Town are still waiting for their first win of the season after AFC Wimbledon scored deep in injury time to come from two goals behind to claim a 2-2 draw at Portman Road. Joe Pigott, who joined Town after leaving the Dons in the summer, put the Blues in front from the penalty spot in the 52nd minute after Wes Burns had been fouled, then Burns made it 2-0 two minutes later, before Ben Heneghan pulled one back for the visitors on 58. Town looked on their way to their first win of the campaign until Jack Rudoni scored a second for the Dons five minutes into injury time.

Pigott returned to the Blues’ XI against his old club with Macauley Bonne missing from the squad having picked up a knock.

Town were otherwise unchanged from last week’s 2-2 home draw with MK Dons, while Sone Aluko was among the subs in the league for the first time having returned from injury.

There was no place for Armando Dobra on the bench with the Albanian U21 international looking set to go out on loan earlier this week with Colchester showing strong interest.

Heavy rain before kick-off had subsided prior to the players from both teams taking a knee mainly to applause but also muted some boos.

Town began the game on the front foot and in the fourth minute Scott Fraser shot at goal from just outside the area but without overly testing Wombles number one Nik Tzanev.

Wimbledon started to come into the game more as the quarter-hour approached with the Blues clearing somewhat aimlessly on occasion and on others were caught in possession trying to overplay out from the back.

On 16 Dons skipper Alex Woodyard was booked for a foul on Pigott, who had been booed by his old fans from his first touch.

Town quickly regained full control with dangerous low crosses from the right from Kane Vincent-Young and Burns both failing to find team-mate in the box, while Rekeem Harper shot into keeper Tzanev’s midriff from distance.

In the 22nd minute, Vincent-Young tricked his way past a couple of Wimbledon defenders on the right of the box before teeing-up Pigott, whose shot pole-axed Dons striker Ollie Palmer, who required attention before continuing.

Two minutes later, Coulson did well to dispossess Palmer as the striker worked his way into the area with the Blues not for the first time looking troubled when run at by Wimbledon attackers.

Town continued to dominate but with the Dons presenting a threat on the counter. On 31 Henry Lawrence crossed from the right and Aaron Pressley diverted it well over when under pressure from Cameron Burgess. It looked a very decent opportunity.

Four minutes later, Palmer headed an Anthony Hartigan corner from the left against Blues skipper Lee Evans and on to the roof of Vaclav Hladky’s net.

From a subsequent Wimbledon flag-kick, the Blues broke quickly. Pigott sent Burns away down the right, the Welshman cut inside to Fraser, who turned it on to Harper, whose shot from the edge of the box deflected over off a defender.

Town continued to dominate but without being able to create a really clear-cut opportunity. On 42 Kyle Edwards, who had had another lively half down the left, shot towards goal from a central area not far outside the area but Tzanev was able to claim down to his right.

Moments before the fourth official indicated an additional one minute, Hartigan became the second Dons player to be shown a yellow card after pulling back Edwards.

Just before referee David Rock ended an entertaining half, Evans shot high and wide from 40 yards after latching on to a Tzanev clearance with the keeper well out of his goal.

The Blues had been on top for the vast majority of the half playing some good stuff at times, but without creating much in the way of clear-cut opportunities.

At the other end, Town hadn’t always looked comfortable with Wimbledon a threat on the break, indeed Pressley’s chance was probably the best of the half.

Hayden Coulson, who had enjoyed an impressive first 45 minutes, struck Town’s first effort of the second period, cutting inside before hitting a right-foot effort which flew well wide.

The early minutes of the second half followed the same pattern as the first and in the 52nd minute the Blues were awarded a penalty.

Burns was fed in on the right of the box and touched it beyond Will Nightingale, who pulled him back. Referee Rock pointed straight to the spot and booked Nightingale.

Former Dons striker Pigott stepped up and calmly stroked the ball to Tzanev’s left as the keeper dived to his right for his second goal in a Town shirt.

Two minutes later, the Blues were two in front. Again the ball was played in front of Burns on the right of the box by Vincent-Young and this time the Welshman smashed a shot across Tzanev and into the corner of the net for his first goal for Town.

However, the two-goal lead last only four minutes. Edwards fouled Lawrence to the right of the box, Hartigan sent the free-kick into the area, it flicked off Pigott’s head and Heneghan nodded across Hladky and into the corner of the net.

Heneghan wasn’t too far away from a second in the 63rd minute when allowed a free header from a corner from the right but this time his effort was straight against Pigott.

Wimbledon, who had swapped Pressley for Mebude just after the hour mark, made a double change on 70 with Rudoni and Nesta Guinness-Walker replacing Luke McCormick and Cheye Alexander.

Town started to look more in control and more threatening, but on 74 their defensive frailties were in evidence again when Palmer was allowed to bring an overhit Rudoni cross from the right in from the other flank before hitting a shot which Hladky palmed behind for a corner.

The Blues’ second goalscorer Burns was forced off in the 77th minute having taken a knock. Janoi Donacien, who made a quick dash down the tunnel, presumably to get his shirt, came on in his place a minute later with Vincent-Young then swapped for Aluko, who was making his Town league debut.

Two minutes later, Hladky was booked for stealing five or so yards as he prepared to take a free-kick.

Town continued to have jittery moments at the back as the Dons pushed for an equaliser, while the home crowd got behind their team.

On 87 Coulson was warmly applauded off after a very impressive performance at left-back with Matt Penney taking over.

Two minutes later, Harper was teed-up on the edge of the box following a Town break but slipped as he shot and the ball flew well over.

Town had only a minute of additional time to see out when the Wombles levelled. From a corner on the right, Heneghan’s header was saved by Hladky, but the Czech keeper couldn’t hold on and Rudoni slammed into the net from close range.

There was no time left for the Blues to hit back and for the third home league match out of three this season Town had to be content with a 2-2 draw. At the whistles boos briefly rang out, as they had done after last week’s game against MK Dons had ended in the same scoreline.

Once again, the game was all but won with the Blues’ defensive vulnerabilities again losing them two points.

The Blues are now 21st with a trip to Wycombe, who were beaten 3-1 at Sunderland today, scheduled for next week but potentially set to be postponed due to international calls for the Chairboys.

Town: Hladky, Vincent-Young (Aluko 78), Woolfenden, Burgess, Coulson (Penney 87), Harper, Evans (c), Burns (Donacien 78), Fraser, Edwards, Pigott. Unused: Holy, Carroll, Barry, Jackson.

AFC Wimbledon: Tzanev, Lawrence, Woodyard (c), Nightingale, Alexander (Guinness-Walker 70), Hartigan, Palmer, Assal, Pressley (Mebude 61), McCormick (Rudoni 70), Heneghan. Unused: Oualah, Marsh, Chislett, Kalambayi. Referee: David Rock (Hertfordshire). Att: 19,051 (AFC Wimbledon: 611).

Photo: Matchday Images

Billysherlockblue added 17:41 - Aug 28 They matched our tactics at the start. They changed when 2 to one down . Had us all at sea and we never counteract ed. We were knackered in midfield when 2 up. No changes made there and we all know how it finishes. Again ill say it... cook needs a no 2 to help with tactics when the other team changes and we also need a combative old fashioned spoiler in midfield. A strong presence if possible. Midfield is light. Harper again super until he tired. Evans only plays the way he is looking. Evans did ok today but looks a little laboured. Keeper shocking foe their equaliser. A good performance but again the other good contenders pulling away. They are doing ok for me and will improve. Just look at lincoln. Super blues forever 💙

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BerkshireBlue78 added 17:43 - Aug 28 Keep the faith... this is a big test of character for each and every player (and fan). The win will come. COYB
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Bluearmy_81 added 17:44 - Aug 28 Bobby petta. Nothing like Hurst. Evans sold 12m of a decent championship side and replaced it by spending 6m on league 1 players. A massive shove on in the continued slide into league 1. Not better players than we had (as you stated) at all!
8

atty added 17:44 - Aug 28 Nothing new about us conceding late goals. It's been a gut wrenching fault of ours for years. Playing attacking full backs and an attacking 3-1 all very good but unless they all put in a shift tracking back when needed, the two sitting players will struggle. Goalkeeper and midfield destroyer required. If not player Holy and Russell.
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Tufty added 17:47 - Aug 28 Still a few days to go before the transfer deadline Cook could get rid of them all and try a third set of players!!!
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tractorboybig added 17:48 - Aug 28 chris knight 4th from bottom with our points shows we are crap mate...the table dont lie
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Wickwar_Blue added 17:50 - Aug 28 Those that point to Cook needing time tend to overlook the record he had last season. Abysmal last season. Abysmal this season. He motivated the squad last year by throwing them collectively under the bus. Woeful man management. Now he's assembled his own squad. How long do we give him? I think he needs 4 wins minimum from the next 8 games. I hope he turns it round. I don't think he will though.

