Debutant sub Macauley Bonne netted an injury-time equaliser as Town drew 2-2 at home to Morecambe in an entertaining opening-day encounter at Portman Road. Cole Stockton put the visitors ahead on 22 before Scott Fraser levelled for the Blues in the 61st minute. Stockton was gifted a second on 72 before Bonne spared Town’s blushes right at the death.

Eight players were handed their Blues debuts the Gamechanger 20 and Paul Cook eras got under way in earnest.

Vaclav Hladky was in goal with Matt Penney at left-back, while Kane Vincent-Young at right-back and centre-halves Toto Nsiala and Luke Woolfenden, the only player who was involved in the final day game against Fleetwood, were the only players starting who were at the club last season.

Lee Evans skippered in central midfield alongside Rekeem Harper with Scott Fraser on the left and Wes Burns on the right. Conor Chaplin was behind lone striker Joe Pigott.

For Morecambe, ex-Blues loanee Toumani Diagouraga and academy product Shane McLoughlin both started as they handed six players debuts after a summer personnel turnaround of their own.

The 21,037 Portman Road crowd making their return after 17 months had already been in fine voice before manager Paul Cook appeared to rapturous applause four minutes prior to the scheduled kick-off time before taking his place in the dugout.

The volume increased significantly when the players made their way out of the tunnel and lined-up for the handshakes across the halfway line.

After a minute’s applause in tribute to legendary Blues striker Paul Mariner, who died last month aged 68, the game got under way with the crowd continuing to make themselves heard.

But it was the Shrimps who made all the early running, winning a corner, from which Ryan Cooney spectacularly air-kicked after the ball was played to him just outside the area.

On seven, Morecambe keeper Kyle Letheren had to rush off his line quickly to clear after a defender deflected a through ball towards him with Burns chasing into the area.

Three minutes later, Fraser was bundled over by Diagouraga five yards outside the penalty area to the left. Evans took the kick and caused the first ‘Oooo’ of the afternoon from the fans as his shot flew narrowly past Letheren’s right post.

Town began to get more into the game and on 13 Vincent-Young was felled by Liam Gibson as he broke away down the right but Fraser’s free-kick came to nothing.

The Blues were gaining confidence and were starting to find some fluency with the noise of the fans behind them, and in the 19th minute Pigott wasn’t too far away from opening his account when he flicked a stooping near-post header across goal from Fraser’s corner from the right onto the roof of the net.

However, it was the Shrimps who would take the lead in the 22nd minute with their first goal in League One.

Vincent-Young’s poor clearance found Cole Stockton, who brought the ball into the area and to the right unchallenged with the Town backline standing off him before slipping past the advancing Hladky.

It was a dreadful goal to concede from a defensive perspective but one which will live long in the memory for Stockton and the travelling Morecambe fans.

Town set about getting back on terms and didn’t look unduly affected by going behind - the team of the last few seasons having been one which often reacted badly to adversity - and in the 28th minute Nsiala nodded wide at the far post under pressure from a Fraser corner from the right.

However, Stockton wasn’t too far away from a second on the half hour when, following a neat move, he curled a low shot past Hladky’s left post from 25 yards with the ball, according to referee Craig Hicks, having taken a deflection on the way.

Morecambe were forced into a sub in the 33rd minute when Ryan Delaney, who trained with Town during a pre-season trip to Ireland in 2016, was replaced by Sam Lavelle.

Two minutes later, Nsiala pulled up as he ran down the touchline holding his hamstring and dropped to the turf. With new signing George Edmundson not fit and not on the bench, and Corrie Ndaba having played for the U23s this morning, Janoi Donacien took over in his less favoured centre-half role.

Almost immediately after the change, Penney was sent away in space on the left of the box and struck a shot into the side-netting, reinvigorating the support.

As the game moved into injury time, a Morecambe free-kick on the left dropped to Arthur Gnahoua just inside the box but the Frenchman’s effort looped well into the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

The Blues built up a head of steam in the final moments of the half and put the visitors under pressure. A Vincent-Young shot blocked, then a cross came in from the left from Penney, before Burns sent over a dangerous low ball from the right which flashed along the six-yard line with no one able to get a touch.

