Town’s relegation to the third tier for first time in 62 years was confirmed after a 1-1 draw with Birmingham City at Portman Road. The visitors took the lead in the seventh minute via Lukas Jutkiewicz before Gwion Edwards netted the equaliser a minute after the restart. The Blues had the better of a second half in which Alan Judge hit the post but were unable to find the winner which would have put off a relegation which has seemed inevitable for some months for a further week.

Boss Paul Lambert made four changes to his team with Josh Emmanuel returning for James Bree, who was among the subs, at right-back with James Collins at the centre of the defence alongside skipper Luke Chambers and Toto Nsiala among the subs.

In midfield, Flynn Downes and Trevoh Chalobah dropped to the bench with Cole Skuse back in his usual deeper role, while Gwion Edwards returned from a groin injury to take up his position on the right of the front three with Andre Dozzell returning to the central trio.

Birmingham made two changes from the team which drew 1-1 with Sheffield United in midweek with Kerim Mrabti and Jota taking over from Jacques Maghoma and Connor Mahoney.

The game couldn’t have got off to a worse start for the Blues with the visitors taking the lead in the seventh minute via the first serious attack of the game.

Maxime Colin brought the ball in from the right and cut across to Lukas Jutkiewicz, who slammed his third goal against the Blues this season into the roof of the net from a matter of feet. The former Burnley man, who scored both his side’s goals in the 2-2 draw between the teams at St Andrew’s earlier in the season, won’t score an easier goal this season.

The Midlanders threatened again three minutes later, Che Adams hitting a low shot through to Bartosz Bialkowski in the Town goal.

The visitors kept up the pressure and on 11 Adams hit a cross-shot from the right of the box which the sliding Jutkiewicz was just unable to reach.

Town had still to get going and on 15 Mrabti smashed a shot against Chambers following another dangerous Birmingham move down the right.

A minute later, the Blues struck their first shot of the afternoon, Myles Kenlock bringing the ball in from the left before hitting a right-footed shot over the bar.

But it was still mainly Birmingham and in the 22nd minute a loose ball ran to Jota on the edge of the box from where he struck a powerful shot which Bialkowski did well to save across to his right.

The visitors continued to dominate and went close again just before the half hour when Adams cut back to Jota from the left but the former Brentford man shot against Jutkiewicz. In the 31st minute Edwards was shown the game’s first yellow card for a foul.

On 37 Jutkiewicz hit a freekick well into the Sir Bobby Robson Stand, which was more than making itself heard despite the lack of anything to cheer on the pitch.

A minute later, Judge forced Lee Camp into his first save of the afternoon, the veteran keeper tipping over the Blues midfielder’s freekick from 30 yards out.

Collins was cautioned for a foul on Adams on 42, then Skuse picked up Town’s third yellow card of the half for a late challenge on Adams three minutes later, Gary Gardner curling the resultant freekick high and wide.

In injury time Chambers joined Skuse in the book for a foul on Adams as he broke towards the area. The Birmingham number nine took the freekick himself and shot low through to Bialkowski.

That was the last action of a half in which the Blues never got going following the early visitors’ goal. It was certainly Town’s poorest home 45 minutes for a while.

Birmingham had been well in control through and had had more than enough opportunities to increase their lead with Town’s only efforts Kenlock’s shot over the bar and Judge’s late freekick.

The Blues will have to be very much better in the second half if their 17-year stay in the Championship isn’t to end with a whimper.

Town swapped Dozzell, who had had a quiet first period, for striker Kayden Jackson ahead of the second half, and a minute after the restart they levelled.

Following a throw on the left, sub Jackson sent over a sublime cross to the far post where Edwards evaded his dithering full-back to smash into the net.

The Blues suddenly looked a completely different team and within a minute almost went in front.

Emmanuel crossed from the right and the stretching Judge hit a volley back across Camp but off the post. Harlee Dean somehow scrambled it away from Bishop and behind before the midfielder could stab the rebound over the line.

Town kept up the pressure and Jackson wasn’t too far away with a shot which flew just past Camp’s left post.

The visitors, somewhat shell-shocked by the Blues’ second half transformation, eventually regained something of a foothold and conjured Adams a chance with a well-worked move which the striker hit straight at Bialkowski from the edge of the box.

Birmingham threatened again on 57 via Mrabti, who shot wide on the turn, with the game increasingly end to end and open. Four minutes later, Collins was replaced by Nsiala, presumably due to a knock or niggle.

Town had what looked a decent shout for a penalty in the 66th minute when Collin Quaner appeared to be haul back as he sought to get on to Edwards’s cross from the right but referee Jeremy Simpson - an official not usually shy when it comes to awarding penalties - waved away the protests.

Jutkiewicz headed over for Birmingham in the 78th minute, then two minutes later Kristian Pedersen was booked for a foul on Edwards on the right touchline. A minute later Nsiala joined him in the book for a challenge on Jutkiewicz.

As the game entered its final five minutes the Blues again began to put the visitors under pressure.

On 86 Judge again wasn’t far away from his first Town goal after Jackson had laid back Edwards’s cross from the right. However, Camp made an impressive save to his right.
"Seconds later, Kenlock cut in from the left and struck a shot which deflected wide off a Birmingham defender.

The Blues kept up the push to keep their Championship status alive for another week during injury times, Edwards hitting a powerful shot having been found in space which struck a defender.

The Sir Bobby Robson Stand was still singing loudly and defiantly as the final whistle and confirmation of the Blues’ drop into League One came, ending 17 years in the Championship.

And they continued to sing, if anything more loudly, as manager Lambert brought his players over to the penalty area to pay tribute to the club’s support after the most disappointing of seasons.

Having been poor in the first half, the Blues were much better after the break and would have deserved the three points had they been able to take a chance with Judge unlucky not to claim his first Town goal when he hit the post.

In the end the Blues had to be content with their 12th 1-1 league draw of the season, not enough to extend what was effectively a battle lost long ago into an additional week.

Town next travel to Preston on Good Friday for the first of four now-meaningless games from their perspective, ahead of their first season at third tier level since their 1956/57 Third Division South championship campaign under Sir Alf Ramsey.

Town: Bialkowski, Emmanuel, Chambers (c), Collins (Nsiala 61), Kenlock, Skuse, Dozzell (Jackson 46), Bishop, Judge, Edwards, Quaner. Unused: Gerken, Chalobah, Downes, Bree, El Mizouni.

Birmingham: Camp, Colin, Dean, Morrison, Pedersen, Jota (Mahoney 70), G Gardner, Davis, Mrabti (Maghoma 90), Adams, Jutkiewicz. Unused: Trueman, Harding, Roberts, C Gardner, Vassell Referee: Jeremy Simpson (Lancashire). Att: 17,248 (Birmingham: 1,582).

Photo: TWTD

blueboy1981 added 17:52 - Apr 13 jason0999 - none of us can do anything about the past - forget it, and move on, that's the direction that some control can be over. We HAVE to look forward. Every single one of us - unfortunately some will harp on about this, that, and the other, but will change NOTHING. No names mentioned but some will blame Evans, and Chambers, for months, and possible years. PATHETIC. LET'S ALL MOVE ON - WE ARE WHERE WE ARE. WE CAN MOVE IT FORWARD AGAIN.

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Saxonblue74 added 17:53 - Apr 13 Jas0999, I don't see that we will sell any of our better (high earning) players. The statement of intent behind the Judge signing tells me that. Robsonwark, your obsession with our captain is tedious!
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blueboy1981 added 17:55 - Apr 13 Let's blame Chambers - as a 'true blue' through and through - some of you DISGUST ME in doing so. Therefore STOP pretending you're one - you NEVER WILL BE .......... !!! or Know the meaning of one.
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TBT added 17:58 - Apr 13 Please could people face up to the fact that Marcus Evans bought this club to impress his rich mates. He supports Chelsea, he doesn't go to Ipswich matches, he wasn't there today BECAUSE HE DOESN'T CARE. He throws us two or three morsels of business speak a season and holds a SCRIPTED interview with the obsequious Mark Murphy once a year, the man is a disgrace. He had a box for the WBA game instead of being in the Directors' box and sat there laughing all night with his London business cronies. Marcus Evans has put us here and you are kind enough to forgive him. Where is right now? In our hour of need? Shocking.

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blueboy1981 added 17:58 - Apr 13 This will sort the SUPPORTERS from the PRETENDERS - already started ..... !!!
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blueboy1981 added 18:08 - Apr 13 Let's all join FACE ACHE - and sign a petition shall we ?? That's even sadder that we have such so called SUPPORTERS - than relegation. Any objection against the Owner is pointless - without an alternative - which NONE of you have, but you have plenty of criticism ....... !!!! I wonder why .... ???
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Carberry added 18:09 - Apr 13 Blueboy you can't just make it better by thinking you can. You have no control, the owner is the owner, the manager is the manager and the captain is the captain. And as long as the owner is in charge there will be no transformation, even with your support. He has proved to all of us over the last 10 years that he has no idea how to run a club. It's the embarrassment of it all that gets me, it's a disaster and Evans has shown no sign of caring. It will be just another problem in his in tray on Monday morning.

