Matty Taylor’s goal a minute before the break saw Oxford United to 1-0 victory over 10-man Town at Portman Road. The Blues dominated the first half but were unable to find a goal and were hit by a sucker punch just before the break. The Blues huffed and puffed for the most part in the second half and had Kayden Jackson red-carded for an alleged stamp in injury time.

Town named an unchanged side with Tomas Holy in goal behind a back three of Luke Woolfenden, skipper Luke Chambers and Josh Earl, while Gwion Edwards and Luke Garbutt were the wing-backs.

In midfield, Flynn Downes was partnered by Jon Nolan with Alan Judge ahead of them behind strike pair Will Keane and Jackson.

There was one change on the bench with Andre Dozzell taking the place of James Norwood, who underwent a groin operation on Friday.

For Oxford, midfielder Alex Gorrin was back after a ban and replaced Mark Sykes, who dropped to the bench.

Town began the game brightly with Jackson, who was celebrating his 26th birthday, and Edwards both sending in crosses from the right.

The Blues controlled the early stages for the most part although twice Earl, playing without his protective mask for the first time since joining the Blues, gifted the ball to the U’s in his own half before his team-mates helped snuff out the danger.

On nine, Jackson escaped his man and broke away down the right before sending in a low cross which was too far in front of Keane.

Two minutes later, Jackson turned Edwards’s ball to feet into the path of Keane who looked to be in on goal until his first touch took him into the path of an Oxford defender, who cleared the danger.

The Blues continued to have the better of it with Oxford pinned back in their half and as the game reached the 15-minute mark Woolfenden struck a powerful 20-yard strike which was blocked just inside the area.

Town threatened again down the right in the 22nd minute, Jackson cutting a ball back to the edge of the area from where Garbutt smashed a shot over.

Two minutes later, Marcus Browne hit Oxford’s first effort of the game over the bar from a 25-yard freekick.

On the half hour a Judge corner from the left was nodded out to Chambers, whose header was flicked over the bar by a defender.

From the subsequent flag-kick, Nolan eventually stabbed the ball through to Keane in space inside the six-yard box to the left but Oxford keeper Simon Eastwood was able to smother.

Town continued to push for the game’s opening goal and in the 32nd minute Keane crossed low from the right and Downes flicked across the face of goal. Had the midfielder left it Garbutt behind him would have had an easy tap-in.

The Blues kept up the pressure and went close again in the 35th minute, Keane heading wide from a tight angle beyond the far post from Garbutt’s right-sided corner.

Oxford had made little impression from an attacking perspective but in the 36th minute James Henry broke into the area in space from the right but scuffed his shot through to Holy.

Town then attacked down the left, Jackson beating his man then teeing-up Garbutt, whose shot was blocked. Nathan Holland subsequently hit a shot which hit a Blues defender before Garbutt was booked for an attempted foul during Oxford’s previous attack. On 41 Nolan shot wide.

The Blues had dominated the half but a minute before the scheduled end of the half, the visitors took the lead.

A neatly-worked move ended with Cameron Brannagan finding Henry on the right of the area. His low ball across the edge of the six-yard box found Taylor, who beat Holy.

On the balance of play, Town could find themselves very unfortunate to be behind at the break. The Blues had dominated a team who usually control games themselves and had created a number of openings.

However, they had been unable to take them - or force Eastwood into any significant saves - while Oxford’s goal had come via their first passage of passing inside the Blues half.

Town won a corner moments after the restart, a bouncing ball reaching Woolfenden on the edge of the area after being half-cleared but the defender’s effort looped well over.

Soon after, Jackson was sent away on the left and his cross was diverted behind. From the subsequent corner taken by Garbutt on the left, Earl headed goalwards but Eastwood tipped over. From the resultant flag-kick, the ball was headed out to Judge, who shot over.

On 51 Oxford broke forward and Brannagan was found on the edge of the box but his strike was blocked by Woolfenden.

Two minutes later, Earl’s cross from the left took a flick off Josh Ruffels on its way towards the far post where it hit Edwards, who had been unable to react to the touch, and bounced straight to Eastwood.

Holland shot over after Woolfenden was overconfident on the ball in a dangerous area on 59, then two minutes later Taylor got in behind Chambers but fortunately for the Blues stabbed the ball straight at the advancing Holy.

Town were continuing to dominate with balls coming into the box from both flanks but with the Oxford backline remaining resolute. On 64 Browne was booked for a foul on Edwards.

Oxford swapped Holland, who had picked up a knock, for Sykes in the 70th minute, then the Blues, with their performance having become scrappier and more frustrated, switched Edwards for Teddy Bishop and moved to 4-4-2 with the sub on the left of midfield.

On 80 Jamie Mackie replaced goalscorer Taylor for the visitors, then three minutes later Dan Agyei took over from Henry.

Town were continuing to push and send balls into the box but the U’s were maintaining their determined defence.

As the game moved into four minutes of additional time Judge was switched for Freddie Sears.

Town’s frustrating afternoon got worse three minutes into injury time when Jackson was, to the surprise of most in the ground, shown a straight red card for what referee Scott Oldham indicated was a stamp on Oxford skipper Rob Dickie.

The striker looked bemused as the card was waved in his direction and the Blues may well have grounds for an appeal with Jackson otherwise facing a three-match ban.

Woolfenden was booked for a foul, then just before the whistle, with referee Oldham, who had had an inconsistent afternoon, starting to lose control, there was a scuffle involving most players from both teams by the corner flag by the away fans.

The final whistle was greeted by boos from the home support aimed partly towards the referee but also at manager Paul Lambert and his assistant Stuart Taylor as they made their way towards the Sir Bobby Robson Stand after another frustrating afternoon at Portman Road.

Town had dominated possession in the first half and created enough opportunities to have won the game. However, they failed to take their chances or even overly test the keeper. Oxford scored with their first serious shot in open play.

The Blues were still on top for most of the second half but were less dominant and still failed to create enough chances against an Oxford defence who will be delighted with their afternoon's work, Earl’s early header the only big save Eastwood was forced to make.

The defeat sees the Blues, who have now won just four of their last 18 in the league, drop to eighth, eight points off the top two and two from sixth, with a visit to Blackpool, who drew 0-0 at Wimbledon this afternoon, next Saturday.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), Woolfenden, Earl, Edwards (Bishop 71), Nolan, Downes, Garbutt, Judge (Sears 90), Jackson, Keane. Unused: Norris, Skuse, Wilson, Dozzell, Huws.

Oxford: Eastwood, Ruffels, Dickie (c), Moore, Gorrin, Brannagan, Taylor (Mackie 80), Forde, Henry (Agyei 83), Holland (Sykes 70), Browne. Unused: Stevens, Long, Hanson, Thorne. Referee: Scott Oldham (Poulton-le-Fylde). Att:19,367 (Oxford: 1,365).

Photo: TWTD

Michael101 added 17:43 - Feb 22 dont let marcus get his hands on the tractor girls or they will end up like the mens team NORFOLKANDGOOD
1

JCBLUE added 17:43 - Feb 22 Oh dear, I think we have blown this .... auto almost beyond reach & playoffs looking very unlikely. I am of course sincerely hoping that I will be proved wrong.
6

jeddy added 17:43 - Feb 22 i Have been a supporter since the 70s, can't watch another game let alone another 5 years, that's me done, they can stick the season ticket where the sun doesn't shine. Inept management on and of the pitch.
8

Skip73 added 17:44 - Feb 22 Cue the usual 'We played really well and deserved more' statements from Lambert tomorrow.
2

multiplescoregasms added 17:47 - Feb 22 Just not good enough. This is a poor poor swuad of players who will not be getting promoted this season. The club obviously knew a while ago that Norwood was going to need this operation, and instead of going out and getting a championship striker or even one from league 2, they attempted to get Wickham and we are supposed to understand that he was too expensive. Yeah, we aren't stupid. We are short of strikers, well decent ones anyway, and you aren't going to get promoted without someone to score the sodding goals. No ambition at this club, and this is just a continuation of the slippery slope we are on. Players will leave in the summer and be replaced by lesser players. Same old same old. I really don't know what is going to happen to us. Sad times.

14

runningout added 17:50 - Feb 22 That was coming to Jackson. Only encouragement I can give is. Our squad of players are good enough. Last season killed some of them. Time to move on is Well overdue. Maybe more of them than I thought need to find other clubs. Mr Lambert must explain to us what happened with his time at Villa and Stoke, then convince us he is the right man to turn it around sharpish. If not I don't give a to** what some of you numpties think... attempt to Bring back Mick McCarthy

-3

dannyrr added 17:53 - Feb 22 80% possession means nothing when there's no end product. We are being outdone by our own mistakes. We're continually giving the ball straight back and failing to push forward. Let's sort it out. We spent too much time passing the ball around and going backwards. When will they learn that we can't win a game without pushing forward. PL seems clueless and doesn't know how to make a substitution to make a difference. When Oxford made their substitutions they chased the ball and didn't give us a chance to play. Before they scored we spent 40 minutes playing in their half and the only chances they had came from our mistakes and failure to hold onto the ball. Again another decision made by an official after protests from a player. He didn't see it as he didn't flag only decided once the player made a stamping gesture. What happened to having to win our home games there was no desire to win that game.

8

Edmundo added 17:57 - Feb 22 I'd take 13 years ago, Magilton with some promising players moving up the table, but a worrrying heap of debt owed to banks (not even more owed to Rio fugitive Marcus), over this pile of bilge that has heaped up like a blocked toilet for over a decade.
5

Wishing4arightback added 17:58 - Feb 22 Where do I start????? We started well but to be honest we never looked like we would score and when they did you knew it was game over. At the back we had 3 centre backs against a single striker and i lost count of the times Chambers ended up wrong side of him. Midfield was really lacking in actual drive and ideas, and I felt sorry for Jackson in the first half. He was running the channels and putting g the ball in the box, button no one. Keane is woeful. People go on about his great link up play and touch, but he is meant to be a strike partner for Jackson. He never actually runs, just lollops around, wins nothing in the air and requires loads of touches before he will shoot. Had he shot first time today and last week he would have scored. And as for Lamberts tactic....... does he actually have any????? Next year we will be left with Lambert, Chambers doing even more cock ups and blaming everyone else, Will Keane as our main option up fro t....oh and crowds of about 10,000 - 12,000. Well done Mr Evan's and MrLambert.... absolutly shocking!!!!!

7

Elizabeth added 17:58 - Feb 22 Absolutely sick and tired of this clueless idiot !!! Get out of our club ..we should be beating the likes of Oxford!! Goodbye promotion !!
8

shortmarine1969 added 17:59 - Feb 22 Played well enough first half but with no end product, and caught by a poor sucker punch goal, cannot really see us making the playoffs unless Jacksons red card is turned over, and even then it,s going to be tough. Keane was poor nearly all of the game no end product or threat at all, never even jumps for a ball, a really poor forward imo. Judge once again very little product. Lambert just stood and watched and bring Sear on with 1 minute to play, totally pathetic sub, his actual record is terrible, and as for ME...find a buyer and go, as your ownership is and has been nothing short of total abject failure.

7

Suffolkboy added 18:01 - Feb 22 PL and L O' N must consider sacking the First Team coach who it seems plainly cannot get drive , confidence , calmness and authority out of our forwards( or the rest ) in or around the opposition box ; THEY aren't going to fall over offering up open goals ,but we must show hunger and passion as well as physical commitment and intelligence both with positioning and technique for otherwise the disappointing lack of goals will continue ( for ever ? ) . So much IS right ,yet so much is wrong : the answer lies in our hands ! COYB

-1

TractorBeezer added 18:09 - Feb 22 We played quite well first half but once again, never really looked like scoring. Unsure why we changed system instead of just freshening up a couple of positions.No defender in sight for their well worked goal. Did anyone get a good look at the "stamp"?
1

