Town and Oxford drew 0-0 for the fourth time in their last five meetings at Portman Road, the Blues having come closest to scoring in the first half when Macauley Bonne and later Bersant Celina hit the same post.

Bailey Clements was handed his league debut at left-back - with neither Matt Penney or Hayden Coulson in the squad - with Janoi Donacien on the right and George Edmundson and Toto Nsiala at the centre of the defence. Christian Walton was in goal.

In midfield, skipper Sam Morsy was partnered by Lee Evans with Kyle Edwards on the left and Wes Burns on the right and Celina behind Bonne.

Kane Vincent-Young was absent from the bench with manager Paul Cook having said the right-back was touch-and-go for inclusion in the squad at yesterday’s press conference having suffered a shoulder injury on Tuesday.

Following the Last Post ahead of Remembrance Sunday, both teams took a knee - with the usual exception of Nsiala, who raised a fist - to applause from the large Portman Road crowd.

Oxford started the game on the front foot but Town went close to going in front in only the fifth minute when Bonne flicked a header from a Lee Evans corner off the near post.

The game continued in a frenetic manner and a minute later the U’s forced Walton into his first save of the afternoon, the keeper diving away to his left to tip a Mark Sykes shot over the bar.

The visitors continued to see most of the ball and take the game to the Blues and on 14 a Sam Long shot deflected into the arms of Walton.

But five minutes later, the Blues hit the same post for a second time. Clements, showing no sign of nerves on his league debut, brought the ball forward a long way before cutting inside to Celina, who took a touch before hitting a low shot which hit the post, Long clearing the danger.

Town began to see more of the ball and in the 23rd minute Morsy struck a shot from 25 yards which deflected over off a defender. From Evans’s corner on the left, Edmundson nodded wide at the far post.

The Blues were on top - although with passes going astray in the final third all too often - but with Oxford still presenting a threat. On 29 Nathan Holland hit a low cross-shot from the left of the box which Walton snaffled sharply down to his left.

Donacien thwarted Sykes as he tricked his way into the area on 38, then two minutes later Cameron Brannagan was shown the game’s first yellow card for appearing to aim a stamp on Clements having shoved the full-back over as he shielded the ball back to Edmundson. The U’s man could count himself lucky not to be shown a red.

There was a scare for the Blues two minutes later when Holland was found in space running in on goal but Donacien made an excellent if risky challenge to upset the midfielder’s progress, then Nsiala completed the job inside the box.

Oxford manager Karl Robinson evidently felt there had been a foul and took his protests to the fourth official too far and was shown a yellow card.

That was the last action of a well-contested half in which the visitors started the stronger but with the Blues hitting the woodwork twice before the Blues were largely in control from around the midway point.

The Blues had got into good areas down the left but without crosses not finding their man, while too many passes had gone astray in promising positions in the middle of the park.

Town started the second half brightly and in the 48th minute Bonne forced keeper Simon Eastwood to save down to his left with a low effort.

Three minutes later, Celina curled wide from just outside the box after Burns had knocked back to him after good work down the left.

Town continued to dominate and went close in the 56th minute when, following a long spell of possession, Evans looped a cross in from the right, Edwards played wide to Clements, who sent a low ball across the six-yard box but in front of Bonne. The league debutant might well have shot himself.

Three minutes later, another well-worked Blues move culminated in Celina, much more influential since the break, feeding a ball through for Bonne but just too far in front of the striker.

In the 61st minute, Bonne’s excellent header found Celina midway inside the Oxford half from where the Kosovo international fed Edwards to his left. The winger, still waiting for his first Town goal, brought the ball forward into the area before hitting a shot high and wide from a tight angle.

Oxford came back into it and on 68 James Henry crossed from the right and Nsiala headed behind for a corner.

In the 71st minute, Town swapped Edwards, who had threatened to create a key moment but ultimately without delivering, and Burns, who had had a quiet afternoon, for Conor Chaplin and Sone Aluko, while Oxford switched Henry for Marcus McGuane.

A minute later, Sykes was found in space on the right for the U’s but Edmundson got across to block his shot from just inside the area.

