Town have a mountain to climb in 2019 if they are to avoid relegation to the third tier for the first time in 62 years with the gap to safety now 10 points following a 3-2 New Year's Day defeat to Millwall at Portman Road. Jack Lankester’s first senior goal had given the Blues a deserved 1-0 lead and Town might have been further ahead at the break, but in the second half a Shane Ferguson penalty and goals from Jake Cooper and Tom Elliott put the Lions 3-1 up before Kayden Jackson’s fourth of the season gave the Blues late hope of claiming a draw.

Lankester, Teddy Bishop and Ellis Harrison returned to a young Town side with an average age of 24.6 otherwise unchanged from the one which lost 2-0 at Middlesbrough on Saturday.

Bishop, making his second start of the season, came into midfield for Jon Nolan, who was left out of the 18, while Lankester was wide on the right, with Gwion Edwards among the subs, and Harrison the central striker. Kayden Jackson also dropped to the bench.

Myles Kenlock continued at left-back with the set-to-depart Jonas Knudsen among the subs and with Callum Elder’s loan from Leicester being formalised tomorrow.

Millwall were forced into two changes with defender Shaun Hutchinson and striker Lee Gregory missing due to injury with Murray Wallace and Aiden O’Brien coming into the team. In Hutchinson’s absence Ryan Leonard skippered, while ex-Blues loanee Ryan Tunnicliffe started.

Town’s 2019 was only two minutes old when they took the lead. Freddie Sears was clattered by Jake Cooper midway inside the Millwall half as he played the ball wide to Jack Lankester on the right.

Referee Stephen Martin played a good advantage and Lankester cut in and curled a low shot beyond Jordan Archer and into the net before celebrating his first senior goal with his team-mates. The 18-year-old becomes the first player born in the 2000s to net a first-team goal for the Blues.

The early goal unsurprisingly boosted the Blues’ confidence and they continued to take the game to the visitors and in the ninth minute they went close to doubling their lead.

Bishop found Harrison on the right and, with the Lions defence hesitant, his cross deflected into the path of Sears, whose effort at goal was blocked by Archer.

The Blues threatened again in the 11th minute, a Spence cross from the right reaching Sears at the far post but the ex-West Ham man’s shot was diverted behind by Mahlon Romeo.

The early stages had been all Town but as the match moved past the 15-minute mark Millwall began to see more of the ball, however, the Blues backline prevented them from creating an opportunity.

On 19 Jed Wallace blazed over from distance, then two minutes later Matthew Pennington did well to get across to dispose Millwall skipper Leonard as he looked to get on to a ball played ahead of him into the area. At the other end, Harrison headed a Bishop freekick from deep on the right over the bar.

In the 26th minute, a quick break involving Downes, Sears and Kenlock led to Harrison deftly controlling the left-back’s cross and hammering a shot against a Millwall defender from just inside the area.

Town almost netted a brilliant second in the 28th minute after a superb passing exchange on the right involving Lankester, Bishop and Downes led to the one-time Luton loanee finding Sears in acres of space in the middle. The striker looked set to net his fifth of the season until Tunnicliffe blocked his goalbound effort.

From the resultant corner, which like several earlier set pieces had been wasted by the Blues, Millwall broke and Jed Wallace burst through on goal with only Gerken to beat. However, the keeper was out quickly to block and Downes cleared the loose ball.

On 41 Bishop found Lankester on the right and the youngster tried to trick his way past two defenders as he broke into the box but was eventually dispossessed.

Neither side threatened again before referee Martin brought the half to a close to warm applause from the Blues support pleased with their side’s first-half display and their deserved lead.

Lankester’s excellent early strike settled Town’s early nerves and the Lions couldn’t have complained if the Blues had gone in with a greater advantage, Sears having gone close on a number of occasions.

Town keeper Gerken had only been seriously tested once with the home backline having remained resolute for the most part despite Millwall having seen more of the ball as the half wore on but with the Blues still looking the more threatening of the teams on the counter-attack.

