Town face a second-round replay at Barrow after a dismal 0-0 draw at Portman Road. Subs Joe Pigott and Cameron Humphreys both hit the woodwork for the Blues but overall it was a lacklustre display from Town, who are still without a home FA Cup victory since January 2009.

Kayden Jackson, Idris El Mizouni and Cameron Burgess kept their places from Wednesday’s Papa John’s Trophy exit to Arsenal’s U21s.

Jackson was wide on the right with El Mizouni alongside skipper Sam Morsy in central midfield with Scott Fraser reverting to the left, with Burgess at the heart of the defence.

From the team which beat Crewe in League One last Sunday, Sone Aluko dropped to the bench, while Bersant Celina and George Edmundson were absent from the 18. Pigott was on the bench with Macauley Bonne continuing as the lone central striker.

Town also included youngsters Humphreys and Fraser Alexander among the substitutes, while there was no place for Kyle Edwards.

For Barrow, at Portman Road for the first time in their history, Connor Brown, skipper Mark Ellis and Patrick Brough returned to their XI.

After both teams taking a knee had been warmly applauded by the Portman Road crowd, Barrow saw most of the ball in the early stages but without threatening, although on six Josh Kay cut in from the left and shot low past Christian Walton’s right post.

Moments later, applause echoed around the ground in tribute to six-year-old Birmingham supporter Arthur Labinjo-Hughes, who was killed by his father and step-mother, as was the case at stadiums across the country.

Town began to control play but without making any headway into the final third. On 12, a Barrow break down the left ended with Janoi Donacien blocking from Kay after the Bluebirds’ left winger had appeared to have got away from him.

Three minutes later, Fraser exchanges passes with Chaplin, then fed in Bailey Clements from left-back but the ball was just too strong for the youngster.

Barrow won two free-kicks in quick succession around the Blues box and from the second Joe Grayson hit a low shot which Walton did well to palm past his left post.

Following the resultant corner, Josh Gordon was allowed a free header but struck the post, although with the linesman’s flag having been raised.

Despite the chance having been one which would have been ruled out, the Town support showed their frustration after an underwhelming first 20 minutes from their team.

The Blues briefly began to step things up and on 25 Fraser struck their first shot on target from 25 yards, visitors keeper Paul Farman, who played for Lincoln City in their FA Cup third round giant-killing of Mick McCarthy’s Town in January 2017, doing well to tip over.

Town continued to keep up the pressure and two minutes later, Jackson sent a low ball across the face of goal after a long spell of possession. No one was able to get a touch on it until it reached Clements beyond the far post and his low ball back in was cleared.

Barrow might have gone closer to a goal just before the half hour when Brown crossed from the right and skipper Ellis headed weakly straight at Walton.

Town were still to really get going with the visitors having had the better of the chances. However, on 38 Chaplin made a strong run having turned his man on the left and cut across to Bonne but Grayson slid in to make an important interception with the Blues’ top scorer otherwise all but certain to score.

A minute later, Bonne screwed a shot from the edge of the box so far wide it looped out for a throw, adding to the already palpable frustration in the stands.

Boos greeted the half-time whistle after a thoroughly uninspiring first 45 minutes from the Blues.

Despite having a lot of the ball, Town’s play had little tempo to it and they had rarely looked like creating a chance with Fraser’s shot which Farman tipped over their only real opportunity.

Barrow had looked little threat for the most part, however, the League Two side had had more of the first-half opportunities.

Town swapped El Mizouni for Pigott ahead of the second half with the former AFC Wimbledon man joining Bonne up front with Chaplin moving to the left and Fraser in to the middle of midfield.

Pigott got straight into the action, chasing a ball down the middle which a defender got across to clear.

On 49 Pigott was an inch or two from opening the scoring when he seized on a loose bouncing ball and smashed a shot beyond Farman and off his left post. The keeper suffered a knock as he dived and required treatment as a result.

Two minutes later, the sub headed a Fraser free-kick from the left wide with the Blues starting the half with more purpose than before the break.

The game briefly boiled over in the 55th minute when Brown caught Chaplin with a high boot and the Town man reacted angrily and other members of both teams got involved. Once order was restored, referee Sam Purkiss booked the pair involved in the initial incident.