NorthLondonBlue2 added 18:09 - Feb 22 Really odd, in blowy, blustery conditions to play so much hoof-ball and headers. Why can't we keep it on the deck, keep possession and test their keeper? Thought Woolfenden was excellent, mystified why Sears got a token appearance. Didn't see the ‘stamp' but surely time for Dozzell and Sears to get some serious game-time.
1

StavangerBlue added 18:10 - Feb 22 Chances of playoffs are slim. On our form, we will be midtable at best, come the end of the season. Jackson should be told to leave. Norwood needs to work out how to score one-on-one. My beautiful club is fading into obscurity surpassed by the mighty Fleetwood, Oxford and Rotherham United! On a positive note, we'll have the best ground in League 2 when we get there next year. Vanarama league here we come.

0

Saxonblue74 added 18:12 - Feb 22 Too many missed chances. Manager tactically inept. Nothing more to add!
3

DoseOfReality added 18:13 - Feb 22 Time to just Fak off Evans your a complete failure .. go count your money somewhere else & Jackson sent off for stamping .. he must have missed anyway
1

warktheline added 18:14 - Feb 22 Don't blame Evans🤣! It's all Lambert's fault.......Evans only gave him a cushy 5 year contract with parameters!🙄...no funds!!!!!!
3

Esseeja added 18:14 - Feb 22 In my opinion this is a perfect opportunity to let a young striker come on for the last 10 minutes of a game if winning because we only have Keane up front. I have a feeling he'll just switch back to a bore 4-3-3. I want Evans and Lambert gone. Under Evans, we have had the worst downfall imaginable at this club.
1

Cloddyseedbed added 18:14 - Feb 22 Poor in attack all game but tactically inept performance from manager once again. Bizzare substitutions and timings, they made a poor team look worse not better. Mr Lambert sorry but you haven't got a clue and fail to motivate your players. Stuck in this league until we drop down to our level. Next season we start with a weaker team and lower crowds. Evans your ownership and giving a failing manager a 5 year contract is a disaster. The end.

6

bonamassablue added 18:15 - Feb 22 Let's make it clear, we were beaten by a very average Oxford side who were not strong at the back and who gave the ball away consistently. We dominated them in the first half when Jackson was unplayable, they couldn't stop him. We had so many chances but if you don't put them away you get punished. What was really worrying was that a very good looking bench was not used apart from Bishop. Surely when you are losing at home to such an ordinary team you should chase the game, make some changes but alas Lambert seemed to be out of ideas. We let ourselves down at the end with ill discipline which was borne out of frustration that we didn't finish the job in the first half. We are not good enough to get out of this division.

3

heathen66 added 18:19 - Feb 22 The whole club is naive on and off the pitch with a manager that is tactically clueless. Unfortunately that is a simple fact !!!
2

jas0999 added 18:22 - Feb 22 Oh dear, this wasn't good. Possession wins you nothing. We may have created five good chances in the first half, but their keeper didn't have to make a save. Last six games have seen us win once, draw once and lose four. We failed to score in four of those, whilst one was a penalty. Sadly, last week was an exception to the rule. We weren't good enough again today. We need to face it; we are an okay a League One team. No better than that. 8th about right. We will stay in this league for a while, certainly with Evans as owner.

6

surgery added 18:23 - Feb 22 There is clearly some agenda on Evans part. What sane person would give this charlatan a 5 year contract when what he should have been doing was finding the most economically way to give him his P45? And if this debacle is all Evans fault through not making funds available through lack of funding, what self respecting manager would sign contract knowing that he would never be given any money to spend?

2

jas0999 added 18:25 - Feb 22 Blueboy1981 - I don't think too many folk are blaming Evans for lack of investment, more the baffling decisions - such as giving Lambert, who as you rightly state isn't performing, a new five year contract. It's mismanagement and incompetence from the owner. He HAS to take a fair share of the blame for our current plight. At any other club the manager would be sacked with such a putrid record!

6

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls