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

IpswichToon added 09:45 - Mar 17 It's not often I think the scoreline fairly reflected the game. In this case, 2-0 is 100% a fair reflection. We provided no goal threat (up until the final 15 seconds), and they had a good goal threat, but not excessive.
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Orraman added 11:02 - Mar 17 New manager bounce!!! 1 win in four and that by a lucky defensive errror by Plymouth. Meanwhile Hasselbaink takes over a team scraping along the bottom and gets 8 wins out of 10. Is there any difference betweeen Cook and Lambert? Well Cook hasn't played for a big club and he does have a sense of humour but that is about it. We are 2 - 0 down so he takes off two front men and replaces them with one. Just what is the problem with playing 2 up top?. Lambert also came o the club saying how big they were and buying beers for the fans, getting them onside etc, just like Cook is using scouse humour to try to be one of the lads. On evidence so far he has presided over 2 of the worst displays this season - Gills and Fleetwood - but getting away with it because so far the sun apparently shines out of his a..e

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Razor added 11:19 - Mar 17 I hate to say this but THEY WANTED IT MORE. I think some of our players believe their own publicity, we could not pass a ball could not retain a ball and the defenders marked fresh air instead of the opposition. The keeper is poor----where was he for the first goal----and the only welcome thing about last nifgt was the final whistle. Yeah there is a massive re-building exercise necessary but Evans must support the manager with funds----therin lies the problem!!

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portmanteau added 11:25 - Mar 17 At least we have a few comedians on here. Pre-Madonna, thats a good one. Waiting to hear about what happened Post-Madonna....
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BeattiesBackPocket added 11:38 - Mar 17 Papashango87 lol that's the response right there I'm talking sh!te because I don't agree with you? I only asked you which current members of our team would get in that magilton side the point of asking it is to show YOU that the selling of our best players and brining in lack of quality league one and two players IS THE REASON we are now there! It's a fact. The structure including scouting everything is down to evans for the main, same as the reason we're not a cat one youth set up because he didn't want to invest at that time same as he didn't want to invest in murph ya freak season when we were top that exactly WHY we are where we are now. If you blame the managers then how can you blame 6 managers and not the owner who employs them? The same guy who gave one of our worst performing managers a 5 year contract and told us only a month or two ago to ‘be careful what you wish for' Reagarding getting rid of lambert then as soon as lambert came out and told the truth about the owner and not having a structure he sacks him off anyway lol it's almost laughable

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dirtydingusmagee added 11:41 - Mar 17 Portmanteau well they play ''Like a virgin'' lol
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dirtydingusmagee added 11:51 - Mar 17 these players need to man up, they have no balls, no guts, no heart, Cook should ''stick one''into them, not do same as Lambert, say they gave everything, couldnt ask for more bla bla bla. do a Fergie ,get the F 'in hairdryer out, take no prisoners. These players may not be earning top wages in football, but they are not hard up. If they dont fancy working for the money, put em on Jobseekers allowance. No time for this shower at all, the worst bunch of players to wear the shirt .GGGGGGGGGGGGGGRRRRRRRRR

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StavangerBlue added 11:57 - Mar 17 I was on here a few weeks ago saying a new manager would equate to the same old routine and low and behold I'm proved right. It hasn't been the Managers who have been at fault IMHO. You cannot polish a ****! It is the mentality of the club that is all wrong. Why should players push themselves to perform when they know ME will not buy new blood - does he really want promotion? He's not serious in the transfer market and that ripples through the club. It is the easiest gig in football. Play with no passion, no desire, no fire, no winning spirit, slip in a few gaffs and the Manager will have to pick you because he has no other options! Well, he has Jackson, but nobody wants to play Jackson.

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Blue_Meanie added 11:59 - Mar 17 Not very scientific I know, but the bottom 2 teams have scored more goals than us. Just a thought.
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Bluearmy_81 added 13:46 - Mar 17 Tarrico, stagnation means staying in the same place, if only! We are in free fall. Even with the areas you highlight, the failure and the buck stops with Evans
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DerryfromBury added 15:34 - Mar 17 As I said a few weeks ago, if we managed to dispose (sell) all the so called first team, the entire proceeds would only stretch to 1 or possibly 2 decent league one players let alone any championship players. I suppose the only small ray of hope is, that PC did his due diligence and knew exactly what he was taking on, and believes he can mold some of the 60 odd (yes 60+) squad into something which resembles an half decent mid table league one team. Don't hold your breadth.

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DerryfromBury added 15:46 - Mar 17 breath
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pops added 16:16 - Mar 17 No determination or desire from a lightweight team, 60 minutes before a shot then from a full back. Dozell should have used his right foot and in penalty area but it went towards our goal. Holy just got away with tip tap near touchline. Many of squad need to enjoy the remaining games as they will be their last for ITFC. Watching on TV means players get off lightly as not in front of fans at stadium.

