Bristol Rovers recorded their first victory at Portman Road since Boxing Day 1958 as the Blues were beaten 2-1 by the 10-man Pirates, their third League One defeat of the season. Tyler Smith and Tom Nichols gave the visitors a 2-0 lead before James Norwood pulled one back in the 37th minute and the Blues were unable to find a second even after visitors’ skipper Ollie Clarke was dismissed for a two bookable offences on 77.

Town boss Paul Lambert made six changes from the side which exited the FA Cup to Coventry on Tuesday.

Tomas Holy kept his place in goal with Cole Skuse skippering with Luke Chambers still out with his neck injury.

The veteran Bristolian, who was with Rovers as a schoolboy, made a rare start at right-back, the position he played at the start of his career at Bristol City, with Janoi Donacien unwell. Luke Garbutt was on the left with James Wilson partnering Luke Woolfenden at the centre of the defence.

Lambert returned to the midfield three which impressed in the first half of the 1-1 league draw at Coventry last Saturday, Andre Dozzell, Flynn Downes and Jon Nolan.

Up front, Will Keane started down the middle with Kayden Jackson on the right and Norwood on the left.

Teddy Bishop and Freddie Sears were among those who warmed up on the pitch beforehand as they continue their recoveries from injury but weren’t included in the 18.

The Pirates, wearing yellow and black, were without 10-goal star striker Jonson Clarke-Harris and full-back Mark Little along with suspended midfielder Abu Ogogo. Former Blue Ed Upson started in the midfield.

Town won a corner in the opening minute which was cleared to Nolan, who volleyed over from not too far outside the box.

However, the visitors took the lead with their first attack of the game only four minutes later.

A quickly-taken Luke Leahy long throw on the left came across the box, Clarke held off his man and Smith used the space created to beat Holy from just inside the area.

The Pirates, who last won at Portman Road on Boxing Day 1958, should have been two in front only three minutes later when Rollin Menayese was allowed a free header from a Liam Sercombe corner on the left but nodded over when it appeared easier to hit the target.

On 10 Sercombe shot not too far over from distance with the Pirates having all of the early chances.

The Blues had had one or two decent spells on the ball but without creating a chance and while looking distinctly shaky at the other end.

In the 13th minute Nolan played a clever ball through for Jackson, the former Accrington man took it past advancing keeper Anssi Jaakkola but very wide and the danger was snuffed out.

The Blues briefly started to get on top, winning a series of freekicks - with Upson shown the first yellow card of the game for a foul on Nolan - and corners on the left in the minutes that followed. On 16 Norwood might have equalised as the ball came in from the left following a flag-kick but failed to get a touch.

However, the Blues continued to look unsure of themselves at the back and misplaced passes and miscommunication began to become commonplace.

And on 25 Rovers went two in front. Alex Rodman was found on space on the right and sent over a cross which Nichols stooped to nod home at the far post.

The home crowd made their frustrations at a second Pirates goal and a disappointing Blues performance evident as the visitors celebrated.

Town were close to pulling a goal back on the half hour when Jackson was sent away on the right and sent over a dangerous low cross. Keane failed to get a decent contact on it and Nolan behind him could only slam against keeper Jaakkola as he closed the space.

The Blues were by now dominating possession and were regularly winning corners with the pressure beginning to grow.

On 36, after excellent work from Woolfenden on the left following another flag-kick, Jackson saw and effort saved by Jaakkola, then Garbutt’s powerful strike was blocked.

But Town kept the Pirates pinned back in their half and a minute later the Blues reduced the visitors’ advantage.

A slick move started when Downes flicked on to Nolan, who turned on to Jackson, by now on the left, who took the ball on before sending over a cross to the far post which Norwood breaking in from the right nodded into the net.

Having pulled a goal back the Blues went looking for another. Referee James Adcock turned down and appeal for penalty after a Norwood shot hit Alfie Kilgour on the hand, then moments later the former Tranmere man guided a Garbutt cross from the left straight into the keeper’s arms.

The Pirates were the next to threaten, Leahy sending in a 43rd minute cross for Smith whose header was well-saved low down to his left by Holy.

As the game moved into two minutes of injury time, Rovers skipper Clarke needlessly reacted to a Downes challenge on Upson, leading to a brief outbreak of handbags. Order was quickly restored and referee Adcock booked Clarke and Downes.

