Michael Smith’s 78th-minute goal saw Rotherham to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at the New York Stadium, mathematically ending any remaining hopes Town might have had of making the play-offs. The Blues had the best chance of the first half, James Norwood scuffing wide at the far post, but the Millers, who had won only one of their last seven in League One, were well on top after the break with Smith striking the game’s only goal.

Town boss Kieran McKenna handed 19-year-old Elkan Baggott his league debut, becoming the first Indonesian to feature in English league football.

Baggott, whose only domestic appearance up to now was a start in the EFL Trophy tie against Gillingham two seasons ago, came in on the left of the back three with Cameron Burgess suspended.

The only other changes from the team which drew 1-1 at Shrewsbury last week, were Dominic Thompson’s return to left wing-back for Matt Penney, who dropped to the bench, and Bersant Celina coming into the team with Conor Chaplin among the subs.

The Millers, with the sun beating down on a warm South Yorkshire afternoon, were first to threaten in the third minute from a corner. Big striker Michael Smith nodded back across the box for Wes Harding, whose shot was blocked, then one-time Town trialist Chiedozie Ogbene curled over from outside the area.

Town, wearing all blue, should have gone in front in the ninth minute. Sone Aluko sent Wes Burns away on the right and the Welshman sent over a superb low ball for James Norwood at the far post but somehow the striker contrived to divert it wide from a couple of feet.

Neither side was able to get on top, both having spells on the ball without creating an opening. As the game approached the 20-minute mark, Burns sent a cross into the stand at one end and then Jordi Osei-Tutu did the same at the other.

The home side were forced into a change in the 24th minute when Mickel Miller suffered a knock and Dan Barlaser replaced him, the players taking one of a number of mid-half drinks break due to the sunny conditions.

Five minutes later, a looping free-kick in from the right was half-headed clear by Luke Woolfenden to the right of the box and Ben Wiles struck a low shot which was blocked.

As the half moved into its final quarter of an hour, Rotherham were starting to dominate but with the Blues defending resolutely.

On 35, Town won the ball just inside their half and broke via Celina on the left. The Kosovan international fed Thompson to his left and the on-loan Brentford man sent over a low cross which home keeper Viktor Johansson unconvincingly dived and pawed away behind Norwood.

As the half moved into five minutes of injury time, Burns was booked for a foul on Osei-Tutu, the Rotherham man having thwarted him as he looked to burst towards the Millers’ box.

Two minutes later, Celina joined him in the book with the home fans calling for a red. After Ollie Rathbone had blocked him off after he had laid off a pass a few yards inside the Town, the on-loan Dijon man shoved the midfielder to the ground.

After some pushing and shoving involving a number of players, referee Peter Wright deemed the offence only worthy of a yellow card. Celina could perhaps count himself lucky.

Wright blew his whistle soon afterwards to boos from the home support regarding that decision.

There had been little in what at times had been a frantic period with both teams having spells, although with Rotherham perhaps shading it on that front.

However, Town, while far from their most fluent with too many passes going astray in the opposition half, had had the game’s outstanding chance, Norwood’s spurned ninth-minute chance, while at the other end the backline had defended solidly with debutant Baggott looking far from out of place.

Within a minute of the restart, Norwood had his name added to referee Wright’s book for catching Rotherham skipper Michael Ihiekwe with a stray arm as they jumped for a header.

On 51, Smith headed over from a Millers’ free-kick on the right, Janoi Donacien having got a flick on the ball as it came over.

Rotherham were getting up a head of steam and in the 54th minute an Osei-Tutu cross from the left was too high for Town keeper Christian Walton but, fortunately for the Blues, also Ogbene at the far post. Rarmani Edmonds-Green curled a shot wide in the aftermath.

Woolfenden became the fourth Blues player to be yellow-carded three minutes later for a foul on Rathbone on the Millers’ left, a few yards outside the area. The free-kick was floated to the far post where Smith nodded into the side-netting from a tight angle.

As the game moved towards the hour mark, Tyreeq Bakinson picked up a loose Rotherham pass midway inside the home side’s half but was crowded out as he took it into the box.

In the 62nd minute, Edmonds-Green was shown Rotherham’s first yellow card of the afternoon for rugby tackling Norwood as the striker took the ball past him on the left.

From the free-kick, the ball deflected back towards the near post and Aluko and home keeper Johansson collided as they attacked it, both with their eyes on the prize. The two required treatment as the Rotherham fans again chanted for a red card, before referee Wright showed the Town forward a yellow to more boos.

The Blues already had Chaplin and Macauley Bonne readied to come on and prior to the restart they replaced Aluko and Norwood respectively.

Rotherham had been the better side since the break and in the 70th minute when Rathbone almost played Ogbene in on goal but put just too much on his pass.

However, Town almost went in front in the 72nd minute when Woolfenden made a strong run out of defence, exchanging a pass along the way, before getting to the byline and cutting back across the area. The ball was stabbed clear and Burns struck a powerful effort which was on its way into the top corner until Johansson superbly tipped it behind.

The home side went close almost immediately. From the resultant corner, the Millers broke and won a flag-kick of their own on the left from which Smith got in front of Baggott while manhandling him and headed goalwards from inside the six-yard box but Walton was in position to stop it and Chaplin cleared.

However, the home fans didn’t have to wait too much longer to see their side go in front. In the 78th minute, Harding sent a long throw into the area, Osei-Tutu’s shot was blocked by Baggott but the ball deflected out to Smith on the left of the box from where he deftly struck his 25th goal of the season across Walton, who was perhaps unsighted as Woolfenden sought to block, and into the corner of the net.

Town immediately swapped Celina for Joe Pigott as they looked to get back into a game in which they had been second best since the break.

As the match moved into its final three minutes the Blues won two quick corners, neither of which came to anything. Between the two, veteran centre-half Richard Wood took over from Osei-Tutu.

The fourth official’s board indicated nine additional minutes, the period having been punctuated by drinks breaks and stoppages for Rotherham injuries.

But the Blues were unable to find a threat during those minutes with Smith heading over for the Millers prior to the whistle.

Four successive Town visits to the New York Stadium have now ended in 1-0 defeats, with Smith having also scored the winner in the August 2018 fixture between the sides in the Championship.

After a first half in which there had been little in it, in the second the Millers found the mojo which had been missing for them in recent weeks and stepped it up with Town never able to get their passing going, putting in probably the poorest half under McKenna.

Too often the Blues found themselves trying to get the ball forward too quickly rather than moving it around in the manner which has become familiar in the last few months.

Smith had come close just before scoring and after the break, aside from Burns’s strike following Woolfenden’s excellent run, the Millers, who move back up to second with MK Dons in action this evening, always looked the most likely scorers.

The defeat, only the fourth in McKenna’s 20 games in charge, and other results over the weekend see the Blues drop to 10th in the table with the play-offs now mathematically impossible.

Town, whose recent run is now one win in six, are next in action at home to leaders Wigan on Tuesday.

Rotherham: Johansson, Harding, Osei-Tutu (Wood 88), Wiles, Ogbene, Miller (Barlaser 24), Lindsay, Rathbone, Ihiekwe (c), Edmonds-Green, Smith. Unused: Chapman, Wood, Mattock, Ferguson, Ladapo, Kayode.

Town: Walton, Donacien, Woolfenden, Baggott, Burns, Bakinson, Morsy (c), Thompson, Aluko (Chaplin 66), Celina (Pigott 79), Norwood (Bonne 66). Unused: Hladky, Penney, Carroll, El Mizouni. Referee: Peter Wright (Merseyside). Att: 9,364, (Town: 1,087).

Photo: Pagepix

Umros added 15:31 - Apr 16 Pretty standard really, another game we should have been 2-0 up before opposite could muster a chance and ends in a narrow defeat. If the team learnt one thing today it should be how to manage a 9 minute injury spell out! Perfect. It is very clear what is needed to push the team on, so interesting summer ahead for Kieran! Some deadwooding needed first in forward area, to be honest non seem to be any great keep for me!

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mightyhorse added 15:34 - Apr 16 Well done Baggot. Looked comfortable on the ball and has a great future. Once again nobody with the ability to put that ball away. I can't see the point of keeping Celina if you don't provide him an outlet. He can change games, but has nothing to aim at and is getting caught up in defensive play. Norwood should just say goodbye now, he offers nothing and is more concerned with kicking people than playing football. I think midfield is missing one player and we need a complete clear out of the strikers or we will continue to flounder in this league. Rotherham just looked more organised and composed as a team than we do. We can't expect the defence and two midfield players to carry the team. Can't wait to get this season over.

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ButchersBrokenNose added 15:39 - Apr 16 And once again, ROTHERHAM do the double over Ipswich. FML.
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StockholmDave added 15:42 - Apr 16 Rotherhan rearranged things at half time and nullified Morsy, Burns and Aluko in the 2nd half. I think we miss Evans' alongside Morsy. Thompson has been a massive disappointment, no better than Penney, and neither is good enough! Since Bonne lost his mojo and Jackson was injured, we haven't looked like scoring goals. On the plus side, Baggott did well, and Woofy, Donacien and Walton are quality at this level.

9

ImAbeliever added 15:52 - Apr 16 Celina and Norwood, expensive luxuries, not delivering. Wolfe a luxury we must keep and how I'd have loved it if he could have completed that run with a goal, but contrary to Sky commentator's comment it was far from being a poor cross. Well done Elkan Baggott.
6

planetblue_2011 added 15:56 - Apr 16 Disappointing watch as always against Rotherham who just battle to the end & win games. We need strikers urgently for next season because the ones we have now are poop💩 that's our biggest down Fall we can't score goals🤷‍♂️ We need some steel in the team for next season too to compete with the big boys!!!
4

Nobbysnuts added 16:00 - Apr 16 Another load of garbage served up by the supposedly Barcelona of league one.... I'm really struggling to care anymore. The sooner this season finishes the better. 10th in league one???.....the players should hang thier heads in shame and embarrassment .not acceptable....just not acceptable.
11

dirtydingusmagee added 16:05 - Apr 16 No good anyone kidding themselves, we are still nowhere near good enough to get out of league 1. Those teams at the top have been there or there abouts throughout, We have much to do if we are going to get promoted. Still think we have the right manager ,but the team consists of too many players that are not up to higher standard. This summer it is vital to get the right players in and get those under performers out , or we will finish same again .

8

ChrisFelix added 16:07 - Apr 16 I expect Mckenna knows what he needs otherwise his honeymoon period will soon be over. Three at the back works well but we do need 2 wing backs, Thompson is a full back & nothing else. Team badly misses Lee Evans & I game like today can't the afford the luxury of both Celina & Aluko.Its a shame that the only aggression the former employed today was pushing his opponent for the yellow card. As for Norwood, strikers at any level should score from that position.

4

Lightningboy added 16:09 - Apr 16 Really woeful how these players have let this season fizzle out (again). McKenna looks to be a great appointment but he needs to bring in at least 5 players if we're to seriously get out of this league next season : A left back / wing back, At least 1 central midfielder who can shoot (and) score, 2 strikers. Still not seeing much leadership from Morsy,to me he just looks like he'd rather be elsewhere. Wouldn't bother bringing back Celina,Thompson,Bonne or Bakinson tbh. Just glad we finally seem to have the right management team in place.

5

surgery added 16:10 - Apr 16 And this from the squad who at the start of the season was supposed to be the best in the league and the envy of all the other clubs. I bet most of those are having a right laugh at our expense
7

barrystedmunds added 16:16 - Apr 16 The fat lady has sung! Much to be addressed close season.
7

atty added 16:19 - Apr 16 I'm wondering if some of our players are simply not up to it athletically and stamina wise. These drops in performance during games are a real worry, it's happening far too often.
8

ChrisR added 16:29 - Apr 16 We have more tacticians ,coaches , analysts , and fitness gurus then ever , but still cant get a decent 90 minutes from this squad . No hopers at corners and free kicks , low on strength and stamina in second half , no threat down the left , and no chance next season unless some really shrewd signings soon !
11

gosblue added 16:44 - Apr 16 Good performance boys, we've made a good side look very average. Five good CBs in the squad (well done Baggott). A decent midfield with one or two additions needed, two twenty goals a season strikers required and it looks like a second choice keeper. We know we should be battering teams at this level and we now where we're lacking so no point harping on about it. Bring on Wigan. COYB

0

blueboy1981 added 17:03 - Apr 16 It's about time ITFC turned WORDS into ACTION and RESULTS … !!! Season after Season irrespective of Manager, we talk about ‘how big a Club we are' , and we ARE massive compared with other Minnow Clubs at our same level, just look at our crowd figures, compared with many for proof of that … !! BUT - we flatter to deceive every time. To finish in 10th position in Division 3 is an embarrassment for Owners, Manager, and Supporters - when you look at the ‘minnows' above us. And this season, once again, a 10th position looks highly likely.

5

gosblue added 17:23 - Apr 16 The big mistake we made was taking Cook without Richardson. Cook's recruitment was brilliant but you need good coaching as well. KMcK has shown his mettle as a coach, I am hoping his recruitment skills are as good.
5

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 17:54 - Apr 16 We are a good team at this level, as we proved in the first half; but we definitely need to be better if we are going to make a serious bid for promotion next season. I have every faith K McK will address the weaknesses and improve us over the summer. Let's not be too negative; things are still much better than they have been for at least 5 years.
3

Orraman added 18:27 - Apr 16 Isn't it amazing that for many years, teams who are going through a long spell of winless games always seem to come good against Ipswich. Have to give a mention to young Baggott who was so impressive on his league debut in a very testing game
6

midastouch added 18:30 - Apr 16 Not much to add other than what's already been said. I've been crying out for Baggott to get a chance for ages now, so I'm very pleased indeed he finally got his opportunity today and grabbed it with both hands. Baggott and Woolfenden could be an excellent pairing. Hopefully we'll be seeing a lot more of those two playing together next season. I understand there's been issues behind the scenes with Simpson's agent (from what I can gather) but given our lack of scoring options (which has haunted us for weeks now), we may as well give him a go. I'm not quite sure of his current contract situation (do we have the option of another year?) but assuming he's under contract then if he scored then it would increase his value. Moreover, if he scored he might like the buzz of playing in front of our superb fans and tell his agent to stop being a stubborn g*t and get it done! It would also possibly help put a few more bums on seats for what are dead rubber games.

3

algarvefan added 18:51 - Apr 16 There are no words for our recent performances, but most worryingly for me our lack of discipline and the ease with which we get drawn into a fight and thus forget the football. Teams know to pick on Norwood, Celina and Thompson who have a shorter fuse, even Morsy has shown he is suspect in that respect and the end of the season could have been so much more exciting for us. Unless we address the slow ponderous sideways & backwards build ups we could have harry Kane up front and still not score, we are not Man City and need to stop playing as if we are!!! We need to inject some pace and play a few long balls much earlier than we do. Along with others I think we should sideline all loan players for the remaining 3 games and let Keiron look at a few of our younger players, I mean Baggott was good today, we know what Coulson can do so give Baggot a run and yes try Woolfie as a CD midfielder. Roll on the transfer window.

3

blueboy1981 added 19:15 - Apr 16 A Premiership influence that is not working in Division 3 …. Maybe ??
1

JewellintheTown added 19:44 - Apr 16 OliverR16 - have to disagree with you, buddy. We're not a league one team with Premier league fans, on that performance we've got a a league 2 team with conference attitude playing in league one with Premier league fans and club management backing.
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GrantOB92 added 19:50 - Apr 16 I don't know what game people were watching today but I thought Norwood and Thompson played extremely well. COYB #McKennaOut
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bingboast added 20:07 - Apr 16 Its become obvious as the season has gone on, the reason for losing games is Radio Suffolk using Alex Mathie for commitary support. They lose everytime hes on, my wife goes spare when I tell her we will lose today, Alex Mathie is comentating. He'd probably do better playing & scoring
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