Town recorded their fifth successive home draw at the start of the season as Bolton Wanderers left Portman Road following a hard-fought 0-0 stalemate, despite having been a man down for 47 minutes. The Trotters lost Marc Wilson to a red card on 34 after he hauled down Kayden Jackson but the Blues only created one serious chance - a Luke Chambers header brilliantly saved by Ben Alnwick - having been reduced to 10 men themselves late on when Jon Walters suffered an injury with all three substitutions already having been made.

Toto Nsiala returned to the Town starting line-up following the completion of his three-game suspension for his red card at Sheffield Wednesday.

The former Shrewsbury man is started at the centre of the defence alongside skipper Luke Chambers with Matthew Pennington moving to right-back with Janoi Donacien dropping out.

The St Lucian was again the loanee to miss out on a place in the matchday squad - only five are permitted in the 18 - with former Jon Walters fit enough to take a place on the bench after his achilles injury.

Bolton made four changes to the team which lost 2-0 at Middlesbrough in midweek with Mark Beevers, David Wheater, Gary O'Neil and Josh Vela dropping out of the starting line-up in favour of Wilson, Erhun Oztumer, Will Buckley and Craig Noone.

Jason Lowe scraped a weak shot wide for Bolton after five minutes following a long throw in an opening 20 minutes of little penalty area action. Town had most of the ball but without creating an opportunity.

On 21 Wilson scuffed a volley wide at the far post from a Oztumer cross after a corner, but Town were in control of the game even if they’d not been able to test Bolton skipper and keeper Alnwick.

In the 29th minute Grant Ward was bundled over by Craig Noone just outside the area on the left and Gwion Edwards, who had already sent in a couple of potentially dangerous crosses from the right, hit a powerfully-struck freekick into Alnwick’s midriff.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 34th minute when Wilson was shown a straight red card for denying Jackson an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Ward did superbly on the left to bring the ball out of a tight area following a Bolton attack, then sent Jackson away with a superb pass. The pacy former Accrington man burst away beyond Wilson, who dragged him back as he broke towards the area with only Alnwick to beat.

Referee Stephen Martin immediately awarded a freekick - with Town making few protests that it was a penalty - then showed Wilson his red card to little complaint from the Trotters players.

As Ward prepared to take the freekick, which was deflected wide off the wall, Bolton boss Phil Parkinson swapped Oztumer for Wheater.

A minute before the break, Trevoh Chalobah was booked for a foul on Will Buckley with Town subsequently making heavy weather of clearing the danger from the freekick and subsequent corner.

Town had continued to enjoy a great deal of possession and had passed the ball around confidently, although largely in unthreatening areas but still without testing Alnwick.

Seconds before the whistle, Ward ended a long spell of Town passing by scraping a shot well wide.

It had been a first half of few incidents aside from Wilson’s red card, which looked the correct decision, the Ireland international had been caught out by Jackson’s blistering pace.

Neither keeper, however, had been forced to make a save in the entire 45 minutes in which Bolton perhaps had the better of the chances - or perhaps more accurately half-chances - with the Blues backline not always defending with confidence.

Chalobah was replaced by Tayo Edun ahead of the second half with the Blues starting on the front foot.

On 47 Pennington scuffed a shot wide from distance after an Edwards cross had been cleared, then Jon Nolan mishit a bouncing ball well wide from 25 yards out.

Town, with Edwards and Ward having swapped flanks, continued to dominate possession but struggled to find a way through the unsurprisingly deeply encamped 10 men of Bolton. In the 59th minute Nolan found some space to hit a shot but curled it well wide.

Five minutes later, Nolan crossed into the box after a corner had been cleared and Nsiala nodded over.

Despite having had all the ball in the second half the Blues were still to test Alnwick and on 71 manager Paul Hurst made a double change.

It was little surprise that Walters was added to the attack alongside Jackson with Jordan Graham joining him on the left of a four-man midfield with Ward and Cole Skuse making way.

Walters hadn’t had time to make any impact before he pulled up with what looked like a recurrence of the achilles injury which saw him miss Tuesday’s game against Brentford in the 81st minute as he chased a ball on the right of the area.

The clearly anguished Ireland international was treated on the pitch before eventually making his way around the peripherary to the tunnel alongside physio Matt Byard with the game now 10 versus 10.

Bolton suddenly saw the chance of what had looked an unlikely victory and the Blues found themselves under pressure for the first time. On 83 a loose ball fell to Wheater inside the Town box but Chambers slid in to block.

Three minutes later, the Blues went close as close as they would come to a goal. Graham’s freekick from the left was flicked on towards the top corner by Chambers but somehow Alnwick was able to get across to brilliantly paw it out for a corner.

Despite the numbers having been evened up the game had returned to the pattern from prior to Walters’s injury.

Edun was booked for a foul in injury time as Town kept pushing in the closing stages but without being able to find the goal which would bring them their first win of the season.

