Town missed the chance to make up points on leaders Wycombe Wanderers after drawing 0-0 at home to Gillingham. The Blues, who are back up to second, started very slowly but improved, however, were unable to find the goal which would have ended their League One winless run, which has now stretched to six games.

Boss Paul Lambert made three changes with Janoi Donacien returning to the XI at right-back in a 4-4-2 system with Luke Garbutt on the left and Toto Nsiala and Luke Woolfenden the centre-halves. Skipper Luke Chambers was suspended for one match after Saturday’s red card, while Will Norris continued in goal.

In centre midfield Cole Skuse, who captained, was partnered by Jon Nolan with Alan Judge returning to the starting line-up on the left and Gwion Edwards on the right. Flynn Downes dropped to the bench.

Kayden Jackson was back up front alongside James Norwood with Will Keane among the subs as was Freddie Sears, in the 18 for the first time this season following his ACL injury.

Gillingham fielded an unchanged team from the 3-1 home victory over the MK Dons with former Town academy youngster Stuart O’Keefe in their midfield and ex-Blues loanee Ben Pringle on the bench.

As the lunchtime heavy rain continued, and with Luke Garbutt off the pitch having what appeared to be a problem with his boot attended to, the visitors struck the first shot in the second minute, Norris saving to his right from Brandon Hanlan. From the resultant corner, the ball was cleared to Olly Jones, who blazed over.

The Gills continued to look the more threatening side with the Blues’ forays forward breaking down too easily. On 13, after a mix-up between Nsiala and Woolfenden, former Colchester man Mikael Mandron curled a shot not too far wide of Norris’s right post.

Two minutes later, Nsiala allowed Hanlan to get away from him on the Gillingham left after failing to read the ball on the wet surface but got back to slide in superbly and take the ball away from the Gills forward well inside the area to the left as he prepared to shoot past the advancing Norris, who was also felled by the former Shrewsbury defender’s challenge.

On 23 Norris inexplicably kicked the ball straight to Mandron just outside the area but fortunately the immediate opportunity was snuffed out by Nsiala and Woolfenden and when it was played out to Thomas O'Connor on the left his low shot was easy for the relieved keeper.

Four minutes later, with the Blues still struggling to get going with the visitors having adjusted to the conditions far better than Town, Norwood was booked for a foul on Gills skipper Max Ehmer.

The Blues’ first chance came in the 32nd minute from a Garbutt freekick from deep. Norwood’s knee diverted it to Judge, who turned it into the path of Jackson as he tried to go past a defender on the edge of the box. The former Accrington striker’s first shot was blocked by Ehmer and his second from a tight angle flew into the side-netting.

On 36 Judge hit the first defender with a freekick from the right, then subsequently played the ball out after it had been returned to him, leading to a smattering of boos.

Moments later, with Town starting to get on top and show more of a threat, Norwood flicked a cross from the left towards goal but didn’t get enough on it to divert it past Gillingham number one Jack Bonham.

The Blues continued to see most of the ball and in the 39th minute, after a long spell of possession, an Edwards cross almost found Garbutt breaking into the box at the far post.

Town were suddenly on top and in control with Gillingham unable to get out of their half but with the Blues unable to carve out a serious chance.

But as the game moved into injury time, Town should have taken the lead. Judge picked up a loose pass just inside the Gills’ half and played it into the path of Jackson to his left.

The striker broke past a defender with Norwood unmarked and in space in the middle calling for it. However, the Blues’ number nine expected Norwood to hold his run and cut back behind him as the ex-Tranmere frontman continued to break into the six-yard box. Just before the whistle, Nsiala was booked for pulling back Hanlan on the right.

There were muted boos as the half was brought to a close. The Blues had started very poorly and allowed the Gills to have much the better of the first 25 minutes or so before finally finding their feet.

Town then had the visitors pinned back in their box for a brief spell before the Gills forced their way out before the Blues had their big chance which Jackson and Norwood should have turned into the game’s opening goal.

After an unconvincing first few minutes, the Blues began to get on top and in the 52nd minute Edwards sent in a dangerous cross for Jackson but the striker mistimed his header and the ball looped high and wide.

