Town’s hopes of making the play-offs were all but ended as Peter Kioso scored twice and Ryan Watson once as they were beaten 3-0 by Northampton Town at Sixfields. Kioso netted from corners in the eighth and 32nd minute in a first period in which the Cobblers could have been further in front and Gwion Edwards and Freddie Sears hit the woodwork, while Kane Vincent-Young and Oli Hawkins spurned golden opportunities in the second. With six minutes remaining Watson completed another dreadful evening for the Blues, whose goal drought has now extended to 529 minutes.

Kayden Jackson and Sears came into an otherwise unchanged Town team. Jackson replaced James Norwood, who suffered a recurrence of his hamstring injury at Charlton on Saturday, as the main striker, while Sears was in for Teddy Bishop, who also dropped out of the 18 due to illness. The former West Ham man started in behind Jackson.

Among the watching scouts was former Blues forward Noel Hunt, who was understood to be being considered for a role at Portman Road by manager Paul Cook when he was appointed.

Town started positively, winning three early corners and following the third, they went within inches of ending their goal drought.

The ball was played to Edwards 30 yards out and the Welshman, who had started on the left flank with Keanan Bennetts on the right, struck a powerful shot which beat home keeper Jonathan Mitchell to his left but cannoned off the outside of the post.

However, it was the Cobblers who were to take the lead with their first effort on goal in the eighth minute. Joseph Mills sent over a corner from the right and Kioso volleyed in from five yards.

It was a poor goal to concede from a Town perspective, and their second from an opposition corner in three games, but they threatened twice in the following minutes, Sears and Vincent-Young both sending in low crosses from the right which were cut out.

Northampton were very nearly two goals in front in the 18th minute when Sam Hoskins crossed from the left to Caleb Chukwuemeka but Stephen Ward read the situation superbly and blocked the shot when a second Cobblers’ goal looked odds-on. Three minutes later, Alex Jones went wide from the right of the area.

Despite Northampton having the lead and the better of the chances, the Blues were seeing most of the ball. On 23 Ward crossed low from a promising position on the left but again it hit the first defender and deflected away.

Just after the half-hour mark Tomas Holy was forced into a sharp save when Ryan Watson hit a low shot from the edge of the area before Mills saw a scuffed effort from the left turned wide by Mark McGuinness just in front of the line.

And from the corner, the Cobblers doubled their lead. Mills again sent the corner in from the right and Kioso again found the target, this time at the far post. Once more it was another set-piece goal which will have been a big frustration to Town manager Cook.

The second goal seemed to rock Town and in the 38th minute it was very nearly 3-0. Mills crossed from the left and Jones flicked a header just past Holy’s left post with the keeper standing no chance if it had been on target.

Two minutes before the break, the Blues came very close to pulling a goal back when they hit the woodwork for the second time. Edwards under-hit a free-kick from the left and Sears flicked a looping backwards header which beat Mitchell but hit the bar and bounced to safety.

In injury time, Bennetts did well to beat his man and break down the right into the area but again his cross was cut out.

And just before the whistle, Vincent-Young also crossed from the right but the ball struck Jackson on the chest and deflected behind.

As so often this season, the Blues had seen most of the ball but despite getting into promising areas hadn’t been able to turn that into goals.

While they had been unfortunate that Edwards and Sears had hit the woodwork, both efforts came from set pieces with the Blues’ best situations in open play having broken down due to a poor final ball.

At the other end, Town had been a shambles defensively with Kioso grabbing his two goals and Northampton having had a number of other opportunities and the home side might well have been three or four up at the break.

Town needed the type of comeback they’ve shown few signs of being capable of this season in the second half.

Soon after the restart, Ward cut back from the left but Bennetts failed to read the ball, was caught on his heels and the danger was cleared.

The deficit should have been reduced to one goal in the 50th minute when Vincent-Young missed a golden opportunity to grab his first of the season. Edwards played Jackson in on the left of the box and the striker played it across the six-yard area to Vincent-Young who seemed certain to score but somehow hit his shot against Mitchell’s feet as the keeper desperately made his way back across goal.

Four minutes later, Mitchell was quickly off his line to take a bouncing ball away from Sears as the striker chased a ball down the middle.

In the 55th minute Northampton switched Chukwuemeka for Mark Marshall, then two minutes later Armando Dobra took over from Bennetts.

Edwards took the ball into the box at pace just after the hour mark - with the Blues’ goalless streak having stretched beyond 500 minutes - and got clipped as he did so but stayed on his feet and was eventually was dispossessed.

Town were making little serious headway and so on 67 Jackson and Sears was swapped for Oli Hawkins and Aaron Drinan.

Three minutes after coming on, Hawkins should have pulled a goal back. Ward got round the back on the left and crossed for the former Portsmouth striker, who rose high but headed over the angle of bar and post. While not as clear cut as Vincent-Young’s miss it was another chance the Blues should have taken.

Town’s misery was complete in the 84th minute when keeper Holy came out of his goal to the right of his area but his clearance struck Hoskins and deflected into the middle of the Blues’ half from where Watson shot into an empty net.

In the final minutes, Cobblers sub Danny Rose was booked for clipping Vincent-Young as the right-back broke forwards midway inside the home side’s half.

A minute later, Vincent-Young shot wide in the wake of a corner with the ball appearing to deflect off a defender, however, referee James Bell thought otherwise. The former Colchester United man shot wide again from a further effort from another corner.

Bell’s final whistle confirmed another disappointing result against one of the division’s struggling sides with the game virtually over by half-time as was the case at AFC Wimbledon a week ago.

Having started the second half promisingly following the disastrous first period, the Blues really needed an early goal to give them momentum. And they created the chance they needed but somehow Vincent-Young was unable to take it.

From there, they lost their impetus until the Hawkins opportunity which the big striker will feel he also should have taken. The third goal, Northampton’s only shot of the second half. summed up Town’s evening and the shambolic nature of the performance.

The Blues again failed to score with the new owners, whose takeover was announced two weeks ago tomorrow, yet to see a Town goal. The goalless streak has now stretched to five full games plus 79 minutes of the victory over Bristol Rovers - nine hours all but 12 minutes plus injury time.

The defeat means any lingering hopes the Blues had of making the play-offs are all but over barring mathematical miracles and it will be another season of League One football in 2021/22.

Northampton: Mitchell, Horsfall, Hoskins, Watson, Jones (Rose 82), Kioso, McWilliams, Morris, Mills (c), Jones, Chukwuemeka (Marshall 55). Unused: Harriman, Bolger, Korboa, Miller, Rose, Woods.

Town: Holy, Vincent-Young, Woolfenden, McGuinness, Ward (c), Downes, Dozzell, Bennetts (Dobra 57), Edwards, Sears (Drinan 67), Jackson (Hawkins 67). Unused: Cornell, Chambers, Kenlock, Skuse. Referee: James Bell (Sheffield).

Photo: Pagepix

rfretwell added 21:48 - Apr 20 I've come close to switching off Ifollow before this season but tonight after yet more Town mistakes once the subs came on I actually did. i used to watch Mariner, Brazil, Shefki, Pablo etc. After all that talent we now have to put up with Drinan ! Please God open the transfer window early.
1

dusth added 21:50 - Apr 20 Hard to believe that Marcus Evans and our new owners could possibly have agreed on Cook's appointment unless Gamechanger were like - whatever.
1

jonju11 added 21:51 - Apr 20 Simple. Players cannot play & cannot understand Cooks Requirements or system. So, for a change just send them out & say one objective, shoot as many times as possible. Incentive: you will lose 10% of your wages for each unnecessary back pass you make. There are better keepers playing in non league than our clown. It's not just about how far you can kick the ball (routinely to the opposition) it's also about commanding your area. 😩😩 Let's be brave & try a couple of under 23's (Ndaba & Baggott) As for the strikers don't bother . Season tickets prices should be lower for this “dross” Any chance of sprinkling a bit of the Under 18's stardust on the 1st 11?