Town continued pressing in the final minute or so with Norwood and Nolan both having strikes blocked, before Menayese somehow diverted the ball wide of his own goal at the near post ahead of Norwood as a low cross came in from the right.

The whistle ended a rollercoaster half soon afterwards with the Blues having done enough to get themselves back on terms.

After a poor start and some very shaky defending as the makeshift backline struggled their feet and conceded the two Rovers goals, Town dominated and might have pulled one back prior to Norwood’s eighth of the season.

From there, the Blues - who had had 68 per cent of the possession - had further opportunities to score and a leveller before the break wouldn’t have been undeserved.

Town began the second half as they ended the first and came very close to having the ball in the net within two minutes of the restart, Jackson crossing from the right and Norwood heading on to the bar from a few feet out when it seemed impossible not to hit the target. The striker’s blushes were saved by a raised linesman’s flag.

A minute later, Jackson sent a low ball across the six-yard box which Jaakkola pushed past the post.

The Rovers keeper was yellow-carded for time-wasting on 50, then a minute later Woolfenden joined him in the book for a foul on Smith.

The visitors had a spell seeing more of the ball, Clarke curling over the bar before the Blues began to press the visitors back in their own half again.

Just after the hour mark, Jackson and Jaakkola collided as the keeper came out to claim the ball in front of the striker and briefly dropped it before getting his hands on it at the second attempt.

On 65 Town swapped Dozzell for Alan Judge, while the visitors switched Smith for Victor Adeboyejo ahead of a freekick on the right. Garbutt curled the ball into the box but Norwood’s header flew over.

The Blues should have levelled in the 70th minute when Skuse crossed from the right, Norwood nodded back across goal to Nolan who headed well over when he ought to have hit the net.

At the other end Sercombe blazed over, then on 73 sub Adeboyejo was found in a decent position in the area but similarly hit his effort too high.

Town hadn’t been as dominant in the second half as they had been for much of the first but again weren’t too far away from a second goal in the 75th minute.

With to Rovers players down - something which had become an increasingly common sight as the game wore on - the Blues broke and Norwood cut in and hit a shot which Jaakkola tipped over.

Rovers switched Nichols - one of those who had been on the floor - for Lucas Tomlinson with a plastic bottle flying towards the striker from the Sir Bobby Robson Stand as he made his way round the pitch, then moments later they were reduced to 10 men.

From the corner, the ball was cleared and Pirates skipper Clarke, who had left the field having undergone treatment, came back on without being waved on by the referee and was shown his second yellow card of the game.

Town began to pile on the pressure, Norwood and then Nolan both saw strikes blocked, then for Rovers Sercombe shot over following a quick break down the left.

On 87, Jackson crossed from the right and Norwood headed straight at Jaakkola before a Garbutt effort was blocked by a defender. A minute later Anthony Georgiou replaced Nolan.

Moments after the fourth official held up the board indicating five additional minutes, Judge found Jackson on the right of the box. The striker turned but shot over.

Town dominated the closing moments with balls coming into the box but with the Pirates backline and keeper remaining resolute until the final whistle, which was greeted by frustrated boos from some sections of the Blues support.

Overall, Town certainly deserved something from the game. Having given themselves a bigger task than the game ought to have been by conceding the two goals, they had chances before the break to level.

In the second half, although not as dominant as they were for large spells of the first, the Blues had opportunities to level with Norwood and Nolan both missing decent chances.

However, in the closing stages, the Rovers backline and keeper repelled everything thrown at them comfortably and they will feel they deserved their three points for their second-half rearguard action.

Another frustrating afternoon means the Blues are now without a win in their last four league games and haven’t been victorious over 90 minutes in their last seven matches in all competitions.

Town are now seven points behind leaders Wycombe and only a point ahead of Peterborough in third but with a game in hand on both the Chairboys and Posh, while Bristol Rovers, who have won their last four league games, are up to fourth, two points behind Town.

Next week the Blues have a trip to Portsmouth, who are 10th having lost 4-1 at Accrington today.

Town: Holy, Skuse, Wilson, Woolfenden, Garbutt, Nolan (Georgiou 88), Downes, Dozzell (Judge 65), Jackson, Norwood, Keane. Unused: Norris, Nsiala, Kenlock, Dobra, Huws.

Bristol Rovers: Jaakkola, Craig, Upson, Sercombe, Clarke, Nichols (Tomlinson 75), Leahy, Kilgour, Smith (Adeboyejo 65), Menayese, Rodman. Unused: Van Stappershoef, Kelly, Hoole, Hargreaves, Phillips. Referee: James Adcock (Nottinghamshire). Att: 18,806.

Photo: TWTD

brittaniaman added 18:18 - Dec 14 The Chasing teams below us are getting closer than ever if we do not get a result next Saturday we could easily lose our Auto Spot ? How Wycombe can go out and beat these teams is beyond me as they are now 7pts. ahead of us
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DebsyAngel added 18:21 - Dec 14 Terrible performance - was hoping for much better with 3 up front. Our best play was 15 mins before half time, and the great Norwood goal. Disgusted by the "fans" in the North who threw a full bottle of drink and a coin at the Bristol player going off. What does that do for our reputation just for a few laughs with your mates? We have to do much better performance wise or we will start to slip down the table. Just not good enough.

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jas0999 added 18:25 - Dec 14 This very much reminds me of a MM season a few years back, where we started brilliantly with a very average side, but ultimately fell to pieces finishing lower mid table. Far too many problems with this squad, not helped by PLs questionable rotation policy. We are not a Man City, Barcelona, Liverpool etc. Even those big teams don't make so many alterations to the team! Thought we deserved something from the game today, but our form isn't good. Performance not at all good either. PL has helped bring the club back together - full credit. This of course is the job Evans should have been doing for years. As a football manager though Lamberts record at Town is terrible. We are now struggling to win at a League One level. Too many average players. Need a settled side. Need a couple of decent additions in January with one or two moving on. Second still, but this is more than just a wobble. Need to start winning again and soon. It's such a sad reflection of how far we have fallen, that I can't even see us getting anything at Portsmouth.

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dirtydingusmagee added 18:32 - Dec 14 all those saying we are top ,then top two with games in hand ,we should be pleased !, not looking so cosy now. We just are not good enough . The support has been brilliant , cant blame the fans.
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runningout added 18:36 - Dec 14 Not sure why it's beyond you Brittaniaman. It's what a team is supposed to do. I'm hoping we switch on for rest of season. Some players aren't arrogant and ruthless enough to be playing for the mighty Ipswich ;-)
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dannyrr added 18:38 - Dec 14 I don't understand what PL is trying to achieve. In our current form we'll be lucky to make playoffs. We are currently playing like we did under MM. we look like we don't want to go past the halfway line. There is no urgency to push forward and spend our time passing backwards and sideways and to the opposition. Every time an opposition player gets sent off it looks like the opposition has the advantage of an extra player. We had 20 minutes of playing against 10 men and the opposition keeper wasn't forced to make a save unless picking it out of the air from a corner. It was like we were scared to go forward and press even fans knew time was running out but still we passed sideways and backwards. We need to find urgency to go forward and press for goals. Rovers were being give mountains of space and were gifted goals with no difficulty. The team need to start scoring goals and winning games or we will be spending another season in the awful league. I hope KVY comes back to rescue our season.

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Marinersnose added 18:38 - Dec 14 Disappointing result. PL chose a very offensive line up with three up top. Defensively we looked poor but I thought we at least created numerous guilt edged chances which earlier in the season would have been converted. Will Keane is our only fit striker with quality and he enjoyed his best game for some time, holding the ball and linking play well. I also thought Dozzell had a decent game and showed more grit and tenacity before being withdrawn. Jackson looks jaded and devoid of confidence. His touch is poor and he doesn't read the line. He was caught offside frequently on Tuesday and again today. Norwood took his goal well but missed too many chances. He should've had a hatrick today. Application is word I keep repeating but too many players are not putting it in. We are still in a strong position and I believe Lambert is doing a good job. Keep the faith. Sears Bishop KVY to return in the future but investment in quality is required to ensure promotion

