Former Town loanee Callum Connolly and Ged Garner were on target as Fleetwood deservedly defeated the Blues 2-0 at the Highbury Stadium. Connolly nodded the opener in the ninth minute and Garner added the second with a low shot on 57 with Town, who are down to seventh, never looking like they would get anything from the game.

Cole Skuse made his first start of the season in place of Flynn Downes in an otherwise unchanged Town line-up.

Skuse, a sub at the weekend having been out since pre-season with a knee injury which required surgery, took up his usual central midfield role alongside Andre Dozzell, Downes having suffered a hamstring injury in the 1-0 home win against Plymouth on Saturday.

Kayden Jackson again started with James Norwood, who has been suffering with back spasms and was in court this morning, absent from the 18, while Josh Harrop returned to the bench.

Former Blues loanee Connolly skippered Fleetwood, while on-loan Blues defender Janoi Donacien was ineligible against his parent club and 11-goal top scorer Callum Camps missed out due to a hamstring injury.

The Blues got off to a bright start and in the fourth minute an Alan Judge ball played into the path of Jackson breaking towards the penalty area was just cut out by a Fleetwood boot.

However, it was the Cod Army who would take the lead from the game’s first chance. A long throw was sent in from the right by James Hill and ex-Town loan man Connolly was unchallenged as he was allowed to nod backwards and across Tomas Holy and into the corner of the net.

Fleetwood, buoyed by their goal, went close again in the 16th minute when Garner shot not too far wide of Holy’s right post from just outside the box.

Town were struggling to keep hold of the ball, giving it away cheaply all too often, and on 18 Holy was forced to rush off his line to clear ahead of Kyle Vassell as the home side continued to push for a second.

Hard-working Fleetwood continued to look the better side but on 32 Gwion Edwards got round the outside of his man on the right and sent in a low ball to the near post which Jackson turned into the side-netting.

A minute later, Danny Andrew took a quick free-kick from deep and Hill almost found himself in on goal but the ball beat him and ran behind.

Well-drilled Fleetwood continued to look the more threatening side and in the 43rd minute they went close again. Vassell did well on the right and Garner took a touch before flicking a low effort from the near post towards goal which somehow stuck between Holy’s feet. It was a lucky escape for the Blues.

During one minute of added on time the game was delayed after Edwards challenged Jordan Rossiter somewhat recklessly midway inside the Fleetwood half. The home players briefly called for a red card but referee Gavin Ward showed only a yellow.

The Welshman was the more badly hurt of the two and was off the field hobbling as the half was brought to an end.

A very poor 45 minutes from the Blues against a well-organised Fleetwood side who could and should have been more than a goal in front.

Aside from a positive opening couple of minutes, Town had toiled having struggled to keep possession and with Edwards’s cross for Jackson their only chance of the half. Manager Paul Cook had cut a frustrated figure on the touchline.

Town changes of personnel to give the display a lift would have been little surprise but in the end there was only the enforced switch of the injured Edwards for Harrop.

The Cod Army started the second half positively and threatened for the first time on 47 when Dan Batty sent over a free-kick from the left and Vassell looped it on to the roof of the net.

Three minutes later, Vassell shot over from just inside the area after a Fleetwood break after a Town attack had broken down.

Dozzell almost scored an own goal of the season contender in the 55th minute when he miscued Holy’s punch from a corner in completely the wrong direction and only just wide of the post.

Fleetwood only had to wait another two minutes for their second goal, however. Vassell fed Garner towards the edge of the area and the 22-year-old hit a low drive just inside the post.

The home side were well worth doubling their lead with the Blues having shown no signs of improvement since the break.

On 61 there was another scare for Town when Holy gifted the ball to Will Burns inside the area as he and James Wilson exchanged passes but fortunately for the Blues the Fleetwood man took it out of play.

The Cod Army had their tails well and truly up and three minutes later Burns was sent away one-on-one with Holy on the right of the box but the Blues keeper was out quickly to block. Moments later, the big Czech was in action again, saving above his head from Vassell.

Blues boss Cook made a triple change in the 67th minute with Stephen Ward, Jack Lankester and Aaron Drinan replacing Kenlock, Parrott and Judge with Harrop moving into the number 10 role.

On 67 an Andrew shot was diverted away from goal by Toto Nsiala, then three minutes later Vassell shot over.

Sub Ward managed Town’s first effort on target in the 71st minute, the Irishman exchanging passes with Judge and bringing the ball in from the left before hitting a shot which under-worked home keeper Alex Cairns palmed into the air and over. From the corner, Nsiala rose highest but nodded against a defender.

Holy was given little trouble by Batty’s shot from the edge of the box in the 75th minute but with Fleetwood continuing to look the better team and the more likely scorers of the game’s third goal.

In the 81st minute, Skuse was replaced by Bishop, Fleetwood having swapped Rossiter for Harrison Biggins a couple of minutes earlier and Batty having been booked for kicking the ball away.

On 82 Biggins hit a shot into Holy’s arms from distance, before the home side replaced Sam Finley with Josh Morris.

Judge shot not too far wide from distance in the 89th minute, then as the game moved into five additional minutes, Fleetwood’s second goalscorer Garner made way for Harvey Saunders.

Moments before the whistle, Dozzell forced Cairns into a save with a strike from distance and Nsiala’s header from the resultant corner was saved but a goal would have flattered Town.

A lacklustre evening virtually from start to finish from the Blues, who never looked like they would get anything out of the match. They were poor in possession until the latter stages when the game was already lost, created little and allowed the home side enough chances to have won very comfortably.

The home side always looked in control, deserved their win and really ought to have scored more than twice.

After the positivity following his first win against Plymouth on Saturday, another display which will give new boss Cook plenty to ponder.

The Blues, now a place and two points behind sixth-placed Charlton but with two games in hand on the Addicks, are next in action at Portsmouth on Saturday with another away game following seven days later at Wigan.

Fleetwood: Cairns, Andrew, Connolly (c), Burns, Rossiter (Biggins 79), Vassell, Finley (J Morris 85), Batty, Garner (Saunders 90), Holgate, Hill. Unused: Coleman, Duffy, Rydel, S Morris.

Town: Holy, Chambers (c), Nsiala, Wilson, Kenlock (Ward 67), Dozzell, Skuse (Bishop 81), Edwards (Harrop 46), Parrott (Lankester 67), Judge, Jackson (Drinan 67). Unused: Cornell, Bennetts. Referee: Gavin Ward (Surrey).

Photo: Pagepix

papashango87 added 22:32 - Mar 16 To be honest if your going to be an arse about it, the blame really lies with the club when they decide to build the north and south stand up and sign finidi George and Matteo Sereni and put the club out of pocket in the first place
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dunkleberrydog added 22:41 - Mar 16 That's when it all went wrong Papas, but that was a long time ago....
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Tractorboy58 added 22:42 - Mar 16 Pathetic performance...this lot are stealing a wage !
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BeattiesBackPocket added 22:45 - Mar 16 Papashango you realise in the 14 years he's been here Wimbledon have climbed from the isthmian league and now in the same league us us they had to start all over again as well. Yeah i realise that Bournemouth and Brentford get gates of around 10000 we get twice as much as well as twice as much revenue from shirts shop sales programmes food and drink etc etc and we can't compete with them? Explain the math please? We had the fifth lowest wage budget?? Norwich owner is worth a hell of a lot less than evans and look how well they're run?? Please tell me where he's done well in his 14 years please?? Your concerned about a consortium coming in with no affinity to the club I understand that so what about the owner we currently have then he has no affinity his nearest property is Cornwall, he's a chelsea fan, he wanted to buy the mirror before us, he's sold off players way below their price like Webster for 5 mill who goes a year later for over 25 mill, waghorn etc etc. And you think he's good for the club 🙄

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KMANSers added 22:45 - Mar 16 Come on guys, what is all this dribble about clearing the squad out of dead wood and mediocre players who don't care! My question is- to replace with what??? Evans is not going to part with any money to improve our squad because it's his inept leadership with minimal investment that has put the club in this low position with a ‘bottom of the barrel' squad in the 1st place. Wake up and smell the coffee you lot talking about it's the players on the pitch are the problem! When really most of the players are playing at their true level. ME needs to go as all facts of the last 13years points to his failings.

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BeattiesBackPocket added 22:48 - Mar 16 Papashango also you didn't say which of our current team would get in the squad we had under magilton? Absolutely none. We all want what's best for the club but dont talk about an affinity for the club tbh I'd they want to make money out of us that involves investment and going up I'd rather be a Norwich than an Ipswich and I'm sick of saying that.
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TrueBlueSince72 added 22:50 - Mar 16 How disappointing was that? I know Cook hasn't been here very long and he has made a great first impression, but that was a gutless display. Out-fought and out-thought in every aspect of the game. Back to slow and ponderous keep ball in our own half. None of the players seem to be able to look up the field and try to find a team mate with a forward pass. Big job in front of him - welcome to Portman Road Mr Cook!!

