Town boss Paul Cook’s return to his former club Wigan Athletic ended in a 0-0 draw. James Norwood came closest to a goal in the first half, while Funso Ojo and Callum Lang had the best opportunities for the Latics in the second with a draw a fair result.

Kane Vincent-Young made his first start in 17 months as manager Paul Cook made two changes to his Town side with Freddie Sears also returning to the team.

Vincent-Young, a late sub at Portsmouth last week, was at right-back with skipper Luke Chambers moving into the middle for James Wilson, who missed out with a knee injury.

Sears came into the XI for Keanan Bennetts, who dropped out of the 18 and played a left-sided attacking role with few defensive responsibilities. Alan Judge was on the left but tucked in with Gwion Edwards on the right and Alan Judge on the left.

Oli Hawkins was on the bench for the first time having recovered after undergoing knee surgery in January. Jon Nolan, who is out with a knee injury, sat with the subs in the stand.

Among the travelling staff for the first time and on the bench was U23s coach Kieron Dyer.

Wigan made three changes with former Blue Will Keane, Viv Solomon-Otabor and Thelo Aasgaard coming into the line-up, while Scott Wootton and Jamie Proctor missed out due to knocks, while whilst Dan Gardner dropped to the bench.

As at Portsmouth a week ago, Town wore last year’s burgundy and blue away shirt but with blue shorts with a yellow and burgundy trim but on this occasion with burgundy socks.

Prior to kick-off the two benches greeted one another warmly, Wigan boss Leam Richardson having been Cook’s assistant boss at Wigan, Chesterfield, Portsmouth and Accrington.

Neither side threatened in a frantic opening 10 minutes but on 13, having made an important clearing header from Solomon-Otabor’s cross from the left, Chambers blocked Lee Evans’s shot from the edge of the box before Sears was sent away down the left with the Blues urged to get forward quickly by manager Cook from the sidelines.

The former West Ham man played low into the box for Norwood, who tried to flick on to Edwards but the ball was bundled away from the Welshman with the difficult pitch playing a part.

Moments later, Aasgaard was booked for a foul on Judge after the Irishman had taken the ball away from the Wigan midfielder as he looked to shoot from the edge of the box.

In the 24th minute when Norwood chased a looping ball over the top and beat Wigan keeper Jamie Jones to it five yards outside the box.

The Town striker hooked it towards goal but sent it wide before Jones, the home side’s skipper, clattered into him. Referee Ross Joyce immediately indicated a corner, however, Jones hadn’t appeared to get even close to the ball and was lucky not to have seen a card.

Wigan were next to threaten in the 29th minute when Callum Lang played in Keane on the right and the former Town man struck a shot from a tight angle on the right, however, Nsiala slid in to block.

Three minutes later, Lang blazed over from distance for the Latics before the Blues began to put the Lancastrians under a spell of pressure, winning a couple of free-kicks in dangerous areas which were sent into the box and defended by the home side.

After a spell where Wigan were on top but without working a chance, in the final minute of the half, Edwards played in Vincent-Young on the right of the box from where the ex-Colchester man cut back to Sears, whose effort was deflected behind for a corner.

Chambers flicked the flag-kick on at the near post and the ball flew dangerously across goal but without a Town player being able to get a touch.

Wigan immediately broke and the Blues looked to be outnumbered, however, a potentially dangerous ball from the right was cut out by Vincent-Young and seconds later the half was brought to a close.

Despite not having had too many out-and-out chances, the Blues, looking to get the ball forward quickly to their front pair, had had the better of what had been a scrappy half with Norwood having come closest to a goal with keeper Jones very fortunate to have avoided some sort of sanction for his challenge.

In addition, the Blues won a number of corners and free-kicks in dangerous positions, which they ought to have made more of, while Sears’s late opportunity had been well worked down the right.

Wigan’s best chance had been Keane’s shot which was blocked with Tomas Holy not forced into a save.

Town swapped Vincent-Young, who had suffered a hamstring problem, for Luke Woolfenden at the break, the academy product making his first appearance since Cook took charge in his secondary role of right-back.

Vincent-Young had shown some glimpses of what made such an impression on fans when he came in last season, although while inevitably a little ring rusty.

The Latics started the second half on the front foot, an early header from a corner looping into Holy’s arms

Wigan should have taken the lead in the 53rd minute when Funso Ojo was played in on the right of the box by Keane but screwed his shot wide of the far post.

Within a minute, Norwood burst away from his man on the right of the area at the other end but sent his cross too far in front of Sears.

Having made little real headway since the break, the Blues swapped Sears and Judge for Kayden Jackson and Josh Harrop as the game reached the hour mark.

Three minutes later, following a half-cleared long throw, Ojo nodded George Johnston’s cross from the left through to Holy with the keeper grabbing it just ahead of Keane as the striker looked to add a final touch.

In the 64th minute Tendayi Darikwa was booked for a late lunge on Harrop as the sub exchanged passes with Bishop as the Blues worked their way forward.

The game started to become more open and on 68 Edwards broke away past a number of defenders on the right but his cross was eventually cleared. As Wigan counter-attacked Woolfenden hauled down Aasgaard and was booked.

Moments later, Wigan swapped Aasgaard for Dan Gardner, then on 70 Lang was yellow-carded for a foul on Ward.

Wigan broke from Town’s free-kick with Edwards failing to deal with a high ball forward and Holy had to come out of his goal to clear his lines.

Soon afterwards, Armando Dobra replaced Edwards. The Albanian U21 international almost immediately fell awkwardly on his shoulder on the edge of the Town box, as he sought to clear a Chambers block from a Lang shot, but after treatment was able to carry on.

In the 78th minute Dozzell and Dobra exchanged passes on the right after the former England U20 international’s free-kick had been blocked. Norwood reached the looping return ball before Dozzell and managed a shot from a very tight angle which was bundled away from goal.

Wigan weren’t far away from breaking the deadlock in the 82nd minute when Lang for once got away from Chambers but his stabbed effort at goal was stopped by Holy’s feet.

Two minutes later, Zach Clough took over from Solomon-Otabor for the home side, then on 87 Chambers was booked for a foul on Lang. In the penultimate scheduled minute, Keane was replaced by Joe Dodoo.

As the game moved into six minutes of injury time, Lang chased after a long ball over the top but Chambers got across to head it away, colliding with the striker as he did so. Wigan claimed a penalty, however, the Town captain looked to have won the ball cleanly.

Neither side was able to find a goal in the remaining minutes and both sides had to settle for a point.

A draw was probably a fair result from a keenly-contested but not particularly high quality affair.

As so often with Town games, chances were rare at both ends with the Blues unable to find a way through the Wigan backline and Town centre-halves Chambers and Nsiala resolute at the other end.

While Town shaded the first half, Wigan had the better of the second and came closest to finding a goal with Ojo’s shot across the face the only really significant opportunity for either side.

The draw ends a run of three successive away defeats but sees the Blues remain 11th - their position going into the match - although only two points off the play-offs ahead of Good Friday’s home game against Bristol Rovers.

Wigan: Jones (c), Darikwa, Johnston, Tilt, Robinson, Ojo, Evans, Aasgaard (Gardner 68), Lang, Solomon-Otabor (Clough 84), Keane (Dodoo 89). Unused: Evans, Whelan, Perry, Long.

Town: Holy, Vincent-Young (Woolfenden 46), Nsiala, Chambers (c), Ward, Dozzell, Bishop, Edwards (Dobra 71), Judge (Harrop 60), Sears (Jackson 60), Norwood. Unused: Cornell, Skuse, Hawkins. Referee: Ross Joyce (Cleveland).

Photo: PagePix

warktheline added 18:17 - Mar 27 Next manager please, and then the one after that, and after that.....and keep going until the muppets on here finally realise this is all down to Evans! The ‘Evans affect' has rooted itself in every ‘Nook and cranny' of Portman Rd! Reap what you sow !
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DoseOfReality added 18:18 - Mar 27 Complete sh1t from senior pro to apprentice .. get rid of all .. Same Sh1te different Paul Evans you abject failure get out of our club you are nothing but a clown with deep pockets EMBARRASSING & BORING
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Portman51 added 18:18 - Mar 27 I've been watching Ipswich for 60 years, ST holder for 30, and this must be the most untalented, inept and uncommitted group of senior players ever to represent us. Frankly they're an embarrassment to the club and the town. I'm sure Paul Cook can see that for himself, and if more than half a dozen of them are still on the books come August, he will have fallen at the first fence. Forget selections, formations and tactics, as footballers this squad are simply not good enough or working hard enough and many are spongeing a living. No club is entitled to success, but this sort of performance on a weekly basis just doesn't cut it. I really hope we don't have to endure the optimism and then the disappointment of yet another ITFC play-off failure, and can look forward to a genuine fresh start in League 1 under Cook.

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TB42 added 18:19 - Mar 27 New manager bounce, more like new manager bump. PC really does have his work cut out - clear out and full cultural change required or we will all be here next season in exactly the same place, just more frustrated, if that is even possible ........ Also worried about the potential lack of takeover news - unless my memory deceives me, PC was supposedly touted as part of that deal. Frank YALLOP seemed to think there would be great support in the right direction so what has "gone wrong" ?!?!

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martin587 added 18:22 - Mar 27 There is something seriously wrong at the core of this club and it's affecting everybody.The players have very little passion commitment and a will to win.If PC cannot get something from this squad them I very worried about the future for Ipswich Town FC.I just hope and pray PC can see the problem and act on it in the summer.From these last performances I doubt very much many of this squad will be here next season.These last three years have been a nightmare for the club and us supporters.I just do know what to expect from our last ten games.

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surgery added 18:23 - Mar 27 Please Evans, put a For Sale advert in the Abu Dhabi Evening Gazette
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mib added 18:24 - Mar 27 I suppose its all Lamberts fault, it was blatantly obvious that the players were and still are simply not good enough. Not convinced Cook is the answer either.
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slimjim added 18:26 - Mar 27 Really really fed up with the comments on here about how well PC talks...better than Lambert and Mick...well blah blah talk is cheap let's see some performances on the pitch let's see PC earn his money and get a tune out of this squad which apparently according to loads of people on here was one of the best in the league...really??
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Bert added 18:36 - Mar 27 There will be one hell of a clear out come the summer with many finding it difficult to get clubs. The badge appears to mean very little to most of the players who care more about their sponsored cars and haircuts than playing decent football. So sad to be an ITFC supporter these days.
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BeattiesBackPocket added 18:36 - Mar 27 If anyone on here continues to say this team is good enough for promotion you need to take a hard look at yourself. As does anyone who thinks evans is good for this club. How anyone can think the fact over 20 players possibly leaving for nothing is to going to mean anything other than us being in league one possibly lower for another couple of seasons is a good thing I don't know. It must surely show that those still supporting evans we have no structure no ‘FIVE POINT PLAN' nothing. it's a massive rebuild now with that sheer amount of players leaving. Don't get me wrong I wouldn't keep any players but underfunding for years is why we don't have any decent players left. He's told us for years he'd invest but ffp means he can't well now ffp is being scrapped let's see what he does!

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blues1 added 18:37 - Mar 27 Timmyh. I downvoted you not bcse all of ur post was wrong. But, in a game where it was stated both by radio suffolk, in this story, and some fans, that nsiala and chambers were the best 2 town players, on the day, you still felt it necessary to slag him off. At least be fair with ur criticism, rather than doing so, just for the sake of it.
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Kirbmeister added 18:47 - Mar 27 Some of you idiots already having a dig as PC don't deserve a decent football team. Pep Guardiola couldn't get a tune out of these idiots so what make you think PC can? This season is a free hit for him. Most of these ‘players' won't be here near season so give the guy a break FFS.
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Help added 18:48 - Mar 27 Slimjim, What PC has is a passion the players do not have. He does not talk rubbish like PL, claiming what is not is. He is just like us the fans wanting the best, football, goals, wins, promotion. But even he knows already that you cannot make a silk purse out of a sows ear, and we have 20 odd sows ears and another 20 turds that cannot be polished. I believe when ha can get the players to buy into his ideas, be them new ones (probably) or existing (not likely) then we will see progress. Yes the players are not as good as we thought they were/ they think they are. For whatever reason ability, desire, the players are poor. If you are trained to push high, and after 6 minutes your manager is reminding you of that fact what does that tell you about the mentality of the players.

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HUTCHITFC added 18:48 - Mar 27 Whilst Peterborough are beating a top 10 side 7 nil we are drawing 0-0 with Wigan. Sums it all up. Players just not good enough.
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Michael101 added 18:52 - Mar 27 Have a clear out no player deserves a new contract.only problem is if Ebenezer evans is still here we will be looking for new players in pound land not harrords.
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Marinermagic added 18:54 - Mar 27 Please don't tell me this shower of absolute sh1t are going home on the coach. I would make the donkeys walk or perhaps better still don't come home at all they could all get a job on Blackpool beach for Easter although that will involve moving !!!!!
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blues1 added 18:58 - Mar 27 Beattiesbackpocket. Get ur facts right. Ffp isnt being g scrapped. Its still there. It's the salary cap that's being scrapped. That should help us next season. As even if signing g so called "free transfers", we'll be able to pay higher wages than almost every team in this division. And there will likely be a lot of decent players available who are out of contract in the summer. But the ffpcqill still have to be adhered to. And that would apply to new owners too, should that happen.

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Blue_Meanie added 18:59 - Mar 27 Players don't want promotion as they know they're sh1t and would be found out every week in the championship In fact half of them are being found out in League 1 Mass clear out at the end of the season, won't keep one of em
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:02 - Mar 27 said before kick off it will be the same sh#t ,and was sadly right again . This shower is the worst in all my time supporting ITFC 55 YEARS. ! They are a total disgrace. We wont get promoted so just wish Paul Cook would f#ck them off and play a team of youngsters who would grab the chance to try and prove themselves, let this shower of sh#t clean their boots after the game, that is their level .Dobra would be the only one i would give credit to.The rest are gutless wasters, picking up their wages amounts to robbery .Paul cook has not been able to get anything out of them so PLEASE ,LETS SEE SOME ACTION BY WAY OF PUNISHMENT dished out, they have had it far too easy far too long. EVANS YOU SAID YOU WOULD ONLY SELL TO THE RIGHT PERSON , WELL YOU ARE NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE ,SELL UP AND GO ,THIS IS ALL DOWN TO YOU .

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dirtydingusmagee added 19:07 - Mar 27 Form table 21ST, anyone still think we will make playoffs /get promoted, ? what a shower of sh#t this bunch are .
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brassy added 19:07 - Mar 27 i hope we dont get promoted this season we would need 50 million to make this lot a championship side cooky needs a full season to sort this lot out COYB
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runningout added 19:14 - Mar 27 Hope they put in a better performance with wifes and girlfriends, otherwise they will be looking elsewhere
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bootneckspud added 19:22 - Mar 27 Edwards performance today was embarrassing and not worthy of a new contract. 86 minutes and the ball goes out for a throw in the Wigan third and all the players are walking....absolutely no urgency, passion or will to get the ball on to the field of play and try and score a goal to get 3 points. A week on the training brings nothing other than the fact we now know the players can't train two days on the trot😳😳 honestly I'm thinking these players want out and want a new club so let them go and PC create a team that will fight for the club, supporters and at least themselves.....

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BeattiesBackPocket added 19:25 - Mar 27 Blues1 get YOUR facts right pal. It was announced last week on sky sports that UEFA are scrapping it. https://www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/14451977/uefa-fin That's one article but if you google it there's plenty more. I check my facts BEFORE blurting out like some do on here Blues1
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stiffy501 added 19:28 - Mar 27 Think i would like the clear out to start now, PC must know some he definitely dosen't want so let them go now, might g up some of the others who want to stay. Also have to consider that all these out of contract players have agents probably already looking for new clubs for them so are they going to give 100% and risk an injury and poss jeopardize a contract elsewhere !! just a thought.

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