After their largely lacklustre first half, Millwall swapped James Meredith for veteran frontman and club captain Steve Morison ahead of the second period.

The Blues began the second period on the front foot with Sears shooting high and wide having cut in from the left in the 49th minute.

Two minutes later, Jed Wallace whipped over a cross under Gerken’s bar and the keeper was forced to tip over.

In the aftermath of the corner, the ball was sent back in from the left but Murray Wallace headed well wide when he will feel he should have done better.

The Blues carved out another well-worked chance in the 56th minute, after involvement from Lankester and Downes, Bishop eventually fed Spence on the right and the full-back sent over a cross which Harrison diverted wide at the near post.

Town were increasingly looking a threat on the break and in the 58th minute, after Downes had been crowded out as he took the ball into the box, Trevoh Chalobah hit a low effort from distance Archer claimed with ease.

Millwall had shown no signs of getting back on terms but right on the hour they were awarded a penalty.

Morison nodded down for Elliott and he and Chambers tangled as they chased the ball, the Blues skipper sending the striker to ground. Referee Martin took his time before pointing to the spot, much to Chambers’s frustration. It had looked more a tangle of legs than either player fouling the other. Shane Ferguson blasted the penalty past Gerken to level.

Town boss Lambert was shown the yellow card for arguing about a freekick, before Andre Dozzell took over from Bishop, who had shown glimpses of his best before tiring. On 65 Morison was booked for a wild challenge on Chalobah.

In the 68th minute the visitors took the lead. Spence allowed the ball to run out for what Town thought would be a goalkick, however, referee Martin gave a corner. After it was initially cleared, Morison hooked it back into the box from the right, Elliott nodded back across and Cooper headed home from close range.

Chalobah made way for Jackson in the 76th minute as the Blues moved to 4-4-2. But before the switch could make an impact Town found themselves 3-1 behind.

Pennington underhit a backpass to Gerken, Elliott seized on it and stabbed towards goal. Chambers forced it away but not out of play and O’Brien backheeled it back to Elliott who found the net.

Harrison hit a deflected shot through to Archer as the Blues looked to regain a foothold in a game which had so swiftly run away from them.

And with just under two minutes remaining, they pulled a goal back. Harrison was thwarted as he broke into the area on the left but sub Jackson picked up the loose ball, brought it inside and smashed home from the edge of the box off the inside of the post.

The late goal and the fourth official’s board indicating six additional minutes got the Town crowd vociferously behind their side.

The Blues won late corners with keeper Dean Gerken going upfield to assist his team-mates and following the second flag-kick Lankester teed-up Harrison on the edge of the box. His low shot flew through a crowd of players but Archer was able to claim down to his left.

However, Millwall eventually saw out the final minutes to claim their first away win of the season and to deal Town’s already fading hopes of survival a very serious blow.

It was a game which Town, whose players were warmly applauded off the field at the end, ultimately needed to win to maintain the previous seven-point gap with Rotherham winning 2-1 at home to Preston.

And it was a match they ought to have had won in the first half having had a number of opportunities to extend the lead gained via Lankester’s goal.

Millwall hadn’t looked like getting back into the match until the penalty which was one you’d feel you should have be awarded if you’re a striker but seems harsh if you’re the defender.

From there, the Lions grew in stature, while the Blues wilted and gifted goals via the type of errors which have become all too familiar over the season.

Even with the planned January addition of experienced Championship players to the squad, 10 points - plus goal difference - looks too much of a gap to be bridged.

The Blues are next in action at Accrington Stanley next Saturday in the third round of the FA Cup with Rotherham visiting Portman Road in the league the following weekend.

Town: Gerken, Spence, Pennington, Chambers (c), Kenlock, Chalobah (Jackson 75), Downes, Bishop (Dozzell 65), Lankester, Sears, Harrison. Unused: Bialkowski, Knudsen, Edwards, Roberts, Nsiala.

Millwall: Archer, Cooper, M Wallace, Romeo, Leonard, J Wallace (Karacan 90), Tunnicliffe, Meredith (Morison 46), Ferguson, O’Brien, Elliott (Webster 82). Unused: Amos, Skalak, Brown, White. Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire). Att: 16,957 (Millwall: 985).

Photo: TWTD

Ipswichbusiness added 18:27 - Jan 1 At the end of the season, when we look back, we may well reflect that that second half relegated us. We now need promotion form to get us out of trouble and I can't see it coming.
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Fansince72 added 18:28 - Jan 1 Just got home from the game ..... it's like watching a dear old friend die a slow, lingering, painful death. I still visit him every couple of weeks ... He sits up in bed then smiles and chats, but after an hour he just falls into a fitfull slumber with memories of years ago. He's been a good friend for over 45 years, but the outlook isn't good. I'll be glad when it's all over and he's in a happier place. It's very sad indeed !

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blueboy1981 added 18:28 - Jan 1 Lambert will know exactly what he wants - but getting them in will be almost impossible. If he does, he will have achieved the unexpected already - today's loss will have changed his thinking - after today it's League 1 as an absolute certainty. Just accept it - instead on running on about mathematically this, mathematically that - it's purely hypothetical now.
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Bert added 18:31 - Jan 1 London Blue. Actually Spence is very bright and articulate but perhaps he needs to go to Specsavers with today's ref. Today was about personal mistakes, not Evans or Hurst. Plenty of teams with no investment survive but today we may as well scored two own goals. Perhaps Millwall paid the ref.
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MonterreyBlue added 18:33 - Jan 1 Potentially we have the nucleus of a very good squad for league one. - Players that should leave our wonderful club at the very earliest opportunity: Spence, Knudson. - - Player who should return to the club asap: Josh Emmanuel. - Critical we do not sell any of our youngsters, as not only are they “our own and full of potential” but for their own careers will be best served instead of being stuck in the U23s of a prem club or being loaned out. - Addition of 3-4 experienced players and a year in league one for our youngsters to progress and gain experience would see us come back up with a much improved team who would be going into their most promising (and valuable, should we sell any of them) period. - Imperitive we keep Lambert, guy knows his stuff. Trying to put a positive spin on a disappointing time for our fantastic club.

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StowTractorBoy added 18:36 - Jan 1 A gut wrenching result after a very promising first half where the game should have been put to bed with us missing two golden chances. Sadly our once great Club will play in the third tier of English football next season and you really wonder what the consequences will be. We will not get the millions from TV money and unless Evans greatly reduces admission/season ticket prices crowds will dwindle. With this in mind I fear for the future of our academy as it is now, and to all those moaning and groaning about Evans please be careful what you wish for as who else is going to pour money into a dying swan. With reference to the performance today we were excellent in the first half but our back line is pants with the worst right back the Club have had in a long time. The back line has never been good enough since we let Berra go. Too many bad decisions made by the Club mainly because the owner trusted the plans of Paul Hurst by fully supporting his transfer business. Feel some sympathy with Lambert and just hope he does not jump ship before next season. Sad times for the once mighty Ipswich Town.

2

happybeingblue added 18:37 - Jan 1 Lambert and his staff lost their heads on the sidelines and got booked that seemed to effect the players, spence switched off again some nice pockets of play first half from Lankester bishop linking up and I knew at ht with it only being 1 nil it was ominous. Chambers ballsed up again after talking some rubbish after the Boro game ,Dozzell spraying some nice passes when he came on , I believe we are as good as down I have thought it since qpr at home but you live in hope At least the football is better but lambert is doing wonders with his pr work but really not any better position wise than when hurst was here

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heathen66 added 18:42 - Jan 1 I see that Paul Hurst is getting the blame for a lot of this however it is not Paul Hursts signings that are making the mistakes week in week out they are Micks right hand men. The first half was as good as we have seen for a few years with the young guns dominating play, however poor finishing from Sears and a bit of bad luck restricted us to 1-0 at HT. There was no way Neil Harris was going to let this carry on so predictably made changes with Steve Morrison coming on to provide arial power and bypass our midfield. However we done nothing to combat this at all with now both Elliot and Morrison dominant. This is naive from Lambert and from the senior players. And then there is the defence (Kenlock apart) who are mistakes waiting to happen. Paul Lamberts reluctance to play Hursts defenders is costing us dear. Donacien and Nsiala can surely do no worse...and if they do what have you lost !!! Lambert talks about new signings, but the defence is where the team needs most attention. The midfield was good today and if defended properly we would have won 1-0 or 2-0. Great to see the youngsters (Bishop, Lankaster, Downes Kenlock, Chalobah and Bishop) passing and moving along the ground at pace. it was such a refreshing change instead of rolling it to Chambers to aimlessly hoof. Harrison Lankaster and Chalobah were the standout players IMO

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delias_cheesy_flaps added 18:43 - Jan 1 Just how many more mistakes do Captain Calamity and Frank Spence have to make before someone somewhere realises they are firkin sh!te.
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blueboy1981 added 18:43 - Jan 1 I loved the first half today, the team had everything other than the clinical finishing to have gone in 3-0 up - had that happened - game over. I hated the second half, and I am still numb at what I saw. Still cannot believe it. there can be no excuse from any single player for that. Whatever Paul Lambert thinks, and says about that - every single one of the players let him down second half collectively. They should be ashamed, because of the fact they proved what they could do first half - Millwall should have been buried after 45 minutes. It's a hard life being a supporter of a Club that means so much. Don't we know just that ?

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Cakeman added 18:44 - Jan 1 It is quite astonishing how we managed to lose that one. Millwall were dreadful first half and we were as good as I have seen for a long time. Our young midfielders ran the show and the Lions had no answer. Unfortunately, collectively our young midfield ran out of steam. This is understandable given that (Chalobah aside) they have not had many match day minutes plus the enormous effort they had put in during the opening half. No back-up action plan owing to lack of experienced players to call upon. Only Chambers and I know he gets a lot of stick has the experience needed. It is unfair to plant that on his shoulders alone. We are now suffering from the loss of the prized assets we once had. Very sad days and I am sorry to say I just cannot see us turning this round soon. We are without doubt on our way to mirror the likes of Coventry, Blackpool and Portsmouth. At least that's how I see it.

3

Marinersnose added 18:48 - Jan 1 Lambert has to be applauded for the positivity he has installed in this below average squad. If only he'd been here from the start i genuinely feel we would have a strong squad a be in the top half of the table. Lambert has no magic wand and has been dealt a terrible hand particularly when it comes to the defenders. Our current defenders are as bad as I can remember and sadly the same players are making mistakes game after game. Those players are Spence Chambers and Gerken. Knudsen would also be on the list if he was playing. The club has some exceptional young talent but they need wise heads around them in order to gain experience and develop. Very sad times but I remain positive that the good times will return under Mr Lambert .

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Umros added 18:50 - Jan 1 Come out, come out Evans wherever you are...........say something man. One poxy interview in 10 years is utterly disgraceful. You need to stand up and tell us what your intentions are.......yes I'm staying and this is how it is or if you were a real man, hold your hands up and offer the club up for sale, sorry Ive failed would at least leave you with an ounce of dignity. Just do something and stop hiding away from the real fans. Season ticket renewal time will be a panto itself, lets see what great deal the club will come up with with the offer of 3rd tier football. Picking and choosing in an empty stadium is looking the best option........