Three minutes later, Jackson broke away down the left following a Gills corner and his low cross towards Norwood was deflected only just past his own post by a visiting defender.

In the 58th minute Nsiala painfully collided with one of the metal gates on the front of the stand as he slid in to try to prevent the ball from going out for a corner. The central defender was fine to carry on, but not until after O'Keefe had tried to forcefully rip the ball from his hands as he was lying on the ground, for which he was spoken to by referee Craig Hicks.

Town were in control of the game but without creating too many openings, while having the odd moment of hesitation at the other end with the conditions not helping.

On 63 a deflected Nolan cross-shot ricocheted across the area and wide, then five minutes later a Skuse effort from distance looked on its way out until it hit Edwards on the arm and bounced through to Bonham.

In the 70th minute Jackson found space on the left of the box and teed-up Judge, who looked set to shoot but played into the path of the ex-Accrington striker, who had failed to continue his run.

Bonham failed to collect a cross from the right, then Nolan struck a shot which was blocked as Gillingham briefly teetered.

But after Bonham had been visited by the Gillingham physio, the Blues’ momentum subsided and on 77 the visitors, hardly involved from an attacking perspective since half-time, came close to a goal.

The ball was allowed to run to O’Connor in space from the right on the edge of the box but Nolan somehow diverted it wide.

The visitors threatened again as the game moved into its final 10 minutes, Norris saving superbly from Lee, before Garbutt diverted Ehmer’s follow-up off the line and wide.

A minutes later, Sears was introduced for Donacien, the striker receiving the biggest cheer of the afternoon having been sidelined with his ACL injury since February. On 85 Mandron was replaced by Alex Jakubiak for the Gills.

The visitors began to look the more dangerous side as the game moved into its final minutes. In the 87th minute Ehmer nodded down at the far post from a corner and Norris kept it out before Edwards cleared.

Moments after the fourth official’s board had announced five additional minutes, Judge was yellow-carded for a foul on Connor Ogilvie, then Edwards joined him on the book for a late tackle on Alfie Jones, who subsequently had his name added for kicking the ball away to waste time.

Town were pressing as the final whistle drew closer but the Blues were unable to find the goal which would end their winless league run.

The end was greeted by louder boos than at half-time after another frustrating afternoon at Portman Road.

The Blues were the better side for much of the second half but again without ever really convincing and not managing a shot on target.

Crosses flashed across the box and shots were blocked but Bonham wasn’t forced into a save and the best chance of the period fell to O’Connor for the visitors.

Despite Town again failing to win at home - where they have still only won only three times this season - the Blues are back up to second, a point ahead of Oxford, who are ahead of Peterborough, who were beaten 3-0 at home by Doncaster, on goal difference. The Blues are now six points behind leaders Wycombe, who were defeated 2-0 at Portsmouth.

The Blues are next in action at Lincoln on Sunday before they travel to face the Chairboys on New Year’s Day.

Town: Norris, Donacien (Sears 81), Nsiala, Woolfenden, Garbutt, Edwards, Skuse (c), Judge, Nolan, Jackson, Norwood. Unused: Holy, Dozzell, Huws, Keane, Wilson, Downes.

Gillingham: Bonham, O’Keefe, Ehmer (c), Ogilvie, Hanlan, Mandron (Jakubiak 85), Fuller, Jones, Lee, O’Connor, Tucker. Unused: Walsh, Hodson, Ndjoli, Charles-Cook, Pringle, Marshall. Referee: Craig Hicks (Surrey). Att: 22,082 (Gillingham: 576).