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Marinersnose added 18:09 - Apr 13 Sad day for the club and I was there to be part of the history. First half was woeful but the second half was an improvement. I still feel that too many players don't appear to be good enough and that without several additions we will find it hard in league one. I'm stilling not sure about either full back defensively as both appear fragile. Kenlock destroyed today especially for the opening goal. Skuse is also a worry as he has slowed considerably this season and his passing is getting worse. Edwards also too lightweight and falls over too often however he scored which is a bonus. Dozzell also quiet today. Positive players were Judge, Bishop and Jackson when he came on although his touch is appalling. Crowd were again unreal. I want to see more hunger in our players as league one will be tough for such an average bunch. COYB

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TractorBoyBeags added 18:10 - Apr 13 Will Marcus Evans have shed a tear? I doubt it, I reckon he checked his wallet and got on his yacht... what a ****
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blueboy1981 added 18:11 - Apr 13 OUR CLUB NEEDS YOU - QUIT THE CRITICISM.
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pragmatic added 18:12 - Apr 13 Completely agree Blueboy 81, people have aired their opinions about why!! But whilst very dissapointed like life we move on regroup mentally & physically & come July look forward with renewed optimism,
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Saxonblue74 added 18:15 - Apr 13 TBT, I credit ME with more intelligence and maturity than to spend (and lose) millions of his own money for no other reason than to "impress his friends"!!! Blueboy1981, couldn't agree more. I'm sure there's a long list of billionaires just queueing up to throw fortunes at a lge1 club in massive debt (a debt that some will probably blame on Chambo, everything else is his fault😂).

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blueboy1981 added 18:15 - Apr 13 A few Canaries in disguise on here, and prevalent - we know who you are - self identifiable, Einstein not required ...... !!!
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tractorboybig added 18:16 - Apr 13 we are rubbish open your eyes face reailty
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Bluearmy_81 added 18:16 - Apr 13 Blueboy, I have to say your ignorance is staggering. It's true that spending 20-30m is no guarantee of success/promotion but a certain amount does have to be spent in the championship to be competitive/not staring relegation in the face. Minus 16m spend in 6 years is no where near enough and pretty much guaranteed our relegation, it was just smarter of time. For you not to be able to see this fact and to join the dots is unfathomable.

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Bluearmy_81 added 18:18 - Apr 13 Just a matter of time
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carsey added 18:19 - Apr 13 I'm disappointed and angry and sad that I have witnessed the relegation of my club with so little obvious fight but it has been coming for many years since Evans took over and decided it was good idea to fire Jim Magilton and employ Roy Keane. He was given relatively speaking loads of money in an effort to get us promoted but it never happened and Evans decided he wasn't going to throw anymore money at it. I have been fortunate to have seen the Robson years, Joe Royals exciting attacking football and George Burley's wonderful flowing passing game. McCarthy did a great job keeping us up when he arrived but he was not one to change his style or attitude and we stagnated to such a degree that supporters got bored and in the end fell out with him. This season we just haven't been good enough defensively and having allowed all our goal scorers to leave, ineffective up front. I shall be there next season because I support the club and team and I hope Paul Lambert deliverers on what he has promised.

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DebsyAngel added 18:20 - Apr 13 Awful first half (and the hail did not help!). Second half a lot better and dominated the game, but once again, a terrible referee and just sheer bad luck (the hit post and Camp's save). A sad day indeed - but if we get a settled team, a decent pre season, we could do very well.
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blueboy1981 added 18:24 - Apr 13 A sobering thought is that Fleetwood Town still use fish boxes as seats ..... !!!
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NorthLondonBlue2 added 18:26 - Apr 13 Been supporting Town for 41 years. Sad? Disappointed? Upset, even? You bet. Back next season? Damn right!
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blueboy1981 added 18:28 - Apr 13 Bluearmy_81 - DON'T call me ignorant. Understood ?. Abuse from behind a keyboard is cowardice. And also the lowest form of wit.
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blueboy1981 added 18:29 - Apr 13 ....... no more than expected tho', when one falls short of words. You know who you are.
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jas0999 added 18:29 - Apr 13 Blue boy1981 - as I've said to you before, you are very quick to shout when someone challenges your opinion, yet you seen incapable of respecting anyone else's. I completely disagree with you. We should be proud of our history and thoroughly disappointed that it has come to this. We shouldn't forget our past successes nor forget the great managers and squads we once had. I'd be grateful if you could at least accept that others are entitled to an opinion even if it doesn't match yours.

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runaround added 18:29 - Apr 13 We were poor in the first half but much better in the second half & probably just about deserved a win but, as we have been all season, we just weren't quite good enough. In my 41 years of supporting ITFC I never seriously thought we would be relegated to the third tier but we have & deservedly so. Players,fans, staff & manager gave everything today & the devastation of the players and coaches at full time was plain to see. They seemed to almost be taking in the massive support they were getting knowing that it's “nae normal” & just not knowing what to do. The support of the crowd is unbelievable & hopefully that will continue as we can make a massive difference in league one. I think the reality of it will only hit once the fixtures come out in June but I do believe we can come back stronger as a club for this as long as everyone keeps their cool & focus on how to improve. The recovery starts now. Let's do this

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jas0999 added 18:31 - Apr 13 Saxonblue - time will tell, but I suspect we will see a sale or two in the summer. Bart will likely move on as I doubt we can afford his £18K per week in league one. We will see.
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