The game was becoming more and more open and end to end. On 75 Chaplin shot wide from just outside the area for the Blues, then almost immediately Matty Taylor won a corner on the right for Oxford, which Edmundson headed clear.

As the game moved into its final 10 minutes, Morsy was booked for a foul on Oxford sub McGuane.

A minute later, Celina and Bonne broke away with the Blues’ top scorer unmarked down the middle but the on-loan Dijon man’s ball in from the left was behind the striker and Oxford were able to get back to cut out the opportunity.

On 85, Aluko was sent away down the right and after cutting inside his man crossed to the near post to Chaplin, whose effort looped wide.

The Town fans made their frustrations clear to referee Scott Oldham in the 88th minute after he stopped play so Taylor could receive attention, hardly the first Oxford player who had gone to ground with no one near him in the second half. As it was, the striker eventually limped his way to the touchline and was replaced by Dan Agyei.

As the fourth official’s board indicated five additional minutes, Clements was booked for a foul.

Town replaced Celina with Pigott for the final couple of minutes and Oxford brought on Ryan Williams.

Moments later, another Oxford player went down apparently requiring help with cramp, prompting chants of ‘boring, boring Oxford’ from the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

Soon afterwards, Town claimed Pigott had been fouled in the area as a cross came over from right, however, referee Oldham penalised Bonne for colliding with keeper Eastwood, who unsurprisingly spent a minute or so on the ground before being able to continue.

The final whistle was greeted by more chants of ‘boring, boring Oxford’, the visitors having been allowed to take time-wasting well beyond what might be viewed as reasonable by the officials, who also got a number of decisions wrong.

Town will feel they did enough to win the game, although Eastwood was hardly overworked in the second half with the best opportunity Clements’s cross-shot which Bonne couldn’t reach.

The Blues last beat Oxford in February 1999 when the game ended 2-1 with Mark Venus, who netted a penalty, still the last Town player to have scored against the U’s.

The result sees the Blues stay ninth and Oxford sixth ahead of Town’s trip to Sunderland next Saturday with an FA Cup replay at Oldham on Tuesday.

Town: Walton, Donacien, Nsiala, Edmundson, Clements, Morsy (c), Evans (Aluko 71), Burns, Celina (Pigott 90), Edwards (Chaplin 71), Bonne. Unused: Hladky, Burgess, Harper, Fraser.

Oxford: Eastwood, Long, Thorniley, Moore (c), Brannagan, Taylor (Agyei 90), Sykes, Henry (McGuane 71), Kane, Holland (Williams 90) Seddon. Unused: Plumley, Forde, McNally, Bodin. Referee: Scott Oldham (Poulton-le-Fylde). Att: 21,322 (Oxford: 922).

Photo: Matchday Images

EssexTractor added 18:22 - Nov 13 Irrespective of gamesmanship and referees ability , to progress higher and leave this division Ipswich must be more ruthless, more determined and create real goal scoring chances. It didn't happen today against Oxford who if they had maintained their first half form may well have won . On credit side Bailey Clements gave very promising display and George Edmundson undoubtedly man of the match ..again …. And the highest applause for the attendance ..willing for success ..(and also to Oxfords fans almost 1,000) But more work to do Mr Cook.

4

TimmyH added 18:26 - Nov 13 Cook's pre-match assessment of Oxford being a good marker of where we are was about right...a reasonably well drilled side that passes the ball around quite well, as for us a bitty performance with not enough composure, correct decision making or quality when it came to crossing. Strangely came closest to scoring hitting the post twice against the run of play. Certain players not having nowhere near enough influence on the game i.e. Bonne, Burns and Morsy. Draw about right but certainly improvement to be made against the play off chasing teams at home.

3

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 18:35 - Nov 13 We were not quite good enough today. We might have won having hit the post twice, but also we might have lost if Oxford had had a bit more luck with a breakaway. We need to be able to impose ourselves on a game like this and break a stubborn team like this down if we are to progress, but we are not there yet. Some pathetic theatre from Oxford at the end, but again, we need to be good enough to rise above this. A bit disappointed, actually, but a point is a point and we move on.

3

Dear_oh_Dear added 18:36 - Nov 13 Edwards awful. Should be nowhere near first team. Not a goal or assist to his name- yet he keeps starting ahead of excellent Chaplin and Fraser....
3

ImAbeliever added 18:40 - Nov 13 Great debut by BC Important
2

ImAbeliever added 18:43 - Nov 13 …not to lose
0

TimmyH added 18:45 - Nov 13 Edwards is a strange entity...offers a bit when he's in space and tries to take players on but consistently fluffs his lines as an end result.
2

BlueRuin69 added 18:52 - Nov 13 As others have said, get Chaplin into this team! Coyb
3

Linkboy13 added 18:55 - Nov 13 Really frustrating game at Portman road today. First half our passing was all over the place and Oxford were being allowed far too much space due to our lack of pressing the man on the ball which is our main weakness. As the match progressed we started to take control but lacked the killer instinct in the last third of the field. Edmundson and Walton good today as was young Clements. Crucially Bonne and Burns our main attacking threats had off days today which was a big deciding factor.

1

AlanG296 added 18:57 - Nov 13 Oxford came for a point and spent most of the second alf running down the clock with long delays in taking corners, etc as well as collapsing on the ground at regular intervals. Wonder how many if any of their team will be in their treatment room on monday. 5 minutes added time was nowhere near enough. As for us, slow off the mark, easily closed down, Oxford worked harder from the start, off the ball as well as on. We got better second half but we will have to work as hard as the opponents to let our quality shine through.

1

jas0999 added 18:57 - Nov 13 I certainly thought we deserved to win today, but not for the first time we didn't. Story of the season. There have been some excellent results. Some abysmal results and lots of middle of the road. Today is in the latter category. The major issue for me is we played three home games in the last week - two against League Two teams. We fielded strong sides. With the level of investment and fact we have now had time to get together and play as a team - you'd expect us to win at least two of those games. We couldn't win one (in 90 minutes). Is that good enough? Oxford, frankly weren't very good. We need to find a way to win these games particularly at home.

1

budgieplucker added 19:01 - Nov 13 I normally don't like singling any player out for criticism, but young Edwards is fast becoming the next Keenan Bennetts. All froth and no substance. The frustration is that we have Aluko and Chaplin in the bench and I have seen a lot of quality from both of these. In my mind I have 8 names that would be first down on my team sheet based on performances so far. Unfortunately Edwards isn't one of them, I would love to see the lad rip it because the gloss or froth looks exciting but the substance is sadly missing. Edmunsen continues to impress, good game for Bailey but lets not put too much weight on the lads shoulders because he is one of our own. Time will tell if he has the pedigree to step up on a regular basis - think he is probably living off of adrenaline. Coulson may be wanted back at Middlesbrough now Wilder has taken over if there is a recall clause. To be fair we haven't seen enough of Coulson to see if he can maintain any form of consistency. We do have other good options as both JD and KVY can comfortably play on the left and Wes on the right. Not getting carried away we squandered with our decision making in the final third and despite the encouraging goals for numbers we do struggle at Portman Road. Whilst we tried upping the tempo in the second half we didn't really test the Oxford goalkeeper and whilst happy to give them some credit for being a good robust side it is exactly these teams we need to beat at home and convincingly to make a statement to league 1, otherwise we will be very much one of 10 or a dozen teams capable of getting a top six place but we constantly waiting for others to slip ip to make headway.

2

Cakeman added 19:01 - Nov 13 Instantly forgettable match but I suppose we cannot have entertainment every week. Two positives being we didn't lose and Bailey Clements had a very commendable game.
2

Orraman added 19:29 - Nov 13 I am well aware that referees have a difficult job to, having to make quick decisions in 50/50 situations and dealing with players who, in the main, are very adept at performing in the dark arts of gamesmanship. Even top refs are not infallible as VAR has proved. However there is absolutely no excuse for not recognising and pulling up players for blatant time wasting. I've even seen some teams at it in the first half once or twice this season. A couple of quick yellow cards might help to cut this out. I may be wrong but I thought the game could only be stopped whilst the ball is in play if there is a head injury or obvious serious injury in which players themselves normally play the ball out to allow a stoppage. Today we had the game being stopped at least once for cramp and several other times for innocuous looking knocks. Oh the wonder of Diviosion 3 refs. Unfortunate not to win today. Burns unusually kept in check and Edwards looks in need of a break. Edmundson a rock in defence and a very pleasing and highly competent league debut for Baillie Clements. Looks like we will be missing Morsy against Sunderland due to his second suspension of the season. When he is good he is very good but today was a wild tackle through frustration and he really must try to manage his temper .

1

bonamassablue added 19:43 - Nov 13 Really enjoyed that game, apart from the final 15 minutes when Oxford let themselves down with their blatant time wasting, which was a compliment to town as we had them on the back foot in the second half. Outstanding performances from Clements, Edmundson, Donacien and Morsy. Oxford are a good side but we were unlucky hitting the woodwork twice and we are now a threat to anyone. COYB

0

runaround added 19:44 - Nov 13 Very frustrating result from an entertaining match. Oxford looked good early on with their movement upfront but we hit the post twice and slowly gained the upper hand but just couldn't get that goal we needed. Oxford were blatantly diving, time wasting and feigning injury but the officials just didn't clamp down on it. As Oxford's sh*thousing increased the officiating fell through the floor On another day we would have won this but could quite easily have lost it to

0

Bazza8564 added 19:44 - Nov 13 A few interesting points but at least as fans we are starting to talk a bit more rationally about things. Edwards is clearly struggling and I think we could have done with Fraser in there today or Celina wide and Chaplin in the hole. Bonne works tirelessly although we have struggled to provide for him of late, and he will get a break im guessing so Pigott can start at Oldham. Personally i though Evans looked a little jaded today, movement in the holes first half particularly was poor when teh defenders needed options out. More good than bad though, Bailey Clements was excellent, and I think we need to look at the way Oxford milked the clock and the ref as a complement. Expect us to win away twice next week, we are capable of it !

0

Bezzer added 19:50 - Nov 13 Seriously not good enough! Why would a point at home against a side higher than us in the league be good!? We shouldn't be scratching around for points to make the playoffs, we should be 10 points clear at the top! Embarrassing and the sooner Cook goes the better. Utter embarrassment and we need a real leader in charge!
0

AlanG296 added 19:54 - Nov 13 One thing to note. 4hours 22minutes plus stoppage time without scoring at home this week.
1

billlm added 20:04 - Nov 13 Boss man,thank you, excatly what my thoughts are,substitute Edwards bring Chaplin on wtf wide left, another manager who dosent see the obvious,
0

ringwoodblue added 20:08 - Nov 13 Not a bad result when taken in isolation but winning games like the one today are the difference between a team with real promotion credentials and those who will struggle to make it.
1

alfromcol added 20:34 - Nov 13 Whatever negative comments are made of the team, they are unrecognisable in terms of the improvement in terms of entertainment and excitement. Can't wait for the next game. It's been a long time since I felt like that!
1

AlanG296 added 20:42 - Nov 13 Agree with that alfromcol, it does show what rubbish Town fans have had to endure in the last decade and more.
1

Umros added 23:21 - Nov 13 Oxford ought to be reminded football is supposed to be an entertainment industry. Whisky I don't expect them to roll over the play acting is an insult to the paying fan, home or away. Than your lucky stars to be a town fan and not having to be embarrassed like that by your team. Never let another team chant boring boring Ipswich to us. Rise above the dross, lets see the end result in May......it won't be Oxford ! Stick to boats!

0

USA added 08:48 - Nov 14 Edwards continues to offer very little which is a shame as he came with a great reputation but surely others deserve a start for a few games now. Evans poor today. He really exemplifies our inconsistency. Clements, wow, great composure and looked so comfortable at this level today. Hopefully that's a sign of things to come from him. Outstanding 👏. I appreciate that Bonne has been undroppable but is he also unsubstitutable too? No issue with him but he struggled to get into the game yesterday. I think my point around this is more that Cook has zero plan b. If plan a isn't working we change personnel but never ever the system. A couple of minutes at the end today doesn't count as I thinks it's one of the first times we've had Piggot and Bonne on the pitch together all season. Sometimes you just have to try something different!!

0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls