Lucas Akins netted an 86th-minute penalty to see Burton Albion to a 2-1 victory over the Blues, for whom Scott Fraser had missed an earlier spot-kick, at the Pirelli Stadium. Joe Powell gave Burton the lead on 19 but a Tom O’Connor own goal three minutes later levelled for the Blues. Town were better after the break but Fraser missed from the spot in the 57th minute and sub Kyle Edwards hit the bar, before Akins made no mistake for the Brewers.

Louie Barry, Armando Dobra and Janoi Donacien all started for the Blues as manager Paul Cook made three changes from the team which began last Saturday’s League One opener against Morecambe, which ended 2-2.

Toto Nsiala missed out having suffered a hamstring injury against the Shrimps, while Wes Burns was absent having also picked up a knock with the same likely to be the case for Conor Chaplin.

Barry played in the number 10 role with Dobra on the right and Fraser on the left. Donacien replaced Nsiala alongside Luke Woolfenden at the centre of the defence.

New signing Edwards was among the subs but this week’s other addition Hayden Coulson was not included in the 18.

Bailey Clements, Idris El Mizouni and Corrie Ndaba were also on the bench having started the Carabao Cup tie against Newport in the week.

For Burton, Terry Taylor replaced injured one-time Town target Deji Oshilaja and Joe Powell came into the team for Jacob Maddox.

Prior to kick-off both teams and staff took a knee to applause from the two sets of supporters.

The game started at a frantic pace with Burton seeking to get the ball forward quickly. However, Town began to find some space to pass the ball and created their first opportunity in the ninth minute.

A cross was looped to Penney beyond the left post from where the former Sheffield Wednesday man hooked back across towards Joe Pigott who challenged with Burton keeper Ben Garratt and it was forced out of play.

In the 12th minute, Barry was sent away down the left as Town broke quickly but was flagged offside as he took it into the area.

On the quarter-hour, Taylor was shown the game’s first yellow card for a challenge on Dobra as the Albanian U21 international counter-attacked following a Brewers corner, referee Sam Purkiss having played the advantage when the tackle had been made.

Two minutes later, Powell struck two shots from the edge of the box which were blocked by Blues defenders with the home side having had the better of it overall.

And in the 19th minute they went in front. Following a quickly-taken free-kick on halfway on the left, Lucas Akins broke down the flank and cut inside for Powell, who was given time and space to shoot low past the advancing Vaclav Hladky.

The lead lasted only three minutes. Dobra was fouled on the left, skipper Lee Evans whipped in a ball to towards the near post and O’Connor headed past his own keeper under pressure from Pigott, subsequently claiming he’d been fouled by the Blues striker.

Burton were next to threaten, Taylor heading wide from an O’Connor cross from the left in the 28th minute.

The Brewers made their first change in the 40th minute with Taylor replaced by former Wolves man Michael Mancienne. Taylor had been booked early on for the foul on Dobra had had been spoken to by the referee shortly beforehand after the second of two fouls on Evans.

That was the last action of the half and Town could count themselves fortunate to be level at the break having scored a goal without managing a shot on target in the half.

The Blues had never really managed to get in control of a game played at a frenetic pace with the direct Brewers presenting the greater threat throughout and preventing Town from playing much fluent football.

The home side’s goal when it came was deserved, while Pigott’s pressure on O’Connor from Evans’s free-kick led to Town’s equaliser.

The game is likely to become more open the longer it progresses which should suit the Blues.

Town were first to threaten after the break in the 49th minute. Fraser sent Kane Vincent-Young away down the right then picked up the ball after the former Colchester man had been challenged. Fraser took the ball on on the right of the area but crossed into keeper Garratt’s arms.

On 52 a long thrown from the right was allowed to bounce in the area before Vincent-Young was able to head clear.

But Town were beginning to get on top and in the 56th minute Fraser threaded in Rekeem Harper on the right of the box and his cross was diverted over by a defender.

And following the flag-kick, the Blues won a penalty. The ball had been played back across from the right and Barry took it past O’Connor, who sent him tumbling. Referee Purkiss pointed straight to the spot and booked the defender.

Ex-Brewer Fraser took the kick and after a pause and a stutter in his run-up hit his shot low to Garratt’s right and the keeper saved. Dobra tried to make something of it from a tight angle but the ball was bundled behind.

The game was increasingly open and on 64 Matt Penney sent over a dangerous cross from the left which Ryan Leak somehow put over his bar when it looked more likely he would put past his own keeper.

A minute later, Town swapped Dobra, who again had presented the Blues’ main attacking threat, for Macauley Bonne and Barry, who did well to win the penalty but was otherwise quiet, for debutant Edwards.

The new signing quickly made an impression, taking the ball in a stride from the left before smashing a 25-yard strike which slammed off the underside of the bar but bounced away from goal.

Conor O’Shaughnessy head over for the home side in the 72nd minute, then Harper slipped over as he shot from the edge of the box at the other end.

On 79 Town boss Paul Cook was booked for a clash with Tom Hamer as the Burton man tried to get the ball to take a throw. Cook and his Burton counterpart exchanged smiles and a hug before referee Purkiss issued the card.

