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

surgery added 19:28 - Apr 13 Waiting with bated breath for the Marcus Evans interview when he tells us how he's hurting by this disaster. Probably too busy sipping champagne with his cronies on his yacht in Monte Carlo and doesn't even know the result. Let's be honest here, with him as the owner, employing a good PR manager, who, as his recent managerial stats show is really a charlatan, who has inherited/acquired pound shop players who were playing at pound shop level for a reason, we were never likely to be good enough for this league were we?

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blueboy1981 added 19:32 - Apr 13 Nice one Geddis78 - a 'true blue' for sure.
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runningout added 19:34 - Apr 13 last 5 years maybe longer have been terrible, with pathetic shows in cup competitions, heavy defeat v Reading a while ago I harped on about showing our decline. Charging mascots!!! This years sad non ethical shirt sponsor which I detest and makes me puke. Hurst and his oppo a non starter. His excuse having a captain he was not allowed to drop!! Sir Alf, Sir Bobby and SIR Kev, will be turning in their sacred graves. Interesting how we finish this season. Next year will be tougher but for some ropey reason I'm looking forward to it, but don't expect much if big changes aren't made

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Saxonblue74 added 19:34 - Apr 13 TBT,that's incredibly contradictory! How can we assume that ME doesn't care about ITFC but some random Chineese investor who has probably never heard of us would suddenly have Ipswich written through him like a stick of rock??!! And no, I have no evidence that Evans cares, that's not something that can be quantified. I do however make the assumption that a guy who puts millions into a loss making club must like us just a little! I'd hate to see our club become just another faceless, corporate plaything for another random billionaire. First step to selling our soul has already been taken with sponsorship.

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alfromcol added 19:38 - Apr 13 Lots of experts on here again, making critical comments about the quality of specific players. Perhaps it should be a rule on Social Media that if you are critical of an individual footballer you have to tell the reader of your comments at what level you played/managed in the game. It might limit the amount of inane comments posted on this site.
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surgery added 19:40 - Apr 13 Saxonblue, isn't that what's happened?
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:41 - Apr 13 well the ''train '' has finally crashed, the wheels have been coming off along the tracks for a long time. The Marcus Evans footballing adventure has has reached its goal [ unfortunate word that,] he has got us out of the Championship ! lets hope he dosnt say his aim is to get us out of Lg1,!. Next season will be tough, and as much as like Paul Lambert ,he will now HAVE to start producing results ,anything less than a a good start to the season will soon turn things very sour.Cant have another season,blaming injuries ,bad luck ,poor referees,and inherited weaknesses. ,Time to walk the walk.

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blueboy1981 added 19:41 - Apr 13 We'll see who the 'true blues' are next season - self identifiable. In the meantime those who aren't, keep harping on about what's gone on before, criticising and continuing to inflict even more damage to our Club - at a time when it's least needed ..... !!!
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RobsonWark added 19:44 - Apr 13 Thnak you heathen66 for your post. I'm glad I'm not going mad and not the only town fan who can see how utterly useless Chambers is. Chambers, Lambert and Evans should be investigated for betting syndicates because I can not believe someone who gets paid £10,000, £15,000 or £20,000 a week can play soooooooooooooo poor every week.
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RobsonWark added 19:50 - Apr 13 midastouch "Bookmakers had us as one of the favourites to go down at the start of the season" The bookies are not stupid. They know that Chambers plays every week.
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ITFCsince73 added 19:54 - Apr 13 Alfromcol. I played at a fairly decent level. And I was better than Chambo. In fact approaching 50 now, and still better.
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TBT added 19:59 - Apr 13 Saxonblue, it's not contradictory at all. The Wolves investors show they care by attending games and joining supporters' forums. The Wigan investors appointed Joe Royal's son who is incredibly passionate about the club. Both sets of investors are Chinese and they openly demonstrate that they care. The late Leicester City boss? I'm sorry but Marcus Evans doesn't care.
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blueboy1981 added 20:03 - Apr 13 ITFC73 ....... in that case you should know better than heaping blame onto one specific player. I played, managed, and coached successfully for many years - and can prove it.
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warktheline added 20:05 - Apr 13 🙄☝️🤣
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RobsonWark added 20:09 - Apr 13 blueboy1981 added 20:03 - Apr 13 "ITFC73 ....... in that case you should know better than heaping blame onto one specific player. I played, managed, and coached successfully for many years - and can prove it". Then you should realise how crap CHAMBERS really is!!!
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ITFCsince73 added 20:12 - Apr 13 Blueboy. I don't slate captain fantastic for just being crap at football. He is the club captain, he is the leader on field. The league table isn't telling some huge lie. I suggest you look at the table, we have had no leadership on field, no fight in going down. In his role Chambo is held to account for this disaster. We have games remaining that i believe will see us finish 20 points from safety. The captaincy needs urgent redress, that much is obvious. Again the league table backs up my views.