There was applause at the whistle despite Town being behind. It had been a patchy half from the Blues. After a slow start, they had started to gain control of the game when Morecambe scored a goal which was a bit of a mess from a Town perspective.

Town hadn’t managed a shot on target but in the final couple of minutes before the break they began to put the Lancastrians under pressure, something they will need to continue once the second half gets under way.

Neither side made any changes ahead of the second half with the Blues starting positively and managing their first shot on target.

Pigott picked up a loose ball after Burns and a defender had tangled before taking inside and hitting a well-struck 25-yard effort which Letheren palmed behind for a corner.

In the 49th minute Wes McDonald was shown the afternoon’s first yellow card for a foul on Chaplin after a late challenge on the former Barnsley man as he exchanged passes with Pigott on the left.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 53rd minute when Evans was caught in possession just inside the Town half but fortunately Morecambe’s swift break was snuffed out.

Two minutes later at the other end, as rain began to fall heavily as it had earlier in the day, Fraser struck a cross-shot from the left over the bar.

Town should have levelled in the 57th minute when Penney was found in space on the left of the area. The former Sheffield Wednesday man opted to cut across the area rather than shooting and put the ball behind everyone rushing into the box. However, it reached the deeper Vincent-Young, whose effort was deflected behind for a corner.

The Blues fans and players made their frustration with referee Craig Hicks clear in the 59th minute after Penney was very clearly tripped by Town old boy McLoughlin as he broke towards the area on the left, not the first decision which had gone against Town.

Two minutes later, those chants of frustration towards the referee turned to celebrations as the Blues equalised.

Fraser exchanged passes with Chaplin, who had begun to get more into the game after a quiet first half, as he broke into the area and curled a left-footed shot across Letheren and into the net.

Town continue to take the game to the visitors with Vincent-Young making a number of trademark runs down the left before being stopped by challenges, which looked for the most part to be fouls although with referee Hicks continuing to be less than generous to the Blues with his decision-making.

When he did give the Blues a free-kick his over-fussiness required it to be taken three times before he was happy.

The second half had been all Town and they appeared the only likely scorers of the second goal but in the 72nd minute they gifted the visitors a second.

Penney underhit a pass weakly to Woolfenden, who casually tried to take it past Stockton, who dispossessed him and brought it into the area. Hladky forced the striker wide and as Donacien slid in, the Morecambe number nine tapped home his second of the game.

Gibson was finally yellow-carded for the latest in a succession of fouls in the 75th minute as the home crowd began to sound more frustrated. On 78 Evans joined him in the book for a foul on Jonah Ayunga.

Town swapped Chaplin, who had grown into the game after a quiet first half, for James Norwood and Bonne for Pigott in the 79th minute. Soon afterwards, Penney got his name in the book for fouling Ayunga as Morecambe broke.

Four minutes after his introduction, Norwood was booked for vehemently complaining to the referee having been adjudged to have fouled Ryan Cooney.

The game drifted into a litany of cheap free-kicks awarded against the Blues - and conversely what looked more obvious fouls not given against the Shrimps - with the players and crowd all expressing their frustration with referee Hicks.

As the fourth official’s board announced four additional minutes, Town weren’t looking like getting an equaliser.

But a minute in to added-on time Ipswich-born Bonne saved the Blues’ opening day blushes by finding the net via route one. Norwood flicked on a long ball and the on-loan QPR man held off his man and confidently slipped past Letheren.

Seconds before the end, Norwood headed the game’s final chance over as the game ended all-square.

The Town players were cheered and applauded for their late comeback at the whistle, while referee Hicks was booed off as he reached the tunnel after an inconsistent and often perplexing display.

A draw was probably a fair result overall. Having got on terms via Fraser’s well-worked goal, the game looked there for the taking by the Blues but they handed the visitors the lead for a second time via a howler which Woolfenden will want to forget very quickly.

The match seemed to be going nowhere and Town set for defeat when Norwood flocked on to Bonne to score his first goal for the club he supports.

Town continue to look the work in progress they are but with positive signs in patches, not least the character they showed to come back twice.

They’re next in action at home to Newport County in the Carabao Cup at Portman Road on Tuesday.