The final whistle was greeted by boos - brief but far louder than than those at half-time on Tuesday - and then muted applause as the players left the field.

Having played 47 minutes with an extra man Town missed a big opportunity to finally grab that elusive first win of the season.

The prodded and probed but only seriously threatened once when Alnwick superbly saved Chambers’s header.

In some ways Town might have been better off had Bolton not been reduced to 10 men, the Trotters having defended staunchly and in depth after the red card. A more open approach from the visitors with 11 players might have suited Town more.

The draw will up the already significant pressure on manager Hurst, despite the Blues having climbed a place off the bottom of the table on goal difference courtesy of Sheffield United’s 3-2 victory over Preston, former Blue David McGoldrick having scored the late winner.

Town have their next chance to finally end their winless run and reduce that pressure when they travel to Birmingham - who won 2-1 at Leeds today - next Saturday.

Town: Gerken, Pennington, Nsiala, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Skuse (Graham 71), Chalobah (Edun 46), Edwards, Ward (Walters 71), Nolan, Jackson. Unused: Bialkowski, Harrison, Spence, Downes.

Bolton: Alnwick (c), Olkowski, Hobbs, Wilson, Grounds, Williams, Lowe, Buckley (Wildschut 87), Noone (Donaldson 90), Oztumer (Wheater 36), Magennis. Unused: Matthews, Vela, Doidge, O’Neil. Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire). Att: 14,755.

Photo: TWTD

TimmyH added 22:22 - Sep 22 The above poster just reminded me, the signings of Sereni, Finidi and Le Pen in 2001 were largely due to Romeo Zondervan our European scout at the time though Burley was in charge but that was many a moon ago and he certainly bought some decent players in on reasonable priced transfers whilst we were in the Championship, Mathie, Taricco, Holland, Petta, Johnson etc
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ITFCsince73 added 22:43 - Sep 22 Yes SWN98. Chambo Skuse top draw today. Then go missing in the next 2 games. We're starting to understand that maybe some of the newbies, maybe struggling to get up to standard. Chambo and Skuse haven't been up to standard for as long as I can remember.
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Umros added 22:48 - Sep 22 Chambers, Skuse and Knudsen best on pitch? Laughable. Chambers couldn't even play a five yard free kick in the first half and put us in trouble. Couldn't pick a man of match today. All very average, many below. Nolan for me is the most frustrating....... Powder puff performance. I don't really know where we go from here to be honest, apart from division 1. We have sold 42 goals out of the team and are now paying dearly.

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Vanisleblue2 added 22:58 - Sep 22 Start our young players not 5 loanees. (Dozzell is fitter than Walters and more effective than Edun) Morris is a goalscorer and needs to be on the bench Sell Waghorn and get average players, no one can score a goal! I honestly think Mr. Hurst you have to get a win in the next 3 games or you will be out.
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bingboast added 23:21 - Sep 22 Where is Sears - striker of proven pedagree at this level.
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CraigEdwards added 23:28 - Sep 22 I think we maybe heading down to div 1 . ME doesn't give a stuff about the club he just wanted to lower the wage bill and advised pH to get the best from League 1 . Unless he sell and get someone to invest a think the club may die.
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CraigEdwards added 23:28 - Sep 22 I think we maybe heading down to div 1 . ME doesn't give a stuff about the club he just wanted to lower the wage bill and advised pH to get the best from League 1 . Unless he sell and get someone to invest a think the club may die.
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algarvefan added 23:35 - Sep 22 I was only thinking how ironic in midweek that our Under 23's were top of the league and the first team bottom. I think Hurst seems hell bent on standing by the players he has signed and some of the pro's he inherited, I guess that's fair enough, except it isn't working and we just don't look like a team capable of scoring. Jackson and Harrison have proved poor signings who are obviously struggling at Championship level. Rather than churn out the maximum number of loanees every week how about giving some players from the Under 23's a game? Surely the couldn't be any worse than the dross I watched today? I have been mightily impressed by the Under 23's, maybe against Birming ham we could rest the first team and play the youngsters, at least they are a 'team', the current bunch play like complete strangers without a leader!!!

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bingboast added 23:40 - Sep 22 How many games are needed for ME to recognise the mistake of swapping McCarthy for Hurst - clearly demonstrated throughout all this seasons games PH is out of his depth.
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Zondervanromeo added 23:49 - Sep 22 Bet sears would score more goals in League two than the newbies &Can't make the match day squad
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dubblue added 00:18 - Sep 23 When are we going to get our Hurstexit??? Agree he is out of his depth, he inherited a reasonable squad - as I said before Mick had to go but he was a canny operator on the transfer market. Hurst did not get a transfer budget - he had to transfer one of our crown jewels (Waggy), not to mention Garner. He has not spent wisely. I am not even sure if he has had been given all of the money we got from the sale of Waghorn/Garner/Webster. But that is down to the man who brought us Keane, Jewell and now Hurst ....ironically Evan's only good move was Mick and that did not end well.