Two minutes later, Harper headed over from a tight angle on the left from a Fraser free-kick from the opposite flank.

The Blues were finishing the game on top. On 84 Edwards played a clever ball through for Fraser but the Scot’s first touch let him down.

A minute later, Burton were awarded a penalty. The Brewers had broken down the left and then across the area to Powell, who was tripped by Penney as he chased back into the box.

Akins succeeded where Fraser had failed finding the net to Hladky’s left as the keeper dived to the right.

Leak headed well wide from a corner on 89, then at the other end an Edwards strike deflected wide as the fourth official’s board indicated four additional minutes.

Moments later, Harper curled a shot into Garratt’s arms after more good work from Edwards.

Mancienne was booked for a foul on Evans, having been lucky to avoid a card for an earlier studs-high challenge on Harper.

Following the free-kick, Edwards crossed from the right and Woolfenden saw a header blocked.

Town were still pushing as the whistle confirmed their first ever defeat to Burton and their first loss at the Pirelli Stadium.

Having been second best in the first half, the Blues were better in the second half but without seriously threatening until Fraser’s missed penalty.

Edwards, who was very lively in his time on the field, was unfortunate with his strike off his bar before more of the defending which has characterised the first week of the season led to Akins’s penalty and Burton’s winner.

The Blues visit Cheltenham, who lost 3-1 at home to Wycombe today, on Tuesday still looking for their first victory of the season.

Burton: Garratt, Brayford (c), Powell, Akins, Smith (Bostwick 88), Patrick, O'Connor, Shaughnessy, Taylor (Mancienne 40), Leak, Hamer. Unused: Balcombe, Borthwick-Jackson, Blake-Tracy, Amadi-Holloway, Williams.

Town: Hladky, Vincent-Young, Donacien, Woolfenden, Penney, Harper, Evans (c), Fraser, Barry (Edwards 65), Dobra (Bonne 65), Pigott. Unused: Holy, Ndaba, Clements, El Mizouni, Jackson. Referee: Sam Purkiss (London). Att 3,766 (Town: 1,400).

Photo: Pagepix

austractor added 01:49 - Aug 15 Encouraged to see some positive comments here. Disappointing to lose but the penalty was soft and seemed more of the Ted evening the scores but overall we handled a big physical and rather unimaginative opponent pretty well overall which is great considering it was a much changed team from the first two games. We as fans can't expect a brand new team to instantly click, but the signs are there in the way we are with the ball and the danger some of our players pose that when we click it's going to be something special. Fraser looks class the more I see of him and good lord what a player we have in edwards based on his contribution. He is far too good for league one. Lots to improve but cook is a training pitch manager so I'm confident he will get it right. We have to stick with him and the players. He gave us the clear out we were all begging for but he has brought in a lot of young and largely inexperienced players so they need time but the signs are definitely there for us. COYB

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istanblue added 01:49 - Aug 15 Lose to a small club: tick Lose against a club which we've never lost to before: tick Miss a penalty: tick New era, same old Ipswich.
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Minneapolis_ITFC added 02:17 - Aug 15 I can understand any and all negative postings, I can't quite fault you for it. It's been a sh1t last week with the Cup exit (once again to inferior opposition) and 1 point from both league encounters. Some are fed up and rightly so, you got certain justification there. However you got to try focus on the bigger picture in that we're at a very early stage of a new season with new players, team coach and ownership. There'll be no magic wand to wave an instant fix. It'll take time and persistence to reach the levels we'll hope to be over enough time. Today was real frustrating. We missed a penalty opportunity and they took theirs. Thought Cook made a mistake playing one up front, there was no real attacking intent with the team first fielded, maybe little surprise we didn't get the result we wanted by end of game. For the record I never wanted Cook here to begin with but you don't get to pick and choose appointments. Obviously Gamechanger has faith in the name but what of the supporters themselves ? it's only a handful of games in but the team and manager require to pick up quickly and find a winning formula or at least a string of results where certain harmony is evident within the fanbase. Right now we don't have that, (and) the new owners have to be - or will - more astute than the ones before.

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dirtydingusmagee added 08:50 - Aug 15 good post Minneapolis , the timing of Cooks appointment remains odd, Evans appointed him and that could haunt us. But hopefully the we will be off the bumpy road and on the motorway soon , its frustrating for fans having witnessed failure for so long.
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BlueRuin69 added 09:23 - Aug 15 Understand team needs time but this is a very poor start, we are in league one and have played two lowly opposition and look shaky. Loads of frustrating injuries again including signing injured players. Poor to leave the signing of defenders so late so that we have to play a right back as centreback. Next two games, im sorry, are huge whether Cook likes it or not. Must get two results. Pressure on already. Difficult being a football fan. Coyb

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Runner added 09:24 - Aug 15 Some unbelievable statements yet again on here, people not happy with sideways/backwards passing yet Manchester City do it and it ends in a great goal more often than not. Some posters would complain if we lumped it into their area from the halfway line every time. We are a work in progress, 2 games don't make a season, 46 games do at this level. As the saying goes: this is a marathon not a 100 meter race.

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dirtydingusmagee added 09:50 - Aug 15 Runner, they can go sideways backwards ,up up and away ! anything ! but we need to score goals, . Look at the teams [inc friendlies] that we have played against, hardly big time, the players we have should be doing a better job against them surely. We are not taking chances we do get,and defence is iffy. im not calling for change of manager, just that Cook gets the show on the road sooner rather than later he has done nothing yet since he arrived.

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MickMillsTash added 09:52 - Aug 15 More Positives than Negatives from the first 3 performances The Opposition seem to score from every chance we give them We are not creating enough yet But you feel that we will work out how to - they cleared the ball over their own bar from 6 yards out 2 or 3 times yesterday and had Piggott been in the right place he would have had a tap-ins. The squad is getting there- defence feels suitably bolstered if we get the Accrington lad in, plenty of attacking talent for the '3 behind the striker', not sure who plays should Evans or Harper miss a game With Norwood a crock/ tw@t do we need an extra centre forward?

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Bert added 10:04 - Aug 15 After a disappointing start to the season the negativity was bound to creep in but what we all know is that the players brought in are better than the vast majority of those who have gone. Our forward play is exciting, we have flair and energy but as with a jigsaw, it's frustrating not being able to finish it. I still do not know if Cook is the right manager for us but I will certainly give him time and nobody can doubt that the whole club has been energised by our recruitment. The goals will come but we cannot allow the more physical teams to out muscle the talent we are beginning to see in an Ipswich shirt.

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thecheek added 10:46 - Aug 15 Resting players for the cup game in the week in order to concentrate on the league worked out well again then.
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Pilgrimblue added 10:58 - Aug 15 I don't think Cook knows what he's doing. He has a system/style that he wants to play but I don't think the players fit in at all. Why is he so scared of playing 442! Piggot clearly needs to be spearheading the attack with a striker alongside not three so called attacking mids. He changes with the subs at the end when its too late. He needs a strong assistant who will tell him as at the moment he looks like he's drowning and as has been pointed out has a worse record than Hurst who lets face it had a much worse squad to pick from. Don't understand why we're so short of CBs!!

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Marinersnose added 12:31 - Aug 15 It very concerning that we have again failed to score goals with an isolated og all we have to show for 90 minutes football. The defence is getting criticised for lapses in concentration and rightly so but these so called Championship players that we have need to start converting chances. We created very little against Morecambe and plenty of chances against Newport but no goals. As yet I haven't seen a twenty goal a season player. Yes I accept the team will take time to gel but the system appears muddled and at times it's just route one. Dobra is a positive and so glad PC is giving him the chance. We need to be ruthless in front of goal. We've had two seasons where goals have been hard to get let's ensure we done have another. I'd like to see a proven goalscorer brought in.

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TerryButchersBandage added 14:33 - Aug 15 14:31 - Aug 15 I dont comment much on here. I do love reading the comments section on here, probably more than I enjoy the actual articles (No offense Phil). However I'm finding it very frustrating with the lack of support a large section of posters on here are giving our club. Its a new team, with obvious talent and potential. Its going to need plenty of nurturing before it comes good (and it will). But please everyone that posts negatively, dont post at all. Its neither needed or helpful. In fact I feel so strongly about it, how about turning comments off for a few weeks Phil? Should get the boo boys off this site. Not Welcome in my opinion. Rant Over.

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Cookiscooking added 14:46 - Aug 15 you can always rely on ipswich to make your weekend even sh***er
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Blueballs83 added 15:08 - Aug 15 Marinersnose, We have a proven goal scorer at this level in Pigott! He scored 20 goals in the league last season for a team battling relegation! He has played 2 games for us, as have most of our new players. Give them a chance and judge in 12/15 games time! As we all know the defense is the weakest link, but we THREE new players coming in to improve it. I question how much many of the ‘fans' who contribute to this site understand how football works!

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Dog added 17:41 - Aug 15 I expected 10 points from first 5 games because on paper they were easy fixtures . I will settle for 7. Ithere is something about Cook that i don't like. He may turn out to be a good manager but he seems like a stubborn man with no plan b. Going to judge him after 10 games, until then i will keep the faith. COYB.
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Nobbysnuts added 19:40 - Aug 15 If we didn't score that injury time goal against morecambe..yes morecambe then we would be bottom of the league with nil points...remember gamechanger didn't appoint cook....so he better watch out because if this doesn't improve quickly he will be out with a size 10 boot up his ar#e.
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Billysherlockblue added 09:43 - Aug 16 This is my first ever comment on this forum. Ive supported Ipswich since 1970 since i was 7. We the blue army 💙 are a fickle bunch. But like all supporters we want immediate results. We have seen crap times over the last 10 yrs or so and i truly believe that paul cook will pull us out of this division if not this yr definitely the next so lets give him time and not be calling for his head allready. This is a new era tg and i for one will be giving all that is Ipswich Town my full backing for the next 2 yrs. If the players give their all for our great club we will advance this year so lets get behind this project with all we have got. Super blues forever!

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