There was a scare for the Blues two minutes later when Clements’s clearing header from a Robbie Gotts free-kick from deep on the left fell to Kay, who blazed over with Walton out of his goal having come for the ball into the box.

Town felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the 62nd minute when Donacien crossed low from the right and Bonne appeared to be tripped as he broke towards the ball, however, referee Purkiss showed no interest.

Two minutes later, Pigott, clearly out to make his mark, shot well over from distance but the Blues’ second-half display more and more began to resemble the first.

On 69, Barrow weren’t far away from going in front when Kay struck a shot which deflected behind for a corner.

From the flag-kick, the ball reached Kay on the edge of the area where he was dispossessed by Bonne, who brought the ball forward on the right before checking inside and shooting against a defender with Fraser and Chaplin in space to his left and calling for a pass. Moments later, skipper Sam Morsy was booked for a foul.

Barrow were next to threaten with Walton saving low from Brough's low cross from the left and then Kay hitting an effort which deflected wide.

Town swapped Jackson for Aluko in a stoppage for a Barrow injury, one which the home support clearly felt was just to waste time.

The game was becoming more open and end to end and on 78 Chaplin was found in space on the right of the box but his shot was diverted behind.

Chaplin shot wide at the near post from a Fraser cross from the right after Aluko’s initial ball in had been blocked. Moments later, young midfielder Humphreys replaced the former Barnsley and Pompey man.

In the penultimate scheduled minute, ahead of six added on, Aluko made a strong run from halfway before hitting a low shot which Farman saved down to his left.

Morsy almost won it in the fifth minute of injury time when Bonne laid it off to him in the area from a cross from the right but the Egyptian international shot over.

Young sub Humphreys almost won it at the death when he headed against the bar from Aluko’s cross from the right, Farman having got a hand to it. From the corner, Nsiala nodded wide at the far post.

Soon after, the final whistle was met by boos after another disappointing Town performance in which - for the second time at Portman Road in the competition this season - they never really showed enough to beat League Two strugglers.

Pigott and Humphreys both hit the woodwork but the Blues created few other clear-cut chances and as a result they will play their first ever competitive fixture at Holker Street in just over a week’s time, while both teams will go into the hat ahead of Monday evening’s draw for the third round, which is live on ITV4 during their coverage of the Borehamwood-St Albans tie.

Town: Walton, Donacien, Nsiala, Burgess, Clements, Morsy (c), El Mizouni (Pigott 46), Jackson (Aluko 76), Chaplin (Humphreys 85), Fraser, Bonne. Unused: Hladky, Vincent-Young, Alexander, Carroll, Evans, Harper.

Barrow: Farman, Brown, Brough, Ellis (c), Kay (Stevens 86), Gordon, White (Zanzala 62), Jones, Gotts, Grayson, Banks (Taylor 90). Unused: Lillis, Jones, Beadling, Hutton, Arthur, James. Referee: Sam Purkiss (London). Att: 6,425 (Barrow: 205).

Photo: Matchday Images

Suffolkboy added 17:53 - Dec 4 There's a song ‘ Go Now, Go now ‘ ,maybe ITFC fans should use these words emphatically ! Only one obvious solution,sadly ,and that's to despatch PC from the East Anglian countryside before he does any more damage ! COYB
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blueboy1981 added 17:54 - Dec 4 Expect anything now - the Owners will not let what's happening go unnoticed. It's 100% in their interest for the current trend to not be allowed to continue, unless they are prepared to ‘lose' this season in terms of potential progress. I suspect this now not to be the case. There is no sustained proof of ANY progress in terms of results, in fact barely on par with last season is the reality of it … !!! It becomes ever more apparent to me that Cook's previous success was very much down to his partnership with Richardson - obviously whoever now fills that role does not have the same impsct or effect. I've said previously, either the Team or Manager are just not good enough - and possibly both, in my book. The proof more evident with each game.

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algarvefan added 17:54 - Dec 4 Didn't see the game today, so can't really comment on the performance (I know that doesn't stop a lot of you!!) What worries me now is that we have yet another midweek game amidst a very difficult group of league games coming on fast and furious, with little time to try and put things right. I don't care about cup competitions at the moment, the league is all to me, play the kids in the replay and let them see if they can go on a run, the club need our support right now, they won't sack the manager and he won't walk. So lets be realistic and do the best we can to lift this inconsistent team of ours. Moaning achieves nothing. 3 points on Tuesday and the world won't seem so bad.

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SickParrot added 17:54 - Dec 4 PC may say that it takes more than 5 months to build a successful team but we're miles away. Let's consider the following.17 home games in all competitions and we've won 4 (5 if you include Colchester on penalties). 4 cup games at home against league 2 sides, 1 goal scored and no wins (excluding Colchester as above). 2 home games against under 21's and lost them both. 11th in the league. 3 outstanding wins, some other good football in patches. Overall, nowhere good enough. Many of the players that PC has signed have shown their quality at times but there is no consistency and no winning mentality. PC himself is a 1 trick pony and we have seen no evidence that his coaching team are any good. Thanks for trying PC but you're clearly not up to it. Close the door on you way out.

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Monkey_Blue added 17:58 - Dec 4 He's gone from attacking the fans before the match to losing his cool with Brenner and the media when asked quite reasonable questions.
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Johnnyo added 18:00 - Dec 4 So it's cook out now then whoever comes next will get the same lack of support from some of you lot on here,give the bloke a proper chance
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OldClactonBlue added 18:01 - Dec 4 Terrible performance. Pretty clueless and lacking quality. Too slow, too negative, too little effort. Fast running out of belief.
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EssexTractor added 18:02 - Dec 4 Cook has just given his Radio Suffolk growling pitiful interview. Of course once the Whistle blows its much the job of the players but before then the management could, should, instill the motivation , the patterns of play , the methodology …the reason for being out there in front of passionate fans . I have not been to a Portman Road match in recent times where I have seen evidence that that has happened . Strangers ..everywhere.. There is no fluency in the team . back and front look bewildered in attack no decent passes to them - defending ( oh Burgess has hoofed it that top of the stand again) and nothing absolutely nothing in midfield to excite the crowd. Morsy our man said Cook and I ( and others ) fell for it . Backwards sidewards backwards sidewards etc etc …he makes himself available , demands the ball and does nothing with it ! Fraser has the ball , but so lightweight and without pace. Chaplin seems to face our goal more often than not and sadly his lack of inches is more than often when any ball, above five feet gets near him .. Bonne sadly is a spent force . A significant word is .pace ..we have none ..without Burns ..none! Is the team getting better as Cook might suggest…no ..certainly not … Are the players individually and collectively better than before they joined Cooks elite squad …No. Now a series of difficult League matches ( and a fabulous visit to Barrow..who despite their time wasting played better than us in patches) If after the Christmas Trio of home matches ends and the results have not improved over last month ..then ,,,Ashton and Co will find it difficult to keep those passionate fans happy .

3

brassy added 18:03 - Dec 4 TAXI FOR THE CHEFF.
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ringwoodblue added 18:10 - Dec 4 We can't beat a lower Lg2 side with a strong squad so I cannot see any chance of us gaining promotion this season if Cook remains in charge. He seems to be dragging us backwards rather than progressing us forwards so it's time for a change.
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atty added 18:10 - Dec 4 I get the give it time mantra, but surely that should be on the back of a steady, even if not barnstorming, improvement in performances. Partnerships being formed, players onboard and on song with the managers philosophy. That simply isn't happening. A couple of great away results masked the lack of inconsistency. Not now. We're not even consistent in individual games.This squad is better than what we are seeing. So soul destroying after all the positivity and genuine hope of a bright future. Great one owners, a proper senior management structure at last, new med/fitness/ Performance staff, upgrade to PR. I said l would give Cook until after Christmas and l will, but sadly l think l know what l'll decide.

4

cat added 18:15 - Dec 4 Cook said he would play his strongest ‘AVAILABLE' team and he delivered on that but not much else. Okay so it's a cup game but we are going through a very poor period and we need to up our game pronto. Things need to improve otherwise the Drama queens lol will be having kittens. Let's see where we are at in Feb before we hit the panic button.
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BlueRuin69 added 18:16 - Dec 4 So much negativity. Football will never be as it once was with managers given no time anymore. Ipswich have had so many in recent years and it never is the answer. Cook has succeeded at all of his previous clubs and has had one window here. Needs to be given whole season but he wont be and the same crowd will be abusing the next manager by march. Sad times. Coyb
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bluesince76 added 18:17 - Dec 4 Worst manager in our history Cook out feelgood factor long gone.
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Bluearmy_81 added 18:19 - Dec 4 MMT "Never employ a scouser?!" Shocking prejudice. If you said never employ a black or never employ an Asian would that be OK? No. What's the difference?! BBP Why would Robbins leave a club he's been at a good while in the championship playoffs to come here? Never going to happen. I know he has Norwich history but Chris Houghton?
3

Monkey_Blue added 18:19 - Dec 4 Johnnyo…. I never called for Micks head, only felt lambert needed to go at the end when it was clear he'd fallen out badly with Evans. In fairness I thought Hurst was a mistake from the off. Cook lost me last season as much for his vocal deriding of the players when we had a real chance to go up as the terrible drop off in performance and results. He's continued to leave me feeling he's the wrong guy and I think that's obvious to all but the blindly loyal.

8

inghamspur added 18:28 - Dec 4 Well that was like watching a bad Sunday morning game. The ball was kicked so high on some occasions that it came down with snow on it...and when it was on the deck, we play this sideways-backwards-goalkeeper thump football. This is simple really. Either the players are not up to scratch, all of whom were recruited by the manager or the players are of a good standard for this league but the manager can't get a tune out of them. There is a common denominator here. Listened to him on the way home from the game on Suffolk Radio and he talks an absolute load of codswallop.

2

runaround added 18:29 - Dec 4 Not good enough yet again. There is no pace about us. No urgency or desire in our play. Everything is one paced and played in front of the opposition. Side to side passing ad infenitum until we lose the ball. On the rare occasion we do run forward with the ball the decision making at the end is almost always wrong. The club is massively underperforming with the players available. Much of this has to be down to manager and coaches as it their role to get it right but the players themselves also need to look at themselves and up their performance. This has been going on for too long and needs sorting now. If Cook and friends cannot do it then we need someone else who can. Running towards adversity? Having a laugh…..

3

delias_cheesy_flaps added 18:32 - Dec 4 I n my 46 years of supporting Ipswich Town, this has to be the most embarrassing result ever!
0

algarvefan added 18:32 - Dec 4 No matter what you lot say on here, sacking the manager isn't going to happen. Lets be honest the only man to give this club any stability at all since Roy Keane was MM and with no help or cash he did a half decent job for quite some time. All we heard was sack McCarthy and how did that go afterwards? Folks mark me down all you like but sacking Cookie at this time will not help our season, there is no magic formula and we have no divine right to win games. We are in a slump, but this season the football has been better and yes we have been inconsistent but the job will not be done in a few months, we have a window to come and maybe some money to spend. We as supporters will not help anyone by getting on the backs of the players and management. My expectations were possibly a play off place this season (still possible) and maybe top 2 next season if we didn't win the play offs. Stick with it guys, we will be OK, come back to me at the end of the season if you want to have a go, but at least lets stop the drama and support the team.

1

blues1 added 18:37 - Dec 4 Da gremloid. " the players aren't playing for him". That's got to be one of the most ridiculous comments I've seen. Almost every player only signed for us bcse of Cook yet u think they're not playing for him. Laughable. While I've questioned the fact in the past, I think it's becoming clear that he needs some1 to come in to help him regarding the tactics. He's an excellent man manager but it does seem he's in need of some help taçtically.

0

blues1 added 18:38 - Dec 4 Imabeliever. What he said was, he'd play the strongest team available to him. So clearly those missing weren't available
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blues1 added 18:40 - Dec 4 Clearly today wasn't good enough by a mile. But to those slagging us off for not beating a lge2 team, at least we're still in the cup. Unlike a few other lge1 teams who've lost to lge2 teams today.
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ArnieM added 18:41 - Dec 4 I think the pressure is definitely on Cook now . The owners are in town soon and will undoubtedly be holding a meeting with Ashton and O'Leary at some point during their stay . I feel so disappointed regarding Cook. I really want him to do well and I think he's a genuinely honest guy and a nice one too. Does he deserve this vitriol from fans? No because he's genuinely trying to get that team right . His targets were on paper good ones but for whatever reason they are not clicking as a “team”. Cook will be held accountable for the results , “that's football“, but so too I hope are the individuals that pull that shirt on , because they are letting themselves, the manager and his back room staff and us down , big time ! What will be , will be .

1

BlueRuin69 added 18:42 - Dec 4 Sorry blues1 meant to uptick
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