2

Minneapolis_ITFC added 01:17 - Sep 23 Whose idea was it to sell on your best players and replace them with kids from lower league and exchange one inept bore ass manager for another ? Seriously the decisions that are undertaken by some within our club and borderline insanity. Was skeptical when Paul Hurst was brought in, I'm skeptical this club can achieve anything so long as the new manager and owner remain in position. Stuff all that "it's too premature to be making judgments" bullsh1t, the club finds itself in a mess. It can't be overlooked, stay as it remains and the only thing to look out for by end of season is staying clear of the relegation zone. And that really isn't much of an objective or what any one team should aspire to.

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Michael101 added 05:58 - Sep 23 Yes sears a proven scorer his last goal was in 1872
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geminimustang added 06:47 - Sep 23 Don't be surprised to see MM back until the end of the season only.Evans would have to pay him handsomely and MM is pig headed enough to come back and prove the doubters wrong.He wouldn't stay,just come back,stave off relegation and walk away with a shed load of money.
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MmForPm added 07:11 - Sep 23 Skuse is so good that Bolton left him spare the whole time lol was basically ten v ten whole game they was willing to give him as much time as he wanted because he is never going to make anything happen.
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Zondervanromeo added 07:14 - Sep 23 Yes Michael101thats sort off my point as can't see Jackson or Harrison scoring at this level either
1

Chondzoresk added 07:14 - Sep 23 I hope to god that we get out of this mess. My huge concern is if, and if we go down, could we hold our own in league 1. Jeez, this is so depressing. My son went yesterday and told me it was abject and poor. He couldn't find any positives. Mr Evans, you need to sort out. Mr Hurst, the buck stops with you regards what happens on the pitch too.
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thundercat600 added 08:07 - Sep 23 Now we can see why the players that Hurst brought in were playing in the lower leagues, if they were good enough to play in the championship they would have been been snapped by a championship club, but they are not and were not
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ipswichone added 08:10 - Sep 23 everything said is true,is turning into 1st division squad,maybe ph thinks he is still at shrewsbury,lol
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thundercat600 added 08:20 - Sep 23 fans wanted Mick out and I think that they were all hoping that he would be replaced with a good championship manager. I could run through their names but when Hurst name came into the frame some people jumped up and down with glee because they had got what they had wished for a young go ahead manager. No more need to be said, they got what they wanted as well as egg on their faces.

2

Les57 added 09:01 - Sep 23 So with 20% of the league completed we have 5 points. Multiply that by 5 and we finish with 25 points. Do not think that will be enough to at least remain in this league somehow. Sad really when even though we do not have pots of money we should be good enough to at least be competing for the playoffs. Our current manager has changed too much too quickly and will live to regret it when ME pulls the plug on his reign. Get ready George Burley / Terry Butcher to try and help our club out of the mire

1

Dissboyitfc added 09:04 - Sep 23 Sad times indeed, certain MM lovers are loving this! these people are not ITFC supporters ! They should be very ashamed! We are in a bad.way but not for one second do I think Mm should have stayed, with hindsight it's possible ME has appointed the wrong man, give him till the end of October!
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Tractorboy1985 added 09:38 - Sep 23 ⬆️⬆️⬆️ It's nothing to do with loving mc carthy.. it's appreciating a good manager with F all funds given to him and still we competed! This numpty has had 5/6 million and bought pub players!! Wake up!! Yes mc carthys football was dire and boring but I don't see a lot different.. just with worse players!! The buck stop with one man though and whilst he owns this club we will continue to fail.. clueless how to run a football club!!

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Essexipswichboy added 09:43 - Sep 23 I think most were in agreement it was time for a change yes. Had MM done a bad job... No We all just wanted a some new ideas and different style of football yes. This time last year we had enough points on the board so there would never be any talk of relegation... The only talk maybe was playoffs... After all we had a sniff before and MM was recruited because he was proven to get a team out of this league!!!! Also remember some of the youngsters that we all desperate to see were injured while playing in last year's campaign!!!! So a new manager... All summer waiting for him he comes in dismantles that side with complete arrogance He thinks he can do better than proven MM He thinks league 2 players are better than the academy He gets 9 players in in a fortnight and then says he needs more... That's a whole team He let's 2stikers go because he thinks he knows better He loans out our youth He even talks of loaning out bishop and Dozzel.. So their injuries are managed by others He plays a ridiculous one up front He now goes on record saying I didn't think I'd be under pressure so early He has not won a game. He couldn't even beat a 10 man Bolton at home. Still want to give him time? Noone wants this club to become a hire and fire like so many other clubs But Noone wants to go down Change Now

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Dissboyitfc added 09:51 - Sep 23 I am talking about the Mm fans loving the present demise, with the” be careful what you wish 4” .!!!!!!! And now pleased with things so they can be smug!
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