9

woohoo added 18:58 - Jan 1 So sad to see this dismal state of affairs at ITFC. Hope that ME funds some decent signings to allow PL to at least try to save us from relegation. If he doesn't then why would PL hang around - and if we lose him, who would want the job next? Sad days indeed.
2

happybeingblue added 19:02 - Jan 1 Hurst 9 Pts from 14 lge games lambert 6 pts from 11 games ,not including millwall away when Klug was in charge 11 for 22 conceded with hurst 10 for 21 conceded with lambert so although he is proving to be a better pr man ,no better with results, but let's see if he is given any £by Evans but think it will be shopping at Poundland as we know it sigh
2

robmonkey007 added 19:25 - Jan 1 How we walked away losing that I have no idea. Dominated 5he first 30, but then allowed them to rattle us. Spence did ok first half, but only because he didn't have to defend at all. Got shown up second half. And to make it worse, he struts around arrogantly and has no fight in him. Needs to be dropped. Signs of very exciting football but need to psychologically switch on. Best game by Harrison. Great control and gave their wobbly centre backs a hard time. Good to have bishop back. Looked good on the ball and tracked back well. Really wish people would get off ME back. He's invested a lot of money in the club and we are now league one bound. I hope he keeps lambert and backs us to get back up. #upordown,supportthetown

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BlueandTruesince82 added 19:28 - Jan 1 Frankly I'm not sure even signing the avengers can keepnus up.
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blueboy1981 added 19:31 - Jan 1 And who's going to take over Evans ownership ............. ??????????? Several saying that's what should happen - but realistically - give me REALISTIC answers to the question. Not a believer in 'be careful what you wish for' - but put your answers forward - more than happy to be convinced if practicable, and sensible suggestions are forthcoming. Fire away - to who it concerns.

3

Umros added 19:34 - Jan 1 Godolphin........
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alfromcol added 19:35 - Jan 1 I like and respect Lambert, but how the hell can he justify Spence in the team week in and week out? The lads a joke. My heart sinks when I hear he is starting, it means that we have given the opposition a 1 goal start. Hey ho, what do I know?//
2

Bluearmy_81 added 19:37 - Jan 1 Really wish people would get off ME back. He's invested a lot of money in the club and we are now league one bound. Robmonkey, this makes you look so stupid. Its like you don't understand football. What is fcuking wrong with you?! It's because of people like you giving him an easy ride for so long and letting him chronically under invest without protest that we are in the mess we are.

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Dissboyitfc added 19:38 - Jan 1 Well thats all folks! Lets start with a couple of positives, Great to see the bish back and somewhere near his best, Lancaster what a player he is/will be! Football first half was at times very entertaining! I love the fact PL tries to win games, under a previous manger we would have parked the bus after going ahead so early, but not PL he just goes for it! Now the negatives, Spence was awful, he adds something going forward but only trots back slowly when an attack breaks down and what was he thinking of to watch that ball go out for a corner, it clearly looked to come off Pennington to me . And the Hospital ball back to Gerken from pennington what was that all about? Again we had an awful referee, cant believe some of those decisions. I am not an Evans fan, but you cant blame him for the stupid( i dont want to be disrespectful to sunday football) sunday football mistakes! I do think we are down now because we cant seem to perform for 90 mins, we have needed total concentration for every minute of every game, this is not happening, without it we are down! I want to finish with something that upsets me nearly as much as our present plight and that is the smugness and self righteousness of the so called fans who are on here with their" you were wrong to try and be positive, i told you we were down" attitude! those people need to look at themselves! they are not true supporters, no true supporter should be enjoying this for any reason. the smug ones seem to be lapping it up!!!! how sad is that!

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robmonkey007 added 19:38 - Jan 1 Bluearmy81.....who do you see lining up to take over? If you think there's some oil tycoon with billions looking to invest the lot then you are deluded. ME has spent his own money to support the club. Try opening your wallet instead .....your comments definitely aren't helping. Wake up and get real you goon.
2

Bluearmy_81 added 19:40 - Jan 1 Rob monkey what is the main job of an owner?
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Bluearmy_81 added 19:40 - Jan 1 You complete pr#ck
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