Tom Lawrence saved Town’s blushes with an 86th minute equaliser, his second goal of the game, as Vanarama National League leaders Lincoln City came within four minutes of a famous third round FA Cup upset at Portman Road but had to be content with a 2-2 draw. The Imps went ahead through Theo Robinson in the seventh minute, Lawrence levelled four minutes later before the Lincoln striker netted his second on 65 and the Imps looked destined to win it until Lawrence’s late goal rescued Town.

Boss Mick McCarthy made five changes with Dean Gerken, Jonas Knudsen, Andre Dozzell, Freddie Sears and Grant Ward all starting.

Skipper Luke Chambers and Cole Skuse dropped out of the squad having been doubts with knee problems, while Myles Kenlock also missed the game having suffered a calf injury at QPR.

Also not in the 18 was striker David McGoldrick, who is understood to have suffered a groin injury in training on Friday, while another frontman Leon Best was ill.

The Blues bench included 17-year-old left-back Pat Webber, who signed from Worthing at the end of last season, 19-year-old central defender or right-back George Fowler, who is from Ashfield near Debenham, Irish U19 international midfielder Adam McDonnell, 19, who made his league debut at Derby on the final day of last season, and strikers Shane McLoughlin, 19, an Irish U18 international, and England U18 international Ben Morris, 17.

Christophe Berra skippered in Chambers’s absence, while Lincoln named an unchanged team.

Town started brightly and won two early corners, but the 4,838 travelling Imps in the Cobbold Stand quickly had something to celebrate with their side taking the lead with their first chance of the game in the seventh minute.

Nathan Arnold sent over a teasing low cross from the right and former Derby striker Robinson got in between Adam Webster and Emmanuel to divert the ball past Gerken from close range.

But the Imps lead wasn’t to last for long. On 12 Lawrence picked up the ball just inside the Town half and brought it forward to the edge of the area unchallenged before hitting a low shot which went under Lincoln keeper Paul Farman and into the net to level the scores and settle more than a few nerves around Portman Road.

While it was a great run from Lawrence, who has now scored four goals during his loan spell from Leicester, Lincoln will be disappointed not to have got in at least one challenge and Farman will feel he should have done much better.

Neither side threatened again until 25th minute when Pitman hit an effort from distance, which flew well over.

Lincoln had been having more of the ball but without creating an opportunity, while the Blues had been very wasteful in possession with Dozzell having been unable to get into the game.

Imps midfielder Arnold hit a low effort from the left of the area which Gerken saved comfortably on the half hour, then moments later, following a freekick, the Blues keeper grabbed a dangerous bouncing ball in the area ahead of Robinson. The former Ram claimed he had been fouled as he went after the ball but referee Lee Probert showed little interest.

On 33 Berra made an important interception from a Bradley Wood cross from the right after a quickly taken freekick not far inside the Town half.

The visitors continued to have most of the ball, however without Gerken being forced into further action, and on 35 an Alan Power shot from the edge of the box deflected over.

Town began to have more of the ball as half-time approached and in the 43rd minute Dozzell hit a low shot which deflected just wide from the edge of the box after good work on the right from Emmanuel.

The resultant corner on the left led to another flag-kick on the right from which Pitman tried to replicate his overhead kick against Bristol City but failed to get any power on it and Farman claimed.

Neither side created a further opportunity before the whistle was greeted by cheers from the visiting fans and a few boos from the home support.

Town had started brightly and then quickly got themselves back on terms after the potentially serious blow of the early Lincoln goal but subsequently struggled to impose their superiority on the Imps.

Lincoln had subsequently been on top but without being able to create a chance from which they might have regained their lead.

The Blues had started to press more towards the break with Dozzell getting more involved but overall the non-league side will have been much the happier going off at the break and Town needed a much better second half to avoid a replay or worse still a giantkilling.

Soon after the restart Knudsen slipped on the Blues left gifting the ball to Robinson but the Danish international quickly got back to block the Lincoln striker’s cross.

The visitors threatened again in the 50th minute after a Knudsen cross from the left was cleared, Berra eventually cutting out Arnold’s cross. Soon after, Gerken grabbed a curling Robinson shot from the edge of the box.

The Town keeper was forced into a more serious save in the 56th minute when Terry Hawkridge fed the breaking Arnold after the Blues had lost possession on halfway but Gerken was out quickly to block and Berra cleared the danger.

Powerful Lincoln number nine Matt Rhead headed into the arms of Gerken on the hour, then soon after Dozzell played the ball into Sears’s feet inside the area and the ex-Colchester man hit a shot on the turn which flew only just wide.

On 62 Gerken put Bru under unnecessary pressure with a quick throw from which Lincoln quickly regained possession but the keeper comfortably claimed Sam Habergham’s shot from the right.

The visitors had looked the more threatening side throughout the second half and in the 65th minute they went back in front. Berra, under pressure from Rhead, headed Imps skipper Luke Waterfall’s long ball behind him and into the path of Robinson, who gleefully smashed home his second goal of the game to send the visiting fans wild.

With sections of the Town support singing ‘you’re getting sacked in the morning’ in the direction of manager Mick McCarthy Lincoln continued to take the game to the Blues with growing confidence, while the Championship side were unable to keep hold of the ball or put the Imps goal under any pressure.

Lawrence hit a 30-yard freekick over from distance in the 74th minute as the Lincoln support taunted the Town fans with chants of ‘Championship, you’re having a laugh’.

Town finally began to put the visitors under some pressure as the game reached the 80-minute mark. Ward brought the ball into the area on the right and fed Pitman, who turned his shot well over.

With nine minutes remaining Jack Muldoon replaced two-goal striker Robinson, whose last visit to Portman Road saw him score as Derby beat the Blues 2-1 in October 2012, a game which led to former Town manager Paul Jewell’s departure the following day.

On 83 Lawrence crossed from the left and Farman did well to get down to his left to keep out Dozzell’s flicked header.

Aside from that Town hadn’t looked like getting back on terms until another brilliant Lawrence strike saved the Blues’ blushes. The on-loan Leicester man picked the ball up midway inside the Imps half and smashed a low shot which flew past Farman to his left.

Having got back on terms, Town now went after a winner, Lawrence and Sears exchanging passes on the left of the area before winning the first of two corners.

But there was another big scare for the Blues in the final minute when Lincoln broke quickly and, with a blatant trip on Berra having been missed by the officials, Alex Woodyard broke into the area from Arnold’s pass, however, Emmanuel did superbly to get back and use his strength to dispossess the Imps midfielder.

Seconds before the whistle Berra won a header from a Knudsen long throw on the right but Sears’s looped effort towards goal was straight into Farman’s arms.

Loud boos greeted the final whistle from home sections of Portman Road, while the Lincoln supporters celebrated the draw which might well have been an even more famous win but for Lawrence’s equaliser. Manager McCarthy was also booed as he made his way to the tunnel.

Having failed to impose themselves in the first half, the Blues were little better at the start of the season and worse once yet another defensive error had led to Lincoln’s second goal.

The Blues gradually started to make some headway but it took a piece of individual magic from Lawrence, quickly emerging as Town’s player of the year, to save what would have been considerable embarrassment and a first FA Cup defeat to non-league opposition since the January 1960 loss to Peterborough United at the same stage.

From there the Blues might even have won it with the Imps finally put under some pressure but were unable to claim a winner which would have been very harsh on the visitors, who might even have grabbed a third goal on the break but for Emmanuel’s interception.

The teams, who both go into the fourth round draw at 7.10pm on Monday ahead of Cambridge United’s tie with Leeds United, will meet again at Sincil Bank a week on Tuesday when the Blues will have to be much better if they are to avoid an embarrassing replay exit.

Town: Gerken, Emmanuel, Webster, Berra (c), Knudsen, Bru, Ward, Dozzell, Lawrence, Sears, Pitman. Unused: Bialkowski, Fowler, Webber, McDonnell, Douglas, McLoughlin, Morris.

Lincoln: Farman, Wood, Habergham, Waterfall (c), Power, Rhead (Long 90), Hawkridge, Raggett, Arnold, Woodyard, Robinson (Muldoon 81). Unused: Walker, Marriott, Miles, Fixter, McCombe. Referee: Lee Probert (Wiltshire). Att: 16,027 (Lincoln 4,838).

Photo: TWTD

GiveusaWave added 11:00 - Jan 8 Hegansheroes Milne is in the right to say that. I've signed the petition but it suggests that only a few over 500 fans want Mick Out. Statistically, suggests a large majority want Mick to stay. Stats these days are telling and this petition seems to have reversed what it was intended to do and demonstrate very solid support for Mick https://www.change.org/p/english-football-league-mick-mcarthy-out-of-ipswich-tow

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geminimustang added 11:02 - Jan 8 "Surco72 added 09:51 - Jan 8 look at the mess he left at Wolves" Sorry,can't let you get away with that untruth.The then Chairman later admitted Wolves panicked and made a rash decision to get rid of MM.Similar comments came from the Board too.The vast majority of Wolves fans didn't want MM & TC to go and give him a warm welcome when he goes back.Wolves then got relegated two seasons on the trot.How did it happen.The then Wolves Chairman wanted to sell the club,didn't want to invest and MM had a budget of 2 washers and a bottletop.Sound familiar?I absolutely respect everyone who has the view to get rid of MM.I want him to stay if players can be brought in.My point is that MM has been starved of funds for 4 years and i think he deserves my support when at least 8 stronger teams above have money to spend and his bedtime reading is a book on shoestrings and sticking plasters!

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Warkys_Tash added 11:12 - Jan 8 It feels like the end of the Jewell era, very strange. Agree it's shockingly poor. However, where did it go so wrong? Mick came in & really turned the club around, got rid of over paid wasters, made us hard to beat & competitive, brought some pride back to the fans & gave us our first play-offs for 11years. It's a sad demise. Yes, the footy has been full at times but the feel good factor had been returned to the club. Why has it disappeared so quickly? I feel the club needs a change of direction but Evans must take the lions share of the blame - no new players in Jan 2015, when we we 2nd. The Sales of Mings, Murphy. Mick doesn't deserve the abuse he is getting, afterall he is a human being & isn't intentionally getting it wrong. Yes, he has said things back to the fans, I guess we all would lash out if we were under fire - I know I would. Let's not forget he is a very decent man. Let's all try to pull together until the seasons ends. Evans won't sack him, he won't walk so we may as well be more positive. He really is up against it & our neighbours up the road are loving it. #StrongerTogether

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warktheline added 11:21 - Jan 8 @geminimustang, how do you justify McCarthy's general team selections and style of play?
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geminimustang added 11:34 - Jan 8 "warktheline added 11:21 - Jan 8 @geminimustang, how do you justify McCarthy's general team selections and style of play?" Messi,Ronaldo & Bale unavailable due to other committments! When Mark Hughes was slagged off at Blackburn for the style of football,he replied"i haven't got Barcelona's Players!".
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Surco72 added 11:48 - Jan 8 Gemini.... Wolves fans were singing foe him to be sacked as our fans are . Football is not only about money stop crying about it have Lincoln who outplayed us got more money or spent more on their squad ? Did Leicester spend more money than the rest of the premiership or did the new manager come up with a fast attacking counts attack system , which has now been found out so he is changing it again whereas our manager keeps stating he is doing what he has done for the last 4 years if not his whole career and expecting it to work . I live the club and it is my opinion that mm has to go to make Ys better if staying away us the only thing I can do about that then i will continue to do so until Evans gas no choice , you continue ti accept a team un decline

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Carberry added 11:48 - Jan 8 Warks tash, I really sympathise with your view but there is one unknown about McCarthy, would he act or play any differently if he had money to spend? Would we become a attacking team full of flair to entertain us? Would he become any less belligerent when things go wrong. Would we survive in the Prem if we were promoted? Personally I don't think so. McCarthy was brilliant at keeping us up when he came, that task suited his style but lack of funds from Evans mean we will never really know if he could have achieved with us. The blame falls on the owner who has the delusion that you can get a playing staff together for peanuts. There's no doubt McCarthy is close to going now but who will the owner hire and what ammunition will he give him? I am very worried that we haven't got to rock bottom yet.

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TimmyH added 11:48 - Jan 8 Only 500 fans have signed a petition that wants Mick out? - I bet (and I am a betting man) there are quite a lot more that haven't signed it and want him out, my own opinion thinks that there are still more who willl stick with MM than want him out - something about Suffolk people (no slander on their part) who are too lackadaisical on change even when it should occur.
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heathen66 added 11:53 - Jan 8 Lincoln have not got Barcelona players but they still showed us how to play football. Robinson looked an absolute star and would be worth a punt, and if anyone says there is no one better that Mick available the look at the likes of Danny Cowley (has a £900k buy out claus). Stevenage, Portsmouth and now Lincoln have showed us how to play football in 2 seasons so do not say there are not players available. These players are available in the lower leagues, you need to look for them, However if you do get them do not try and mould them into something that they are not (Sears Ward Chambers). This I am afraid is why we need a change. No matter who you get in, Micks first priority is to make them defensive minded (Ward and Sears are prime examples). This takes out any flair that these guys have and confidence with it !!!

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BrandestonBlue added 12:35 - Jan 8 Not sure why so many are querying why pick youth on the bench and then not play them Looking at the squad with about 10 senior players injured he had little choice ! As to why they were not played I guess we all know that with the current toxic atmosphere at PR and the way the game was going that MM was looking to protect the young players
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geminimustang added 12:43 - Jan 8 "heathen66 added 11:53 - Jan 8 Micks first priority is to make them defensive minded (Ward and Sears are prime examples). This takes out any flair that these guys have and confidence with it !!! -" The late,great footballer & Manager,Howard Kendall, who took Everton to the dizzy heights stated that to build a team,you start with the goalkeeper and work your way forward through the team.His ethos was you stop goals against you so you don't get beat.Then you get draws where you were previously losing then you begin to win games. It appears to me that MM is following that way of working but unfortunately can't buy in players and has to work with what he has. This is a bad time but a blip and only a blip.

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MicksZzzTactics added 13:18 - Jan 8 @guentchev (and also @timmyH, @Hegansheroes) Bontcho I get your drift, as in your *apparent* sound deductive reasoning, I really do .... but at the end of the day so to speak I still beg to differ rather strongly actually . As imho said petition ONLY really shows one thing for *absolute certain* and that is: 'Some' (English) people's very COMMON & USUAL fear of putting their name and address etc. on something!!! -- and besides how many of our fans incl. the fairly extreme non-internet / non- telecommunication "savvy" ones know about this here particular petition page??? -- and in my view it does thus certainly do not (because of "only 524" having signed it) "demonstrates very solid support for Mick" as you boldly claim, among the remaining particular 'LIKELY-TO-GO' supporters of this here once proud club! Aye 524 does initially "look like" a very disappointing minuscule number doesn't it now ..... HOWEVER while a petition don't quite work exactly the same way as for instance Phil's loooooooong awaited TWTD Survey Poll here (for instance there are no "options" on it like on a poll/classic survey and thus no counting of the number of people /potential respondents who saw or know about it it but would have liked to have expressed a perhaps slightly other view than just the very unmistakably ultra hardline'ing one: "Mick Out Now" one)..... I definitely suggest you @guentchev , and also others currently holding the same belief as you, go back and visit/revisit my post: "REVELATION!!! ... ABOUT "SMALLISH LOOKING" SURVEY SAMPLE SIZES" See more at: http://www.twtd.co.uk/ipswich-town-news/30796/town-visit-wigan-looking-to-ease-w You can obviously skip past the initial go at the obnoxious @swn98 :-) lol but please pay attention to my main message in the lower part of it i.e. the explanations etc. of number crunching relating to survey polls, what are good and acceptable within the so called 'Industry Standard' and also really check out the links on it for yourselves .... especially should you just happen to doubt the basic validity of what yours truly is saying about it in said post! PS: And nooooo I'm in fact neither remotely an expert in this particular Stats field nor an "BEYOND BORING certified Statistician by trade!" lol (as @swn98 initially inferred I probably was in his 1st reply to said post!) but ehhhm just merely quite algorithm & binary number savvy, if you know what I mean!. :-)

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heathen66 added 13:27 - Jan 8 I agree geminimustang, All teams should be built around a backbone starting with the GK, and through CB, CM and to the front however Howerd Kendall allowed Trevor Steven and Kevin Sheady licence to express themselves and even you defensive midfielders such as Peter Reid to get forward and score goals. On occasions we have had 6 across the back (Sears and Ward basically playing fullbacks) with Skuglas as the 2 holding midfielders. My point is that players first thoughts are defensive and not offensive. This is not something that they arrive at the club with, but is something that is trained into them. Exciting and skillful players such as Sears, Ward, Bru Lawrence Bishop are being suffocated. There needs to be a balance. Defensive players can attacks as attacking players can defend

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Walk_the_Wark added 13:30 - Jan 8 Gemini= nodger
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Michael11 added 13:42 - Jan 8 To everyone saying we should sign Nathan Arnold, I'm from Grimsby and watch them 10-15 games a season. He was not worthy of a new contract after having a couple of good games all season! It was our inept left back that made him look good.
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Michael11 added 13:48 - Jan 8 Also, my first rant obviously excludes Emmanuel and Dozzell. Emmanuel was very good and you can't blame kids anyway. I was only referring to the established first teamers playing and Lawrence was the only one who can look himself in the mirror.
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Seasider added 13:55 - Jan 8 Just a few belated observations. Don't often disagree with even a word of match reports on TWTD;but saying Ipswich struggled to impose their superiority gives the wrong impression.Yes they struggled;but were vastly inferior! Also mentioned about fans singing "Your getting sacked in the morning"Most of the fans singing that were from Lincoln supporters,and unfortunately not that many Ipswich;probably because we are the most docile followers of a football team in the land,also most knew it wouldn't happen unfortunately. A lot on here say they are staying away in protest,could you imagine this happening at St James if the Geordies were in a similar position.No they would chant from the terraces,invade the pitch at the end of the match,unfurl banners,and sign a petition if there was one. Unless this kind of action is taken Milne will still trot out the nonsense that the silent majority still support the current Manager.He just needs to mingle with us to find out the depth of ill feeling by supporters of this once great club. Before the match,were in the cold concourse under the Sir Alf stand,as to save money no doubt, Legends was closed.Spoke to a fatherand his enthusiastic son (Aged 5),and dad said the lad had not seen Town win in 9 visits.It is now 10! Think quite honestly they missed Cole Skues,said he wouldn't play Douglas because of boos against him in previous game,which he said was disgraceful;seems a waste having him on the bench then;but agree very short at moment with 10players unavailable.Think struggling teams tend to get more. If didn't know better,would have thought team were trying to throw this game as they played so badly(with two exceptions Lawrence and Emmanuel. Like 50yearsablue,Steelmonkey;and MartleshamITFC,I also have lost that spark(after 55years);but will continue to go. However could well be on my own next season for the first time in 50 years. Sad times. Hope McCarthy does go and is replaced in the short term at least,by somebody like GB with Matty Holland his assistant.I can but dream!

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MicksZzzTactics added 14:00 - Jan 8 @Seasider
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Hegansheroes added 14:23 - Jan 8 Guentchev "There are lies, damned lies and statistics" look it up mate. Funny that 2 ofd my neighbours, myself, a family of four, a husband and wife who all live out in the sticks, in a small village, all of us season ticket holders for years gave up going since MM took over. I still go but gave up my season ticket 2 yeas ago. I do not know any one in the village who goes on a regular basis. I have been going since 1961 so please don't come out with any crxp about not being a supporter. I have done what all true supporters should do vote with our feet to try to get this imbecile out of the club to try to get it back.

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GAZ1234 added 14:46 - Jan 8 I too, have been going since the early 60's I haven't signed any petition. But I have given up my season ticket and won't be back till mm leaves the building. However, us old Un's aren't the most important fans...... it's the stories of the youngsters being turned off that will have the most serious consequences for the club....... no new fans = no ITFC Change is needed now!

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sixtyblue added 14:48 - Jan 8 Do not believe all this crap about injuries,they will all suddenly be fit enough to play next week.McCarthy doesn't know how to tell the truth to supporters.Consistently bigging up players when genuine supporters know the manager and certain players are not up to the job.
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sixtyblue added 14:48 - Jan 8 Do not believe all this crap about injuries,they will all suddenly be fit enough to play next week.McCarthy doesn't know how to tell the truth to supporters.Consistently bigging up players when genuine supporters know the manager and certain players are not up to the job.
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tallguy6767 added 15:04 - Jan 8 We must be the only club in the country who would put up with this bulls#it for so long without sacking the management. Beggars belief !!! Before long they'll be no fuc#er going !!
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warktheline added 16:07 - Jan 8 @geminimustang, jeez what planet are you on? Your comparisons are nowt short of embarrassing! Until now 🤔I never believed someone could play Nicholson's part any better in the 'Shining' or 'One flew over the cuckoos nest'.....step forward comrade!!!!!!😳
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dukey44 added 16:14 - Jan 8 Jesus just sack him and then we can all move and talk positive about our club again!! It's every day now we want him sacked so we can all feel good about Ipswich again !! Where is out b...y unseen owner when we want to hear his waffle he just don't come out of the cupboard he hides in in every week? Jesus he really doesn't seem to care what we all want to see at our club again? A team we can be proud of again!! Yet it's going down hill very very quickly now... just it doesn't seem to matter what we all want he basically doesn't care or does he?? Just sack Mick and his team and then we can all move on!!

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