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RobsonWark added 20:13 - Apr 13 blueboy1981 if you can't notice how useless Captain Calamity is in games when you are watching live, watch the Skysports highlights videos every week!! You can rewind and watch over and over again to see how useless he is.
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Geddis78 added 20:14 - Apr 13 Robsonwark & itfc73. Your obsession with Chambers is bordering the weird. Great, we all know you don't rate him. Unfortunately for you, the current manager does. Move on, your comments are getting boring and repetitive.
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Dog added 20:15 - Apr 13 Itfcsince73 - i played against you. You were rubbish, had the turning circle of an aircraft carrier, completely one footed, could not header the ball, no eye for a pass, lumped the ball as you panicked and always struggled with pace. You were the weak link but kept getting picked coz you turned up and always washed the kit.
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RobsonWark added 20:19 - Apr 13 Dog added 20:15 - Apr 13 "Itfcsince73 - i played against you. You were rubbish, had the turning circle of an aircraft carrier, completely one footed, could not header the ball, no eye for a pass, lumped the ball as you panicked and always struggled with pace. You were the weak link but kept getting picked coz you turned up and always washed the kit." Dog, SOUNDS LIKE CHAMBERS!!!

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ITFCsince73 added 20:21 - Apr 13 Lol Dog. Yes hold my hands up, all true. But still better than Chambo.
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Dog added 20:24 - Apr 13 RobsonWark - when Chambers goes who will you pick on next??. He's not great but he tries. You try and support the club, you're not great, but you try. We get it. Let it go now fella, as it has bordering on an obsession.
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blueboy1981 added 20:24 - Apr 13 RobsoWark ........ I have always said his ability as a player is not everything, he has limitations for sure, However his worth to the Club in may other ways is immense - anyone who keeps blaming him for everything is the ultimate deluded soul, and to keep doing so, and believe that he is nailed in the team for next season is equally as bizzare. It will not take much for 'the Wolf' to step up next year, and displace him in my opinion. But will the youngsters be up to it ? - as yet my jury is still out on the likes of Bishop, Dozzell, etc: - they've had the chance, but still not showing what they should. At some point you have to step up - you can't be a youngster forever, and have potential, without making the grade at some point. Personally, I think the youngsters have been praised too much, and therefore of the opinion that they have arrived, without actually having done so. How anyone can be so single minded to blame everything on one player is totally beyond me - and I do not wish to debate such nonsense further. Only an opinion - but mine is as good as yours, or anyone else - remember.

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ITFCsince73 added 20:25 - Apr 13 Yes Geddis78. The current manager rates him....and he's won how many games exactly? Yes other managers have rated him also....and how many games have we won in the last 75 games? Go back to sleep Geddis78.
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surgery added 20:25 - Apr 13 Dunno what this obsession with Chambers is all about. Ok, most of us realise that he is cr*p but is he really any cr*pper than the rest of them?
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