Top scorer Tom Lawrence says the Blues can't perform as they did during Saturday's smash-and-grab 1-1 draw at Barnsley when they take on his former loan club Cardiff City away next weekend.

The on-loan Leicester man, who spent the second half of last season on loan with the Bluebirds, making 11 starts and three sub appearances without scoring, grabbed what was an undeserved point at Oakwell with a goal deep into injury time.

Town, who remain 16th but now only seven points off the relegation zone, have drawn their last six, one off a club record of seven successive stalemates established in November and December 1990.

The Blues, who have won just one of their last 12 in all competitions but are undefeated in eight, have drawn 15 in the Championship so far this season - there are nine games left - with the highest ever the 20 amassed in 2009/10 under Roy Keane.

“I think we’ve got to go there and show how good we are,” Lawrence told Ipswich Player HD looking ahead to the trip to the Cardiff City Stadium. “We can’t perform like that again, and we want the win. We’ll have a rest day [on Sunday] then we’ll be working hard all week.”

Reflecting on the Barnsley game, he said: “We weren’t at our best but we’ll take the point. We got one late on, it was a good way to finish but it wasn’t the performance we wanted.

“I think in the first half we were in the game massively. We conceded a soft goal and then were kind of on the back foot. All credit to the lads, we kept battling and we got the point in the end.”

He added: “All these lads are together and that showed today. It’s a good point at the end of the day.”

The 23-year-old Wales international said manager Mick McCarthy wasn’t pleased with his side’s display.

“He’s not too happy with the performance,” he continued. “We were nowhere near our best, so we’ll take the point.

“When we played Reading and they got a draw out of us I thought we got robbed there, so I think we’ve robbed one here but we’ll take it.

“I think we’ve been due a bit of luck over the last few weeks and now we just need to get the win before the international break.”

Lawrence said his 11th goal for the Blues was probably his simplest: “It was a great ball for me [from Brett Pitman], hopefully he can do a few more of them for me.

“I just ran off the player [Adam Hammill], it’s come through and I slotted it home nicely. It was probably my easiest one here yet. I’ll take them tap-ins all day!”

Town will be without Emyr Huws when they travel to face Cardiff, the midfielder's his parent club.

Barnsley goalscorer Marley Watkins was deflated after his team let the lead he had established in the 58th minute slip in the final moments.

“It feels like a loss, to be honest,” he admitted. “I thought we dominated the game, were the better team.

“I just think we’ve got to kill them off when we got the chances, but we didn’t do that and we got punished. If there’s one goal in it anything can happen and that’s what happened today.”

Looking back on his goal, his eighth of the season the 26-year-old added: “I was happy with the goal but just gutted for the boys because we played well, we should have won the game and we haven’t. It’s a kick in the teeth, we’ve just got to go again next Saturday.

“It was just an inside run, it was a great ball by Matty James, who has been quality since he’s come in.

“I just had to tense up to hold them off and it was a good finish, so happy days. But a bad result, so a bit gutted.”

Watkins was the subject of a £1 million Town offer last August - with interest reported again during the January transfer window - and Blues boss McCarthy didn’t rule out a further move for the Wales-born midfielder or striker, who is out of contract in the summer, when asked last week.

Quizzed on whether he knew much about Town’s interest in the summer window, Watkins said: “No, I just crack on. Once the window closed, and in the window, I just focused on Barnsley, whatever happens happens.

“I’m a Barnsley player so that’s what I focus on, it would be disrespectful not to focus on that.”

Did the interest from Town give him additional motivation on Saturday? “No, you try and give your all every game regardless. It’s just coincidence I’ve scored against the team that was interested in me.”

But he admits that as a player it’s flattering to hear that other clubs are interested in you: “Yes, definitely, you want to play at the highest possible level, so whatever route that is you’ve got to do it.

“But at the end of the day we’re higher than Ipswich and we did have a chance of the play-offs, now it’s really an outside chance. But you just want to play at the highest possible level, any player.”

Meanwhile, the Blues' U23s are in action against Nottingham Forest at Alfreton Town’s Impact Arena this evening (KO 7pm).

Photo: TWTD

bobble added 06:15 - Mar 13 we should make him player manager.
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SpiritOfJohn added 06:40 - Mar 13 @bobble, Lawrence or Watkins?
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RoyalAscotBlue added 07:14 - Mar 13 Mr Watkins points to another issue we now face, if we manage to stay up. The simple fact that no half decent Championship player will want to join us as they will not believe that we can challenge at the top end of the division. Barnsley set out simply to survive the Championship this year, and yet their players now believe that joining Ipswich would be a backward step.

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ArnieM added 07:19 - Mar 13 "We can't perform like that at Cardiff".........wanna bet?.
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ChrisFelix added 07:24 - Mar 13 The big problem with Ipswich is will we pay the wages. Other clubs nearer to Barnsley ,ie Leeds will.
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Lathers added 07:42 - Mar 13 We don't want Watkins anyway (not that we could get him ATM, which is very sad). We need to set our sights higher in the Summer (if that's possible). We are definitely in a relegation scrap and Cardiff away is one of the toughest fixtures there is right now. I would actually take a record equaling 7th consecutive draw...right now!
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martin587 added 07:48 - Mar 13 The main problem is midfield.IF we had a couple of quality players with vision and could make "A FORWARD PASS"then I think we have the strikers capable of getting the goals to pull us away from a relegation fight until the season ends.From then on your guess is as good as mine.🤔
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shakytown added 08:06 - Mar 13 The problem with our midfield is they are set up to defend only. The first thing anyone is taught is pass and then move into space our midfield passes backward and moves backward and will always do so under Mucks reign of dreariness.
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prebsa added 08:28 - Mar 13 No you can't, but I'm sure Mick will set the team up so you give it your best go! Every week we set up for a point its no wonder we play so badly, invite pressure on and then lump it at Lawrence or McGoldrick 2 people known for flick ons, oh wait......
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tractorboybig added 09:07 - Mar 13 why not? its been the norm most of the season.....
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bluemike1969 added 09:31 - Mar 13 No Tom, you are absolutely right, we mustn't play like that.....but we will and we will get taken apart by Cardiff. Mr Arrogant McCarthy will just fold his arms and say some rubbish like "what can I say...we were well beaten by an in form side" usual stuff from a guy that doesn't give a damn what division we play in next season. Other managers have been sacked for less including the one up the A140!! How many others agree with me when I say bring in the Cowley brothers from Lincoln cos lets face it, they have done wonders on zero budget because they motivate and install belief in their team. Belief is something we haven't got and so desperately need. I would love to see them in charge at town because I think they are just the sort of managerial team we need but if we don't snap them up, others will!!!!

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1RWR added 09:56 - Mar 13 blue mike1969 EXACTLY! The squad we've got is not that bad, get a manager in "who can manage" play attacking football & players will queue up to play for us.........simples innit! Yep, Cowley brothers is a good call, anything rather than Mr Dross!
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Mark added 10:08 - Mar 13 We have just played two teams having poor runs, yet only scraped undeserved draws against both. Why are we playing so poorly? I would suggest it is being set up so defensively with 5 defenders and 2 defensive midfielders. In all my years of supporting ITFC under various managers I cannot remember ever doing that before Mick Mccarthy.
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muccletonjoe added 10:13 - Mar 13 Bart , chambers , huws and lawrence are the only ones up to competing in this league. Only 2 of those are our players. After those we simply are not at the races.
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Lightningboy added 11:11 - Mar 13 We can't play that badly Tom.........but probably will. Seems bulletproof McCarthy is just chugging away,scraping draws here and there and basically not giving a damn about performances or the proud history our club once had of playing attractive,attacking football...the more we want him out the more he settles himself in for the long haul - he couldn't give a toss whether he's here or not next season...the main reason he'll want to stay is to wind us up even more - he seems to be that sort of person. Far too matey with our owner who equally couldn't seem to give a stuff. Wake up call is needed when it comes to season ticket sales - it's the only way things will change.

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Cloddyseedbed added 12:35 - Mar 13 You can perform like that at Cardiff and you probably will.
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PortmanTerrorist added 12:39 - Mar 13 Despite barely coping with performances at home, am thinking of going on Saturday. Figure it is the closest we will ever get to a European fixture ever again !
2

Bluetone added 12:51 - Mar 13 "We Can't Perform Like That at Cardiff" With the Dino in charge oh yes we can very, very easily.
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NBVJohn added 13:26 - Mar 13 Yet more hot air, spin and subterfuge from that place where there used to be a football club on Portman Road. It just gets worse — another player rolled out on behalf of those upstairs to tell us what we already know. I.E. We were shocking on Saturday, the positivity of February has been blown apart by a third of the way through March and we'll get the hiding we've been cruising for if we don't play better. The club has lost the plot — not MM necessarily, the club. It's lost touch with its consumers [I doubt that we're referred to as supporters anymore at PR] and seems to think that a never ending barrage of information is all that's needed. When will someone, more to the point who, will actually do something about this never ending stream of nonsense that seems to deflect responsibility for failure? The club is in a sorry state, rotten throughout and I'm disillusioned with every aspect — I don't feel valued or even considered anymore. I've been all over the place supporting this team. I've had some great days out, and been privileged to have seen some great players. I was there for promotions, trophy wins, the 9-0 thrashing at Old Trafford and relegations, but I have never felt so removed from the club as now.

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BobbyBell added 14:16 - Mar 13 We played better when Skuse was missing. Leave him here and we can win. DON'T worry about how good Cardiff are and how they are in a false position just worry about how good we can be if we attack them.
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strikalite added 16:28 - Mar 13 When you only have three players in a side who play on the front foot and seven who consistently play on the back foot then you aint winning many games nor scoring many goals.. Mick being an ex defender will always side with caution, god forbid making runs off the ball and then getting caught out of position, totally against Micks back foot methods of keeping it solid, it's so static and slow to watch, just can't see him changing it...

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Seasider added 17:03 - Mar 13 I am glad Tom Lawrence is being positive,wish his Manager was more so,and is now talking as though we are in a relegation scrap,which we soon will be if he is left at the helm any longer. When I started supporting the club,I knew little of Ipswich;but two of the dads of lads in our group went,and of course having just won the League under Sir Alf there was publicity locally. No I went because a work colleague got six free tickets from his mate Roy Bailey the Ipswich Goalkeeper at the time(they were together as boys at West Ham).John was handed the tickets by Roy outside. I went basically to see Stanley Matthews who although in the twilight of his career was a big name in the game at that time.Out of those freebies,five continued to support the Town for many years to come. This was when the Cobbolds were in charge and it was a family club like Norwich.Our East Anglian neighbours have a board of directors with Delia, her husband and Ed Balls as Chairman so have continued as such;whereas since Evans took over, Ipswich Town have lost that local feel,with the fans only owning 12 1/2% and a board of Directors of the PLC that have no power; as they don't represent the remaining percentage owned by Evans(ITFC).A split made by Evans after he took over.He never attends the AGM although he is Chairman of ITFC.His excuse would be that the AGM is for the PLC, and all we get is a sheet of A4 giving the basic financial details of the Club. Last years AGM gave McCarthy a slightly rocky ride;but the league position hasn't changed in the 3 months since.It was said by Evans spokesman Milne that they were concerned and would be taking steps to rectify the situation.Since then we have had the five point plan;but little else! Previously Managers have been sacked either by the board when we had one,and more recently by Evans.The situation seems different now as McCarthy seems to be calling the shots re his job position,and the owner is more anonymous than ever. This I am afraid is what happens when you have takeovers by outsiders who have no affinity to the club. Primary objective presumably was to make money,although some think its for tax reasons.If it is the former then this non football man has failed miserably,and would do well to try and extricate himself from this mess. Could make a start by admitting that for the third time he has not chosen wisely and sack McCarthy forthwith before we end up in League1.He should also try and unload his stake in the club as it seems to be going nowhere under his stewardship.

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jas0999 added 17:16 - Mar 13 We shouldn't be performing like that full stop. But we have for eighteen months.
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blueboy1981 added 18:13 - Mar 13 Words, words, and more words - all along the same lines. The talking and the cr-p performances have to STOP - before our Club deteriorates any further. I cannot believe that there is anyone who is happy with what we consistently put up with (but ,of course, there are some) - let's bite the proverbial bullet, get another Manager in, entertain, bring the ITFC pedigree back - AND TAKE A CHANCE. What have we got to lose ..... ? - very little, if at all anything.

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MicksZzzTactics added 18:20 - Mar 13 Fair enough Mr. Lawrence and kudos for your partly baseless optimism! But ehmmm excuse me everybody: PleaZzze just "try" to look at it from a purely dinosauric McCarthy-like perspective will you.... and then subsequently you suddenly will see NO reason, whatsoever!, as to why we "shouldn't & couldn't perform like that again"!!! :-) Why??? Well it's really quite a good bit simpler than a '101 Rocket Science crash course' :-) because as we all know the always settingup not-to-lose & I-will-gladly-park-the-bus-for-a-draw Dino McCarthy doesn't give a hoot about entertainment nor about the general 'Quality of Play' (despite post-game often making claims to the contrary!) nor about how he gets his point(s) .... just along as get said point(s)! ... and equalizing (or occasionally even going ahead!) with virtually the last kick & rush of the game then practically ALWAYS assure us of at least that "excellent 1-point draw" since obviously that leaves the opposition with no freakin' time left to grab another goal! :-) Aye, imho there can be little doubt that the SCARED SHEIIITLESS OF LOSING and thus beyond draw-ecstatic Dino McCarthy must just personally luuuuv that kind of unfolding of a game! Lmao! :-) smile :-)

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