Former Town striker Will Keane netted an equaliser four minutes from time as leaders Wigan Athletic grabbed a 2-2 draw with the Blues at Portman Road. Keane gave the Latics the lead just before half-time but goals from Conor Chaplin and ex-Wigan skipper Sam Morsy had given the Blues a deserved lead before Keane’s second of the evening saw the points shared.

Chaplin, Cameron Burgess, Matt Penney and Macauley Bonne returned as manager Kieran McKenna made four changes from the side which lost 1-0 at Rotherham on Saturday.

Penney came in at left wing-back for Dominic Thompson, who dropped to the bench, with Burgess returning to the left of the back three following his one-match suspension with Elkan Baggott also among the subs.

Chaplin started as one of the number 10s with Sone Aluko missing out having suffered an injury at Rotherham on Saturday and Bonne was the out-and-out striker with James Norwood on the bench.

Janoi Donacien was OK to take his place on the right of the defence having been a doubt with a knock.

Wigan made three changes from the tea which lost 2-1 at home to Cambridge at the weekend with Jason Kerr, Joe Bennett and Stephen Humphrys coming into the XI. Former Blues striker Keane started and ex-winger Gwion Edwards was among the subs.

After the two teams had taken a knee to applause, Wigan started on the front foot with skipper Tendayi Darikwa hitting a low shot from the right of the box through to Town keeper Christian Walton in the second minute.

However, Town quickly got on top, passing the ball around confidently and in the seventh minute, after a lengthy spell of possession, Chaplin sent Donacien away on the right but the defender’s low cross was turned behind by Kerr.

Wes Burns broke quickly into the visitors’ half following a Wigan ball into the Blues’ box in the 12th minute before feeding Bonne, who moved it on to Penney to his left from where the wing-back struck a shot past the angle of bar and post.

On 16, Chaplin misread Bonne’s run with the Blues in a promising position in the final third, the striker going one way and the pass the other.

Moments later, Chaplin fed in Bersant Celina to his right and the Kosovan international struck a low effort from the edge of the box which was too close to Latics keeper Ben Amos.

The Blues continued to take the game to the Lancastrians and in the 18th minute Celina floated a ball towards Bonne from the left but just too far in front of the on-loan QPR man.

Two minutes later, skipper Morsy took a pot shot from just outside the area - something Town seemed to be making a point of doing more frequently than in previous games - which Amos couldn’t hold onto and it was eventually bundled away ahead of the lurking Bonne.

Town maintained their dominance, passing the ball around confidently and controlling the game with Wigan unable to get a foothold.

On 26 Kell Watts was shown the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Chaplin on the right. Celina looped the ball in and it dropped loose before being cleared. It was subsequently returned and headed out for a corner.

The Blues kept up the pressure and on 33 went close twice. Chaplin’s first effort was blocked and fell to Celina on the edge of the box from where he struck another shot which hit and defender and fell to Bonne, who was in an offside position.

As the half moved into its final five minutes, Morsy was booked for a clash with Joe Bennett as Town prepared to take a corner on the left. The Wigan defender took to the turf holding his face but Morsy had appeared to do nothing other than move his face towards the one-time Cardiff man’s.

When the flag-kick was taken, Bennett held onto Morsy but with referee Will Finnie waving away Town protests for a penalty with the crowd making their annoyance known.

The same happened at a subsequent Town corner from which Wigan broke towards the Blues goal before Luke Woolfenden halted their progress with a foul on Humphrys five yards outside the box, which resulted in the centre-half’s booking.

The free-kick led to a corner from which the Latics went in front, moments before the fourth official raised his board.

Following a short corner on the right, Bennett whipped the ball to the near post and ex-Town striker Keane flicked a header across goal and into the corner of the net.

The Blues were unable to hit back in the remaining minutes and went in behind, somewhat harshly on the overall balance of the half, with referee Finnie booed as he made his way to the tunnel.

Aside from the opening two minutes and the goal, the half had been all Town. The Blues had dominated and had worked themselves a number of opportunities but perhaps no clear-cut chances with Amos worked but not overly tested.

The goal was a typical sucker-punch set-piece goal with Keane cupping his hand to his ear as he celebrated in front of his old fans.

Manager McKenna and skipper Morsy were deep in conversation as they made their way onto the pitch for the second half.

Town were forced into a change with Penney, who had required treatment late in the half following an earlier foul by Darikwa, replaced by Thompson.

The Blues reasserted their dominance following the restart, controlling the game and noticeably trying to get Celina on the ball more often than in the first half.

On 53, Morsy cut a ball back from the right but it went beyond Burns, then the Blues skipper shot over the bar from the edge of the area.

As the game approached the hour mark, Callum Lang was booked for clattering into Chaplin from behind 30 yards out.

And from the set piece, the Blues levelled. Celina’s chipped ball to the far post was somewhat under-hit but Wigan failed to defend it and it ran loose to Chaplin, who worked himself space before burying it in the corner of the net, his 10th goal of the season.

Having got back on terms, Town set about looking for a second, maintaining their control over the game with Wigan rarely able to get out of their own half.

On 67, Thompson crossed from the left and found Chaplin in space just inside the area but his effort deflected off a defender and away to the right.

Two minutes later, Town swapped the busy Bonne, who was warmly applauded as he made his way off, for Norwood.

Moments after the change, Lang failed to control a pass when found in space on the right of the Town area, much to his frustration.

Within a minute, Wigan should have restored their lead following a rare error by Donacien. The centre-half under-powered his chest back to Walton from the edge of the area and Bennett seized upon it, however, the Town keeper stood firm to save as the Latics looked to lift it past him.

A minute later, Burns was very harshly booked after Tom Naylor suffered an injury as he tackled the Welshman. The Town wing-back looked bemused by referee Finnie’s decision to caution him.

But two minutes later, the incident was forgotten as the Blues took the lead. Burns crossed from the right to the far post, Thompson nodded back across goal and one-time Latics skipper Morsy lashed into the roof of the net from five yards to send Portman Road wild.

The Sir Bobby Robson Stand sang ‘Keano, what’s the score?’ as the visitors prepared to restart following Morsy’s third goal for the Blues.

Having gone behind, Wigan started to look forward more than earlier in the half with Town as a result finding more space in their half. On 78 Morsy scuffed through to Amos after Celina had squared it to him from the left.

Wigan made a double change in the 83rd minute with Tom Pearce and former Blue Edwards - who was given a brief booing by the home support - replacing Watts and Kerr.

Max Power smashed a 40-yard free-kick well wide of Walton’s right post soon afterwards, then on 85, Norwood gave the ball away not far inside the Town half and it was played to Keane on the right of the area from where the one-time Manchester United youngster struck a low shot which Walton blocked.

But Keane only had to wait another minute for his second of the afternoon. Following a corner on the right, Power sent in a low ball from the right and the striker turned home from close range.

Having equalised, Wigan seemed less inclined to look forwards with the Blues again encamped in the Latics half as the game moved into five additional minutes.

Tyreeq Bakinson was booked for pulling back Keane as Wigan counter-attacked seconds before the whistle, the Wigan players surrounding referee Finnie for blowing his whistle before they had been allowed to take their free-kick.

Town will probably feel disappointed to have claimed only a point against the league leaders having been much the better side for most of the game.

Having equalised and then gone in front, the Blues looked set to go on to win the game until Keane, a player who impressed at Town only to be beset by injuries, levelled.

Even so, the manner in which the Blues performed against the division’s top team, controlling the game completely for long spells. was a boost of confidence after a few lean weeks and a big step up from the display at Rotherham on Saturday.

Town now only have Saturday’s trip to bottom club Crewe and the final day game at home to Charlton left to play.

Town: Walton, Donacien, Woolfenden, Burgess, Burns, Bakinson, Morsy (c), Penney (Thompson 46), Chaplin, Celina, Bonne (Norwood 69). Unused: Hladky, Baggott, Carroll, El Mizouni, Pigott.

Wigan: Amos, Kerr (Edwards 83), Whatmough, Watts (Pearce 83), Darikwa (c), Power, Naylor, Bennett, Lang, Keane, Humphrys (Cousins 62). Unused: Jones, Shinnie, Aasgaard, Massey. Referee: Will Finnie (Luton). Att: 21,329 (Wigan: 402).

Photo: Matchday Images

brendenward35 added 07:40 - Apr 20 The problem Ipswich have is they can play some lovely football if allowed. We have a lot of teams who are hell bent o getting our players booked or sent off. A good example was the Wigan player that went down as though Morsy had given him a good hiding. Morsy didn't land a full blown punch to his face as he was trying to make out. Totally spoils the game stops the flow of play. Question is do we start doing these tactics as it looks like the only way to get out of this league.

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Help added 07:42 - Apr 20 Well I thought after the dominant first half going in 1 nil down, and bearing in mind our recent 2nd half performances that was it. But I was pleasantly surprised that we scored 2 goals in the 2nd half and if not for moments of weakness we let them score a 2nd and drop 2 points. Overall we played very well in both halves, but their one and only corner in the first half and they score, we had 5? and nothing again. We are poor at set pieces both attacking and defending. Serious work required there. Same problems of trying to walk the ball in the net to often. Sometimes we need to get the ball moving quicker up the field and someone have a lash at it from out side the box. It might take a deflection, the keeper might spill it. Still need a better left side and at least 1 striker. Chaplin my choice as MOM into everything.

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EuanTown added 07:54 - Apr 20 Thank goodness for Walton. Without him we would be much lower in this league. A superb stop in the second half. Burgess looked assured, as did Woolfy and Donny. Penny only managed a half and looked okay overall. Morsy is so solid in the middle, a real fighter in every sense. Backinson again okay, we miss Evans. Burns creates so many chances, does not seem to attack as much as he did at the start of the season. Chaplin was a joy to watch last night, gets himself about and creates so much. Bonne looked lost at times again, creates very little. Celina again was his usual self and got about a bit even defends more now.

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grumpyoldman added 08:10 - Apr 20 Lovely passing football but lack of movement, energy and penetration we will not progress! Yes we looked good against Wigan but how many times did we put their defence under pressure, they were happy to let us keep the ball then pressure us when we looked vulnerable. The person with the whistle should be prosecuted for impersonating a referee, before their equaliser our player wrestled to the ground before the corner in his full view but did nothing, should have at least talked to both players.

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planetblue_2011 added 09:55 - Apr 20 Thompson is absolutely dog 💩💩 send him back now!! Cost us dearly!! Definitely Left Wing back needed for next season⚽️
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Marinersnose added 10:14 - Apr 20 Overall town were by far the better side and dominated the game. We still missed too many simple chances in front of goal. Bonne is a spent force arguing with officials offside how many times ? The issue for me is the fragile mentality of this team. Sitting there last night I really enjoyed some of our football but deep down I knew that we hadn't got the mental resolve to win the game. We rarely push on to try and put the game to bed instead we drop deep and eventually concede. Walton deserves special mention as he had a terrific game. Always rated Keane when he was with us but his fitness was an issue. He was excellent last night held the ball up so well and scored two good goals and there lies the difference. Chaplin is such a busy player but not very effective, however he can finish when he gets his chance. I'm not sure he's the future.

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Razor added 10:18 - Apr 20 Two very poor goals coceded from defensive point of view-----Bonne and Norwood totalli ineffective and Piggot obviously no longer trusted. Could we see Humphreys and Simpson Saturday please and could we possibly win----it is the bottom and relegated team!!
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dezb added 12:57 - Apr 20 Thought it easy to see how Richardson was the natural balancing act to Cook. His Wigan side are big and strong, well organised but lacked any real flair. The opposite attributes to us under cook. Thought we played well. Won't go as far to say id rather play the way we do given Wigan's position but not far off! Burgess MOTM for me. His distribution is far better than he is given credit for or I thought we'd have signed given the style he played at Accrington.

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blueboy1981 added 14:42 - Apr 20 Bert - maybe you have not noticed, one can only assume, that in most games we claim at least two thirds of the Possession Stats' - if that doesn't prove we ‘flatter to deceive' then tell me what does ? Link that with yet another Mid Table Division 3 finish to the Season once more - and it's called REALITY. Excuses and continuously saying ‘we've improved' and ‘we played well' doesn't yield enough POINTS - as 10th position proves …. !!!

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blueboy1981 added 15:02 - Apr 20 SteveITFCSweden - you are right about Bennett - but Division 3 is not known for Football in pure form, Wigan know what is required to get out of it … !!! And they gave us a lesson in just that. Possession and slick movement without penetration is our current Forte - but doesn't fit the ‘escape from Div' 3 format, and never will This is a Horses for Courses League - pure Football will not crack it. We've had enough lessons recently on what is actually required. Referee's and Officials are equally as awful at this level, but as with the style of game required to exit this milestone tenure - it is what it is - and we have to change to that criteria.

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Nobbysnuts added 15:47 - Apr 20 Will Keane...comes to ipswich...couldn't stay fit for a game of scrabble.... joins Wigan...plays nearly every game and can't stop scoring.......interesting. 🤔🤔🤔🤔🤔
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jas0999 added 17:44 - Apr 20 Thought we looked a lot better than Saturday. The performance was on the whole good, but once again the overall result disappointing. We have thrown away too many leads this season or failed to capitalise on our dominance. Goes without saying KM will need to significantly improve on this aspect next season. Sadly, none of our strikers seem good enough. The creative left side also lacking. Thompson is not the answer. With two dead rubbers, it's time to ditch those who won't be here next season - which hopefully means most of the loans.

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Old_Blu added 20:44 - Apr 20 What was the point of Norwood coming on last night? He looked totally disinterested in playing and spent most of his time tying his bootlaces. At one point he was tying his laces and playing one of the Wigan players onside. Perhaps Keiron can teach him how to tie a double-knot before he gets on the pitch.
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