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tractorboybig added 18:44 - Dec 14 yawn...motor mouth is showing his true colours. promotion? your having a laugh.
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budgieplucker added 18:46 - Dec 14 There is a danger that as the frustration builds people will be overly critical. I may well have fallen into that category in recent weeks but like many I am not convinced about the rotation policy. However in PL's defence this evening, out of the best players that were available that was arguably one of the strongest 11 that he fielded with a sense that he was prepared to go for it. Therefore, the formation was dictated by the players available. 4-3-3 can work look at Liverpool. I think a little more work is required to build that understanding but I think it can be developed if we try and keep a consistent style. It just goes to show that we all see different things in games. Contrary to the negative comments about Skuse I certainly didn't think he looked like a fish out of water. Yes maybe it was his mistake for one of the goals but equally he could have failed to pick a player up if he was playing in the middle of the park. Otherwise to fill in at full back for the sick Donacien he was reasonably competent without getting into the last third. I certainly thought Andre had a much better game than a lot of people thought and would like to see us persevere with him in this role. He tried to be the playmaker and was always making himself available. He tried to be more robust in his challenges and got a booking as a result. I don't think Judge gave us any extra when he replaced Andre. Nolan who I like a lot and would be one of the first on my team sheet but had what I thought was a very poor game today by his standards. Apart from the earlier moments in the game when we conceded two goals we dominated for 65-70 minutes but failed to take our chances or wanted too much time in front of goal. But with a bit of work I think a front three can work for us. Everybody on Radio Suffolk seems to think we should go back to a 4-4-2, I am afraid with the current personnel that I disagree. Rowe, Edwards and Georgio all for me are too inconsistent. At times they show good spells of form but much like the team performances this year they lack the final ball and touch and none of them has done enough for me to hold down a regular start. Mick McCarthy struggled for five years to find two good wingers at the same time to hold down a starting place. Tabb and Anderson both did reasonable jobs for a period in the wide berths but Tabb was never a winger.

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inghamspur added 18:53 - Dec 14 Why is Dozzell still getting picked? He's too lightweight and contributes zilch.
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inghamspur added 18:56 - Dec 14 And Wilson? Really?
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NorthFar added 19:17 - Dec 14 6 wins at home since Lambert arrived. 3 this season. Wondering why people are frustrated?
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RobsonWark added 19:20 - Dec 14 TimmyH added 17:44 - Dec 14 "Really don't think Lambert knows our best starting 11 or the formation we play best in although the majority or our success has come in the 3-5-2 formation. Heard today that West Brom and to a degree Liverpool (leaders of their perspective divisions) start with the same formation whoever they play..." Oh stop it Timmy! Paul Lambert and all his fitness coaches know better than all us paying supporters silly billy. You need to swap and change the team every week to keep every one match fit and post pone as many games as we can so that no one gets injured. We need to keep the whole team fit and match ready - don't care about they don't play as a team. As long as they are fit, not injured and ready to play when called upon - who needs the players to play as a team silly Timmy. I've been saying since the start of the season we need to play our BEST team week in week out and only make changes when someone is injured. Got disrespected on here cos everyone said trust in PL and all his fitness coaches because they know better than silly old me! I grew up in the days when we almost one the treble with 15 players!

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TimmyH added 19:39 - Dec 14 Huh! @RobsonWark...I take the above post is being sarcastic towards PL rather than myself?
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alfromcol added 20:16 - Dec 14 Still missing Chambers. Hurry back Luke.
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runningout added 20:27 - Dec 14 na Defence not the Issue
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IpswichToon added 20:29 - Dec 14 Before Kane Vincent Young joined us, I thought we were perhaps a bit lucky with some of the wins we had - in very even games, we came out on top. But KVY gave us such a spark! We finally had a player that you felt confident in to run through defenders like they weren't there. We looked unstoppable. He's the real miss right now!
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Steelmonkey added 20:34 - Dec 14 Hate to be critical, but the first 30 mins was very poor. I think we have lost our way somewhat, too many changes, too many passes sideways and backwards, and I agree with many that the biggest mistake we made was putting Skuse in at right back, as forced as he was to have to do it Lambert must take that one on the chin. I was also surprised to see Keane added to the team with Jackson and Norwood, not sure he is fully fit yet as he faded second half. I'm not the biggest fan of Dozzell, but after he was subbed we never looked like getting anything from the game imo, and as for bringing on Georgiou so late he hardly got into the game. I'm also dismayed at the comments and abuse that some in the Sir Bobby Robson lower sink to, I didn't see the bottle and coin incident but these moronic insults emanating from the crowd need to be acted upon by the Stewards, at one point one idiot directed insults at Georgiou whilst he was warming up not even realising he was one of our players till one his “mates” enlightened him. I really don't know why some think it's OK to sink to this level just because it's a football game.😡 Rant over. COYB's.

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Cakeman added 20:58 - Dec 14 An entertaining game albeit ending in great disappointment. Rovers gave it everything for the opening half an hour but they had nothing in the tank after that. We gave it a good go once we went two behind. Our line up was strong on paper but the formation was odd. One or two out of their usual positions which didn't help. It was too rigid with the three up front not really playing off each other. They just went forward in a straight line which was never going to work because we were outgunned for long spells in midfield. I think we could do with a no nonsense experienced midfielder in January. This to aid the likes of Downes and Nolan. It's strange to see us still in second place given our poor return of points recently.

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ChrisR added 21:18 - Dec 14 Almost no shots on target in last 3 home games , no penetration from midfield , and so many corners and crosses too low and aimed at the near post area .Once 2 down you just know we cant score more than 1 in reply. Nolan very poor , and Jackson is good at running fast but not a lot of use with the ball. Squad is revealed as average and even if we end up in play offs , our miserable cup record would indicate no chance there .

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warkyisgod added 21:20 - Dec 14 Another disappointing display, once again on paper not a bad looking team but why put Skuse as right back? With him now being a very senior member of the squad wouldn't he have been better at centre back with Wilson and put Woolfenden at right back? I remember a couple of seasons back at reading he played there and had a blinder and we know he is capable of taking on and beating a player. Skuse I really think now could play at centre back he's done it before and we already know he is defensive minded. My one complaint of the back four is Wilson as much as I love his no nonsense approach to defending when we are 2-1 down and 5 mins to play at this point you should be free to take risks not head out for throw in... On another day perhaps we could have bagged an equiliser and possibly a winner but this is not likely to happen if we keep defending corners with all 11 players why not leave Jackson up front that would take an extra player from our area and if our keeper can catch the ball he has an outlet to catch the opposition on the break and with Jackson's pace would scare quite a few defender's. And one final point because I could go on all night can PL please stop tinkering with the team and play the same 11 players week in week out that way who knows they will get an understanding of how each other plays, passes become natural with no thinking you know where your team mate will be. At the end of the day I would rather have points on the board now than maybe think in march our players will all be fresh as daisy's. Whinge over ITID

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RobsonWark added 21:33 - Dec 14 TimmyH added 19:39 - Dec 14 Huh! @RobsonWark...I take the above post is being sarcastic towards PL rather than myself? Yes Timmy it was about PL and all the others who posted comments about how him and his fitness coaches and all those who said they knew best lol. It wasn't about putting you down Timmy - I agree with what you said! I said it at the start of the season lolx

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mparkyn added 21:38 - Dec 14 sSkuse ar RB please ? Cotter could have been no worse. Midfield bereft on any vision in the last 3rd.
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Suffolkboy added 21:59 - Dec 14 AJ looked absolutely out of touch .lacking in class, confidence and had no real impact today ( it's difficult to see why he was brought on ) ,Nolan ,as has been said , mis delivered on several occasions and does not look capable in the box – completely missed the ball once,dreadful scuffs and rotten ball into the air ! These are professional players who know how to do many things ,but fail it appears to think things through ( if at all ) ,don't have the will to win , don't have the energy ( or is it the knowledge of how ) to get in the right supporting position either in ( crucially ) attack or sometimes in defence . It's in theses respects we've the absolute right to criticise ,and ask for better ! Come on boys ,show us you do know how ,show us you know where to be and when in support of each other and show us you know where the back of the net is ! COYB

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warktheline added 22:18 - Dec 14 So what's next? Mid table division 1 being applauded! Evans statement after relegation from Championship, ‘I'll do all I can in my power to rectify current plight ‘.....Lambert named and shamed owner before he parted with a small amount of money! But still the fools defend this Trojan horse! No automatic promotion and IF ,which is a massive IF, we make play offs we won't be strong enough! Yeah I told you so, pre season!

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