2

SteveDt added 21:51 - Apr 20 Maybe time to go back to Frank Lampard and say yes we will invest in players
7

bluesince76 added 21:52 - Apr 20 Cookes record as bad if not worse than previous managers think we should be aiming higher now money isn't an issue big name manager needed to match ambitions going forward.
10

herfie added 21:53 - Apr 20 Never trust a Scouser as a football manager🤪
-1

Nobbysnuts added 21:55 - Apr 20 I'm sure the yanks will sack cook and appoint someone else in the summer..they won't put up with this sh#te.....infact he might not even make it to the end of the season....and I have to agree..we have gone backwards massively....
9

dusth added 21:59 - Apr 20 Leave the team alone. Why would they "throw Cook under the bus"? Makes no sense. There is a total lack of confidence out there. Seen it before. Some talented players who have proved themselves before.Probably half the squad need to change, but chucking out our talented home grown players would be madness. Why otherwise have an academy and bring them forward? Need a wise experienced manager.

0

Saxonblue74 added 22:01 - Apr 20 SteveDT, Lampard??? Cook will go nowhere. He will not be sacked, he will not resign. He will be given a war chest and a fair crack of the whip. Where has all the excitement and optimism gone from the takeover? Gone already? Was it all going to change in 3 weeks?
0

Bert added 22:01 - Apr 20 That's my lot for this season. I just hope the new owners do not have a cooling off period and walk away. In truth nobody really knows where the blame should lay. Evans and all managers have contributed to this low in our history but to have a team who cannot score or defend suggests that they are incapable of being motivated. I have no idea if Cook is the right man but if I were the owner I would be nervous right now. Relegation was bad but this is awful yet I will buy a season ticket simply based on hope and a lifetime of supporting my club.

3

bringmeaKuqi added 22:01 - Apr 20 **Reminder** Evans sacked Lambert for criticising him not for his results. He appointed Cook because he was a mate who wouldn't do that
2

OliveR16 added 22:01 - Apr 20 There is increasing evidence that ITFC are seeking to breakaway from the football pyramid. Downwards.
3

shakytown added 22:02 - Apr 20 The next couple of months are going to be very interesting as no ones future is secure at the moment. some of these players need to be released asap and better options looked at now for next season.
1

Saxonblue74 added 22:06 - Apr 20 Dusth, who are these talented players who have proved themselves before? Have you stumbled upon the wrong forum?🤣
2

grow_our_own added 22:08 - Apr 20 Yes OliveR16, the only way we'll avoid relegation on this form is to form a new SL with relegationpromotion banned. Can convince the other giants of L1 to join: Portsmouth, Sunderland, Hull and Plymouth. Our only hope: form a five team Sad League.
-4

Umros added 22:17 - Apr 20 wtf #itfc pic.twitter.com/89zz719248 — IPSWICH TOWN FANS 🇺🇸 (@IpswichTownFans) April 20, 2021 Professional? Or Pathetic ?
7

blueboy1981 added 22:18 - Apr 20 Wouldn't surprise me if Cook jacks this lot in - players out of contract just don't want to play for fear of injury jeopardising their chance of a contract elsewhere, and possibly being without a Club during the close season. Most of them are not even Div' 3 standard, as they have proved beyond doubt this season. I predicted a mid table finish this season - we'll be fortunate to achieve that. Paul Cook is an honest, good Manager, and we done need to question that, so honest he will be questioning his own ability though right now. But - you will never make a silk purse from a pigs ear - and that is what he has here.

1

RobsonWark added 22:18 - Apr 20 We have no chance on Saturday afternoon either. We are at home to the mighty AFC Wimbledon who are 19th in the table. Drop all the first team team players (and tear up their contracts) and let's see what the U23's or the ITFC Womens team can do for the remaining matches.
3

BecclesBlue500 added 22:19 - Apr 20 I'm just glad, given all that's gone on with the ESL that we're not owned by some group of faceless American investors who are just looking to maximise their returns......
0

