Town recorded their first draw of the Kieran McKenna era as their game away against MK Dons ended 0-0. The Blues were on top for most of the game with Kayden Jackson and Wes Burns coming close to breaking the deadlock in each half.

Skipper Sam Morsy returned following his four-match, while Jackson was surprise selection up front.

Morsy came into midfield alongside Tyreeq Bakinson for Lee Evans, who has continued to suffer with a groin problem and who misses out.

Jackson, making his second start since Kieran McKenna took charge, was the lone central striker with Conor Chaplin and Bersant Celina behind him with Macauley Bonne and James Norwood on the bench.

For the Dons, who are managed by ex-Town academy midfielder and coach Liam Manning, former Blues loanee Troy Parrott started and one-time striker Connor Wickham was on the bench.

Town, wearing all blue, were backed by this season’s biggest EFL away following of 6,850 behind the goal, many armed with inflatables, probably the club’s biggest ever league travelling support.

Large numbers were still outside as the game kicked-off after the Blues had taken a knee and MK had linked arms in a similar anti-racism gesture, to applause from both sets of fans.

The home side forced the first opening of the match in the third minute, Theo Corbeanu breaking away beyond Luke Woolfenden before scuffing his shot into the side-netting.

MK saw most of the ball in the early stages on a difficult-looking pitch, but Town were beginning to get more into it in the ninth minute when a pass behind the home backline was too strong for Jackson and MK keeper Jamie Cumming claimed.

On the quarter hour, Josh McEachran got to the byline on the MK left but his cross was cut out by Morsy, who deftly turned away from his man inside the box before seeing Town on a counter-attack. Celina fed Burns breaking down the right but the Welshman shot over from just inside the area.

There was a scare for the Dons in the 19th minute when, following a spell of Town possession, Chaplin chipped a cross into the six-yard box which Cumming mishandled towards his own net having collided with one of his defenders but was able to claim in front of his line.

A minute later, Burns sent another ball into the box from the right with the Blues starting to get on top with Morsy’s driving runs from midfield having provided impetus.

On 24, Woolfenden tried to clip a ball over the top for Chaplin but the pass was too strong.

Town were by now having most of the ball and a minute later Celina hit a 25-yard effort which flew straight to Cumming.

In the 28th minute, Celina fed in Jackson on the right of the box and the striker hit a well-struck shot which Cumming palmed behind. Just before the half-hour, the Kosovan tried similar on the left of the box but overhit his pass.

Town continued to control the game and in the 37th minute Celina smashed a free-kick into the MK wall after Jackson had been fouled 25 yards out.

Christian Walton was forced into his first save of the game in the 41st minute when Bakinson lost possession midway inside the Town half, allowing MK a break towards goal from which Corbeanu hit a low shot which the Blues keeper got down to his left to palm past the post.

The home side went close again in the final scheduled minute when Scott Twine hit an acrobatic effort from inside the box from a right-wing cross which Walton tipped over.

Despite the two late MK efforts the Blues had been the better side for most of the first half.

The Dons had started on top but Town gradually took charge and created a number of opportunities, the best Jackson’s effort which Cumming turned behind. However, a couple of moments of sloppiness led to the home side’s late opportunities.

The Blues, now playing towards their huge away support, began the second half on the front foot.

Tennai Watson was shown the game’s first yellow card in the 52nd minute for fouling Morsy and then squaring up to the Town captain, then two minutes later home skipper Dean Lewington joined him for dissent having fouled Chaplin.

Burns was close to giving the Blues the lead in the 55th minute when he was sent away on the right in space by Bakinson and broke into the area before hitting a shot which went just wide off a defender.

The volume of the Town fans behind the goal increased with Celina finding Jackson with a chipped pass inside the area but the ball was stabbed away from the striker, who had his back to goal.

Home hearts were in mouths as the game reached the hour mark as a corner from the Town left bounced across the six-yard box without anyone getting a touch. It was sent back in from the right and Jackson shot over when he should have hit the target but with the flag having already been raised.

Ex-Town striker Wickham replaced Corbeanu for the Dons on 62 with the home side having been very much second best since the break. Two minutes later, Thompson was booked for a foul on Parrott, the on-loan Brentford man appearing to come off worse having suffered an ankle knock.

There was more danger for the Blues on 65 when Parrott hit a low shot which Walton claimed down to his left following a free-kick. Two minutes later, Bakinson was booked for a foul on Conor Coventry.

Town quickly regained their earlier control, however, on 72 Parrott headed over for the Dons from a corner on the right.

Two minutes later, Chaplin hit a shot which curled away from goal but was enough to excite the 6,850 behind the goal.

MK swapped McEachran for Hiram Boateng, then on 76 the Blues made a double change with Jackson, who had been hard-working and effective, and Chaplin switched for Bonne and Norwood.

Coventry was booked for hauling back Celina as the on-loan Dijon man burst towards the area in the 83rd minute with the Blues comfortably on top but still looking for the opening which would lead to a goal.

Town’s changes had given them a boost and on 87 Bonne wasn’t far away from a goal when he rose highest to nod just wide from a corner on the right.

The Dons had hardly been in the second half but in the 88th minute Boateng forced Walton into a save with a shot from just inside the box after a throw from the right had fallen to him. The loose ball was cleared ahead of Wickham.

Moments later, Morsy was booked for a foul, then Norwood was spoken to after an off-the-ball collision with Boateng.

As the fourth official’s board indicated four additional minutes, Sone Aluko replaced Bakinson for the Blues.

Walton turned a Wickham cross-shot over from a tight angle on the left with the home side looking more dangerous in the closing stages.

The Town keeper was forced into another save just before the whistle when he got across to his right to push Twine’s free-kick wide.

Despite their late chances, the Dons will be the side happiest with the draw with Town having been well in control for most of the second half.

Clear-cut chances were rare however, with Burns’s shot perhaps the closest the Blues came to taking the lead after the break.

But a draw away against MK is still a decent result and the 6,850 travelling Town fans will travel home pleased with their team’s display and showing against the division’s third-placed side.

The draw sees the Blues stay ninth but now five points from the play-offs ahead of back-to-back home matches against Burton and Cheltenham.

MK Dons: Cumming, Watson, Lewington (c), O'Hora, Darling, Twine, Corbeanu (Wickham 62), Coventry, McEachran (Boateng 75), Parrott, Harvie. Unused: Ravizzoli, Smith, Eisa, Kemp, Kesler-Hayden.

Town: Walton, Donacien, Woolfenden, Edmundson, Burns, Bakinson (Aluko 90), Morsy (c), Thompson, Chaplin (Norwood 76), Celina, Jackson (Bonne 76). Unused: Hladky, Burgess, Vincent-Young, Carroll. Referee: Oliver Langford (West Midlands). Att: 15,311 (Town: 6,850)

Photo: Pagepix

Robcol added 18:03 - Feb 12 Yes i think ifollow video is available outside the UK, but I know for sure this season it's only available midweek.
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Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 18:03 - Feb 12 **if you live abroad.
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Bluroo added 18:08 - Feb 12 We were tactically excellent today. Can see why KJ started and we were finding our wing backs and the number 10s all day. Apart from the Swine volley we were well in control - MK resorted to bringing on Wiliam and free kick farming in the 2nd half. We just lacked a bit of final ball quality. I honestly thought we deserved that one and I'm normally quite underwhelmed. That was a very good performance. Special mention to KMac for 6 clean sheets in 9 and would have been 7 if not for The Fridge's rick v Wednesday. That is superb organising. We are now officially hard to beat.

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Robcol added 18:08 - Feb 12 Yep abroad
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KMcBlue added 18:08 - Feb 12 just get a vpn
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pg888 added 18:19 - Feb 12 Get a vpn then you can watch every game in the uk simple
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Reuser_Who added 18:56 - Feb 12 Loving McKenna and this new management team. Exciting time to be an Ipswich fan
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SickParrot added 19:52 - Feb 12 We have improved a lot since McKenns took over. He has made us hard to beat which is great but the current issue now is that we are struggling to score (just 2 in our last 4 games). We may need another striker for next season but in the meantime Mckenna needs to work on set pieces. I can't remember the last time that we scored from a free kick or corner!
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chepstowblue added 20:24 - Feb 12 A fairly drab game on a poor surface between two very well matched sides who pretty much cancelled each other out,and both looked content with a point. We certainly struggle to create against well organised sides and appeared to lack belief that we could get a winner. Every foray forward was half hearted, and the final ball as usual lacking when we got into some good areas. No damage done though, and all in all a decent result.

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chopra777 added 20:41 - Feb 12 Just arrived back from the match. Not sure if we went to MK to avoid defeat. We were never really in trouble. CW had a quite game but came good when MK did breach our defences.It felt like a chess game ending in stalemate. Only CC and WB gave us hope of a goal. The Ref was MK 12th man what a loser. Just needed that magic key to unlock their defence. Now 5 points behind play off places. Who dares win. Sunderland, Wycombe and Oxford are starting to wobble. Keep on going lads.

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Zondervanromeo added 20:50 - Feb 12 Fair result ! What a complete hell hole to get out of Coming home
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Lathers added 20:51 - Feb 12 Really enjoyed being part of the huge following today. Shame we didn't have a goal to celebrate. 2nd half we looked really well organised and were the better team, but just didn't have that little bit of quality to take the 3 points. Morsy bossed it. He always seems to have a second or two more than anyone else on the ball. Edmundson was class again and tbf Wolf and JD were also excellent. I'd like to see our wing backs put more crosses in the box rather than recycle all the time and for us hit the channels out of defence every so often. I'm not Jackson's biggest fan but fair play to him, I thought he did very well today. KM has got us playing some lovely football - well above L1 standard - and the POs are still definitely in our reach. Well done today boys. COYB.

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blues1 added 21:17 - Feb 12 Timmyh walton wasn't the mom. Only had 2 saves to make in the whole 90 mins. Did his job well tho. Morsy easily the mom. To those slagging Bakinson off again, try watching the game. He did very little wrong. Maybe a bit fortunate not to get a 2nd yellow when he grabbed their player tho. Think his style of play makes some think he's not good enough, with his languid gait. Very similar to Jason Dozzell in his style of play. Like everyone, was somewhat surprised that Jackson started the game, but he also had a good game. Once again mckenna got the formation and tactics correct for this game. Just a shame we couldn't quite create too many clear cut chances. Still, it's another good point on the board.

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blues1 added 21:22 - Feb 12 Inghamspur. Can only assume u didn't see the game. Jackson played well today. And was only caught offside once the whole time he was on the pitch. So how u work out he doesn't know how to stay onside is baffling. Certainly not offside as many times as Bonne is when he plays.
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Linkboy13 added 21:42 - Feb 12 Yes it was quite a good game for a goal less draw. Morsy and Celina looked class in the first half but tired a little in the second half. Burns was not far behind and made some dangerous runs. Considering Jackson was playing up front on his own i thought he put in a good shift. Bonne for me dosent look fit start of the season he was making runs down the channels and was a handful. Norwood came on and behaved like a complete idiot giving stupid free kicks away one which nearly cost us the game Walton making a good save who also was excellent again today. Some one commented on here that we needed a top class striker and it certainly was evident today .

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algarvefan added 00:14 - Feb 13 Just wanted to say that I was very proud of our team and our fans today, both were excellent and it was a game we maybe should have won. The season is still alive and I honestly believe we will make the play offs and continue to improve this season.
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ITFC_Singapore added 02:37 - Feb 13 Morsy was excellent today.....as was Walton. Much as we're all disappointed with how the season has panned out and we have been frighteningly poor on way too many occasions.....the vast majority of these players are a serious upgrade on the squad that was here previously......they do need to prove it consistently though ! :)
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ITFC_Singapore added 02:40 - Feb 13 Meant to say also that i thought Jackson had a decent game.......was feeding off scraps at best, but looked lively and up for it, and did the basics well. Would be interesting to see what he might do with decent service, especially behind the oppo's back 4 and in the channels down the side of the box.
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cat added 08:46 - Feb 13 Decent day out and a decent away performance. Morsy was awesome in the middle and Jackson was lively up top. Not sure on yesterday performance why MK are up there, but apart from the first 10 mins or so we were clearly the better side. Keeps the momentum going and with some very winnable fixtures to come, I'd expect we will be climbing the table.
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Help added 09:16 - Feb 13 Overall a decent game to watch. Both teams on top at different times, MK to begin and we slowly got into the game and matched them. Then we came out on top in the second, only for MK to finish slightly stronger. Kept a clean sheet again. But do need to be a bit quicker going forward, when we do we look like we will score, but build up can be so slow at times allowing the opposition to pack the back. Morsy back chomping at the bit and getting stuck in. However, when he or others drive forward they get to a point and then stop as the last third gets compacted. Like when MM would not allow the back line to go past the half way line. Excellent following from the ITFC fans at the North end who sang the whole game and let MK know we were there. Great atmos from the away fans and a joy to be part of. Just needed that goal to top a fantastic day out. Not sure if Morsy or Walton MOM for me, glad we have both, but the front line really needs to start finding their scoring boots and hopefully that will be in the next few games against lower opposition. Personally think we looked better prior to the changes by KMcK. Maybe to little time for the subs to make an impact.

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martin587 added 09:31 - Feb 13 First game I've been to for a long while as have been very I'll.Very nice to get with our great supporters again and I must say we were fantastic well worth a point.Good football played, solid at the back and midfield showed up well but scoring goals and putting teams to bed is a concern.Great progress is being made under K Mc and we can only get better.Don't want to think too much about a top six place just yet but nine points from our next three games is possible and then who knows.I drove back to Southend with my grandson happy knowing that our club is at last in good hands and the future looks bright.

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dirtydingusmagee added 09:54 - Feb 13 reasonably happy with point, we didnt deserve less ,but if only we could get strikers to do the job, we could have bagged 3 points .I was surprised at Jacksons inclusion, but to be fair he didnt have a bad game, Bonne is a mystery, how his form has dived since his goalfest, is now alarming. Norwood is the same as ever, blows hot and cold, Morsy was on top of his game first half, less so second, but good to see him back, made a difference.Well done KM we have certainly improved since your arrival. Travelling fans again magnificent. COYB

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norfolkbluey added 09:59 - Feb 13 We cannot dispute the belief and change in town's positivity and defensive set up but the lack of goals scored must be a worry to all of us. Clearly the our frailty at the back has been in the main sorted which is a great relief but our forwards are struggling to find the net. I hope and look forward to the way McK tackles this over the next few games. With Morsy back there was more creativity and I hope Evans will be back to full fitness to join him because without them there is not enough quality in linkup play going into the box. Get that back and we have a team ready for the playoffs and Wembly! So COYB

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cat added 10:27 - Feb 13 Hey Martin, good to see you posting again, wondered why our most loyal supporter had been quiet on here. Good to hear your back to normal. 👌
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Orraman added 10:58 - Feb 13 Martin, same as Cat's post above. I too had missed your regular and always sensible posts. Good to hear that you have made a recovery from illness and that you are back on the road from Southend following the Town home and away
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