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

Vanisleblue2 added 20:27 - Mar 7 Its still to get worse we have to play Bolton and Southen at home...0-1 & 0-1
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cat added 20:28 - Mar 7 You can't fault the players attitudes or effort today, but the fact of the matter is we are simply not good enough. The players confidence is shot and their knackered, funny ain't it that in October we were top with games in hand, come early March we've played more than every other team, great fixture planning that and the rotation policy worked a treat (doh) with 2 months of the season left and Jack to play for. You couldn't make that up!

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Tractorboy1985 added 20:39 - Mar 7 @midastouch tell your young lad they've just beaten Gateshead away (would have been an enjoyable trip and stay over in Newcastle) 1-2.. games in hand on a York team that are ‘full time' with a manager who was lamberts number 2 before it went all wrong for the ‘I've played here.. I've won this as a player twot' myself and my father have both agreed we have seen more football.. entertainment and no how from a bench 500 yards from my house than 70 miles away... I also can categorically say Adam Marriott who is the leading goal scorer (assist maker when we lost to Lincoln in thee fa cup) would walk into our side in front of the worst number 9 in history kayden Jackson... he's actually got a touch!! More football.. excitement and pleasure down there pal!! Get him on the bandwagon... probably be overtaking each other in 5 years!

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dirtydingusmagee added 20:42 - Mar 7 Vanisleblue that should be funny , but i would not bet against it .We wont win all if any of the remaining games unless there is a dramatic upturn in performances [and a bit of luck ] Ugly times ahead .
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runaround added 20:49 - Mar 7 A much better performance than Tuesday which wasn't hard but at least this time the players really gave everything showing bravery & determination. Unfortunately against a team high on confidence top of the league on a long unbeaten run this alone was never going to be enough. Mitigating factors such as our poor run, lack of confidence & number of players unavailable make the result not a surprise but still tough to take. To see how low this club has fallen under Evans stewardship is heartbreaking but I really don't think even after 12 years he gets football so he won't understand how we are feeling. I do fear this club will never move forward under him yet an alternative owner does not seem easily available. However even taking into account Evans poor stewardship & the never ending injury list, this club still has more than enough to at worse be top 6 in this league & the fact we won't be this season especially after our start to the season is on Lambert. I think most fans have lost faith in him & probably many of the players too. For that he has to be removed. It's a shame as I think off the pitch he has done some good things for the club & gets what the club means which I think managers since Jim haven't done. Yet tactically he is inept, has been found out & unfortunately all the good he has done is being eroded fast. The club cannot allow this to drift at this low level & at this time. Season ticket renewal will be due soon & people won't renew unless the club shows its trying to change. Big 6 months or so ahead for ITFC

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Carberry added 20:57 - Mar 7 At the next press conference don't let him talk about himself just ask him if he thought this squad was good enough to get promoted. And what does 'the club just needs a little bit of help' actually mean? We've heard it before every transfer window and it has come to nothing. Ask him if he looks at himself in the mirror and thinks is it me? Ask him if there's a sense of deja vue with other clubs he's failed at? Come on journos, he doesn't respect you, he doesn't want to be your friend and he'll be gone soon.

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bluesince76 added 21:07 - Mar 7 Chris Houghton might be a good choice as our next manager for next season as Evans has left it to late to act again what a joke of an owner.
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ITFCsince73 added 21:09 - Mar 7 Can't remember Lambo ever saying this squad is good. He's always said the squad needs help. I've always thought this meant he needs players with quality not the rubbish he currently has.
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ITFCsince73 added 21:21 - Mar 7 Last September Lambo went sulking to the press. This enabled the owner to release 500k for KVY. 3 transfer windows and 500k spent. PL is a football manager not a magician. If it wasn't for that 500k and the points it earned early season. We would currently be facing a relegation battle to L2.
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portmanteau added 21:25 - Mar 7 ME is not a billionaire though he is close. According to the latest Times Rich List he is the 174th richest person in Britain worth GBP 800 million.
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ITFCsince73 added 21:29 - Mar 7 I think in anyone's language 800 million is a billionaire. The richest owner outside the premier league acts the poorest.
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RobsonWark added 21:52 - Mar 7 Chambers mistake for the first goal. They should have had a second when he failed to cut out a cross in the second half. But he will still be the first name down on the team sheet for the next game because it seems like Lambert is too scared to drop him. Lambert said earlier in the season when he dropped him for 1 game that Chambers gets angry when he is dropped. If you are scared of the players Lambert you need to f##k off. No player is too big for this club and Chambers CERTAINLY IS NOT!!

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blueboy1981 added 22:11 - Mar 7 ...... Tractorboy1985 - about time you moderated your language, or perhaps learnt a few more appropriate words to use. There will always be some supporters, as I've said many times, that will continuously be satisfied just as long as a ball is kicked at Portman Road, at whatever level - but continuously firing away at Evans, and assuming what you know nothing about just shows how one track minded you and a few more are. To keep ranting, and assuming ref Evans is pointless, and counter productive - in the absence of an alternative. Even so - look around other Clubs for evidence that buy outs don't always work out - something you should be aware of. It's certain employees of our Club that are milking it 100% - and being paid extremely well that have taken us where we are. Just look at the success above, and around us in League One currently operating on minuscule budgets compared to a certain Mr Lambert. I wouldn't trust him with my money, when he has what he has to operate with - most if notall, Managers would swap positions with him, at the drop of a hat.

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RobsonWark added 22:13 - Mar 7 Loved the video midastouch added 19:45 - Mar 7 Chambers springs to mind on EVERY one of those defensive c##k up!
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warktheline added 22:25 - Mar 7 @blueboy, you are full of it! So McCarthy didn't want funds, and now you suggest Lambert couldn't be trusted with money! Vincent Young springs to mind! You point the finger at all and sundry bar Evans! Clueless !!!!
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blueboy1981 added 22:39 - Mar 7 warktheline - last word self assessment maybe ??
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Tractorboy1985 added 22:39 - Mar 7 Keep supporting him blueboy... sorry for my ‘language' some of us actually care and understand what this owner is doing to our club and want to do something about it apart from sitting on the fence! Now I know how you've got the nickname bluebore 😴😴😴😴😴
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Bert added 22:49 - Mar 7 If posters can't give an opinion without abusing others they should be banned. We are all desperate for our club to get out of this 15 year rut and pretty angry about being taken for a ride but come on rid this forum of abuse,unkindness and what is fast becoming hate. Ipswich supporters are better than this.
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KenHancocksBoot added 23:21 - Mar 7 What I don't get is the continual poor decision making at the club. From the owners choice of managers to the manager's choice of line up. You can't make 6 changes two games running and expect a team performance. Eventually the players who are picked lose heart with those amount of changes. Clueless from top to bottom.
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marco5113 added 23:48 - Mar 7 I POSTED THIS BEFORE THE COVENTRY GAME TOOK PLACE, I AM NO EXPERT BUT THIS IS GETTING PREDICTABLE NOW (SEE COPY AND PASTE THAT FOLLOWS BELOW) marco5113 added 03:37 - Mar 7 no chance whatsoever. shots on target 1.shots off target 20. goals 0. possession 99%. 4-5-1 formation 0-2 coventry city post match excuses follow from lambert. then an account from nominated player, how we let the fans down. followed by we still have a chance to make playoffs if we go on a good run after loss against a very good coventry city side. then an account of lamberts career memories at dortmund and celtic. possibly a mention of injuries and bans. ffs.

1

GiveusaWave added 00:53 - Mar 8 Have to agree with Bert....too many negative comments on the site. Constructive feedback would be a lot better as it's clear from the post-match interview with Skuse that even the players are finding it hard to put a finger on what is going wrong... Instead of "BLANK is crap" would be a hell of a lot better to say something like "BLANK keeps getting turned too easily. Might be a good idea for BLANK to stay a little deeper as he keeps getting bears for pace..." These are professional footballers who are trying their best on the pitch. Constant "BLANK is crap" is not going to help them stay enthusiastic or motivated for the next game. If anything...it's going to destroy their confidence and make them play even worse....

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GiveusaWave added 00:55 - Mar 8 Beaten not bears...grr...spellcheck....
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eddiespearitt03 added 01:48 - Mar 8 This is a relegation squad. The piss take has to stop sooner or later !!! No progress at all under Evans weak ownership/leadership. No noise from Evans as per usual, he prefers Lambert & Co to take all the flak. Evans out.
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cobboldblue added 02:03 - Mar 8 Remember we were playing the top team in the division and pretty matched them all game, so much better than the last two games, just need a bang on form striker on the pitch, thought Edwards was our MOTM taking into account he is being played out of position.
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Westy added 08:34 - Mar 8 Who would have thought that in League One with a quarter of the Season to go we would be saying the season is over.
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