Matt Godden’s 16th minute goal saw leaders Coventry City to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at Portman Road. Town were an improvement on Tuesday’s defeat to Fleetwood by the same scoreline but were unable to find an equaliser.

Will Norris, Teddy Bishop, Luke Woolfenden, Cole Skuse, Gwion Edwards and Freddie Sears all returned to the starting line-up as manager Paul Lambert made six changes for the teams’ fourth meeting this season.

Norris replaced Tomas Holy in goal behind a back four of Edwards, Woolfenden, skipper Luke Chambers and Luke Garbutt.

In midfield, Skuse and Andre Dozzell were behind Jon Nolan with Bishop and Alan Judge either side of Sears up front.

Striker Will Keane missed out with a groin injury, while leaders Coventry named an unchanged team.

The Blues might have won a penalty in the sixth minute when Nolan appeared to be caught as he went inside a defender on the right of the box. However, referee Trevor Kettle wasn’t interested and the Town protests were relatively muted.

But Coventry, in their Two-tone tribute away kit, began to see more of the ball and in the 16th minute they went ahead via their first shot of the game.

After Nolan had been dispossessed a few yards inside the Blues half, Liam Walsh played a slide-rule pass into the path of Godden on the right of the box from where the Sky Blues’ top scorer hit a shot across Norris and into the corner of the net.

Having got their lead, Coventry began to dominate as they looked for a second. On 24 Kyle McFadzean looped a header over following a short corner.

The Blues were struggling to regain a foothold but in the 29th minute they carved themselves a golden opportunity with a well-constructed move from their own area down the right involving Woolfenden Edwards, Judge and Sears.

Eventually, Judge played a bouncing ball forward into the path of Nolan, who was through on goal and in acres of space on the edge of the box. The former Shrewsbury man had time to take it down and pick his spot but instead opted to head towards goal but only succeeded in finding Coventry keeper Marko Marosi’s hands. Moments later, Walsh was booked for a foul on Bishop.

The Blues started to see more of the ball as the game passed the half-hour mark and in the 40th minute Dozzell found Nolan midway inside the visitors’ half from where he played it on to Sears, who hit a low which failed to trouble Marosi.

Four minutes later, Skuse played a ball forward to Nolan on the left of the box, who again avoided a linesman’s flag but this time shot over.

In injury time, Bishop looked to be sent flying just outside the area but referee Kettle somehow saw no infringement.

As the players made their way off at the end of the half, Norris took his protests too far and was booked, frustratedly throwing a water bottle after being shown the card.

As a result, referee Kettle was roundly booed by the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand as he made his way off the field.

Aside from the goal, there hadn’t been too much between the sides with penalty area action a rarity at both ends.

Once again, the Blues were the architects of their own downfall, losing possession in a dangerous area of the field, but Coventry did well to make the most of it.

Town, who had had their fair share of the ball and were much better than in the first half against Fleetwood, will feel they should have been on terms with Nolan’s chances one which really should have been taken, the midfielder presumably not having realised quite how much time he had or how far from goal he was. His later chance was tougher.

However, those opportunities, showed that the Sky Blues’ backline was far from impenetrable, and would have given Town hope ahead of the second half.

The Blues began the second period on the front foot and in the 49th minute Skuse played in Sears on the right of the box but the striker took the ball out of play as he tried round Marosi.

Seconds later, it could well have been 2-0. Fankaty Dabo whipped over a low ball from the right for Godden but the striker slid in and sent the ball over Norris’s crossbar.

On 52, Sears turned away from his man midway inside the Sky Blues’ half and played a ball into the path of the breaking Bishop but too close to Marosi.

Coventry began to look more threatening and in the 58th minute Godden was found by a ball over the top - having strayed offside according to the Town backline - and with Norris temporarily out of his goal Chambers blocked the striker’s shot.

As Town looked to break Kyle McFadzean was yellow-carded for a foul on Sears, who in turn was booked for a foul on Jamie Allen on 62.

Two minutes later, Josh Earl took over from Garbutt, who had been struggling for the previous little while with what appeared to be a groin problem.

On 66, following a corner, Dozzell floated a cross over from the left which Chambers looked set to nod home at the far post until Sam McCallum’s toe diverted it behind.

A minute later, Town swapped Sears for Simpson and Coventry replaced Allen with Jordan Shipley. On 74 Bishop made way for Armando Dobra, then two minutes later Dozzell was yellow-carded for a foul on Callum O’Hare. Three minutes later, goalscorer Godden was switched for Amadou Bakayoko.

The game appeared to be drifting as it moved towards its final 10 minutes with the Blues not looking particularly threatening and Coventry happy enough with their one-goal lead.

On 85 the visitors replaced O’Hare with Zain Westbrooke,, then a minute later Edwards won a corner on the right but as so often in recent weeks the set play came to nothing.

As the game moved into four minutes of injury time, McCallum was booked for a foul on Edwards on the right. The freekick was cleared but was played back out to Earl on the right but his low cross-shot was blocked.

A late Earl cross from the left hit Dobra and was seen out of play by the Coventry defenders and soon afterwards the whistle was blown to cheers from the visitors and brief boos from the home fans.

In contrast to Tuesday, the Town players were applauded by most in the ground, while referee Kettle, who had frustrated the home support throughout having made a number of surprising decisions, was booed as he left the field.

At no stage were the Blues as abject as they were during the first half against Fleetwood on Tuesday but once Coventry had got the lead - and Town had missed their big chance to level through Nolan - the Sky Blues rarely looked too uncomfortable and you got the impression that the game could have gone on for much longer without the Blues troubling the scorers, even if their overall performance probably warranted a point.

However, equally Coventry, now unbeaten in 14 in the league back to December 14th, may well have been able to step their display up a gear had it been required.

A third home defeat in a row and a seventh loss in the last nine sees the Blues drop to 10th, now seven points off the play-offs and 15 behind the Sky Blues, who are now five points clear at the top and look promotion certainties, with eight games left to play.

Town: Norris, Edwards, Woolfenden, Chambers (c), Garbutt (Earl 64), Skuse, Dozzell, Nolan, Bishop (Dobra 74), Judge, Sears (Simpson 68). Unused: Holy, Wilson, Morris, Huws.

Coventry: Marosi, Rose, McFadzean, Kelly (c), Allen (Shipley 68), Hyam, O’Hare (Westbrooke 85), Walsh, Dabo, Godden (Bakayoko 77), McCallum. Unused: Wilson, Biamou, Pask, Giles. Referee: Trevor Kettle (Rutland). Att: 18,825 (Coventry: 1,740).

Photo: TWTD

dirtydingusmagee added 17:46 - Mar 7 Evans could pay Lambert off he dosnt need to pay out too much himself because there are probably add on's from Delia .
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jas0999 added 17:47 - Mar 7 I really don't know where we go from here. The situation is so bad, we are hanging onto ‘improved display' as a positive. It probably was, but even if the game was still going on - we wouldn't score. The squad lacks quality, even at this level. We lost. Again. Bottom line is we have now lost seven out of last nine, including last three at home without scoring a goal. It really isn't good enough. Frankly, after Coventry scored they were in complete control and let us play. A couple of iffy moments for them, but they would have upped their game if needed. Barely got out of second gear. We won't go forward under this current regime. Evans will sell our better players in the summer. We will bring in more cheap, mediocre replacements - mid to lower League One quality and will probably flirt with the bottom four next year. It's been going on for 6-7 years now. As for the manager. Wow. Only at ITFC would you get a new deal for being so useless! Evans has questions to answer. This can't continue. Over to you Mr. Evans. If nothing else an apology for this pitiful situation would be good.

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marco5113 added 17:47 - Mar 7 says in interviews he does not worry about being sacked........ not long now then if you are even bothered shambert. your CV though will be somewhat of a worry to other clubs, who you might apply for future management jobs with. but im also NOT worried either about your future Lambert. probably will be sat on a park bench talking to unfortunate homeless people, boring them with past glories. luckily they might have drunk a couple bottles of sherry to alleviate his waffling.

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TractorBoy300318 added 17:47 - Mar 7 I'd like to see us give Chris Hughton a go. Can't do any worse
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Batman1957 added 17:48 - Mar 7 Utterly depressing. Completely toothless. Mind boggling team selection and substitutions. No Plan B let alone Plan A No forward thinking or passes. No teamwork, passion or desire. Big decisions for Evans to make -supporters have had enough and to have any real hope to get season ticket sales for next season Lambert has got to go and we have to build and stick to a rock hard physical mobile team - that's what Rotherham, Oxford, Peterborough, Fleetwood all have - But has Evans the balls to do that? For such a successful businessman he has made so many bad football decisions Give the supporters hope Mr Evans

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blueboy1981 added 17:48 - Mar 7 Yes, another mistake from Chambers - but hasn't the penny dropped that if we could score, such a mistake wouldn't be so crucial...... ?? Or is that e expecting too much ... ??
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LWNR2013 added 17:48 - Mar 7 Reasonable effort. Lack ability. Tactically INEPT.
3

1psw1ch added 17:49 - Mar 7 Just as well we had a good run at the first half off the season otherwise we'll be in the bottom 3 on this form... Depressing been a town fan....once a great club now a joke of a club
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RobsonWark added 17:56 - Mar 7 Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:45 - Mar 7 "We need to re-group next season. No idea what that will look like" You can guarantee Chambers will be in the team every games next season.
4

Doctor_Earman added 17:56 - Mar 7 Anyone seen Dolphin lately? Gone very quiet for some reason...
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therein61 added 18:06 - Mar 7 R.I.P The club iv'e supported for 60 years through thick and thin. I tried to be optimistic and attended only yet again to be let down by players making schoolboy errors(you know who you are 4&8) not just this year but the last 4/5 seasons and yet are still here holding the club back i do not dislike Lambert(unlike the arrogant MM)but he has absolutely messed up since the turn of the year and has as a result failed not so much from funding(injury has cost us a couple of our better players) but rotation instead of a settled side, and the undermining senior pros who creep round Evans behind his back(ring any bells 4&8) the whole club is such a sorry mess and will need major surgery to put it right starting now with the removal of the creeps who under perform and yet think they are the next management team they should be shown the door before Lambert|(make for a happier dressing room) their whole body language while finger pointing saying "never my fault" is a disgrace oh and before you mark me down suffolkboy please comment on my punctuation to see if i have pleased your tiny little mind.

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norfolkbluey added 18:07 - Mar 7 And I thought Duncan was bad! This has to be one of the lowest points of the club's history, certainly since I started supporting 60 years ago. Nothing of much importance has happened in most of the last eighteen years. Now we have a manager without a clue as to how to stop the rot. Losing by not scoring has added salt to the infected wound. It is truly painful. Marcus you have to take the bull by the horns and ask Lambert to leave the club because there is no hope of the team even reaching the playoffs under his management. He has made really strange decisions this year which has cost us dearly. The players have absolutely no confidence in front of goal which must be down to training and tactics. INEPT is a word which comes to mind. Sorry Paul but your time is up like so many of your previous appointments. Please go!!!!!

6

Nobbysnuts added 18:11 - Mar 7 Start packing paul your taxi is waiting..... actually a minibus then you can take chambers,bishop,Edward's,dozzell and skuse with you.
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aloanagain added 18:15 - Mar 7 Another footballing lesson on how to outrun the opposition and win games in League 1. Would be nice to be able to watch a forward passing Ipswich team do that. Just a frustrated supporter not knowing where we are going next.
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EssexTractor added 18:16 - Mar 7 Having stayed away from last three home matches and with results of late of relegation form I had no expectations today. And in the first half there were more sorrowful than happy moments. But in fairness in the second half the dispirited players did try. I saw no one not trying but of course in so many areas it was men against the boys. We had no one but no one to scare the Coventry keeper or central defenders. In no contact football Bishop, Dozzell even the woeful Nolan would be excellent. But in contact football in League One no , simply no Fragile powder puff Some blame Chambers for the goal but look how the ball was given way on half way line. And how often we lose possession there Whoever manages this team next season has to have League One players..they may be ugly brutes but this is an ugly horrible League. That's where we are.. Stuck in the middle of horribleness...terribly sad but the truth And although for most times I have seen him I have wondered why he's there, .... today Edwards was our most purposeful playe but ..am not sure if he is that good or the rest are dire.

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warktheline added 18:16 - Mar 7 Nero fiddled while Rome burned! Ring any bells blueboy you fool!!
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bluerico added 18:17 - Mar 7 The club has had great support this season and it will be interesting to see what spin comes out when season tickets are due for renewal. Think crowds will be back to latter years Championship levels as so many fans have had enough of this garbage week after week.
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dieselmorris added 18:23 - Mar 7 lack of investment in the playing squad coming home to roost, that's the last seven seasons sell the best players and bring in cheap. i think when McCarthy was here, he was given a budget each season and he used that to utilise the squad with better players and sod everything else around that's why nothing has been spent on the stadium for years. but evans puts in x amount each season does he?

2

Cloddyseedbed added 18:24 - Mar 7 Poor 1st half and conceded another easy goal to give away. No 50-50 balls won or 2nd balls in the 1st half, we were limp to say the least all over the pitch. Sears up front on his own will never work, when Simpson did come on sears went off.....unbelievable. 1-0 down and you put on an inexperienced ex rugby player up front on his own to get something out of the game. Surely Sears can now do a 90 minute game. 2nd half we did step up the tempo and started competing for 50-50 balls and actually winning some 2nd balls but the team looked pretty hopeless and never likely to score. Dobra came on out of position and after the subs were made we seemed even more toothless. Lambert as you keep telling us you were a good player, but my god you ain't a very good manager. You can't select a balanced team and whats more your tactics and player motivation is non existent. I foresee many seasons in this league if we are lucky enough to stave off relegation. We will lose the better players, start the season weaker and struggle in the bottom half of the league. Lambert your management skills of you and your coaching staff is absolutely nothing to shout or brag about. Stick to what a wonderful player you were......in your opinion!

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monkeymagic added 18:25 - Mar 7 A reasonable display: albeit against a Coventry side that didn't really need to get out of second gear and always looked comfortable. The highlight for me was Nolan's excellent cushioned header to the goalkeeper that spared the blushes of the Coventry defence after a mix up. It would have been easy to panic and put the ball in the net from that position.
3

RegencyBlue added 18:29 - Mar 7 Coventry didn't have to get out of second gear to beat us, that is the most worrying thing about today. There is no hope whilst Evans remains, simple as that. I've decided I'm not giving him one more penny of my money for the privilege of watching him destroy the club I've supported for the best part of fifty years. Season tickets will not be renewed!
11

ITFCsince73 added 18:34 - Mar 7 No worries Chambo....you can lead us to L2 next season. Your doing a great job, as always. Blue in your veins. Keep it up. Hoping you get player of the year. Fully deserved. As was last year when you led us down. Best town captain ever.
5

Dockerblue added 18:37 - Mar 7 therein61. We seem to be thinking the same ie No4&8. I cannot recall at any other club a captain who is such a complete liability. Captains are surely there to lead by example, organise on the pitch, encourage younger players. Our waste of space Skipper brings none of that to the team, indeed every time he cocks-up he,s looking round for someone else to blame. Him and his mate Skuse were instrumental in Hurst,s sacking and will be at the forefront of PL,s demise. I may get marked down for saying so but l think this season could of turned out a lot differently had KVY not got injured, Norwood & Judge played to the standard fans expected and PL hadn't,t gone and cancelled games/rotated players. Also instead of telling them all how well they,ve played every game give them the kick up the backside they need. I would also suggest if PL is still here next season he considers a different coach & No2 as the two he has now are not up to it.

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jas1972 added 18:39 - Mar 7 Dreadful result - essentially tactical naivety and no idea of what they are supposed to be doing. That lies fair and square with the manager who has to go - although by now it is probably too late for this season. Reading some comments however, i have to observe that (1) Chambers was not at fault for Coventry's goal - and he is not guilty of most of the blame that gets laid at his feet, week after week. If anyone was to blame it was Nolan for losing the ball, although he will claim he was fouled. And what's the alternative? Woolfie is good, yes, but young and inclined to be far too casual; conceding positional advantage on several occasions where Coventry fortunately failed to take advantage (2) Edwards , rather than being on the "sack" list, was the best player on the Ipswich side and if more had showed half the aggression and inventiveness (from a natural left-winger being asked to play at right-back) we could have dealt comfortably with Coventry. (3) Dozzell and Bishop operate on a different level from the others - I'm not sure whether that is a plus or a minus, however. At the moment I don't know what they are meant to be doing when they kick off, and I don't think that they do, either. Time to find someone who can answer that question for them.

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Dear_oh_Dear added 18:39 - Mar 7 Bye Paul. Welcome Neil
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