Kayden Jackson nodded his first Championship goal as the Blues held second-placed Brentford to a 1-1 draw at Portman Road. Neal Maupay gave the Bees a deserved 31st minute lead in a first half the visitors dominated but Town were much better after the break as they came back to claim their fourth home draw of the campaign with Jackson heading the equaliser on 73.

Boss Paul Hurst made five changes to the team which lost 2-0 at Hull on Saturday with Janoi Donacien, Trevoh Chalobah, Kayden Jackson, Ellis Harrison and Grant Ward returning to the side, while Jon Walters, as expected the mystery pre-match doubt, missed out. Gwion Edwards, Jon Nolan, Jordan Graham and Flynn Downes all dropped to the bench.

The Blues lined up in a 3-5-2 system for the first time under Hurst with Donacien at left-back, Jonas Knudsen on the left of the back three and Grant Ward, Cole Skuse and Chalobah in midfield. Harrison and Jackson were up front.

Prior to kick-off there was a minute’s applause for Blues legend Kevin Beattie with former team-mates Allan Hunter, Terry Butcher, George Burley, Clive Woods, John Wark, Roger Osborne, Brian Talbot, Steve McCall and Bryan Hamilton among those paying tribute to the player widely viewed as the club’s greatest ever from the touchline.

Twelve members of the Beattie family were at the game as guests of the club, while his daughter Emma and grandson Keiron walked out with the teams.

In the third minute, Said Benrahma cut in from the left and hit a shot which Dean Gerken claimed down to his left.

A minute later, the Blues’ keeper’s heart may have been in his mouth after Maupay took the ball past him when through inside the area and went to ground. However, referee Darren Bond felt the striker had dived and correctly showed him a yellow card.

Almost immediately, there was a similar incident at the other end with Harrison felled trying to go round Bees keeper Daniel Bentley but the former Southend man had got a touch on the ball and Town were given a corner.

As the clock ticked past the six-minute mark the Portman Road faithful again showed their appreciation to Beattie, six having been his usual shirt during his heyday.

Early Blues attacks were a rarity with the visitors enjoying the lion’s share of the ball and putting Town under pressure. On 10 a low Romaine Sawyers flew across the Blues’ six-yard box and was almost inadvertently turned in to his own net by skipper Luke Chambers, the ball narrowly squirming past the far post.

The Bees continued to threaten on a regular basis, Matthew Pennington clearing Maupay's header from a Henrik Dalsgaard cross, then Sawyers shot over.

Town created their first opportunity in the 17th minute. Knudsen’s shot was deflected behind and from Ward’s corner Pennington’s header appeared not to be held first time by Bentley but Chambers was unable to get to the loose ball before the keeper pounced upon it.

But Brentford continued to look dangerous with Town giving the ball away in their own half on a number of occasions, much to the crowd’s frustration, and in the 31st minute the West Londoners went ahead.

The ball was cut back from the right by Sawyers beyond Ollie Watkins but Maupay behind him arced a header into the top corner.

The Bees had thoroughly deserved the goal on the balance of the game and forced Gerken into another save soon afterwards, Sawyers hitting a low shot which the keeper stopped to his left.

Brentford, every bit as slick as their league position suggests, continued to dominate with Town pegged back on their own half for long spells and losing possession almost as soon as they regained it. On 44 Gerken saved from Benrahma from distance.

Just before half-time Pennington made a strong run out of defence and looked to thread in Jackson, who ended up on the turf as Bees skipper Chris Mepham challenged. Referee Bond, after some deliberation and a look to his linesman, gave a corner.

There were a few muted boos at the whistle after a half in which the Blues had been thoroughly out-classed. Town had struggled to get any foothold in the game, having looked uncomfortable with the new system and lacking in confidence, and might have found themselves going in more than the single goal down.

Perhaps unsurprisingly, manager Hurst rang the changes at half-time with Nolan and Edwards taking over from Harrison and Spence as the Blues switched to their more usual 4-2-3-1 system.

Chalobah rather embarrassingly screwed a shot from distance out for a throw soon after the restart, however, the Blues were making a bright start to the half.

On 50 Knudsen forced Bentley into a save at his near post after good work from Ward and from the corner the Blues again went close.

Bentley failed to claim and Jackson hooked over his head off the bar and the Bees subsequently defended desperately to force the ball away from goal. Eventually Ward was fouled out on the left but the freekick came to nothing.

Town continued to put the Bees under pressure with the visitors now the ones struggling to get out of their own half.

However, on 57 Brentford broke quickly with Benrahma eventually teeing up Watkins on the left of the box but his shot was well saved by the advancing Gerken. Soon after, Yoann Barbet was booked for bring down the breaking Ward.

The Bees switched Benrahma for Sergi Canos in the 59th minute, then moments later Gerken again did well to come off his line quickly and save from Maupay after a flowing Brentford move had worked the Frenchman a chance in the area.

The West Londoners came within a whisker of making it 2-0 in the 64th minute when Barbet’s freekick from just outside the area crashed against the bar with Gerken beaten and Town were able to clear the loose ball.

Nico Yennaris replaced Josh McEachran for the Bees in the 69th minute with the Blues’ earlier pressure by now having subsided.

However, in the 72nd minute Town equalised. Ward fed Chalobah on the right and the on-loan Chelsea man dug out a cross to the near post from where Jackson flicked a header across Bentley and into the far corner of the net.

Increasingly confident Town, looking a totally different side to the one which was so poor before the break, continued to take the game to the visitors, although with Brentford still threatening at the other end on the break.

In the 78th minute Maupay was swapped for Alan Judge, then six minutes later the Blues switched Chalobah for Downes.

Jackson, whose pace was much more of a threat in the second half, hit a 25-yard effort which was easy for Bentley in the 84th minute.

Seconds after the game moved into injury time the Blues might have won it. Downes sent Jackson away towards goal on the right of the area but the earlier scorer smashed his shot into the stanchion.

Knudsen was booked for a foul, then moments later the final whistle was blown, this time to applause from the Blues support.

Games of two halves are relatively commonplace but rarely are two periods quite so contrasting.

The Blues, with owner Marcus Evans watching, were every bit as dreadful in the first half as Brentford were impressive. But after the break, having made their changes of personnel and system, Town looked a different side with the visitors, who will feel they should have had the match won in the first 45 minutes, the ones finding themselves under the cosh for spells.

Brentford still had chances in the second half with Pennington again excellent at centre-half and Gerken making two or three sharp saves, but Town were much, much better.

However, eight games in, while still unbeaten at home - four successive draws - they remain searching for their first win with Bolton - who play at Middlesbrough tomorrow - visiting Portman Road on Saturday.

Town: Gerken, Spence (Nolan 46), Pennington, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Donacien, Chalobah (Downes 83), Skuse, Ward, Harrison (Edwards 46), Jackson. Unused: Bialkowski, Graham, Edun, Kenlock.

Brentford: Bentley, Mepham, Maupay (Judge 78), McEachran (Yennaris 69), Watkins, Mokotjo, Sawyers, Benrahma (Canos 60), Dalsgaard, Konsa, Barbet. Unused: Daniels, Macleod, Clarke, Jeanvier. Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire). Att: 14,897 (Brentford: 453).

Photo: TWTD

mow_the_lawn added 23:18 - Sep 18 “with Pennington again excellent at centre-half” Have to disagree with that. He reminds me of Berra in that without the ball he looks ok (i.e. tackling and heading) but with the ball at his feet he looks nervous and can't seem to make simple passes as demonstrated by being unable to find an unmarked Gerken from 30 yards away within the first minute and near enough again a few minutes later. When he did have time he just looped aimless balls into the channel when Skuse, Chalobah and later Nolan were all showing for the ball 10 yards in front of him. That said, he did make a vital block late in the second half from a goal bound shot.

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budgieplucker added 23:19 - Sep 18 We certainly make life difficult for ourselves. Spence and Knudsen will never be wingbacks in my lifetime. There were hints of Mick in trying to stop Brentford's free flowing football by playing deeper and with more defenders, even with a tighter centre of the park Brentford easily played in triangles around us. Our dead ball delivery and even our attacking of dead balls is very very poor. Even with a very good second half display we didn't work the goalkeeper outside of getting the goal. Now on to the positives: Jon Nolan and Gwion Edwards, just to remind people these guys came from Division 1. Whereas lots of posters seem to think we have recruited badly by going to the lower leagues. Jackson scores a great goal. Playing to Hursts second half shape meant we could force the ball through the midfield rather than trying to play within the midfield spaces. Brentford were then unable to control the game. Grant Ward looks better for having the competition from other wingers and had a very good swcond half. Matt Pennington looks as if he could be a good acquisition. Ironically we played better with 1 up front and two supporting wingers and Nolan racing to get forward to support than having two centre forwards which forced us into more of a longer ball game.good I will take a draw and move on but the table doesn't lie, you have to make chances to score and win games, despite lots of good enterprise in the earlier matches and the second half this evening we still look short on firepower. To a large extent you make your own good luck we still need to do a lot more to tip luck in our favour.

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BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 23:21 - Sep 18 Shockingly poor first half mainly due to the formation. Second half different story, with some bright play at times. Draw fair result. Shocks me how many people are happy though. Rock-bottom of the Championship, used our game-in-hand, not won a game of football and people are praising how great things are. Makes me wonder if this area has been taken over by Norwich fans. They will be happy with where we are and the results we are obtaining.

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shakytown added 01:16 - Sep 19 Now stick with the side from the second half for 5 games and let them gel. Spence was the worst iv'e ever seen in a town shirt and needs a real bad rev up or goodbye forever. These players need to be desperate to win every minute of every game like the opposition teams are.
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Steelmonkey added 05:35 - Sep 19 Couldn't be at the game as on holiday in Crete, I would dearly have liked to have been there to pay my respects to the Beat. So I can't and won't comment on the game. All I'll say is that a draw against a Brentford side in their current form is no mean feat given our manager and team with all our additions are needing time to find their feet and adjust to the riggers of the championship.

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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 05:56 - Sep 19 Well, I'd given up all hope after the first half and just resigned myself to League 1. The second half was better, but I still didn't think we'd score; and I expected the usual: a bit of an improvement and then the opposition get the second goal and it's all over. Luckily, it didn't happen that way. What still worries me most is our lack of goal threat. By the law of averages, you'd think we would score now and then, and Jackson managed it at the right time on this occasion. But we are going to need to score goals a lot more often to win three points, and we seem to have very few opportunities in matches to do this. I still think we'll do well to avoid League 1, but at least there is a bit of hope again after the second half. COYB!

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jas0999 added 06:20 - Sep 19 Well I'm sorry, but I don't agree with the vast amount of above comments. The first half was arguably one of the worst I've seen. I very much want Hurst to succeed, but he got it completely wrong. Second half was better and in the end a deserved point. Brentford might be a good team, but since when has a point at home to them been ‘very good'? Probably shows what a bad position we've in when folk are pleased with a home point. No wins on eight and out of the cup. Not good.

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Dissboyitfc added 06:48 - Sep 19 becarefulwhatuwish4... nobody is happy with where we are, well maybe a few MM lovers are! people are trying to be patient and want PH to succeed. Shocks me how anybody is upset MM has gone! Poor first half, better second half, where the goals are coming from is a worry!
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marinerswagepacket added 06:57 - Sep 19 first half was a total shambles , second half was a bit better just through effort ... Spence is woeful, chalobah is not ready for championship football week In week out , I really hope I'm wrong but when huws comes in and dozzell if results don't change Hurst will be gone by November... worrying times at our beloved club .. Hurst dosnt know what his strongest team is , it dosnt matter what we think it is the manager must know and he dosnt .....I.T.I.D

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grumpyoldman added 06:58 - Sep 19 Total mistake voting JD down, apologies.
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GiveusaWave added 07:38 - Sep 19 I'm mystified by most of the above comments.... The first half was Sunday League poor....second half was better and in the end we just about deserved a draw. Just about...we should have been 3 or 4-0 down at half-time. What mystifies me is how happy some of the above comments seem to be. I'd never usually side with BEcarefulwhatuwish4...but it's staggering that fans seem so happy with a home point and our position in the table. Anybody who dares to question this is immediately classed as a "hater". I don't hate Hurst and very much want him to succeed...but anyone who is happy with our present predicament needs to take a look at themselves. As jas0999 pointed out...when have standards fallen so low? I'm equally mystified by some of the team selections...but I'll save that for another time.

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Cakeman added 07:39 - Sep 19 Not sure where we will end up this seaspn but it is certainly unpredictable and for the large part entertaining. To be honest I wouldn't know what are strongest team is. Edwards is a cut above and has enormous potential. The rest I see a lot of effort but not consistent quality. I am a Bart fan but I must say Gerken has played very well. He made some good saves last night. Not sure we are going to see Huws and Dozzell much this season so we are probably going to have to stick with what we have for a few months. I enjoy going to Portman Road again but I cannot see too many wins ahead this season in all honesty.

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Felstow1978 added 07:42 - Sep 19 Town draw, 37 posts. Town lose, at least a hundred more. Says it all about the culture of this site.
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Essexipswichboy added 07:50 - Sep 19 The only positive thing at the mo for me... Is that PH is realising how bl**dy niaeve he has been. And that some of the personnel are not up to it.. PH is trying to mix it up a bit but he is looking desperate Only a big win against Bolton this weekend keeps his job Trouble is a big win means lots of goals..... Oh dear.....
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dirtydingusmagee added 08:05 - Sep 19 Crazy team selection for first half ,thankfully rectified in second, Decent second half ,but in all honesty that was more by comparison .A long long way away from whats needed if we are to survive this season.Thought there would have been a bigger turn out last night to be honest ,for The Beat, .
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Swn98 added 08:09 - Sep 19 1 point is better than none against a far superior team still finding it hard to see where the required points are coming from to avoid the drop. Still hope springs eternal.
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martin587 added 08:33 - Sep 19 I will agree with some posters,the first half was far worse than last Saturdays debacle at Hull.To be brutally honest it was terrible. Whatever was sad at half time proved to be a tonic as we played with more determination and commitment so the same and Saturday and more. The substitions proved to work ok and the overhead kick deserved a goal.Having said that against a very good footballing side I was very pleased with at least one point. I would love to see Dozzell given game time against Bolton.If he can play 90mins on Monday and come through ok why cannot he start on Saturday.(I'm very puzzled about this situation). Saturday is becoming a must win game now otherwise the pack above will be moving away and then the pressure mounts. PH is still learning and I will always support him BUT he has to make brave decisions in this league so Dozzell on Saturday please.A couple of changes in midfield and we will get the three points we need.

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IpswichT62OldBoy added 08:48 - Sep 19 Without doubt the football has been more entertaining. The Hull match and the first half last night were horror shows but hopefully we have learned something from that. I was impressed that he made changes last night and turned things around, shows intelligence and humility. The general atmosphere around the club is so much better, despite our league position. Still unbeaten at home. We will be alright.

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itfckal added 09:01 - Sep 19 Good result, showed fight and Saturday would be the perfect time to turn it around COYB
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tebbo28 added 09:04 - Sep 19 smurfsareblue - Agree with most of what you said. I personally think Spence is being made a scapegoat for a truely awful team performance in the first half. Donacien showed he is just as capable as wandering out of position on the left as he does on the right. However, I can't agree with your thinking that Harrison is better than Jackson. His first touch was awful and didn't threaten the goal once. Ward was completely lost as a pseudo no.10 but what a transformation when he went back out wide in the second half. And apart from the cross for the goal, Chalobah was also very poor. Also for those who are berating the comments in praise of 'getting a draw against Brentford', firstly that is totally disrespectful to a team who have improved year upon year in the Championship and are near the top totally on merit. They should have been out of sight by half time so we should take the positives. Secondly, we are also where we are in the table 'on merit'. We have started poorly, no question, and I don't like being bottom, but we are still in September for goodness sake and I know we can improve.

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rugbytomc added 09:15 - Sep 19 Genuine question - as opinions vary - but for those who said Chalobah and Nolan did well, please could you give me your opinion on what they did well? What I saw at the game was Chalobah is too lightweight, rushes passes, occasionally keeps hold of the ball and passes square (that's a positive), doesn't close down doesn't chase the ball down, doesn't show any desire or fight or hunger. Exactly the same as Ward. Only Chalobah is young and could improve whereas Ward i think we will only ever see glimpses of his ability it fits and starts (frustratingly). Nolan is far too lightweight and slow. Yes he makes himself available for the ball but only then to flick it away or lose it in possession. I thought he either looked uncomfortable in his position or just out of his depth at this level. I'd give him a go playing deeper alongside Skuse (as i don't think Skuse and Chalobah works as a combination but Chalobah did well when he came on for Skuse against Naaarich). I saw it, and I heard other people say it, we need to get the ball down and pass it - so we need a better midfield. We also could do with a bit more height - i think Pennington has done brilliantly, but he's about a foot shorter than Tommy Smith and we lack much threat with all the balls we put into the box last night.

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Wickets added 09:29 - Sep 19 Our goal was a bit more than a nod ! Phil .
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marco007 added 09:47 - Sep 19 The funny thing is that last season's go to players (Knudsen, Skuse and Chambers) are always picked. Think Chambers is ok, without being outstanding, but I just do not see what Knudsen brings to the table. Maybe they are picked on their strong characters rather than their footballing abilities! Still, after 9 games and a pre-season Hursty looks unsure of his best starting 11 or a formation but I guess that can be expected with 12 players coming in at various stages. Hopefully things will settle down real before the gap at the bottom becomes too large. Let's hope for 3 points against Bolton

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BeattiesBackPocket added 09:48 - Sep 19 The first half wrong formation and nobody seemed to want the ball. Spence very poor. Second half makes changes and a completely different team. At least that's an admission that he got it wrong and changed it as soon as he could something our previous manager would have never stubbornly done. We wont play many better teams at Portman Road this season and if we play like we did second half we will climb the table no worries.

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TimmyH added 10:06 - Sep 19 Yes just to add...happy we got back in the game last night after lets face it after Paul Hurst's formation cock up/change of personnel of the 1st half but have to agree with some posts that we're now 'happy' to get a point against a 'very good' Brentford - standards have dropped at this club but apparently this is accepted presently as we have a new manager and due to his wholesale changes and continually chopping and changing the line up needs to be given time. STILL no win folks! Brentford have been 'raped' of their players over the last few seasons and have a relatively small budget so maybe we should have one of our scouts or spy's go over there and discover their formula.

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