Town: Hladky, Vincent-Young, Nsiala (Donacien 38), Woolfenden, Penney, Harper, Evans (c), Burns, Fraser, Chaplin (Norwood 79), Pigott (Bonne 79). Unused: Holy, Barry, Dobra, El Mizouni.

Morecambe: Letheren, O’Connor, McDonald (Ayunga 61), Diagouraga, Stockton, Delaney (Lavelle 33), McLoughlin, Cooney, Gibson, Gnahoua (Leigh 76), McCalmont. Unused: Andresson, Mellor, Leigh, Jones, Phillips. Referee: Craig Hicks (Surrey). Att: 21,037 (Morecambe: 356).

Photo: Matchday Images

Orraman added 19:29 - Aug 7 We know from past 2 seasons just how bad Lge 1 refs are but this guy could already have secured worst ref of the season. The Morecambe approach to defending was obviously based on Chiellini's performance in Euro 2020 final but most fouls were overlooked. When clubs start time wasting in the first half a couple of yellow cards would soon put a stop to that antic. Happy with performance in general apart from defensive deficiencies but great to see attacking football. No surprise to anyone but Cook that the game was saved by the belated use of twin strikers. Just what is his fixation on one up front. A bit of good old fashioned route 1 helped as well. Most impressed with Rakeem Harper. Think we have found a real gold nugget there. Lastly, once the transfer window is closed perhaps the powers that be can focus on the match day experience because currently it is non league standard. The PA system seriously needs overhauling, it was like Fozz was speaking with a wooden glove over his mic and as someone else posted there was no show on the scoreboard of goal scorers or substitutes and also missing were the previous half time/full time updates. So well done on the mural etc and efforts to brighten up PR but please add these points to the improvements agenda

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BlueNomad added 19:30 - Aug 7 Eddie - you really need to accept that we won't be promoted by Christmas. The result today was disappointing but this is sport, if there were no disappointments or surprises it wouldn't be real. Please provide evidence that Morecambe are the “weakest team in the division.” It is day one of the season. You may remember that at the start of 2000-01 we were considered the weakest team in the PL. Please keep your moaning to yourself and your family. They must suffer if you are so negative about every disappointing result.

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Dissboyitfc added 19:31 - Aug 7 Well i said before kick off not to go overboard with result and performance so i wont. Really liked Evans Burns and Harper, Penny( who i expect will be back up to Coulson) is better than Kenlock. the team had a real attacking intent about them, great to see, none of this 20 passes around the defence to then launch it forward in the hope a blue shirt gets on it. As has been said by many on here, central defence is our Achilles heel, Edmundson is hopefully not to far away and another CB is on the radar! Piggot a disappointment so far, so expect more to come from him. I am quietly confident that this team when it beds in with the additional signings will be a force in this division. On another note, the goodie bags have gone up in price and minus the chocolate bar!

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Edmundo added 19:32 - Aug 7 Good game. 2-2 was about right, as 2 of the goals were individual errors, but our play was about 40 yards further up the pitch compared to last season, which bodes well. So fantastic to be back with everyone enjoying life pretty much as normal.
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Marinersnose added 19:40 - Aug 7 Fantastic atmosphere and an excellent crowd for this league. I was extremely relieved to actually get a point against a poor Morcombe side. Our play lacked urgency and intensity just as it did last season and defensively we look frail. Nsiala failed to find a blue shirt before being replaced by a more effective Donacien. Neither full backs looked convincing defensively and Woolfenden who was decent on the ball had a lapse in concentration to gift them a second goal.Evans looks a very accomplished player who is confident on the ball and plays with his head up, using a wide range of passes.Harper showed glimpses of ability and I think in time he will be decent. The two up top were not really at it and the team failed to p,at to their strengths . Chaplin did well in the build up to our first excellent goal from Fraser who for me lacked pace and ball control but his finish was good. Burns who I liked last season looked lacking in confidence and at time was hiding from receiving the ball. He didn't do what he's good at running at defenders and whipping in crosses. Maybe the big crowd etc heaped pressure on him I don't know. Norwood nice flick on for the route one second goal which Bonne did well under physical pressure to calmly convert. Norwood showed petulance and stupidity and was rightfully booked for needless challenges. Overall I was slightly disappointed with the quality against last years league two side. Yes it's early days but good p,Ayers adapt quickly. Disappointing to see Dobra dropped having been the standout player preseason. I think he's better that a few that started today. We failed to really work the opposition keeper other than an isolated save from a tame effort second half. We will get better I'm sure but this demonstrates that nothing is given in this league. Time for Mr Motivator to work his magic.

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blueboy1981 added 19:42 - Aug 7 Norwood is an essential to this team, he and Bonne could really hit it off. Norwood brings a fighting spirit to the game that in addition to him, we could do with a similar character in midfield. Plus of course, a Goalkeeper needs a good CB pairing in front of him. Will LW ever learn, and lose the naivety in his game ? - I think not ! - he should be showing better, his mistake today will impress no one once again, only he can change this. After a promising start he is struggling even at this level unfortunately. Cook will sort it - only fools will have no faith - this man knows the game ... !!!

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runningout added 19:55 - Aug 7 seemed like win at the end, which is a bit odd. Burns was brilliant. Evans too. We might be expecting too much too soon. If I'm going to pick. CB's that try to seem calm on the ball when they really should know what they're going to do with it before ball is at their feet.
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grumpyoldman added 19:56 - Aug 7 Went with grandson. Observations, Harper class, Evans class, Piggot will come good, Nsiala & Donacien best defenders. Others need to do simple things like getting passed opponents. Corner routines are not good enough. Woolfenden needs a kick up the proverbial, Norris needs to calm down lucky not to be sent off for the attempted kick at a player. Overall a satisfying start, I did not expect miracles, but improvements needed

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Linkboy13 added 19:57 - Aug 7 Disappointing result but good entertainment compared to last year's dross. Positives for me were Evans, Harper and Burns. Penny did ok but needs to improve his first touch and final ball. We played too many hopeful balls into the box but looked good when we played the ball on the deck as emphasised with the opening goal. The centre of defence like last year was suspect when players ran at them and needs to be addressed otherwise no promotion. I know Toto has a big fan club on here but he's not up to the job likewise Wolfenden. Overall though i think the sign's are looking promising for the future.

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garytheturtle added 20:04 - Aug 7 Forget the result or performance for now - how bloody wonderful was it to be back with 20K plus ? It beats being locked inside your house all day ! Results will come, because we have a championship side there in the making with more to come. On reflection Evans was standout - Morecambe were poor but put a proper shift in, fair play to them. Ref was shocking Keep the faith - it'll come good

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johnwarksshorts added 20:04 - Aug 7 We need to be patient. You can't assemble a virtually new team and expect instant success. I'm confident this group will gel as a great team but it will take a month or so. I would say we need to buy a couple of centre backs. Great day for Bonne and his family. COYB.
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runaround added 20:04 - Aug 7 Grateful for a point in the end. 2 horrendous defensive errors gifted Morecambe their goals and their sh*thouse tactics along with incompetence of the referee looked like it was going to be victorious until the end. Once the defence is sorted out I think our midfield and attacking options are good. Whatever the result it was lovely to be back again
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ImAbeliever added 20:31 - Aug 7 Some seriously talented players out there today. I was blown away with the quality long cross field passing. My MOM is Harper. ITID
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jollyroger added 20:43 - Aug 7 So eddie if you and a partner took up ballroom dancing. within a week or two you would expect to win competitions then . Things take time
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Eddie1985 added 20:47 - Aug 7 Bluenomad bu definition you would expect the team who came up from the division below to be the weakest until proved otherwise. I want us to go up this season and the takeover and level of player brought in means we should be winning games like this. I've had years of hoping we win now I expect it and Cook has to expect it too, too many on here happy with mediocrity as that's what we have had for so long