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Wooly74 added 17:57 - Aug 28 I like the look of the following players: Burgess Edwards Harper Burns Bonne Coulson I don't like the look of the following Keeper (awful and fills of errors) Vincent-Young (not the player he was) Evans (not captain material for me) Fraser (can't cross a simple ball) Piggot (doesn't do enough to play up front alone) Aluko (legs have gone) Barry needs to be given a run of games Today we looked very good for 55 minutes and then poor for the remainder

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jas0999 added 18:00 - Aug 28 Forget the gelling argument, six games in, no wins is unacceptable. Failing to beat a fairly average Wimbledon at home when two up is even more unacceptable. Cooks results have been poor. Last season was poor. Pre-season was poor. This season is poor. There is no excuse. The tactics when in front today was nothing short of woeful. As stated by others, the goalkeeper looks utterly woeful. Completely out of his depth. We continue to lack in midfield. Evans has had one good game. Things need to change and quickly. Not winning a single game in all competitions is baffling beyond belief. I've said it before, but the longer this winless run goes, the higher the pressure. The less likely we will win. I think we saw that today. We saw it with Keane. We saw it with Hurst. 3 points out of 15 and dumped out of the cup by a woeful Newport (we fielded a good side). Very poor. 4 wins in 23 for Cook. Can't be defended. Dreadful.

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algarvefan added 18:08 - Aug 28 Not playing Cook out! For me we need to address 2 areas that just aren't working. 1. Goalkeeper, Hladky stays rooted to his line on corners and is not giving any confidence to the defence, also his distribution is dreadful. Holy simply is not good enough for me, although I think we would have won with him today! 2 Central midfield, this is an essential partnership that just isn't clicking that often drifts apart, Evans doesn't seem to be the player we thought he was and today Harper made too many errors by far. Having seen him damned so often on here I thought Woolfenden did well today and a big shout out to Donacien who did well when he was sent on. It will come, but changes need to be made until we get the right mix.

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DifferentGravy added 18:13 - Aug 28 I understand that the players needed time to play alongside each other.....3 or 4 games. But the performances of some are nothing to do with 'gelling'. Cannot understand what Evans and Hladky are doing in the side given recent performances. We are carrying players and you simply cant do that. Foolishly I hyped myself up for a potential promotion charge....irrespective of automatic or playoffs.....but already we can forget that. Im now just hoping we stop shipping goals enough to stay up. So disappointed by it all and my confidence in Cook is ebbing away

9

WirralBlue added 18:13 - Aug 28 Look how Wigan are doing. Richardson was the brains behind their partnership
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Drifter3012 added 18:16 - Aug 28 Gutted! We need some wins against tough opposition in September. If they don't come, then I will join the Cook out club. 2 things to say. Simpson is playing a blinder at Swindon. Can we send Evans out on loan & keep Dobra?
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TimmyH added 18:16 - Aug 28 Easy to see why KVY isn't doing as well as when playing under Lambert - he's being played in a 442 as full back, much better as a wing back or even as a right sided midfielder. Hdlaky and Evans have been fairly poor. All the talk of Pigott being a brilliant signing I could never understand...hope he proves me wrong.
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Linkboy13 added 18:17 - Aug 28 Correct me if im wrong you experts but while we are gelling shouldn't things be slowly improving. The team is lacking any fight and doesn't look fit to me. Keeper looks shaky which in turn unsettles the defence. Evans is too one paced and is not half the player of Downes. Pigott scored a penalty but ive seen a cart horse move quicker. Why on earth did we sign Aluko looks way past it. Barry might as well have stayed at Villa no point in having a player on loan if your not going to play him. One big positive was the performance of Coulson who played as though he really wanted to play for the club Cook should use him as an example .

4

norfolkbluey added 18:17 - Aug 28 You don't make progress without a decent goalkeeper. Does he speak English? Sounds like the defence don't understand him or he doesn't understand the defence! Two nil up and then concede two is absolutely crazy. Close the doors while you build a team. Robson built from the back. Hunter and the 'Beat' took no prisoners and Burley and Mick attacked when safe. Super Cooper in goal, how we need the likes again. Cook should have concentrated on building from the back first so now we are sinking slowly into a relegation zone. For heaven's sake this is the third division and we still fail to win at home. Clang clang clang, wake up this is a f***ing disaster! A 20% win rate is not acceptable. The gel has dried up. We need more than green shoots because we haven't even faced top teams in this division! PC had a whole week to practice for this match so... whats the excuse this time? I hate knocking my club that I have supported since 1961 but this is truly a really low spot for the supporters who remain incredibly docile. I really want our club to succeed but does anyone really see this happening soon with the defensive errors and tactical ineptitude when in a winning position. COYB this has to change and quickly. The supporters can only take so much of what you are dishing out. The motto should be when two up ' none shall pass'.

6

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 18:19 - Aug 28 Some very good performances from Edwards, KVY, Burns, Coulson, and most of the rest. But for me, Cook's approach is too one-dimensional. It's not the defence. Until we get midfield control, we will continue to be vulnerable.
7

Help added 18:22 - Aug 28 Okay there is an American Football saying. Offence wins games, defence wins championships. They dont have a midfield, but the point is we can try to score as many goals as we like but it is the conceding that is killing us. Now I dont blame the back 4 this game, but from set pieces we are very poor. I know it is not the done thing but why do we not put a man on each post. That would have stopped the first goal. The keeper is poor and we need a third because neither of ours are good enough. My biggest problem is the midfield especially the centre pairing of Evans and Harper. Once again after 60 mins they both look shot to bits. This is most definitely our weak spot. PC needs to make changes here, because for yet another game the opposition come through here to create their goals. Although we scored 2. As I said in my post last week two nil is a dangerous score line, and we blew it. We do not defend closely enough when the opposition have the ball. We need someone in the centre of midfield because there are enormous gaps there during the game. Other than that the wide men were very good this game. Not sure our type of football suits a 1-1 front two. Piggott has to nod the ball back to fraser. At least we played the ball on the floor more, but we are not quick or cutting enough in the final third, we are far to slow here, when we are quick we score. Still to many hoof balls which come from panic or lack of ideas, which also means players not available, so that is the only option. Evans only plays in the direction he is facing. He could not turn, also does he actually control the ball because it always seem to bounce off his shin. Harper not much better TBH. Coulson MOM for me, stunning display of guile of commitment, and ability.

4

thatsbonkers added 18:24 - Aug 28 Not being able to get good results at such a low level is frightening. With the real Ipswich Town please stand up, this is killing us.
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Nobbysnuts added 18:25 - Aug 28 Utter garbage...cook is a fraud and if anyone thinks any different...well just look at the table...its embarrassing. We are now officially the joke club of this league. It really is pathetic. Sick to death with cooks excuses. We are in serious trouble.
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blues1 added 18:27 - Aug 28 Grow our own. Clearly u werent at cheltenham. Gladly had nothing to do with their 1st goal. As for most free kick. Yes, u have to question his positioning but then, no different to how any other keeper positions themself at free kicks. So if 8ndeedcit was his mistake today which couldnt tell from the north stand, then that's his only error.As for Evan's. Lobe to know how he was responsible for morecambe 1st or Wimbledon's 1st today. Ur making it up as u go along.morecambes 1st goal was down to poor defending by penney and woolfenden. And todays 1st was down to Edwards giving away a stupid free kick and poor marking at the far post by kvy. So again, 1 error to cost us a goal.

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Orraman added 18:27 - Aug 28 Surely time to replace Burns with Carroll. He is one paced and shows absolutely no leadership qualities. For all the stick Luke Chambers took towards the end his captains qualities were never in doubt. Also disappointed so far with Fraser and I won't even bother commenting on Hladky. Bring back Holy.
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istanblue added 18:29 - Aug 28 Blow a 2 goal lead at home: tick Fail to beat a club at home who didn't even exist 20 years ago for the second time in as many games: tick Go the entire month of August without a win in the third tier of English football: tick New era, same old Ipswich
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TimmyH added 18:32 - Aug 28 'Burns with Carroll' @Orraman - surely you mean Evans? Burns did fairly well today.
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Monkey_Blue added 18:37 - Aug 28 Please stop with the criticism. We've had to scrape the barrel for signings and fought relegation for two years before Cook the messiah came along with his well thought out plan. Cook isn't the right fit for this club or project. I don't like the trigger happy firings but we have an expensive squad and a need to get promoted for many reasons, including not disheartening the pension fund managers, who may think “sod this for a game of soldiers” and leave us high and dry and close to or in admin. It's ok to be optimistic but we don't control the club, a bunch of accountants do. I reckon even Blues1 could have got a win out of our squad by now…. 😉

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