Town dropped to 17th, only five points from the relegation zone after Cardiff City came from behind to beat them 3-1 at the Cardiff City Stadium. Skipper Luke Chambers headed the Blues into a 23rd minute lead but Kenneth Zohore equalised for Cardiff on 36, then put the home side in front five minutes after the break before Joe Bennett added the third in the 63rd minute with Town never looking like they would get back in it.

Grant Ward and Tommy Smith returned to the Town starting line-up with Myles Kenlock dropping to the bench and Emyr Huws unavailable against his parent club and also having a hamstring injury.

Smith came in on the left of the central defensive three with Jonas Knudsen moving out to left wing-back. Ward joined Cole Skuse and Toumani Diagouraga in central midfield.

For Cardiff, Peter Whittingham returned in midfield with Joe Ralls missing out through injury. Former England striker Rickie Lambert was back on the bench after a long-term back injury, while ex-Town keeper Brian Murphy was also among the subs.

In breezy conditions and swirling fine rain, the Bluebirds were first to threaten in the fourth minute after Skuse had fouled Junior Hoilett not far outside area. Whittingham curled the freekick towards the bottom corner but Bartosz Bialkowski did well to save down to his left.

The home side continued to have the better of the opening spell and a minute later Zohore hit a shot on the turn from the edge of the box just over.

Town, wearing all white, should have taken the lead in the ninth minute after a swift counter-attack following a Cardiff freekick.

David McGoldrick picked up a half-cleared ball just outside the area and brought it forward before feeding Tom Lawrence to his right.

The on-loan Leicester man, back in his native Wales, took it on into the area before cutting across to the far post to the unmarked Ward, who shot against Bluebirds keeper Allan McGregor from not far outside the six-yard box. Either side of the Scotland international and Town would have been in front.

After a slow start the Blues had got on top and as the game approached the 20-minute mark they were beginning to dominate possession with Lawrence and McGoldrick involved more than they were at Barnsley last week. On 21 the Irish international shot over from distance.

And in the 23rd minute the Blues went in front. Skuse played the ball down the right for Spence, who did well to reach it before being fouled by Sol Bamba, who was memorably red-carded in this season’s Portman Road fixture between the clubs.

Lawrence sent in the freekick from the right and Chambers headed back across goal and into the net for his fourth goal of the season.

In the 29th minute Christophe Berra clipped Kadeem Harris’s heels just before he broke into the area and Bialkowski sharply diverted Bennett’s freekick over from under his bar, then from the corner Bamba looped a header well over.

The home side were starting to get on top, however, and on 31 Zohore broke into the area on the right and shot straight at Bialkowski while under pressure from Chambers.

Two minutes later at the other end, Lawrence whipped in a wind-assisted freekick from the right and Diagouraga stooped and headed over.

But in the 36th minute the Bluebirds got back on terms. After Knudsen had fouled Craig Noone on the right, Whittingham played the freekick wide to Jazz Richards, who crossed into the box where it was nodded down by home skipper Sean Morrison and Zohore volleyed home his eighth goal in 10 games from close range giving Bialkowski no chance.

Zohore, who has now scored nine goals this season, will feel he should have netted another two minutes later but lashed wildly into the stand after Chambers’s poor defensive header had landed at his feet in the area.

Cardiff went closer to going in front in the 42nd minute when Aron Gunnarsson cut the ball back from the right and it reached Hoilett, who worked himself space and then hit a shot on the turn which struck the angle of post and bar.

After Whittingham had sent a freekick well over from distance, Icelandic midfielder Gunnarsson, who had a trial with the Blues as a schoolboy, hit an injury-time shot wide.

Having started slowly Town had got themselves on top during an entertaining half and deserved their goal when it came with Ward having gone close to opening the scoring earlier.

However, the Bluebirds then began to take charge and once they’d levelled - via a set-piece goal Mick McCarthy will no doubt have been disappointed to have conceded - looked the more likely scorers of the game’s third goal with Hoilett unlucky with his shot off the woodwork.

Lawrence had looked more like his January self and he and McGoldrick had both shown that they were capable of troubling the Cardiff defence without either having had a clear-cut opportunity.

Town switched Smith for Brett Pitman ahead of the second half and moved to 4-4-2 with Lawrence on the left and Ward on the right of midfield.

Cardiff started the second half the brighter, Zohore hooking a cross from the right wide off a Town defender and wide.

Town’s first opportunity came from another Lawrence freekick on the right. Berra nodded back across the face of goal but McGoldrick was unable to control at a tight angle as he looked to cut across.

And following the resultant 50th minute goalkick the Bluebirds took the lead. Zohore flicked a long ball from Morrison on to Hoilett, who backheeled into his path and with Chambers not having tracked his run and appealing for offside, the Cardiff top scorer hit his 10th goal of the season and ninth in 10 games into the net off Bialkowski.

Three minutes later Berra was booked for a foul on Hoilett as Cardiff continued to put the pressure on.

Town didn’t threaten until the 58th minute when McGoldrick twisted and turned inside the area before trying a chip which failed to test McGregor. A minute later, Hoilett hit a shot across the face of goal from the Cardiff right.

But a third Bluebirds goal wasn’t too long in coming. In the 63rd minute Harris brought the ball in from the left past Skuse along the byline and cut it back to Bennett, who picked his spot to claim his first goal for the Welsh side.

Town, who had failed to settle into their 4-4-2 system after the break, looked to have no way back. On 68 Pitman was yellow-carded for a foul on Gunnarsson.

Noone curled over from distance in the 75th minute, then for the Blues McGoldrick burst into the area on the left and cut back to Pitman, who looked to turn goalwards but found Bamba, who had been outstanding at the back for the Bluebirds, in his way.

With 11 minutes remaining Town made a double change with McGoldrick and Diagouraga making way for Freddie Sears and debutant Danny Rowe.

Zohore shot tamely through to Bialkowski in the 82nd minute with the Bluebirds looking more likely to add a fourth than Town were to pull a goal back. A minute later the Dane was subbed to a standing ovation by home supporters, Anthony Pilkington taking over.

Cardiff should have made it 4-1 in the 85th minute when sub Pilkington found Hoilett in space in the Town area but the ex-QPR man shot weakly straight at Bialkowski.

Town had what looked a not unreasonable shout for a penalty in the 88th minute when Spence crossed from the right and Pitman turned the ball against Morrison’s arm. If he saw it referee James Linington may have deemed it ball to hand.

The Blues continued to press for a goal in four minutes of injury time, Pitman having added more of a penalty are threat, but were unable to force McGregor into further action before the final whistle.

Town never got going after the half-time change of system - with Lawrence notably quieter having moved wide - and then Cardiff’s second goal which was a shocker from a Blues perspective.

Cardiff prodded and probed and deserved the third goal when it came and might even have won more convincingly had Hoilett taken his chance.

The result ends Town’s streak of consecutive draws at six as well as their eight-match unbeaten run.

The Blues have now won just once in their last 13 in all competitions and only twice 2017 and have taken only 13 points from their last 42.

With only five points separating them from the bottom three they face a nervous last eight games of the season. The Blues look to be one of seven sides battling to avoid the final relegation spot with Rotherham and Wigan already looking to be down.

After the two-week international break, Town face Birmingham, who are one place behind the Blues on goal difference alone, and then the Latics in what now appear to be crucial back-to-back home games.

Cardiff City: McGregor, Bennett, Morrison (c), Richards, Whittingham, Noone (Halford 79), Bamba, Gunnarsson, Harris (John 90), Zohore (Pilkington 83), Hoilett. Unused: Murphy, Ecuele Manga, Lambert, Meite.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Berra, T Smith (Pitman 46), Spence, Skuse, Diagouraga (Rowe 79), Ward, Knudsen, Lawrence, McGoldrick (Sears 79). Unused: Gerken, Digby, Kenlock, Bru. Referee: James Linington (Newport, Isle of Wight). Att: 15,182.

Photo: TWTD

therein61 added 18:39 - Mar 18 Mick has this club of ours by the balls he has squeezed every ounce out of it and been the biggest managerial failure we have had(in my opinion) Marcus will not pay him off(the arrogant conceited man does not deserve it!!) as he is one of the biggest assets in providing a huge tax loss for the empire resulting in the wonderful support he receives from spin doctor Milne (come back Simon the turnstiles need painting!) Ladies and Gents our great club is going to hell in a hand cart so fast it just beggars belief!!!!!

