Paul Cook’s return to Fratton Park ended in defeat after Portsmouth came from a goal down to beat the Blues 2-1. James Norwood netted his seventh goal of the season to give the Blues the lead on 32 but Pompey skipper Tom Naylor headed a leveller four minutes before the break and then Marcus Harness grabbed the winner in the 72nd minute.

Town boss Paul Cook made four changes with Norwood, Stephen Ward, Teddy Bishop and Keanan Bennetts returning to the side.

Ward came in at left-back for Myles Kenlock, who was left out of the 18 and Bishop in central midfield for Cole Skuse, who was on the bench.

Bennetts replaced Troy Parrott but playing in a very advanced left-sided position rather than a number 10 with the on-loan Tottenham man on the bench.

Alan Judge moved into a third central midfielder’s role towards the left, although ahead of Bishop and Andre Dozzell. Norwood returned in the out-out-out striker’s role with Kayden Jackson also dropping to the bench.

Kane Vincent-Young was among the subs for the first time in 17 months following his injury problems, while Mark McGuinness and Armando Dobra were also on the bench for the first time since the change of manager.

Jack Lankester, Josh Harrop and Aaron Drinan missed out on places in the 18 having been on the bench for Tuesday’s 2-0 defeat at Fleetwood.

Portsmouth, with new management team Danny and Nicky Cowley in the dugout for the first time following their appointment yesterday, made two changes from the side which lost 1-0 at Peterborough in midweek.

Marcus Harness and Jordy Hiwula came into the XI for Ben Close and Rasmus Nicolaisen, whose own goal settled the game at London Road.

Town wore last year’s burgundy and blue away shirt but with blue shorts with a yellow and burgundy trim and yellow socks.

Prior to kick-off the players and officials both took a knee in support of Black Lives Matter, again with the exception of Toto Nsiala.

Pompey struck the game’s first shot in the fourth minute, Ronan Curtis hitting a 30-yard free-kick which wobbled in the air but was claimed comfortably by Holy.

Town attacked for the first time in the 11th minute when Bishop won the ball on halfway, Bennetts fed Edwards to the right and the Welshman’s chipped cross to the far post was nodded into the side-netting by Norwood having already appeared to have gone out of play.

Two minutes later, Norwood hooked a ball over the Portsmouth backline for Edwards, who was eventually outmuscled by Lee Brown.

Following Tuesday’s lackadaisical display at Fleetwood, manager Cook was constantly barking at his midfield and strikers to press whenever Pompey had the ball in their area of the field, and the cajoling appeared to be having some impact with the Blues having more bite than they had at Highbury.

Referee Alan Young showed his first yellow card of the day in the 18th minute when Jack Whatmough pulled back Bennetts as the on-loan Borussia Mönchengladbach man was about to shoot from 25 yards.

Judge took the free-kick and curled the ball to keeper Craig MacGillivray’s left and the keeper did well to get across to it and push it wide and to safety.

Town, playing at a greater tempo than at Fleetwood and seeing much more of the ball, were working themselves into some promising positions in the Pompey half, while at the other end Portsmouth’s rather fewer forays forward had been snuffed out.

On 29, a corner was worked to Bishop not far outside the area but the midfielder’s shot hit a Pompey defender and flicked through to MacGillivray.

The Blues went closer a minute later when Norwood was played in on the right of the area and cut across to Bennetts but the winger was unable to get a touch and keeper MacGillivray claimed.

But Town didn’t have to wait too much longer for a goal. On 32 Edwards played a clever pass for Norwood in the same area of the box and the striker smashed a powerful shot across MacGillivray and into the net for his seventh goal of the season.

The Blues deserved their lead having been the better side but appeared less attack-minded in the minutes following their goal and in the 41st minute the home team levelled.

Pompey had hardly looked threatening until Curtis sent over a corner from the left and skipper Naylor battled his way to the ball and headed home off the inside of the far post.

Having got back on terms, Portsmouth ended the half the stronger and on 43 Curtis curled a shot wide.

Town would have been good for their half-time lead had they not conceded the goal shortly before the break. They’d looked a much better outfit than on Tuesday and deserved their goal - a second in three games from open play - which was cleverly worked by Edwards and finished comprehensively by Norwood.

Pompey had reacted well to the Town goal but hadn’t looked like grabbing a goal until Naylor’s header from Curtis’s very-difficult-to-defend corner.

Three minutes after the restart Edwards again played Norwood in, this time breaking towards the edge of the area but the Blues striker was unable to get enough on it and MacGillivray was able to claim.

A minute later, Naylor won another header from a corner, Holy blocked, the ball dropped loose and after a brief scramble eventually ended up in the big Czech’s hands.

Soon after, Curtis was booked for a foul as Bishop broke into the Pompey half, then on 56 Andy Cannon joined him for a foul on Edwards on the right wing. Two minutes later, midfielder Cannon was swapped for Close.

A minute later, Pompey broke through Harness and Ryan Williams struck a shot across the face of goal.

On 59 Town swapped Bennetts, who had been less effective since the break, for Dobra, with the Albanian U21 international making his first appearance under new boss Cook. Dobra moved into a number 10 role with Judge in a more orthodox left-sided position.

Edwards was booked for a foul on Curtis in the 66th minute as Portsmouth broke following a Town corner which had come to nothing. Pompey complained that they would have been better off had the official played the advantage and with the resultant free-kick looping into Holy’s arms, they may have had a point.

Town had threatened very little since the break but on 70 a Dozzell free-kick found Norwood and his header from just inside the box inched just past the post having caught a Pompey defender. A minute later, Bishop was booked for a foul on Close.

Chances at both ends had been rare since half-time but in the 72nd minute the home side went in front.

Portsmouth broke down the left having played out from the back - although with Town players feeling the ball had gone out of play - and eventually Curtis's cross reached Harness bursting into the area from the other flank. The former Burton winger’s first shot was blocked by Judge but with his second he made no mistake.

In the 79th minute Town made a double change with Vincent-Young making his very long-awaited return and Jackson coming into a two-man attack. James Wilson and Judge made way. Chambers moved to centre-half to allow Vincent-Young to take up his usual right-back role, while Dobra switched to left wing.

Jacobs was booked for a foul on Dobra in the 82nd minute but with Town not looking particularly like levelling. On 88 Parrott took over from Bishop.

In the final scheduled minute Pompey might have added a third but a low ball across the edge of the six-yard box was bundled behind by Nsiala.

Soon after the fourth official’s board had indicated five additional minutes, James Bolton headed powerfully straight at Holy following the resultant corner.

Pompey were looking more likely to score a third goal than Town a second as referee Young brought the game to an end to cheers from the home bench and directors’ box as new manager Cowley recorded his first win in his opening game in charge.

In the end, Portsmouth deserved the win with the Blues having shown little in the second half. The pressing and work-rate which had been on display in the first half perhaps suffered due to tiredness as the game wore on and although chances had been few and far between at both ends, when a decent opportunity came, Harness took it.

The Blues, who dropped to ninth following the later fixtures, now have a free midweek in which manager Cook plans extensive work on the training field ahead of next Saturday’s trip to another of his old clubs, Wigan.

Ipswich: Holy, Chambers (c), Nsiala, Wilson (Vincent-Young 79), Ward, Dozzell, Bishop (Parrott 89), Bennetts (Dobra 59), Edwards, Judge (Jackson 79), Norwood. Unused: Cornell, McGuinness, Skuse.

Portsmouth: MacGillivray, Bolton, Whatmough, Raggett, Brown, Williams, Naylor (c), Cannon (Close 58), Curtis, Harness, Hiwula (Jacob 72). Unused: Ward, Nicolaisen, Daniels, Mnoga, Byers. Referee: Alan Young (Cambridgeshire).

Photo: PagePix

dirtydingusmagee added 18:46 - Mar 20 Londontractorboy we realise you are a Cardiff supporter and have a photo of MM beside your bed , but your Cardiff updates are irrelivent . You are obviously happy with Cardiff , do us all a favour go to your Cardiff forum and jerk over Mick there.
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BettyBlue added 19:04 - Mar 20 Chambers is the cancer at the heart of this club. Get rid of his influence asap. Forget the playoffs and use only the players that have a future at the club. All the others are on easy street for only a few more weeks. Send back all the loans.
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algarvefan added 19:13 - Mar 20 The one thing we haven't really done is start building for the future, Lambert panicked at Christmas and in come more loans, we are never going to build a team with loan players, we need to bring our own on. Everyone calling for a summer clear out, where is the money coming from for all these new players? We have to go with what we have got for now, but it's not going to be pretty or easy!!

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blueboy1981 added 19:21 - Mar 20 Warktheline - no need to twist Fact - once you know what a Fact is, you then know what a Fact actually is. Where is the MAGIC Owner coming from then ?? - Fact is many Clubs would indeed give anything for an Owner like Evans. What is Fact is that the demise of ITFC has mainly been overseen by Evans, but let's not forget the days of Receivership, which has too date not happened since. FACT !! But let's blame Evans for everyone else's failure on the Payroll shall we ?? - because many only want to see that, or can't, and never will see otherwise. So, don't talk Total Tosh !!

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ldnj added 19:33 - Mar 20 Wouldn't gave chosen Cook (he's a Paul and we know how that goes...). Some say he could have had Championship jobs but doesn't surprise me he's at ITFC. Salary's prob not far off some Champ clubs, decent resources for the league and just outside the playoffs. A relatively short contract so not the biggest problem for either side to get out of and I imagine it would be a healthy promotion bonus... If there's a hope of getting in the top 6 then it's a roughly 1 in 4 shot. I wonder what Kenlock has done as PC supposedly wants attacking full backs, didn't MK supply the assist for one of the few recent goals in open play ? There seems a reasonable rotation of the 18 wkly at the mo but little change from PL's set up, I thought he might be a bit more willing to have overtly fresh eyes. The need for more mental toughness is stressed but isn't the football manager's job to provide the inspiration? I hope it comes together soon but...

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londontractorboy57 added 19:33 - Mar 20 OH DEAR DIRTY dont get so upset you got what you wished for and still are not satisfied the grass is always greeeeeener for te numbskulls. cook out
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cat added 19:45 - Mar 20 Londontractor you are one sad individual.....
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runaround added 19:47 - Mar 20 Another disappointing result but fortunately other results mainly went our way. Cook has a massive job turning this ship around with many players potentially playing(not very well) for their ITFC future. 10 out of our last 11 games are against teams in the bottom half of the table & we need to win at least 7 of them to get top 6 in my opinion. It can still be done but I am, like many of the players, struggling to believe

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Bluespeed added 19:48 - Mar 20 Thanks for the bad memories Mr Cambers shut the door on your way out!
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Texastom added 20:00 - Mar 20 Cooks inherited a shambolic team of players who never put a shift in, and accept failure is acceptable. Not motivated and no pressure or expectation. That's because Evans isn't interested or bothered. Chambers represents everything about the Club: Spent and going backwards. Why are we choosing players that can't make the grade and make mistakes every week that cost us the game? Evans: The only thing he understands is money so don't RENEW SEASON TICKETS

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bluearmy81 added 20:04 - Mar 20 I disagree with Paul Cook saying we are inconsistent. I think we are very consistent in fact. Consistent at being crap
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herfie added 20:29 - Mar 20 The more PC sees of individual players, and their ability to play effectively as a team, the more the enormity of the challenges he faces will become apparent. They are many and they are complex - there's no instant fix option available to him. Trying to rectify years of steady on field decline represents a challenge he may well have underestimated. I believe he possesses the vision and ability to meet those challenges; hopefully, supporters will be patient and give him time. However, my greatest concern is that - no matter how hard he works - his efforts will be constrained by chronic lack of support by ME. History points the way in that respect. To have any realistic chance of avoiding at best marking time, at worst sliding further into decline, PC must hope the club is taken over ASAP. Perhaps it was this prospect that influenced his decision to accept the job. In which case he might be feeling short-changed. But that's ME for you,

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mkbobby added 21:11 - Mar 20 We have 15 players who's contracts are up in June plus 6 loanees the only ones I would keep are dozzell, bishop, Wilson& Jackson so that's 17 of the squad that could be let go including the likes of chambers, skuse , sears huws, edwards, nsiala, judge,ward, drinan, nydam, and Wright we'll see where this club is going at the end of June when the contracts are being handed out this is a big part of the wage bill that could be cleared for cook to bring in the type of players he wants

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RobsonWark added 21:34 - Mar 20 DurhamTownFan added 16:33 - Mar 20 "I know a lot of people pick out chambers as an easy target, but he's been our worst defender today. First goal he let his man go without trying, and second he's waving his arms about appealing when they ran down his side. If KVY starts next week, it's extremely harsh on either Wilson or Nsiala if Chambers gets moved inside for one of them. Fed up with him as captain. All he does is pump fists if we win." We've said it for years but he still gets in the team for every match while every other player in the squad gets rotated. There is ONE common factor there why we keep losing!

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RobsonWark added 21:52 - Mar 20 I didn't pay my £10 today after I saw Chambers on the team sheet again today FFS! My Saturday night feels soooooo much better knowing that I haven't wasted £10 on another poor performance. The best thing about ifollow is that I can pick and choose my matches that I get excited to watch rather than waste money on a season ticket and turn up to the match knowing we don't stand a chance because Captain Calamity is playing.

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warktheline added 21:54 - Mar 20 Blueboy1981, FACT , under Evans, McCarthy was under instruction to ‘survive' in Championship! FACT, Evans placed no pressure on McCarthy to ‘win games'! FACT, McCarthy, McGoldrick and Rowe are all on record confirming the above FACTS! FACT Evans has overseen the demise of a club which upon his ownership was challenging for promotion to the Premiership and now struggles to beat clubs in the top eight of Div 1! FACT, Evans year upon year tightens ‘parameters' ! And here's a FACT I guarantee , Evans will take this club into the Conference and the likes of you will still hang on every word and lie he throws your way! Muppet !

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BeattiesBackPocket added 01:15 - Mar 21 Walktheline 👏🏻 exactly mate magilton sacked after one home defeat the season before and finishing 8th and 30 million debt now over 100 million debt charging interest on it and with not one player now who would get anywhere near that magilton side
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Sospiri added 04:09 - Mar 21 Our lack of quality, ideas, and energy is depressingly plain to see. And why can't any of our players ever put in a half-decent cross, free-kick or corner? It's hardly worth watching this lot. Cook has a to do to.
3

USA added 08:03 - Mar 21 I did see a different Ipswich the first 30 mins with players getting into the box. It was good to watch. However we reverted back again after the stoppage in play when both groups did a huddle. KVY instantly showed what we've been missing but pace and threat down the right but disappointed to see Wilson removed to accommodate him.
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1RWR added 08:49 - Mar 21 Chambers out.....Ward out......& Holy & Cornell. We need a far better more confident keeper. This will annoy some!
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pops added 09:28 - Mar 21 Good opening 25mins. Midfield too lightweight. Dozell and Bishop not ball winners and a luxery with little real creativity. Need two players like Downes in this league. Holey does not command the penalty area as he should with his height and stature, kicking poor. Players need to show some real desire and effort as time is short for many of them.
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atty added 09:31 - Mar 21 There's only one common denominator in the last 13 years of decline and that's Evans. If he doesn't back Cook properly in the transfer market then the decline continues. All this big club,great ckub, Historic club, will continue to fade and count for nothing. We'll be lucky to get in players and managers from the National league. I just don't get why Evans doesn't cut his losses, and go. He's not going to get and of that debt back. Even if he called it in he'd get peanuts.

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dirtydingusmagee added 09:49 - Mar 21 if Cook cant drop Chambers ,he should at least relieve him of captaincy, burst his cosy bubble. He is a nonentity now he is not a leader now ,he is more of a curse. Slow physically and mentally when it comes to reacting . I think he must talk the managers into retaining him some how, it certainly isnt his work on the pitch.
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budgieplucker added 09:59 - Mar 21 There's no point in playing with wingers if they can't put in a decent and dangerous crosses. There's no point in having a 6' 9” goalkeeper if he can't defend corners that are played in on the edge of the six yard box. My heart says Paul Cook is the right choice, and I think he is right it can be achieved in one transfer window now given we have so many out of contract. Unfortunately Lambo didn't have that luxury. Look at what Michael Appleton has done at Lincoln in a short period of time. I do however, wonder whether a more pragmatic approach like the Cowley's would have had a better chance of getting us out of this quagmire quicker. Portsmouth could have been in free fall, but I think they may now well nick that sixth position, the psychological victory yesterday for them was a big one. Cowley's are master tacticians and as yesterday will change the side and tactics to suit each game or during the game, perhaps a bit too close to the magic Mick formula for many of our likings but seeing the state of the pitches and the quality of the refereeing and how easy it is to be turned over by teams who can play a much more economical style of football has me waking up in a cold sweat at night. Bournemouth and Wigan have both got out of this league playing good football but I think it is exceptional to do that. Let's just hope our Cook can demonstrate that a cordon blew approach can be conducive to conquering this Neanderthal league.

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oldegold added 10:41 - Mar 21 We are simply not good enough..in a few words
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