Town continue to look for a win against one of League One’s top sides as Mark McGuinness’s 69th minute own goal saw Peterborough United to a 1-0 win at Portman Road. Jonson Clarke-Harris missed a penalty for Posh in a dull first half and the game improved little in a second in which McGuinness scuffed past his own keeper to win three points for the visitors who otherwise didn’t manage a shot on target, while the Blues registered merely two.

Town boss Paul Lambert, who again watched the game sitting in the dugout, made one enforced change with Aaron Drinan replacing James Norwood up front.

Norwood dropped out of the 18 having felt some fatigue in his previously injured hamstring during last Saturday’s 1-0 win at Burton.

Kayden Jackson was also not in the squad having missed training earlier in the week due to thigh and hip injuries.

Winger Luke Thomas, who signed from Barnsley in the week, was among the subs, as was Jon Nolan, who had previously been out with a calf problem. Town’s other new loan signing, Josh Harrop, is self-isolating having tested positive for Covid-19.

Posh made one change from the team which beat Charlton 2-1 in midweek with midfielder Reece Brown coming in for Ethan Hamilton, who was among the subs.

After the two teams had taken a knee in support of Black Lives Matter, the game got under way with Peterborough controlling the early stages but without either keeper being tested.

Town gradually began to show more and on 16 Teddy Bishop won a free-kick five yards outside the penalty area to the right. The ball was played short to the midfielder on the edge of the area, where he worked himself space to hit a shot which deflected wide.

Five minutes later, former Posh wideman Gwion Edwards won a free-kick on the left, although the decision looked harsh on the visitors, and Alan Judge scraped a strike past Christy Pym’s right post with the keeper never looking in any trouble.

Clarke-Harris struck a powerful 25-yard free-kick only just over Tomas Holy’s cross-bar in the 25th minute but with the Town keeper similarly unflustered.

Just before the half hour, Sammie Szmodics, under pressure from Dozzell, was able to turn the ball into the path of Siriki Dembele breaking down the left. The former Grimsby striker took it on into the area and hit a shot which looked to be going wide before Holy’s right hand made sure.

In the 33rd minute the visitors were handed a golden opportunity to go in front when Toto Nsiala lunged in to make a challenge on Dembele in the area. Referee Antony Coggins didn’t appear to be that interested until his assistant on the right-hand side after a long wait waved his flag and the Oxfordshire-based official pointed to the spot.

However, fortunately for the Blues, Clarke-Harris smashed his penalty very powerfully straight down the middle but too high.

The visitors didn’t seem unduly affected by their penalty miss and in the 43rd minute again weren’t far away from the opening goal.

Dan Butler’s whipped over a free-kick from the right which somehow avoided everyone in the area and flashed past the far post.

Just before the whistle, Jack Taylor was booked for a foul on Bishop inside the centre circle as the Blues broke.

A not particularly memorable half with neither side having recorded a shot on target with the visitors’ penalty the only really significant opportunity, although Dembele might feel he could have done better with his earlier chance.

Prior to the penalty, the Blues had started play more in the Peterborough half but without being able to create a chance and having had a tendency to give the ball away. Posh seemed buoyed by their penalty, even if they had missed it, and had looked more threatening in the spell which followed.

Edwards whipped over a cross from the right a couple of minutes after the restart but Drinan, still looking for his first competitive goal for the Blues, was unable to get his head on it.

On 54 Chambers nodded a bouncing ball towards Drinan not far outside the six-yard box but a Posh boot took it away from the Irishman. Five minutes later, Stephen Ward was booked for a foul on Idris Kanu.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 62nd minute when a scuffed Butler free-kick from the right made its way through a crowd of players and bounced off Holy, but fortunately didn’t fall kindly for a Posh player.

Peterborough were looking the more threatening of two not at all dangerous-looking sides and on 68 they went in front, perhaps inevitably given the overall lack of threat shown by the two teams, via an own goal.

Butler sent over a cross from the left and under no pressure McGuinness, the scorer of Town’s winner at Burton last week, sliced his clearance across Holy and into the corner of the net to give the visitors the lead.

Edwards was booked for a foul on Kanu on 71, then two minutes later skipper Luke Chambers smashed a shot high and wide after Bishop had found him on the right of the area.

Prior to the goal-kick, Town made a triple substitution with Nolan, Thomas and Freddie Sears replacing Bishop, Judge and Drinan.

Less than a minute after coming on, Nolan struck the Blues’ first shot on target from 25 yards but Pym was able to bat the ball into the air.

Thomas made his first contribution in a Town shirt on 78, cutting in from the right and playing a low ball to Edwards on the other side of the box. The Welshman turned inside his man before hitting a shot not too far over.

The Blues, as snow began to fall, briefly started to look a threat as the game moved into its final 10 minutes, Sears and then Thomas both having efforts blocked.

Posh swapped Hamilton for Brown two minutes later and the sub went close almost immediately, shooting over from Butler’s cross having initially played the ball wide to the former Newport man.

Niall Mason took over from Dembele for Posh in the penultimate minute with the Blues by now no more than huffing and puffing and an equaliser not looking particularly likely.

The Blues did have the ball in the net during five minutes of injury time but the ball had already gone out of play before Chambers had knocked back in to Nsiala, who had acrobatically hooked home.

Downes headed into Pym’s arms to register a second attempt on target before referee Coggins brought the afternoon to an end.

The winning goal summed up a game of little quality with neither team ever showing much incisiveness or invention in and around the penalty area. Despite their lack of attempts on goal, Peterborough probably deserved the three points marginally more than the Blues.

Town never create many chances but few opposition keepers will have had as quiet an afternoon as Peterborough’s Pym, who was only forced into action by sub Nolan’s shot.

On this evidence, both teams are some way off the likes of Hull City, Portsmouth and Doncaster.

The Blues have now lost five of their last six at home and taken 10 points from their last nine games.

The result, one which heaps yet more pressure on under-fire Blues boss Lambert, moves Posh up to third while Town are down to ninth ahead of another tough home game against Sunderland on Tuesday and a difficult away trip to Crewe next Saturday.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), Nsiala, McGuinness, Ward, Dozzell, Downes, Bishop (Nolan 74), Judge (Thomas 74), Drinan (Sears 74), Edwards. Unused: Cornell, Woolfenden, Kenlock, Huws.

Peterborough: Pym, Butler, Thompson, Beevers (c), Kent, Taylor, Clarke-Harris, Dembele (Mason 89), Brown, Szmodics (Jones 84), Kanu. Unused: Gyollai, Eisa, Broom, Burrows. Referee: Antony Coggins (Oxfordshire).

Photo: Matchday Images

Bert added 17:22 - Jan 23 The usual non posts from a couple of posters who simply want the team to lose. As Mick Mills said, we didn't deserve to lose. Much better pressing today, more aggressive in midfield but again no service to a lone striker. We do expect more and we want more but apart from a few dodgy performances at the back, today was progress. Thomas looks as if he can give us something and if we can get Norwood back to fitness there is hope of ta top six place. Apathy has no place with Town fans and to be optimistic is certainly better than a whinge without purpose. COYB.

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heathen66 added 17:23 - Jan 23 When oh when are we going to stop crosses coning into our box. How many attempted crosses (albeit to only one man) was blocked by the opposition full backs. The full backs need to help out the 2 CBs, but both were far too often awol, but still offered very little going forward. Thomas and Nolan looked lively when they eventually came on but given less the 20 mins is not long enough Very poor performance and really we do need to go back to basics and that means 4-4-2. Ensure the 4 defenders are in position to defend (that is their prime job), and lets have 2 strikers for the wide players to aim for when they do get into good positions. This game really is not rocket science and many would have us believe

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blue86 added 17:24 - Jan 23 Bye bye Lambert (please) love town always will, but I'm losing interest in it all. Fed up with the same old crap over and over again. I WILL single individuals out now aswell and dont care what people think, Nsiala Is a prime example aka Mr penalty maker! he is not fit to wear the shirt full stop. Injuries, false Dawn's, Evan's bull$hit and lamberts top top clubs and highest level speeches, I could go on but won't as I'm bored of moaning about it now. Hey ho, could be worse we should be over the moon were not Bolton hey?? Such high expectations this club has now, the thought of another limp season in league 1 next season under this regime makes my blood boil. Rant over.

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Dolphinblue added 17:24 - Jan 23 Enough is Enough....LAMBERT OUT!
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martin587 added 17:25 - Jan 23 Absolutely pathetic.One shot on target in 90minutes at home is a disgrace.One striker again is ludicrous.Wake up PL.Loose the next two games and I want you gone PL.I'm ashamed with the rubbish we turn out week in week out.Any other manager would have been sacked.Enough said.
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ThaiBlue added 17:26 - Jan 23 Only time we looked dangerous was when holy came up for the late corner.sorry lambert but your time must be up now.chambers shocking.
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Tractorboy58 added 17:26 - Jan 23 Lambert out
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prebbs007 added 17:26 - Jan 23 We even manage to lose a game where the opposition don't have a shot in target in the whole match. So toothless upfront. Make 2 signings but the issue is scoring goals. Evans you utter pr1ck sign a striker or we're farked!!! Shambert your a disgusting excuse for a football manager. One up front DOES NOT work. Stop being so stubborn. Calamity at RB so we release the only RB we have fit. You really couldn't make it up on the Comedy Channel how shocking our whole club is. So sad !!!

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midastouch added 17:27 - Jan 23 @Bert. Mick Mills was pretty scathing in his post-match analysis just now. You can tell he wants to see a change in direction, i.e. a change in management. A slight improvement perhaps (but from a very low benchmark) but as Mick Mills just said, we used to be miles ahead of teams like Posh and Lincoln, now they are our equals or you could even argue are superiors. Sad times.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 17:27 - Jan 23 Bert listen to mills now then he's just said we should be letting the club, players, manager and owner it's not good enough. We were light years away from these teams now we're an equal the clubs going on the wrong direction and YOU are one of the reasons why too much apathy and blaming fans who aren't even at games to effect a result! Mills isn't happy yeah we should've maybe had a draw as he said but you missed everything else he also said after that that we should be expecting more! You'd be happy in league two

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midastouch added 17:28 - Jan 23 * our superiors
0

bluemay77 added 17:28 - Jan 23 Crewe Alexandra a hard game how low we have sunk shame on the current regime
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Len_Brennan added 17:29 - Jan 23 It's too late now. Everyone else has gotten better & know what they are doing now, we're no further on than we were this time last year. We should have made the change 2 months ago. Apathy is the worst possibly emotion to have about your football club, but many of us are getting that mindset. It's too late now.
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HUTCHITFC added 17:31 - Jan 23 Having had a busy stressful week at work I sat down with a few beers to watch town in the hope they would cheer me up. Before anyone says owt I have supported town since 1990 and have spent a fortune on following them throughout the country and abroad even going to places like Sloban liberec in UEFA cup. I have met the likes of sheepshanks, matt Holland, george burley etc on the old scandinavian pre season tours and I always knew whilst underdogs at times the team spirit and unity of the supporters got us through. I remember the atmosphere in the north stand especially in the play off days against likes of bolton and shef Utd. I have now though had enough. I watched today's game and it was just terrible. It upset me so much to see what we have become. I really dont know whose to blame. Is it Evans who let's be honest has put money in, is it previous managers, is it the players ? I just dont know. What I do know though is that quite frankly the current players we have are just not good enough. I know football shouldn't get me down but I just cant watch this sh*t anymore and whilst I know we have injuries etc and you cant just blame the manager something needs to change because this current situation is making me turn the tv off and to play UNO with the mrs instead. I've had enough !!! Sorry for rant, 6 cans probably hasn't helped my mood.

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bluesi added 17:31 - Jan 23 It's just getting so predictable & so so boring! It's bad enough being in lockdown for nearly a year, then every Saturday you look forward to watching the Town, even though you know what's coming!! Just so so bored with it. Supported the club since 1980, where do we really go from here?? Again we wait till we are 1-0 down, then we make changes, why not have a go from the start. We are just a bang average first division team

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Skip73 added 17:31 - Jan 23 Pathetic once again. Did anyone expect any more?
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BeattiesBackPocket added 17:31 - Jan 23 Midastouch realise Bert only read or listens to what he wants he's happy with an owner who lies to fans about improvements happening etc if you criticise the team or owner to him you're not a fan. Keep the apathy going Bert
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rnblue63 added 17:32 - Jan 23 Yet another inept performance by Ipswich Towns Feeble Cripples.
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dirtydingusmagee added 17:32 - Jan 23 Masetheace, rebuild for next season, yes we need to , BUT the situation is unacceptable we have had that senario season after season ,and are still going the wrong way Lambert MUST GO ,Evans should but wont ..
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runningout added 17:32 - Jan 23 We are so Dull. I have officially lost any form of interest in my once great club. Winnable games thrown away week on week. Been following ITFC for 45 years and too old now to deal with ruined matchdays.
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MickMillsTash added 17:33 - Jan 23 NO forwards, No goals, No surprise I was disappointed with Peterborough.I thought they were better but they were still better than us, fitter and seemed to play with a purpose. I'm disappointed with myself for watching it and paying £10 despite knowing what was coming. I think I should be disappointed with the Town players but I'm not sure that they are capable of more. I'm sure I'll watch again on Tuesday. Idiot!

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DerryfromBury added 17:34 - Jan 23 Why on earth didn't we start the game with the team which finished it.
5

bluechelmsford9 added 17:36 - Jan 23 Simply not good enough. Zero creativity or threat going forward. The commentary on iFollow is starting to grate on me - they seem to think we are unlucky but you have to create your own luck in football. Ipswich are in League 1 and they are not good enough for League 1, let alone competing for promotion - it's embarrassing. The three subs made a difference but too little too late. The club needs a serious shake-up.

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TimmyH added 17:37 - Jan 23 iFollow should be renamed iSleep in regards to Ipswich...70 odd minutes of woeful football and about 75 minutes before our only attempt on goal (again). I wonder where we are in the league with attempts on target?...I bet we're not in the top half of the league. Why didn't Lambert make substitutions fairly on in the 2nd half when the game was going nowhere and wait until we went behind? As for Peterboro, looked pretty ordinary and that's 10 games unbeaten against us!...shameful. Lambert out!

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Gforce added 17:37 - Jan 23 Bianca Westwood said on sky, in her half time report, the quality on the pitch is so poor its laughable.Totally sums us up really. Don't think I'll bother watching Tuesday night, it's just too depressing, I'll get more entertainment watching eastenders.
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