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firmfoundations added 18:40 - Mar 18 We need to mount a protest. Easter Monday what a message to Evans if we all walked out at 70 minutes
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firmfoundations added 18:40 - Mar 18 We need to mount a protest. Easter Monday what a message to Evans if we all walked out at 70 minutes
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surgery added 18:41 - Mar 18 Please can it be arranged for Excuse to be kidnapped and held hostage for the rest of the season so that he's not available for selection if required
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Dissboyitfc added 18:45 - Mar 18 swn98...its the fans who are accepting the rubbish being served up who are not helping the situation! How do you feel about todays game? we were drawing 1-1 at half time and he changes it from 352 to 442 and we lose, the bloke is an absolute genius, do you agree?
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Tufty added 18:51 - Mar 18 Firmfoundations agree should be sign of dissent but not on Easter Monday would be disrespectful to Sir Bobby and his family. Try April fools day much more appropriate
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Kingfisher49 added 18:52 - Mar 18 The sad thing is the payment that will get rid of MM and TC will probably be more than has been spent in the transfer market in the last couple of years. Time for the door for MM as it is getting to serious to allow him to stay and fall into the next tier..
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blueboy1981 added 18:56 - Mar 18 Swn98 .......... I'm sure you'll enjoy Spain - safe in (your) knowledge that your Club is in the hands of a good Manager...... !!! You couldn't even make it up - IF some of you are still behind this Dinosaur.
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eastwell_blue added 19:09 - Mar 18 My first season was 61/2. I have supported my team through highs & lows ever since. Until this season. Stopped even listening & don't really care what the results are. This will be the first time I have not seen my team all season. I fear we have many years of lows ahead of us.
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:29 - Mar 18 Perhaps Swn98 has realised he has been kidding himself instead of us .Just cant face up on here anymore, Spain till its all over ha ha ha ha He will be back again next season backing Mick and Marcus and the other clowns as they continue to lead Town down to League 2
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sixtyblue added 19:42 - Mar 18 Will people stop mentioning Sheepshanks.He is the person who got the club in debt and then sold out to Evans.
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Dissboyitfc added 19:50 - Mar 18 Yes he did sell to Evans and i bet there isn't a day goes by when he doesn't regret it! he was after all a town fan and like all of us he always will be a town. None of that could be said about Evans or MM they really don't care about ITFC or its fans its traditions its reputation its history or its future! MUCK OUT NOW!
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Help added 20:04 - Mar 18 So season ticket prices next year will not only be the highest in league one, the championship and some in premiership, because remember if we get relegated prices stay the same as this year. I wonder if the 12,750 cut off is the balance ME will accept with the 1.5% increase. Also it is nice to see the January transfers working well and improving the team. MM and ME you are a couple of useless .... who have managed to slowly kill this club and that includes RK and PJ. If you want young people to come to the club you have to hold their interest. Children's interest is shorter than adults and if we find the football dire what do you think children make of it. Teenagers and young adults have more alternatives to choose from than generations ago and the cost of ITFC and the poor style of football means there is a real lack of interest. I have no idea if ITFC ask any fans forum but i doubt they do, and that is their biggest mistake because it appears the decisions made are done by Mr middle aged and his middle age buddies with no idea.

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westernblue added 20:12 - Mar 18 I do not agree that the half time change was in principle so bad. My concern about the manager is the seeming inability (reluctance) to go for a win - the best we can ever look for is to steal a game. As for today's performance Tommy Smith looked very rusty and ineffective. Others talk of the defence-mindedness. I agree with that, especially as the chosen wing backs can't do that job. Spence was simply inadequate, and looked like being skinned every time. Knudsen (Norwich goals apart) is not a threat with the ball going forward. Glimmers were few. McGoldrick looks class, but finds it hard to impose himself in this set-up. Lawrence looked better when withdrawn a bit into the midfield. Diagouraga showed reasonably good midfielder instincts (just basics like pass and move, looking forward). After that, despite the lack of time Rowe showed a fair bit of skill and got in a peach of a cross. Overall, the greatest worry for me is the level of work rate, for Town's is feeble. I'm really not sure what value the coaching team is adding. I hate to say it, but maybe relegation would not be such a bad thing - because otherwise I can't see any prospect of improving on these past 2-plus years of dross. Sad times to be a Town fan. Finally, the away crowd were very supportive today, even if moving in the second half towards dejection. It says a great deal about our manager that he did not move across to Town supporters to acknowledge/thank them at game's end (most players did, and good for them for that at least).

0

cornishblu added 20:17 - Mar 18 Just back...struggling to put a post together after a shambolic 2nd half....don't think anyone told our defence that at half time we had gone 4 at the back instead of 5 ...acres of space for both goals ....only bright spot was Danny Rowe coming on...looked pacy and sharp....give it a couple of weeks and mick will have knocked that out of him ....and once again no mick acknowledgement for the fans .....it's been time to go for the last twelve months ....yet no one is listening SIGH

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megamoth added 20:20 - Mar 18 Surely we have to call time on this now. Let's go head to head with the scum for Karanka and hope that Evans has something special lined up for the prestige. More likely though as we all know is that we scrape through and avoid relegation by a point and endure the same old guff next year. Sooooo tired
2

warktheline added 20:34 - Mar 18 Said a few months back that McCarthy could well take the club full circle, kept us up and then take us down! Believe me, I've seen this coming for over 2 years! Sorry, I can't remember who it was that said it prior to today's game, anyhow he described McCarthy as lazy, and that my friends is how our hierarchy have allowed this arrogant man to become. Sack him NOW and replace him with Cowley!

9

Facefacts added 20:44 - Mar 18 The Cowleys now that would be a dice roll but I think they may get other offers.
3

cfmoses added 20:50 - Mar 18 58 years a supporter and never have I witnessed a manager so disinterested and clueless. Our wing backs today failed to close down - we've seen a lot of that from the Dane this season but Spence today was roasted. The Town youngsters Emmanuel and Kenlock could not have done any worse. Fed up with 2 defensive midfielders and why Grant and Lawrence were played on their wrong side when we switched to 4 4 2 only MM knows. Only 4 of the last 8 games look ok for at least a point. Takes me back to when I witnessed Jimmy Robertson score in a 2-1 win over Arsenal that kept us up in Div 1 in the sixties. I remember the deafening roar of the crowd - it was insane and could be heard in Woodbridge! Wonderful memories in such sad times for my club.

11

sixtyblue added 20:56 - Mar 18 A who will know the amount of season tickets that will be sold next season, they cannot even give an honest total for each game this season
6

wherescounago added 20:56 - Mar 18 The way things are at present I think I'd rather see Alex Neill in charge of our club and that is saying something!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
4

PSGBlue added 21:12 - Mar 18 Just shows how standards have slipped, we. Are now 5 points off 15th. If relagated I hope MM has the decency to hand back the £1M bonus he got for keeping us up in his first season!
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wayway added 21:16 - Mar 18 When will you all realise that Evans PLC have no interest whatsoever in the actual football side of I T F C. Quite what their motives are for owning the club is open to question. My theory has been for several years that they use the club to write down the losses the club incurs on the balance sheet of the PLC as a Tax fiddle. How this is done is beyond my comprehension but what other reason do they have for being here. The reported 6 Million per year he (they) put in to the club has more than been accounted for with the sale of Cresswell, Mings and Murphy with change to spare. Sadly, until they choose to sell or are investigated by HMRC nothing will change, why would they want to sack McCarthy? They probably don't even know the results of the last few games that's how interested they are. It would not surprise me to see McCarthy still here this time next season stll trotting out the same excuses as we sit 18th in the league. As for wanting Burley back, he must be older than McCarthy and have we forgotten Finidi George, Sereni and Le Penn? Same with the Cowleys, they are great at the level they are at but can you imagine some stroppy player telling them to put their medals on the table. We lost the best chance we had last week when Mark Warburton went to Forest. But that is hypothetical, there will be no change.

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portmanteau added 21:20 - Mar 18 Steady on folks, you are so pavlovian at every setback. Losing away is par for the course. How do you think Huddersfield supporters are feeling ? Go and lay down in a darkened room for a while or you will not be able to handle the run-in.
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heathen66 added 21:27 - Mar 18 Well, on for our lowest finish in 58 years As I mentioned before the game, never out to end the run of draw with win at Cardiff Set up with the usual 8 defensive players and hoped to get something. There is no ambition, no proactiveness, just reactive and all to late. This is not Evans fault, apart from he is the one who is employing McCarthy. I believe there is enough talent in the squad but Mick has not got the tactical awareness to utilise it. Unfortunately this will mean making tough decisions and dropping some of his non performing favourites. I cannot remember ANY game under McCarthy where we have tried to take the game to the opposition, that is just not in his DNA. We have an international break now, so Evans MUST act now. What about Burley / Tarrico partnership. Something needs to be done and needs to be done NOW (well 3 months ago really !!!)

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