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algarvefan added 22:52 - Mar 16 To be fair, if Ipswich had put in a shift like Fleetwood I would be well chuffed. To a man they were better than us, their attitude, fight and dare I say fitness was better than ours. Nobody looked like they wanted the ball tonight, lets at least start the game with 11 fighters, even if we have to dip into the U23's and put some of these players out on their backsides. Changes, we need changes.

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Lathers added 23:02 - Mar 16 Absolutely raging tonight after that woeful and despicable performance. I could have got us 4 points from 4 games against Gillingham, Lincoln, Plymouth and Fleetwood... Wow what a start Paul. Has Cook actually done his research on this squad before taking over? It seems like he hasn't, otherwise any sane man wouldn't have started Jackson up top on his OWN for the last 2 games. For the record Paul, he is fecking AWFUL. I thought we all wanted 4-4-2 anyway? I was a big fan of us hiring Cook, but he's already lost a lot of credibility with me for his team selections and like his predecessor, he doesn't seem to have a plan B. I've spent £330 on ifollow this season and Pompey will be my last game this season unless I see huge improvement. Couldn't be more fed up tonight.

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blueboy1981 added 23:12 - Mar 16 For the few idiots always blaming Evans, he wasn't one of the limp wrists out there again tonight - but he picks up the wage bill again for abject failure. Paul Cook will have to have a clear out of these clueless clowns, otherwise he will achieve no more than anyone previously has with this bunch. How many of those out there tonight could honestly say they were playing for the Manager, or the Club. Hang your heads in shame you motley crew of pretenders, pretending game after game to be better than you obviously are.

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RegencyBlue added 23:14 - Mar 16 All you going on about a clear out in the summer and Cook bringing in his own players need a wake up call if it's still Evans at the helm. Do you really think he's going to fund the purchase of the number of quality players we need? It can't be funded by stripping out the squad again because there's nothing left to sell for any more than peanuts. Cook needs to rebuild but the only way it gets to happen in any meaningful way is if Evans sells up and a new owner takes over.

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blueboy1981 added 23:40 - Mar 16 We are all deluded - we have a massive squad, compared with many comparable Clubs, but of mediocre quality. Who could we sell worth anything ?? - the ultimate reality check ! - no one in my opinion other than Judge to play in his rightful position thro' the centre. People keep talking about our ‘young stars' - What ?? - if they were, why is it that we never see it in terms of results ?? - or even constant performances. Like I've said so many times, we are a soft touch to play for, and all too ready to condone failure and accept it as the norm'. More has to be asked and expected from everyone on the payroll - otherwise we trundle in at this level indefinitely.

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norfolkbluey added 23:41 - Mar 16 Well PC what now two more away games? I cannot believe Skuse came into the team. Since PL left what sign is there of improvement? None. Two losses one draw and one win. Not convinced there is a quick solution or magic wand. A big fish in a little pond and still no sign of improvement. Without Norwood we have little threat up front and no sign of anyone else to cause problems. Toothless, useless , mindless, gutless and clueless. Now the defence has collapsed tonight. What sort of club has PC taken hold of? SAD SAD DAYS. Promotion, don't make me laugh!

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papashango87 added 23:53 - Mar 16 Why does who of tonight's squad would get into the magilton era team have anything to do with it? We are a league below for a start and a decade later when football has dropped in considerable quality anyway. Evans puts what money up he is willing to spend on players, if you ask me it's the poor scouting that lets us down and managers tend to have their own guys they look to for that. You bang on about Norwich, they bring in foreign players and not for massive amounts of money, technically better and usually with a bit of flair. You talk about Brentford and Bournemouth they didn't spend big, they scout well, bring in good players. Evans doesn't pick who they are gonna try and sign. Even if you offer rubbish wages to a lesser player it doesn't mean they won't show desire to win a game of football. Normally it's the opposite. They appreciate the opportunity. My point is at the end of the day there's a team of players and a manager on the night who should want to win and be motivated to with some basic instructions whatever has gone on before them or what wage they are on. Evans can't do that for them. Anyway I've wasted enough time tonight on watching sh*te I'm not gonna waste it on someone talking it too

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eddiespearitt03 added 00:00 - Mar 17 The anonymous Evans waiting for a miracle. What a shambles.
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Bluefox added 00:10 - Mar 17 Feared the worst when the teamsheet showed jackson playing alone up top again (how many time has that been a disaster?) and Skuse back in midfield (after being off the pace when he was last fit a year ago). PC needs to get to grips fast with the who can do what in his squad if we are to have any chance of the playoffs. Dozzell one of the few showing any quality, if PC can find the ball winning energy to play alongside him. Still think if PC makes the right selections we have a chance of the playoffs. Regarding comments about Magilton, he was the one manager that Evans provided with an open cheque book, and he wasn't closets getting us up — which was why he went.

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jas0999 added 01:43 - Mar 17 Completely unacceptable performance from a bunch of very average players. Many of whom should not play for the club again. Sadly, the fortunes of the club will not change with Evans at the helm. It will be another summer of under investment in the squad. We will get rid of players - but unlikely to replace with the quality required. It will be even cheaper alternatives - the same as previous years. That's why we are an average League One side.

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Kirbmeister added 04:52 - Mar 17 Unbelievable to think that this shambles of a side is still only one point off a play off place. Of course there's no way we'll get promoted but shows the lack of quality in this league. This season should be seen as a free hit for Cook. He knows most of these will be gone at the end of the season. Players like Dozzell and Bishop need to be careful as they'll go the same way as Hyam. If they were any good they would already be hunted by better clubs. Powder puff.

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therein61 added 07:00 - Mar 17 So the premiership class N0/8 returns to give us steel for the promotion push OH DEAR!!!!!!!!
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Webby1 added 07:12 - Mar 17 The old adage, no guts no glory, we were simply bullied of the park, Town really struggle with teams that run and press all the time, they need so much time on the ball,everything is slow and telegraphed, I would loved to have played against a team like last night in my day, I would have been made to look a lot better than I was, but I was at least fast and aggresive.I have been a Town fan a lifetime,I was there in 61/62 as a schoolboy,in 78 and 81 with my own kids, 2000 what a party that was. It is just sad to watch these days, but I will watch again on Sat, why because I am a Town fan and always have been. Onwards and hopefully upwards.

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Barty added 07:54 - Mar 17 I am afraid to say that we are what we are and that is CRAP
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grumpyoldman added 08:08 - Mar 17 I have not watched any game this season apart from the FA Cup debacle so my opinion is only based on what I read here and the EADT online. People have commented in the past about our “captain fantastic” being a great leader, from what I gather from what I have read our team lacks vocal encouragement apart from PC and we are a very quiet team. Surely guiding and encouraging is a vital part of being a great great leader.

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Cloddyseedbed added 09:17 - Mar 17 I now far for next season too if Evans does not sell the club. Out of contract players are easy to get rid of, players still on a contract aren't. Not many of our huge squad have much of a value. Dozzell, Woolfy and Downes could maybe expect an interest from other clubs but income if all 3 were sold would not generate enough to get in a whole new playing staff. From what I've seen this season and last that is exactly what is needed. To ask any manager to address the playing staff and get together a side that has enough skill and DESIRE to want to win a football match in one season is one hell of an ask. Couple that to an owner who WILL NOT put a decent transfer kitty up to try to turn this club around and I don't see a lot of hope getting out of this league next season either. We may have players installed that playing for our club means something and the desire to win maybe there but to get everything to gel in just a few months during the close season, it will be very difficult, even for Paul Cook. We must start finding better players, wherever they are in the world. Our scouting system doesn't seem to exist. Neither does a transfer kitty. So I say to fellow supporters if you think next season with Evans in control will be a breeze, I can assure you it will be much of the same. We will continue to be let down.

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Linkboy13 added 09:18 - Mar 17 New manager same gutless performance with no passion get rid of Dozzell, Bishop etc, spineless limp wristed bunch of wasters. Ipswich town is a graveyard for managers Paul Cook must be regretting he took the job. It's going to take two to three years too get rid of this rubbish.
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Taricco_Fan added 09:24 - Mar 17 Stagnation under Evans is obviously a problem, but last night we were outfought all over the pitch by a former non-league team on a tiny budget from a town of 26k people. It's not all about money, it's about good coaching and intelligent scouting. We are lacking in both departments.
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