0

Marinersnose added 21:07 - Aug 7 Jolly Roger they've hardly taken up football. They are professionals. That's not a comparison.
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Dissboyitfc added 21:10 - Aug 7 Did you go to the game Eddie?
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GTRKing added 21:27 - Aug 7 Today the midfield and Attackers played really well and show promise ​ The Center backs played absolutely Sh*t All in all, it's gonna be a good season, Michael Jacobs and Hayden Coulson to join soon, Now we need another CB/RB CM/CAM Then we are all set,
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chopra777 added 21:29 - Aug 7 Just arrived back in Hampshire having witnessed the rebirth of Ipswich Town. Just like a new born foal wobbly back legs. But has the stature of a future champion. Pick of the new players has to be Harper, a lot of measured passes. Some good match play which created some good chances. Unfortunately Piggott was isolated as the single striker. Chaplin tried hard to impress, but not his game today. PC should have brought Bonne and Norwood on earlier. Very good crowd, could have been a bit more vocal when we were down. Much better than last season but work in progress. Entertaining match to start with. PC time to sort out the defence.

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blueboy1981 added 21:30 - Aug 7 Let's give the dependable Donacien a mention - he replaced Nsiala, almost saved the awful Woolfy error with a great effort, and never put a foot wrong thereafter. And after all - we played against a 12 man team today 100% - that Referee deserves all the criticism he gets. He was simply DIABOLICAL, and I generally don't agree with criticising Referees.
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RobsonWark added 21:37 - Aug 7 I just can not understand why Wolfenden is still an ITFC player. I can never forgive him for coming off the pitch laughing when we were beaten at home by bottom club Swindon last season! He is so useless and laid back and doesn't seem to care if we win or lose. Another goal given away by him today!!
2

blueboy1981 added 21:47 - Aug 7 Anyone who expects too much too soon and instant wins and success is in dreamland, it doesn't just happen. Likewise, anyone who knows this game, knows that other than a classic individual error the game was won !! - and a totally different performance than we have seen for an awfully long time. Several players first touch needs improving, and the CB positions are crucially in need of sorting to stop leaking goals. Overall this squad looks extremely capable and encouraging - any weakness will have been identified by Cook and his Crew, any critics with less knowledge than those in charge, can sleep well tonight, and enjoy the revolution to come. It's on the way.

3

blues1 added 21:47 - Aug 7 Monkeyblue. Still spouting rubbish. 5 defeats in 19 games is not relegation form. Unbeaten at home under him. If ur gonna use supposed form under him then at least get ur facts right. And for the 100th time the players downed tools bcse he criticised them. Yet we still managed those stats. Ur right regarding morecambe overhaul of players too. But you have to remember, there was no pressure on them today as they would have been expected to lose. And frankly, other than the 2 goals we presented them with, they did sod all. It wasnt perfect by any means, but true and realistic fans know its gonna take time to get it right. As do the management team, the new owners. Everyone in fact, other than fans like you. Who simply have to find a reason to slag them off. Why not just give it a break. Get behind everyone at the club and see where it takes us. Just as well u werent around when bobby robson took over Took him a few years to get it right and get things on track. No doubt ud have been wanting him out after just a few games. Thankfully the, the new owners wont be taking any notice of fans posting rubbish on here. Of course thered come a time if things arent moving forwards that theyd make the decision to make a change. But he has to be given time. Just imagine if the cobbolds had listened to the idiots calling for sir Bobby's head in his early days at the club. And no, I'm not suggesting cooks as good as sir bobby. No1 will ever be as good as him. But the situation is very similar.

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ringwoodblue added 21:48 - Aug 7 Chopra - love the new born foal analogy. Well at least we didn't lose today. If I had to criticise our recruitment policy, it's that it has been unbalanced with the lack of new defensive and experienced heads (over 30s). I know we were unlucky that Edmondson was injured but Woolfie and Toto are just not up to the required standard to get promotion. Great to have the fans back and so many of them.

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LondonBlue73 added 21:53 - Aug 7 Eddie - I absolutely expect us to push for promotion this season and will be very disappointed if we don't go up. I have concerns about the complete clear out. However the last few years of players have not performed and taken us to our lowest level. The team needed to start over again however much it hurts to see homegrown academy products leave. I expect us to beat the majority of teams, however any new team in any sport takes time to work cohesively - it is in my opinion right to give a few games for the players to gel and the management to get their message across. Especially with new players joining all the time. I think it is unreasonable to be disappointed at this point. There was vast improvement today on what we have seen for years.

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