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eddiespearitt03 added 17:05 - Mar 17 Just a slow death that drags on from one year to the next. Not a hint or sign of any progress from a clueless owner who is watching this dire football. OK, we,ve scraped a few results recently....and yes....they were not emphatic wins either. The "no show" game is just lurking in the back ground. Now we are still using the tired legs who have conned this club and Evans for far too long.

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mib added 17:10 - Mar 17 I WILL SAY IT YET AGAIN, COOK IS NOT AND NEVER WILL BE GOOD FOR IPSWICH. LAMBERT WAS ONLY GOT RID OF BECAUSE HE HAD THE GUTS TO DISAGREE WITH OUR OWNER AND ALSO HAD THE GUTS TO TELL HIM SO. I ALSO SAID THAT THESE SO CALLED PLAYERS SHOULD NEVER PULL ON A TOWN SHIRT EVER AGAIN. HAVE THINGS IMPROVED NOW LAMBERTS GONE, NOT ON YOUR NELLY. COOK THE MESSIAH, DONT MAKE ME LAUGH. LAMBERT BACK IN FOR ME.

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RobsonWark added 17:35 - Mar 17 Chambers trying his best to get another manager sacked. Now he has his best mate back with him in the team should be fairly easy. Surely Chambers must be in the Guinness Book of World Records for Captaining teams that have lost their managers. Paul Lamberk wouldn't take my advice PC. Drop Captain Calamity or you'll be the next on his hit list!!
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RobsonWark added 18:26 - Mar 17 StavangerBlue added 11:57 - Mar 17 " Why should players push themselves to perform when they know ME will not buy new blood - does he really want promotion? " Are you for real? The players should WANT promotion!! They should be giving blood like Terry Butcher and Brian Talbot to push their team to the highest level possible. The higher the club goes the greater the rewards for the players with improved contracts or other teams coming in for them offering them better deals. If the players don't want promotion then rip their contracts up now! "Well, he has Jackson, but nobody wants to play Jackson." Really, only Jackson thinks he is a "professional footballer". In my ideas he is no more than a semi-pro footballer at best.

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runningout added 20:13 - Mar 17 our lot must realise by now most teams in League 1 and 2 work their socks to do us over. Just because of what we once were!! We must play with similar attitude and stay out of refs book and with the clever heads we are supposed to have we might get somewhere
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Texastom added 20:43 - Mar 17 New Management bounce totally absent. Crikey a lot of the players are out of contract eos and good riddance to them. Just don't get their mentality, can't remember anything like this before. Can't motivate themselves, lazy, have no interest, too comfortable and know they can get away with it. Worst of all their attitude stinks. Feel for Paul Cook, ITFC are an embarrassing Club. Someone will snap him up or he will just walk.

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Help added 20:50 - Mar 17 1 step forward, 2 back. Most of these players are poor. If we want players with desire bring some youth in. Try 2 up top rather than stick with the 1, that is not working for PC nor PL. No pressure on the opposition anywhere on the field. But when put under pressure ourselves we crumble. Nothing like the 20 minutes form the game before, like we forgot what to do all over again.

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herfie added 20:55 - Mar 17 Pretty sure PC would not have believed any team he selected would be capable of producing such a tepid, inept, gutless performance. He can't have experienced anything worse during his management career. One thing, however, I'm clear on: he will never allow it to be repeated. A whole bunch of those wearing the shirts last night, inevitably won't be doing so next season.
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Texastom added 21:03 - Mar 17 I like many thought Paul Cook signed for Town as he was possibly expecting a takeover and investment. Now that's dead in the water this obviously wasn't the case. It's totally baffling how he's going to take the Club forward as Evans isn't going to invest. Even with a clear out we only have scraps for fall back on. The youth players are second rate, we won't produce quality as our Academy was down graded. We don't have one decent player that would turn heads and the Goalkeeper situation is shocking. So where does that leave us?

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BecclesBlue500 added 21:08 - Mar 17 Surely to goodness promotion for this squad will be the absolute worst thing that can happen to the club?!? The players we've got are simply not good enough for the Champ and if we do get promoted and stick with them we'll be lambs to the slaughter; if there is wholesale change we won't develop a settled team in time to sustain a position in the Champ; hence surely the best thing that can happen is that we stay in League 1 and make our changes, develop an improving/winning team and prepare ourselves for next season? That said, I guess the potential new owners will only jump in if we get promoted this year? Funny how it goes....

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blueboy1981 added 22:14 - Mar 17 How the hell should Ipswich Town FC (FA Cup Winners, UEFA Cup Winners) be losing to teams like Fleetwood Town FC ..... ?? It just SHOULD NOT be happening in anyone's book - all due respect, but Fleetwood would agree. And the reality is - they could so easily have thumped us out of sight had they taken their chances. We were lucky to escape with a 2-0 loss ... !!!
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RobsonWark added 22:35 - Mar 17 Blueboy It's simples. We have Chambers and Skuse in our team they didn't.
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