Harris.

Lawrence continued to be a thorn in Cardiff’s side and on the hour the on-loan Leicester man cut the ball to Grant Ward, who hit a powerful shot past Amos’s right post.

It was Varney’s turn to appeal for a penalty in the 66th minute when he and Morrison both ended up on the ground as the collided as they chased a ball into the area. Again referee Adcock wasn’t interested, almost certainly correctly.

With 20 minutes remaining Cardiff were reduced to 10 men in bizarre circumstances. After receiving treatment following a challenge by Douglas - which hadn’t led to a freekick, the referee having wave play on - Bluebirds defender Bamba shoved his physio to the ground and marched towards the referee and Douglas, pointing his finger angrily at the Town midfielder.

The former Leeds man eventually made his way towards the touchline before turning his tirade towards fourth official Charles Breakspear, indicating that he had been caught by a high boot. Cardiff boss Warnock tried to haul his player away and as the pair grappled on the touchline referee Adcock pulled out his red card.

The Ivory Coast international was eventually persuaded to make his way along the touchline and down the tunnel.

Before play restarted Town switched Varney and Ward for Pitman and Freddie Sears, then Cardiff swapped Lambert for Bruno Manga, a centre-half to replace the dismissed Bamba.

Who's next?! 😡 Sol Bamba takes on the officials and his own manager as he loses his head and earns himself a red card. pic.twitter.com/nd8oY1YAeo– Football On 5 (@FootballOn5) December 10, 2016

On 80, with the Blues having been unable to make their additional man count, Bishop took over from Douglas, who made his way off to cheers from some sections of the Town support and applause from others.

Bishop made a driving run towards the edge of the area in the 86th minute and was fouled, but McGoldrick’s freekick curled well over.

The game entered five minutes of injury time with Peltier the latest in a series of Cardiff players to spend time on the ground, in his case following what looked to have been an innocuous clash with Sears.

Whittingham saw a freekick deflect over after Chambers had been cautioned for the foul which led to it, then Hoilett joined him in the book for wasting time ahead of the corner.

In the aftermath of the corner, Whittingham crossed from the right, Morrison headed goalwards and Bialkowski saved. From the subsequent throw-in on the left Berra blocked from Manga with Cardiff putting the Blues under pressure rather than the other way around in the closing stages.

Moments before the final whistle and the now familiar loud boos from the home support, Noone shot only a few feet wide for the visitors.

Having got on terms the Blues were on top and were creating opportunities regularly if not frequently up to the red card.

After the dismissal, as strange a red card as you’ll see, the Blues never built up any momentum and in the end it was Cardiff pressing for a winning goal rather than the Blues.

As has often been the case in recent weeks, the Blues put in a decent enough performance overall but without creating enough at one end, while conceding a goal caused by an individual error at the other.

The result sees Town, who have now won two of their last eight at home, drop to 17th ahead of Tuesday’s trip to Birmingham, who are seventh following a 4-0 defeat at Newcastle, and a visit to second-bottom Wigan next Saturday.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra, Knudsen, Skuse, Douglas (Bishop 79), Ward (Sears 71), Lawrence, McGoldrick, Varney (Pitman 71). Unused: Gerken, Emmanuel, Bru, Williams.

Cardiff: Amos, Peltier, Morrison (c), Bamba, Connolly, Bennett (Pilkington 56), Gunnarsson, Harris (Noone 56), Whittingham, Hoilett, Lambert (Manga 73). Unused: Wilson, Ralls, Richardson, Zohore. Referee: James Adcock (Nottinghamshire). Att:15,042 (Cardiff: 246).

Photo: TWTD

blueboy1981 added 18:02 - Dec 10 Michael will be content - no such thing as a bad point in his book. God Save Our Club ....... we are in dire need.
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marco007 added 18:03 - Dec 10 Yes agreed, that was completely awful and as a spectacle utter garbage. I keep hearing that we should be grateful for what we have but the reality is that the team are on a downward spiral and the crowd are becoming increasingly disillusioned with such inept and dull displays. As soon as you see Chambers, Knudsen, Skuglas etc you just know it's going to be another poor day. This club has a positive youth policy, we produce good players that play a technical and entertaining game. The reality is that there is a huge disparity with the way our first team plays as directed by MM. Unless we have a consistent footballing philosophy like Southampton, Bournemouth etc that runs through all age levels the step up will always be disjointed and non productive. We cannot continue along our current path :(

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Elizabeth added 18:03 - Dec 10 There needs to be radical changes made at this club ! It beggars belief that a player of Jonny Williams calibre is on the bench when the same old faces are selected ! This should have been a nailed on home win ! I have supported this club since 1970 and my patience and interest is now wearing very thin . I am privileged to have seen the very best here .. This is beyond a joke We desperately need a dynamic manager with new ideas because our position could be precarious if this continues !

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superblue70 added 18:04 - Dec 10 Chrishants It's probably swn98 oh hang on no he would have been in Barnsley at the time
4

tractorshark added 18:05 - Dec 10 Not defending today's result or any other naff ones in the past but when people rant about wanting their club back, well, put up the cash and Mr Evans will grant your wish. This isn't a pro-Evans, pro-McCarthy post but both of them saved this club from plummeting into the lower leagues. McCarthy may have reached his sell-by date and Evans has made countless mistakes. But he's the one bankrolling the club to the tune of £8m a year. When people call for him to go, that's fine but who will take it on? You? It will be easier to replace McCarthy than Evans.

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Taricco_Fan added 18:06 - Dec 10 @wayway I comprehended the sarcasm. "Be careful what you wish for"....do Town fans really believe McCarthy can turn this ship around? I for one want a change and have done for well over a year.
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dirtydingusmagee added 18:06 - Dec 10 another poor result against a lower team [yes there are still a few below us surprisingly] Mick must go ,he is a spent force.Evans should go too. ITFC is being systematically suffocated under both owner and manager.I wont slag the supporters off that dont agree ,but their numbers must surely be diminishing now.
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blueboy1981 added 18:07 - Dec 10 .......... way, way past a joke now. And some will continue to say 'be careful what you wish for' ........... could we really end up with worse than this ...... ?? ....... extremely doubtful, unless we were to bring Jewell back in, currently one step up from him - BIG DEAL.
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d0nk added 18:08 - Dec 10 Pitch invasion required, I say carry him out of portman road ourselves. YOU ARE NOT WANTED HERE MICK!!
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BillBlue added 18:15 - Dec 10 bressinghamblue - Good idea, I tested the address and it worked so my email, probably the first of many from me, has gone. Come on you guys who are fed up, let's get cracking!
14

therein61 added 18:16 - Dec 10 Our great club is now an absolute farce!!!!! how can a fully fit Welsh international who had a damn good euro's be left on the bench when Skuse and Douglas are on the park!!?? along with all the other shoe ins, the big man states that he is doing a good job under constraints(what are they then we supporters who pay your lucrative salary to fail us need to know!!??) the only constraint I see is your total and utter failure to produce a winning team there are players in the club who would do a lot better than your mates Mick but of course you won' put them in because that would mean you have to admit you are wrong!!(but that is a word that is not in the Yorkshire dictionary) please just go and stop wrecking our club!!! enjoy your pint that I've paid for tonight because I'm damn sure I won't enjoy mine!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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Pencilpete added 18:16 - Dec 10 I'm a Season ticket holder and you may remember I defended MM earlier in the season. But i haven't been to the last 4 matches, i don't want to and i couldn't give a toss that we scraped another draw at home to a side in the bottom 3 .... this team has had way way too many bad performances at home in 2016, it happens far too often for it to be continually labelled as 'a bad day at the office' Last season a Play Off place was there for the taking but we dropped so many points with drab, pathetic, limp home performances in the second half of last season i have literally lost count of them. here's the problem, while ITFC ticks over and lines Evans pockets with a good transfer fee once a year he is happy, had deluded himself that MM is some kind of managerial genius and doesn't question him and i genuinely think he believes we are doing well. Mick won't quit and if you believe the EADT is one of the best paid managers in the division ... so why would he ? and there are enough blindly loyal fans who will go regardless of what is being served up on a Saturday afternoon to keep season ticket sales just about ok. so expect this to continue for the long term

16

Surco72 added 18:23 - Dec 10 Another great point well done MM , great team selection really looking towards the future but don't panic because it will all change when the creative players are fit like Williams and Bishop and Dozzell ??? Come on MM fans what's your excuses for another negative selection of MMs favourites against a bottom 3 side , he has completely run out of ideas but is far to arrogant to resign even though we are heading for a dog fight at the wrong end of the table

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heathen66 added 18:27 - Dec 10 Apologies for pinching this from the excellent blog, but was so apt for today On the first day of Christmas McCarthy gave to me A point when we should have had three.
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grubbyoik added 18:28 - Dec 10 The club doesn't listen to our boos.. it doesn't listen to are chanting.. it thinks it's ok that our fans argue and fight each other in the stands.. it thinks it's right that our manager pats himself on the back.. it doesn't seem to be bothered that our attendances are down to 15000.. and when we look for direction and leadership we have an owner who says nothing and does nothing.. You Should be a very proud man Mr Evans.. let me pat you on your spineless back!

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heathen66 added 18:40 - Dec 10 In all honesty I think we played a bit better today, but without ever really threatening, in fact if it was not for Bialkowski we may not have gotten anything from the game. Questions really do need to be asked as to why Jonnie Williams (Star of the Euros) cannot get into a struggling Championship side. It may be because he does not tackle back, but nor does Douglas. We need to find a system where Jonnie Williams can play,of send him back asap. It is doing the player no good and it is frustrating the supporters. Playing against 10 men was made for JW, Should have taken off Knudsen and Douglas and played 3-4-1-2, keeping Varney on. Needed to run at them, stretch them keeping players wide creating space. Lawrence yet again had a very good game and was the ray of sunshine on what was a very gloomy day.

5

Girty added 18:40 - Dec 10 Better performance second half, Williams for Douggie only change required, what do i know
0

runaround added 19:00 - Dec 10 The first couple of minutes summed it up when both Webster & Skuse massively over hit passes when under no pressure. As always the effort was there but the belief is seriously lacking on the pitch, in the dugout & in the stands. The 2 sides set up similarly but the difference was their midfield 2 go forward whilst ours don't. There is a soak lacking & Mick seems to think the only way out of this rut is to keep doing the same thing which hasn't worked in the last year. After we equalised we didn't force their keeper into another save which for me is very poor. Only Lawrence & McGoldrick seemed able to create anything but have to come so deep or do it themselves. When we do pass it nicely it's in front of teams never cutting through them. It's not working we getting further into a rut, fans are losing heart/interest & we are inexorably creeping towards the bottom 3. A spark is desperately needed, why was Williams brought in if he doesn't fit into Micks style, pointless for him & the club, play him. 2 away games coming up & draws are not enough as much Mick loves them. We are in trouble

7

WestNorfolk_Blue added 19:06 - Dec 10 Mick got a million for keeping us up and it was money well spent. But now to be honest if he walks he will not be on the bread line and for that I am glad but please please go because your style of football is so dire and killing our club. Some managers go on and on for years and so sadly so does Mick.
5

d0nk added 19:29 - Dec 10 This cant go on....can it?
2

NoelTheDub added 19:33 - Dec 10 All I want for Christmas is our club back playing football in any league.This nightmare cannot go on even listening to that man is turning my gut.Its sad to think how poor our team is and to have this plonker in charge is joke-able to say the least..Jonny Williams when you stop throwing up in the jax get the first train out to a club that plays football its shameful that you cannot break into that midfield the worst ive seen in years.

7

Barhamblue added 19:40 - Dec 10 A lot of people are having a go at Douglas but are you not seeing that core midfield issue is Skuse? Every header won by Berra, and Webster Skuse never looks for that second drop ball. Every time Skuse plays a ball he never looks for it back, never makes himself available, never creates a space Yes he'll track back and get a tap in and he'll joke that one goal in his town career is amusing but is it? This guys need dropping and not just to the bench, how Mick can't see this is shocking and even me a 39 year season ticket holder the most patient person in the world is starting to crack.

6

surgery added 19:47 - Dec 10 Think it's probably time to do something really positive to get this unwanted clown out of Ipswich period. I'm sure the Wolves fans will have one or two suggestions having been faced with the same problem
5

Brownie added 19:53 - Dec 10 Got my predictions wrong - unfortunately only in relation to the crowd being less than 15000! Change is required - change brings risk but can it be worse. I have been fair & balanced re MM but if he stays we won't get better. Williams is the best player at the club, he is not injured & he doesn't play. Madness.. If you keep picking the same players playing the same way that has failed for the last 2 years then why do we expect things will get better? They won't. I agree that changing the owner would be good but it isn't going to happen soon. Changing the manager should happen but I fear that won't happen soon either.

3

ricardo55555 added 19:53 - Dec 10 We must be patient. Mick is doing a good job considering the resources. We could be on the start of a good run starting Tuesday. We are still only 6 points off playoffs. Think of Coventry......
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