RobsonWark added 22:20 - Apr 20 Umros - Dozy Dozzell is so sh*te and uninterested.
3

algarvefan added 22:24 - Apr 20 I have watched with interest the past few weeks at the goings on at ITFC, more at what is not said than said. Paul Cook already looks like a man out of his depth and maybe he is the architect of his own downfall. There has been much talk by him of wholesale change in the summer, Judge and others gone already, what way is this to motivate your players who think they have no future at the club. Nothing should have been discussed until the last ball was kicked, players told that if they wanted to stay they would need to prove themselves and reach peak fitness as soon as practicable. WE might as well have cancelled our remaining games when talk switched to the summer immediately after the takeover. ALL our players lack confidence or are under performing and Cooks comments have not helped one little bit. So what of the future, well another season in League 1 is all but guaranteed, may I remind people that wholesale changes as per Paul Hurst were a disaster last time and are no guarantee this time. An arm needs putting around that squad to help boost confidence, but it's probably too late for that now!!! Let's just hope next season will be better?

7

Carberry added 22:42 - Apr 20 It's no surprise these performances are so unacceptable, most of the team are planning their next move because they know they are no longer required. Cook has been left with a group that can't be bothered and quite simply aren't good enough. Let's give him some slack, he's a very good manager who needs committed players in his own image who will deliver success.
2

blueboy1981 added 22:42 - Apr 20 Some idiotic comments on here as normal:- ‘Big Name Manager' ?? - you have to be a Joker ! - who the hell in that category would want to join a Third Division Club ?? Our Club is facing a huge crisis - and what is currently on show is the compound result of a succession of p#ss poor Management and associated structure. We once had a great structure - almost every fan knew ‘who did what at the Club' now I don't even know if we have a Scout on the payroll - if we have, who are they ? - moreover, what do they do ? We certainly are a JOKE on the pitch - maybe off it too. It ALL has to change for the better - but will it ?? Evans can't be blamed anymore .... !!! - a timely reminder for some.

0

Skip73 added 23:02 - Apr 20 Dusth, talented homegrown players? Who exactly? Dozzell is woeful, Wolfenden bang average, Downes couldnt even play once a bigger team gave him a slight glance. Name one who has proved he is good enough?
0

churchmans81 added 23:13 - Apr 20 So given that the team included; Holy, Vincent-Young, Woolfenden, Downes, and Dozzell, all of whom will probably be here next season as will Bishop (albeit sick today ... as are we all), with McGuinness, and Bennett's going back to their parent clubs and Ward, Sears and Jackson presumably off, and Chambers and Skuse unused again and Norwood not even close to being the player that we bought, it's hard to see what Cook is going to do to turn this around for next season. He's had 11 games now and 5 defeats, 4 draws and 2 wins and 6 games goalless is relegation form. Bad though the team is, when they were just outside the playoffs under PL to change the manager in the way/at the time they did smacks of the new owners making its ME's responsibility/cost/compensation to sack him and his back room team before their acquisition. Having managed and turned around company's that were in difficulty and having inherited weak teams myself I'd never, ever use the PCs tactics of dissing all and sundry in the way that he has. He says that he won't get drawn into it and name names but frankly they all know that he's talking about them collectively and it will be the most discomforting and demotivating experience for them all. There's managerial talent out there available to hire with man managers who have developed unfancied and unfashionable clubs making winning teams out of individuals; such as Eddie Howe, who may (or may not) want to take on the challenge of a club currently sporting the badge of their UEFA Cup winning forbears and to take it forward. I think it's hopelessly naive of PC to chock the whole team/club collectively under the bus, whilst saying he'd never do it, and not expect there to be a backlash. In my opinion it would have been far, far better to let PL have seen the season out and if promotion wasn't achieved to let him go the day after the season ended and give a new man the close season to start afresh. However, plus ca change, plus c'est le meme chose, as we say down St.Etienne way. And ... if Eddie Howes not up for it ... and if the new owners had pockets deep enough there's a certain Portuguese manager, a ‘special one' at that, that's looking for a new job and a top flight winning one (albeit 60 years ago), an FA Cup winning one (albeit 43 years ago) and a UEFA cup winning one (40 years ago ... in a few weeks time) might be the one. 😆🤪.

-1

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls