James Norwood and Alan Judge were on target for the Blues but two goals from Diallang Jaiyesimi and a stunner from Scott Twine saw Swindon to a 3-2 victory over the Blues at Portman Road. Jaiyesimi gave the visitors the lead on 16 before sub Norwood levelled for the Blues in the 62nd minute, but Twine smashed home a brilliant 30-yard strike on 67 to restore the Robins’ lead and Jaiyesimi made it 3-1 with a cross which found its way into the net seven minutes later. Judge gave the Robins a fright with Town’s second in the 87th minute but the Blues, who stay eighth, were unable to find a third goal against the division’s 22nd-placed side.

Aaron Drinan and Armando Dobra returned to the Blues starting line-up, while Flynn Downes, James Norwood and Zanda Siziba were among the subs.

Drinan was the lone central striker with Oli Hawkins having dropped out of the 18, while Dobra was on the left of the front three for Keanan Bennetts, who suffered a knock in the Blues’ last game against Burton at home 25 days ago.

Kayden Jackson was again wide on the right of the front three with Andre Dozzell, Emyr Huws and Alan Judge the midfield trio.

At the back, skipper Luke Chambers and Stephen Ward were the fullbacks with ex-Swindon loanee Luke Woolfenden and Mark McGuinness the centre-halves. Dai Cornell was in goal.

Downes was back among the subs for the first time since suffering a knee injury at the start of October and Norwood returned after his latest hamstring problem, while midfielder Siziba, 17, was in the squad for a League One game for the first time having made one start and one sub appearance in the Papa John’s Trophy.

For Swindon, ex-Blues striker Brett Pitman and one-time loanee defender Zeki Fryers were in a starting XI which featured seven changes from their 4-1 defeat at home to the MK Dons last time out.

Forward Scott Twine, who played alongside Blues frontman Drinan for League of Ireland side Waterford, and midfielder Matty Palmer started having been recalled from loan spells, while keeper Mark Travers and Dominic Thompson made their debuts.

After both teams had taken a knee in support of Black Lives Matter, Swindon struck the first shot of the game in the third minute but Matt Smith hit his effort from the edge of the box over.

The Blues, with manager Paul Lambert watching from a box rather than the dugout having been among those at Portman Road to have suffered with Covid-19 over Christmas, created their first opportunity in the seventh minute when Dozzell sent Dobra away down the left. The Albanian U21 international crossed and Drinan’s awkward effort at goal was diverted out for a corner.

Three minutes later Paul Caddis crossed for Smith but his header from the edge of the box gave Cornell no trouble. Moments later, veteran Caddis was booked for tripping Dobra, whose direct running was already causing the visitors problems. From the free-kick, McGuinness looped a header to keeper Travers who claimed comfortably.

While Town had seen most of the ball, it was the Robins who would take the lead in the 16th minute.

Thompson was played in in space behind Jackson on the visitors’ left and sent over a cross which former Norwich academy winger Jaiyesimi headed back across Cornell and into the net as he ran into the area unchecked.

Town continued to see most of the ball but didn’t threaten until the 25th minute when Ward crossed from the left and Huws stooped to head well wide from the 18-yard line.

Swindon were looking more dangerous on the break and two minutes later, the ball was cut back from the right by Caddis to Jaiyesimi, whose effort was inadvertently blocked by his team-mate Pitman.

On the half hour, Dozzell’s clever chip played Judge in on goal inside the area to the left, Town’s best chance of the half, but the Irishman’s effort at goal was blocked by Travers.

From the resultant corner, the Robins broke quickly and after good work from Pitman, Jaiyesimi’s shot deflected through to Cornell.

On 37 Pitman found the net but with referee Sebastian Stockbridge having already blown his whistle.

Just before the half-time whistle, Chambers crossed from the right and the ball flicked off Dobra’s head and wide with the winger under pressure.

A disappointing half from the Blues, who as so often had seen plenty of the ball but without looking particularly threatening, aside from the couple of occasions when Dozzell had shown his passing quality.

At the other end, the visitors had looked a danger on the break and had taken their first real chance and might well have taken another.

Downes and Norwood spent half-time warming-up vigorously and took over from Drinan and Huws for the second half.

Swindon went close to making it 2-0 two minutes after the restart, Thompson cutting back from the left to the unmarked Twine, who shot over when he should have done much better.

In the 51st minute Judge wasn’t too far away from levelling for the Blues. After referee Stockbridge had waved play on following a foul on Dozzell, the ball dropped to the Irish international 25 yards out and his low shot scraped the outside of Travers’s left post.

A minute later, Downes was booked for a foul on Jordan Lyden with the substitute adamant he had won the ball, and he appeared to have a good case with the Robins man having made a lot of the challenge.

Norwood hit a low shot from an angle on the right of the box in the 55th minute but Travers was untroubled.

The Blues were again seeing most of the ball but without being able to carve out a significant opportunity.

However, in the 62nd minute Town equalised, slightly fortuitously. Jackson crossed from the right, Norwood completely missed the ball on the edge of the six-yard box when he seemed certain to score, but it struck Caddis and bounced back to the Blues striker who gratefully slammed home his first league goal of the season from a matter of inches.

Having levelled, Town continued to dominate possession and in the 66th minute Downes ran on to a ball played into the box as he broke from midfield but Travers was out quickly to claim.

And a minute later the visitors reclaimed their lead with a goal from the top drawer. Twine, who had been recalled from a loan spell at Newport earlier in the week, picked up the ball and smashed a superb 30-yard strike which flew over Cornell and dipped just under the bar giving the keeper no chance.

Norwood was booked for pulling back Twine in the 71st minute and two minutes later, the Robins increased their lead to two goals.

Jaiyesimi crossed from the left towards Pitman who threw out a foot as the ball passed him as it made its way beyond Cornell and inside the post. The striker appeared to indicate that he hadn’t got a touch and it was his team-mate’s goal.

The Blues had a mountain to climb against one of the division’s lowlier teams, the sort of side they have usually defeated this season. On 78 Jack Lankester took over from Dobra.

Town continued to huff and puff but without showing too many signs of getting back into the game. On 84 Norwood hit a deflected effort through to Travers after Dozzell had seized on some loose Swindon passing.

A minute later, Jaiyesimi slammed a shot wide from the edge of the box as he looked for his hat-trick.

At the other end, Downes headed over from a Judge cross from the left and in the 87th minute the Irishman pulled a goal back for the Blues.

Norwood chased a ball over the top and held off his man before playing inside to Judge, who slammed past Travers from six yards to give the Blues hope of grabbing a point.

But the Robins saw out the remaining scheduled minutes and four more in added-on time and referee Stockbridge’s whistle confirmed Swindon’s first win at Portman Road since September 1991 and the Blues’ fourth home defeat in their last five.

Town may have had 25 days without a game due to Covid-related postponements but it was a performance all too familiar to Blues supporters. Their side saw plenty of the ball but rarely created opportunities.

Norwood’s introduction at the break made a difference and the striker made a Town goal look more likely even before his leveller. However, the Blues’ possession to chances ratio remained low.

At the other end, no keeper would have saved Twine's strike but Jaiyesimi's was another soft goal to concede from the Blues' perspective.

Town started the weekend seventh but dropped to eighth following Accrington’s victory Charlton last night and that’s where they stay ahead of next week’s trip to bottom side Burton, which looks a must win game after today’s defeat.

Ipswich: Cornell, Chambers (c), Woolfenden, McGuinness, Ward, Dozzell, Huws (Downes 46), Jackson, Judge, Dobra (Lankester 78), Drinan (Norwood 46). Unused: Holy, Nsiala, Kenlock, Siziba, Lankester.

Swindon: Travers, Caddis, Fryers, Conroy (c), Jaiyesimi, Pitman, Twine, M Smith (Grant 90), Lyden, Palmer, Thompson. Unused: Matthews, T Smith, J Smith, Payne, Curran, Hope. Referee: Sebastian Stockbridge (Tyne and Wear).

Photo: Matchday Images

Bluearmy_81 added 20:56 - Jan 9 Bert, I'm doing my bit, doing what I can. The site is to garner support and organise action. Your apathy and acquiescent resignation is everything that is wrong with some town fans
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SickParrot added 21:01 - Jan 9 2021 so far: Imprisoned at home with the wife whilst Covid mk 2 has the NHS in crisis and my football team is so bad that it is too painful too watch them. Thank god for alcohol.
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EssexTractor added 21:02 - Jan 9 Very basic questions How do we have a “ team”..if that's the right word with such little pace, purpose, penetration ? How do we have a team with no leadership on the field ? How do we have a club managed by such an incompetent person , who cannot see the reality that even us “uncapped paying supporters” are aware of? How - because unfortunately the man in charge of decisions has made too many errors ..and now the real survival of the club supporters want it to be hangs in the balance ...who can save it ???

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Michael101 added 21:03 - Jan 9 where is the dolphin?? On a more important note Get well soon brenner you manage to make the game interesting,didn't realise how bad we are until tonight's commentary
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BcarefulwhatUWish4 added 21:04 - Jan 9 Thought Norwood was our best player by a country mile. Technically we were better than Swindon but a poor performance overall. Admirable how much bravery and determination Swindon showed throughout the game. Can't say the same for us. Our reaction to the defeat epitomised everything to me.
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Saxonblue74 added 21:05 - Jan 9 Town perfromance, Ba81 first to comment and Robsonwark moaning about Chambers, all equally predictable and nauseateingly boring. Calls for Paul Cook? If Lambert had made the same post match comments you'd all have laughed him out of the studio! As for Downes, as far as I'm concerned I really hope an offer comes in for him. I thought the only thing he managed to do was get booked! In my opinion he doesn't want to be here. Dobra looked ok first half, Judge looked up for it and Nors looked keen. Dozzell put a few decent passes in but evened it out with some shockers. That's it for me, no more positives! Wasnt expecting a great show but thought we'd get 3 points.

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Bluearmy_81 added 21:10 - Jan 9 Saxon, I find town being a joke, utter sh it, more boring. Funny how different thing bother different fans differently. The guy that goes on and moans about town being s hi t highlighting the cause is what get to you most, not town being sh it e. Funny that... 🤔
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Cakeman added 21:13 - Jan 9 I had been looking forward to watching this game all week but after just fifteen minutes or so I was left feeling very despondent. Why does our management team think our squad are capable of playing like the boring Italian teams of the 70's and 80's? What is the point of continuously playing the ball across our own penalty area offering no threat whatsoever to the opposition? Swindon worked us out quickly and should have been out of sight by half time. Sure we improved after the break that wasn't hard to do. I think the race has been run for Messrs Chambers, Ward and Huws. We have some good but not the finished article type younger players. Downes if he can keep his head could be very good, Dozzell flatters to deceive, he looks the part but his passing accuracy is often found wanting. Drinan has potential but needs better players around him. Lankester has ability but like Drinan needs better quality around him. Not sure about Woolfenden. He struts about like Terry Butcher but without the end result. Norwood and Jackson need to work close together in a 4-4-2. Covid is no excuse to isolate one striker up front! I will cut some slack in as much as they have not had opportunity to train or play for a fair time but that is no excuse for the same old shortfalls quickly returning to our game. Not optimistic for rest of season because I just don't think as an entire club we are good enough.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 21:15 - Jan 9 Bert I hear what you're saying mate but berating BA81 for looking in the past and not now and the future is a little daft considering our future IS this manager who you're berating like us all being in charge for 5 years and the club declining further. That current and future is bleak and yet a another decision poorly made by the owner. The owner who said recently before careful what you wish for' when fans were asking for lambert to leave recently in the same propaganda interview he also mentioned an improvement? I'm flabagasted that any evans supporters when they say ‘he's made mistakes and apologised' Like that's ok. As I say too much apathy towards our current plight and the owners consistently poor decisions from day one

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Texastom added 21:16 - Jan 9 Bring back Dolphin to cheer us up. Players are poor, no leadership, no desire, laughter after the game as if it's a friendly, they ain't bothered. Lambert should never have been appointed. We won't win another game this season. Remember x 4 teams go down this season. We simply have no desire. K Lynn would turn us over.
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RobsonWark added 21:17 - Jan 9 Our U23's could be our so called FIRST team. Let's play them in our next game. Ben Wyss was on target as the Blues' U23s beat Crystal Palace 1-0 in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Playford Road on Saturday afternoon. The full-back's goal just before the break came as a result of a 25-pass move which started deep in Town's half. Coaches Kieron Dyer and Terry Butcher fielded a different XI in each half of the game against the Eagles, who have a category one academy and play in Premier League Two Division Two.

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blue86 added 21:18 - Jan 9 I do love town I do, but supporting them is now a real chore, so depressing. When will the rot and nightmare end? Cant even be bothered to even moan anymore about Evans or Lambert......moaning doesn't change anything anyway.....complete APATHY.
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bringingbackthedutch added 21:27 - Jan 9 Sadly it only took a few minutes before I got that weird sinking feeling today. We lacked any intensity from the start. A large number of the team play at walking pace. When we play out from the back to either fullback they are nearly always either stationery or walking at best. If they're faced by an opponent they're not going to get past them, so they have to turn back and it starts again. They can't play the ball forward infield either because Dozzell is always deep and behind them and in today's line up Huws wasn't mobile enough and Judge was always wandering about. Sadly the players that did run off the ball, like Judge and Drinnan were largely ineffectual, although Judge did do some decent things at points today. If he was played as a genuine number 10 it wouldn't matter if he wanders around, but as part of our 3 in midfield it just leaves us short. Jackson for all his pace didn't seem to run either with the ball or off the ball. Two goals came from uncontested crosses and the second, though it was an amazing strike, was completely uncontested, a symptom of the lightweight players and the light numbers in midfield. None of our strikers can play up front alone, although Norwood made a bit of impact when he came on, which is why we've obviously got to play two up front. Dobra did a couple of things in the first half, but without Edwards, Bish and KVY none of the others can actually beat anyone and take the game to the opposition. It's not just about Lambert, several of the players have peaked, but no-one in the team seems to be hitting their top level with him at the helm and at a minimum he needs to sort out the glaringly obvious issues with the formation.

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Texastom added 21:30 - Jan 9 Quest: Just seen the highlights on TV, Chambers incredibly gave Swindon 3 goals, ball watching, no tackling, no marking. He's an awful player. I just couldn't believe how bad he was.
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DebsyAngel added 21:33 - Jan 9 A terrible game - understandable that we looked rusty after so long not playing, but this really was not good enough. Dobra was OK and Norwood at least made us look more threatening, but I was bored witless. The commentary was annoying, then made me laugh how Stuart Jarrold thought Downes was Judge constantly. How Mick Mills did not crack up on air I do not know! Losing interest in all things football lately, which is not like me. Will stick with it for now but we need to improve and fast.

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Texastom added 21:36 - Jan 9 Embarrassing the Sporting Pundits don't even comment on Ipswich anymore. The expectations have finally disappeared and become dormant. Yes, the football world expects nothing from Ipswich anymore. All they say is we create nothing. EXPECT RELEGATION
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londontractorboy57 added 21:36 - Jan 9 Is this really what you wished for/
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GiveusaWave added 21:39 - Jan 9 Well done to Swindon....showed guts and determination from the off. Can see us ending the season in mid-table. We have some good players at Division 3 level but lack bite. I can't be bothered to write anymore....the apathy is spreading....
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Cloddyseedbed added 21:41 - Jan 9 Tactical shambles with no attacking threat whatsoever. Full backs poor in defending and not able to attack and support. Wide players couldn't get supply crosses in or beat 1st man, but that is normal for us. Huws needs shipping out, looks like he's running in treacle and can't be bothered. One up front with little or no supply. How many shots did we have? Poor display but one we have been accustomed too for too long now. Players maybe coming back but tactics and coaching won't change. No good enough manager and coaches. Time for a change. Lets get the desire back to want to win a game at all costs, with this set up we will win nothing. The club is going downhill, has been for years, I can't see no light at the end of the tunnel.......pathetic.

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algarvefan added 22:25 - Jan 9 There are all kinds of comments and solutions on here tonight. I don't know for sure what the answer is, but I do know that the manager has persisted all season with a style of football that the players are clearly uncomfortable with and if they are not comfortable or even good enough to play that scheme then they will make mistakes and lose games. It is admirable to try to have the whole set up from kids upwards playing the same style of football, but I have noticed that opposition teams have wised up to it and are countering our tactics, high pressing causing panic and mistakes. No successful team is one dimensional and a team need the ability to change tactics mid game, sometimes more than once to counter the opposition. I think we need a return to basics 4-4-2 seems to suit us and under new management would be ideal.

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Carberry added 22:25 - Jan 9 It was summed up by Ward passing the ball into touch.
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ringwoodblue added 22:27 - Jan 9 Swindon deserved to win on the night so I have no complaints about the result. We gifted them two goals and the wonder goal from Twine could've been avoided if our players hadn't given him so much space to shoot. Up until today I had some hope we could achieve promotion this season but with this result I now accept that all hope is gone and perhaps that will help me cope with the future poor performances and results that will inevitably come. The manager and players clearly don't care so why should I?

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dirtydingusmagee added 22:27 - Jan 9 first the ''break'' was a blessing [not my opinion] now it will be the blame. Lambert and co can make all the excuses they like but fact is the the manager is a total failure,the team are performing accordingly and the owner is doing his Emperor Nero , impression,'' on the fiddle while Rome burns'' . WAKE UP EVANS, DO SOMETHING,SELL OR INVEST.
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tractorintheloft added 22:58 - Jan 9 I like Dozzell as a player but playing in the deepest Midfield role just doesn't work. We look spineless in defence because the opposition have time on the ball in midfield and can pick a pass. Their 2nd when we had the momentum, whilst an absolute worldy, was due to Dozzell not closing down. Any other deep midfielder would have sensed the danger and stopped him driving forward and shooting. Clearly Lambo doesn't know how to get the best out of a squad that should challenge for promotion and should go NOW!

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Bert added 23:00 - Jan 9 I get what you are saying BBP but by the present I'm talking about Lambert, tactics and team structure. That's what fans are clearly upset about and that's what can be changed. Evans tenure cannot be changed for we have no means to do so. If BA81 assumes that fans not backing his Facebook effort means they don't care and are apathetic he is alienating many mores so his method is almost pointless. There are shades of opinion on everything ITFC but this black and white approach simply pitches fan against fan.

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