Photo: TWTD

HackneyBlue added 19:09 - Dec 26 You can not blame players,if they are not good enough they are not chosen,if they are good enough but out of form they are then rested,if they do not suit system they are not chosen,only the manager decides who should play so its down to him,he may know something we dont.
-1

HackneyBlue added 19:14 - Dec 26 every one saying glad to see Freddie back but surely this just makes things worse as its another player in the ever increasing pool to chose from. Gillingham one last week and they were unchanged ,surely thats not allowed ,thats an unfair advantage,no wonder they looked more cohesive and in this division as well.
3

Dolphinblue added 19:23 - Dec 26 What a bunch of whingers...joke supporters on here 😂😂😂
-7

TimmyH added 19:28 - Dec 26 Look Dolphinblue turns up!...where have you been? we all support the club and want the best and rightfully point out we are 2nd but by god this league is dreadfully poor and don't think we're playing any better than last season (just shows the difference in quality between the Championship and league one)...and if we carry on like this forget the play-offs. Saying that great support today but didn't deserve to see that dross (what I've heard).

2

Bildestoned added 19:43 - Dec 26 That was a hard watch. 160 mile round trip and treating my student son into the bargain. I got the impression that had we gone a goal down at half time some of the crowd would have left! We were SO poor it would have sent a message. We looked once again like a team of strangers. I heard on the drive back that Fred at Man U has just had a huge run of consecutive games; have we even one player that can claim that? I've been Lambert's biggest supporter and he has achieved much but this seems now to all have been OFF the pitch and that only gets us so far. I'm seriously considering directing my pension elsewhere in the coming weeks. I'd be interested in the stats for the amount of passes midfielders have played to our strike pair too.

1

tractorboybig added 19:56 - Dec 26 97 mins at home against gilliingham WHO?? not a shot on target and as I write motormouth is still in the job??????
0

londontractorboy57 added 20:13 - Dec 26 It was better we went down than keep MM quote the numbskulls
-3

jas1972 added 20:13 - Dec 26 Questions. Why was Downes on the bench for the whole game and not on the pitch? Why was Wilson on the bench for the whole game and not on the pitch, although Nsiala was? Why is Judge? Why was no change made until 81 minutes? Why was that change at the expense of Donacien, who had a decent game, leaving Edwards as a right back, which he isn't? Even Edwards seemed surprised. Why was Sears, who hasn't played this season and hardly set the world alight in the previous two seasons, put on instead of Keane who needs the extra games to continue his recovery and who has at least scored a few this season? Why is Norwood determined to fight the opposition and argue with the ref rather than trying to score? Why does Jackson give the appearance of an utterly defeated person the moment that the first thing goes wrong for him? Why does no-one shoot? I don't know the answers - but I do know that the result is that we haven't won a league match for over seven weeks and I feel that we should not be having to ask such questions. Not happy.

9

ringwoodblue added 20:18 - Dec 26 I don't know what was most atrocious, the weather or the home team? I feel sorry for the fans that attended today as they had to suffer both! How we are still 2nd is beyond me!
3

Dolphinblue added 20:29 - Dec 26 WE ARE GOING UP.....PROMOTION PARTY SEASON....STOP BOOING THE BOYS....GET BEHIND THEM, WHATS WRONG WITH YOU LOT COYB 😁😀😎
0

ITFCsince73 added 20:31 - Dec 26 Londontractor I think you misunderstood. Silly.
1

blue86 added 20:33 - Dec 26 Think dolphin is trying to cheer himself up, with scum losing today it's a mountain to climb for them to stay up....
2

Dolphinblue added 20:45 - Dec 26 Norwich are useless....theyve never won anything...joke club
2

blue75 added 21:14 - Dec 26 First 30-35 mins were shocking! We did start to create for the last 10-15 mins, 2nd half we showed we were the better team with a bit of luck of a perfect pass we'd have got a goal then Gillingham would've collapsed. Their plan worked perfect frustrate & delay at all costs then try to Nick a goal. How they didn't have multiple players booked for time wasting only the ref knows especially their No.6 that slow walk or shuffle he did for every throw in was outrageous & showed how poor the ref was!!! Toto should never play again he's a defensive calamity waiting to happen looks like a CB doesn't act like one such a shame Wilson didn't start as he is quite solid at this level. Even without a shot on target I felt we should've one & will take a point & clean sheet with at Lincoln & that's good form!!

0

dirtydingusmagee added 21:42 - Dec 26 form table , we are 2 points better off than Southend , ! if that dosnt set off alarm bells what does it take ,
0

NoelTheDub added 21:58 - Dec 26 Dolphinblue We are going up yes in smoke.That was and has been awful for a long time it beggers belief how we are were we are at this time.Our results up to 6 or 7 weeks ago were ok at best but covering up the fact that we are very poor footballing team as ive said for years no width,no creativity,no real pace most teams in this league are very ordinary but have a little bit of what we haven't.

0

Scottydog added 22:12 - Dec 26 Oh dear...although I do remain glass half full still. I think I may be hoping a bit be nice to think that Nsiala, Nolan, Edwards and Jackson are only playing to be in the shop window to get rid of them in January! Hell I'd even drive them wherever but don't think there'll be much interest in them sadly!!!!!! Perhaps there is someone who can explain to me, because I can't see any other reason, why they are managing to get in the team

0

adeblueboy added 22:25 - Dec 26 Norwood is not good enough he is from league 2 Holy has done nothing wrong but is dropped. Wilson had been great gets suspended at Fleetwood and is punished by getting dropped. So he things bring in Nsiala. Really!! Judge and Edwards cannot beat a man or cross the ball anymore. Should not be in the team. Where is the exciting Dobra, even Georgio? Surely better options than the previous 2 mentioned. If Huws is good enough for the bench, then he must play every week.

3

Northstandveteran added 22:40 - Dec 26 Agreed Londontractorboy, I could never understand that quote. Sure, MM out, but not, "Let's go down a division and regroup" NO NO NO! We're my replies. Still, the entertaining, sexy football is so much better ( sarcasm ) Found myself agreeing with a fellow poster a few days ago. What has Lambert achieved for the club apart from relegation? At least when McCarthy was brought in to rescue us from going down ( regardless of the situation ) he did. And at least he gave the F.A cup some respect by getting us to the third round every season hey LTB 😉

1

shakytown added 22:55 - Dec 26 Sad to watch a team full of professional footballers who cannot even do basic things like pass the ball and then move into space to give options. Ball watching must be the main focus in training as this is all they do during the real game mind you nobody knows if or in what position they will be playing in the next game and it seems the manager does not know either until a few hours before the game as well. Get a plan , pick your best side and play them every game if possible.

2

Linkboy13 added 00:00 - Dec 27 There's only one man who can sort this mess out he's very popular with the lpswich fans Mr Nasty Neil Warnock just check his record its pretty impressive.
1

Linkboy13 added 00:00 - Dec 27 There's only one man who can sort this mess out he's very popular with the lpswich fans Mr Nasty Neil Warnock just check his record its pretty impressive.
0

Linkboy13 added 00:03 - Dec 27 Sorry i said that twice must get this stutter sorted out.
0

Minneapolis_ITFC added 02:25 - Dec 27 If points were awarded for missed opportunity or failed expectation this club would already be and home and dry regards promotion even before end of year. There's no sense in berating the manager, seems all that's been said has encapsulated the general feeling and whatever words you input on to a fans forum won't change a damn thing. Just for the record 15 years ago this week this club were a team in #1 position in the Championship league with a (thus far) unbeaten home record and looking a sure bet to return to the EPL after would have been a two, three year absence. Team morale was good, a then capable manager in Joe Royle and players such as say Counago, Kuqi, De Vos, Magilton and Miller etc that you felt could get results and you had a certain faith in the team and where the club was headed. I realize you can't alter the past but point being if such an opportunity arose I'd jump at the chance and go back and right the soon to be future wrongs that this club would endure. Not sure what else to add to today. Disappointed perhaps, p1ssed off with having to read and experience another indifferent score and performance. You feel It's only going over old territory.

1

martin587 added 07:27 - Dec 27 In front of 22,000 supporters this was your chance to showcase yourselves but failed at the first hurdle.Lackluster for most of the first half.Midfield once again nonexistent and no creativity so how on earth can you expect the strikers to perform without service.When they had a few chances they fluffed them.Where has the confidence gone and why.?I hold my hands up in frustration at the way my club is playing.Ok,we are still second but how that has happened I just don't know.Three points would have put us closer to the top club but once again we failed miserably.PL we the supporters deserve better otherwise you will loose this fabulous support.I rest my case.

3

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls