Town recorded back-to-back 0-0 draws for the first time under Kieran McKenna as they were frustrated to a goalless stalemate by 10-man Stoke City at the bet365 Stadium. The Potters were reduced in number on 67 after midfielder Jordan Thompson was dismissed for a second yellow card for something he said to the referee - having been fortunate not to have been shown a straight red in the first - with the Blues dominating from there but without ever really looking like grabbing their first goal of 2024.

Town made seven changes from the team which drew 0-0 with QPR on Friday with skipper Sam Morsy coming back into the side following his suspension along with Harry Clarke, George Edmundson, Kayden Jackson, Wes Burns, Nathan Broadhead and Axel Tuanzebe.

Out of the team were Cameron Burgess, who has joined up with the Australia squad ahead of the Asian Cup, and Freddie Ladapo, Dom Ball, Brandon Williams, Omari Hutchinson, Marcus Harness and Cameron Humphreys, who were on the bench.

While Broadhead and Burns, who was making his 100th Town league appearance, were over their illness, Leif Davis remained sidelined with his calf problem. Elkan Baggott was absent from the 20 having been on the bench on Friday after joining up with Indonesia, also for the Asian Cup.

Vaclav Hladky, making his 50th start for the club, was in goal with the back four of Tuanzebe at right-back and Harry Clarke on the left with Luke Woolfenden and George Edmundson the centre-halves.

Morsy was partnered by Massimo Luongo in the centre of midfield with Burns, Conor Chaplin and Broadhead behind striker Jackson.

Stoke made two changes from the team which drew 1-1 with Watford on Friday with midfielder Lewis Baker coming in for his first start since April for Ben Pearson.

Right-back Ki-Jana Hoever also replaced winger Sead Haksabanovic, while Lynden Gooch, Enda Stevens, Josh Laurent, Tyrese Campbell and Mehdi Leris were all unavailable due to injury.

Former Colchester man Junior Tchamadeu struck the game’s first shot from just outside the box in the third minute, Broadhead closing him down and deflecting the effort out for a corner.

The Potters had begun the game the stronger and two minutes later Baker hit a low drive from 20 yards which Hladky saved easily down to his right.

On six, following a free-kick on the left, the ball fell to home skipper Wouter Burger in the area, the Dutchman flicking the ball up and hitting an overhead kick against Woolfenden and out for a corner.

From the flag-kick, the Blues broke through Jackson, who was caught by Thompson halfway up his leg with his studs-up challenge. The striker was clearly hurt by the challenge and Thompson looked very fortunate not to have received more than the yellow card he was shown by referee Jamie Bell.

Town began to make some headway going forwards and in the 10th minute Morsy crossed from the right towards Clarke, the ball appearing to go out off Tchamadeu but referee Bell awarding a goal-kick.

In the 16th minute, Hladky claimed a cross-shot from the left following a corner, before the Blues played themselves into trouble on their right and the Czech keeper needed to make his first serious shot of the match, getting down to his right sharply to palm Ryan Mmaee’s snapshot from the edge of the area wide.

Town were trying to get their passing going, even if with one or two uncharacteristic mishaps along the way, Hladky playing the ball straight out of play among them, and on 20 tested home keeper Jack Bonham for the first time.

Clarke’s initial volley screwed well off target but found Chaplin 20 yards out in the middle from where the former Pompey man worked himself space before hitting a shot which Bonham saved to his right. Three minutes later, Broadhead cut in from the left but blazed high and wide.

Play was held up on the half hour after ref Bell suffered an injury and was replaced by fourth official Thomas Bramall, also from Sheffield.

Soon after, Jackson, with his back to goal inside the area, tried to backheel the ball through for Luongo, but the ball was too far in front of the Australian and Bonham claimed.

Moments later, Jackson claimed Bonham had picked up a backpass from a teammate but new ref Bramall wasn’t interested.

On 33, Bramall booked Morsy for a foul on Baker just inside the Town half, the Egyptian international’s 10th yellow card of the season, which means he will miss the next two Championship matches, Sunderland at home and Leicester away.

A minute later, Burns cut in from the right and struck a shot which deflected wide for a corner from which Chaplin headed the ball into the ground and wide.

In the 40th minute, Baker twisted and turned to work himself space not far outside the area but his tame shot failed to trouble Hladky.

Three minutes later, Morsy clipped over a cross from the right and Jackson nodded the ball against Potters centre-half Luke McNally.

As the half moved into three minutes of injury time, Baker tried another effort from distance, forcing Hladky to turn away his powerful low strike at a stretch to his right.

Just before the whistle, Town won a corner which came to nothing with the home fans applauding their team off.

The Blues had been better than on Friday but still without hitting their usual heights, although having had some long spells in charge.

Stoke had longer spells in charge and will feel that they had had the better opportunities with Hladky having made a couple of decent saves from efforts from distance.

Six minutes after the restart, with rain now falling, Baker was yellow carded for a late challenge on Luongon on the touchline on the left. The free-kick was sent very deep beyond the far post but Woolfenden was unable to get it under control and the ball bounced out of play.

But Town had started the half very much in the ascendent and in the 52nd minute, Chaplin played in Burns on the right of the box from where the Wales international shot from a tight angle. Bonham saved but Burns was quickly onto the loose ball and crossed towards Jackson, but the ball was forced away.

A minute later, Broadhead cut into the left of the area but was dispossessed as he looked to have found himself the space for a shot from a tight angle.

Stoke hadn’t been involved since the break but on 57, Town lost the ball and Bae Junho eventually sent a low ball across the Blues’ area but with no one there to add the final touch.

The Potters kept Town pinned in their final third in the period after that and just before the hour, Burger went through on goal and found the net but the flag having gone up long beforehand, although with most of the crowd having been oblivious to it.

With the rain now falling more heavily, the Blues made their first change on 62, Jackson, who had undergone treatment moments earlier, making way for Hutchinson with Broadhead going to the central striking role.

In the 67th minute, Stoke were reduced to 10 men after Thompson was shown the red card he probably should have received in the first half.

Having been given a free-kick after a challenge by Chaplin midway inside the Potters’ half, Thompson evidently said something out of turn to referee Bramall - perhaps encouraging him to book Chaplin - before being shown a second yellow and then a red.

With the man advantage, the Blues began to dominate, passing the ball around and prodding and probing and looking for openings with Stoke unable to get out of their final third.

On 74, Morsy clipped a cross to the far post from the left and Burns headed wide under pressure and while stretching. Ahead of the restart, Stoke switched Andre Vidigal for Ben Wilmot.

Town made a double change in the 77th minute, Harness and Jack Taylor replacing Chaplin and Luongo.

Two minutes later, Burns nodded a left-sided cross back into the area towards Harness but the sub’s effort was straight against a defender. On 80, Stoke switched Mmaee and Junho for Dwight Gayle and Daniel Johnson.

As the clock ticked past 81 minutes, there was a round of applause from both sets of supporters for Town fan Ann Austin, who died aged 81 during Friday’s game against QPR.

The Blues continued to look for the game’s opening goal and on 84, Hutchinson’s cross flicked off Taylor through to Tuanzebe and bounced off the defender to home keeper Bonham.

Stoke had shown no attacking intent since the sending off but on 86 Hoever whipped over a ball from the left but was unable to find Gayle at the far post.

With three minutes left, Town brought on Ladapo for Tuanzebe, the striker joining Broadhead in a front two as the Blues continued to look for what would surely be the winning goal.

In the penultimate scheduled minute, ahead of five added on, Clarke was booked for a foul on Johnson.

Town maintained their search for a goal in the final minutes but without looking particularly convincing against a determined Stoke rearguard and for the second time in four days the game ended goalless.

The Blues had made a decent start to the second half even before the red card but from there it was all Town but with Stoke well organised and defending resolutely, too few chances were created and Bonham wasn’t forced into making a significant save.

A frustrating start to 2024 for the Blues, who are still without a win at the Bet365 Stadium and who last recorded back-to-back goalless draws in the league under Paul Cook at Rochdale and at home to the MK Dons back in April 2021, either side of the Gamechanger 20 Ltd takeover.

The Blues, now without a win in five, remain second, still three points ahead of Southampton, who drew 1-1 at Norwich, while Leeds are four points behind the Saints following their 3-0 victory over Birmingham. Leaders Leicester are now 10 points ahead of Town having won 4-1 success at home to Huddersfield this afternoon.

Next Saturday sees Town visit AFC Wimbledon in the FA Cup before returning to Championship action the following week with a home game against Sunderland and a visit to the Foxes, both without talismanic skipper Morsy.

Stoke: Bonham, Rose, Burger (c), Vidigal (Wilmot 75), Baker, Thompson, Hoever, Mmaee (Gayle 80), Junho (Johnson 80), McNally, Tchamadeu. Unused: Simkin, Wesley, Haksabanovic, Clark, Sidibe, Lowe.

Town: Hladky, Clarke, Woolfenden, Tuanzebe (Ladapo 87), Edmundson, Morsy (c), Luongo (Taylor 77), Burns, Chaplin (Harness 77), Broadhead, Jackson (Hutchinson 62). Unused: Walton, Williams, Ball, Humphreys, Aluko. Referee: James Bell (Sheffield) (Thomas Bramall 31). Att: 23,121 (Town: 2,570).

Photo: Matchday Images

TimmyH added 17:55 - Jan 1 Linkboy - agree with your post, but we have to abide with the FFP in the Championship so we can only spend so much and being happy staying in the Championship for another season but will McKenna and will he still be here?...vultures will certainly be circling due to what he's done so far.
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jas0999 added 17:57 - Jan 1 Another away point in the Championship on first season back. But playing against ten men, we should have had all three. Nothing up front. Two new strikers required. Back to back clean sheets is a positive. No win in five though. Worrying.
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SpiritOfJohn added 18:02 - Jan 1 Ok we wanted more than a point away at Stoke, who recently appointed the excellent Schumacher, and we could do with signing a new centre forward ASAP, but it's not all doom and gloom. We are still in second place and we have recorded two clean sheets in a row - something people on here were crying out for when we were winning games 4-3. Still plenty to look forward to in 2024, but we won't be cruising into the Premier League. It will be down to hard work, determination and sticking together - which is what has got us into this amazing position.

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Davidwb20 added 18:09 - Jan 1 We have huffed and puffed plus stuttered lately and really miss what Hirst brings to the team. Very sad to hear he will not be back until the back end of the season. I wish him well with his recovery. This will be a really important January transfer window for us! In KMck we trust he has worked miracles with a few bumps along the way ! COYB’s
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blueboy1981 added 18:09 - Jan 1 We started the season with a ‘well balanced’ Team, and duly capitalised with such - but, we have a seriously unbalanced Squad, which is now being proved with Injuries / illness now kicking in. We do not have adequate replacements to ‘slot in’ - today again proved that point ! Depending on the Owners and Clubs ambition for this season - Ashton and McK have a very interesting and (potentially) difficult January and beyond ahead. Maybe the answer is to ‘blood’ a couple of promising youngsters that we already have at the Club - it CAN work, but we seem reluctant to do so. I’d personally prefer to see this, than see Loan players some who can’t be ar#ed, and others who we have trued (not up to standard) that are already in the building !!! Huge Decision Time - whatever !

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bluesince76 added 18:11 - Jan 1 How Jackson is still here at the club and actually playing is baffling his scoring record is abysmal has to be one of the worst players to play for itfc league 2 standard maybe.lucky we have Jan window to strengthen the team 2 strikers midfielder and cb should do.
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Gforce added 18:12 - Jan 1 Jackson gets picked because he works his socks off and can run all day......might as well have Forest Gump up front.
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surgery added 18:16 - Jan 1 Or Mo Farrah
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Michael101 added 18:18 - Jan 1 Robsonwalk,if you look at the form table we are in 17th place . Don't you have to be 22nd or lower to be relegated???
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Dab added 18:19 - Jan 1 2nd Jan 2023 we drew with Lincoln and slipped to 3rd in league 1, followed by a poor run which ended with a 0-0 draw at Bristol Rovers which saw us go 4th, 10 points behind Plymouth. Once our Transfer windows signings settled in we know how that ended. We are NOW 2nd in the Championship, a league that our manager has no experience in, some of our players have had no success in and other players have never played in. Probably too much to ask that we have a transfer window like last year, but the management team does have previous, so if a failure to beat Stoke is a poor result we have come an awful long way in a very short space of time! Happy New Year All!

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Kirbmeister added 18:22 - Jan 1 Jesus, we’re in the new year and three points clear of third. We were always going to suffer fatigue and injuries at this stage of the season and we all knew the backup wasn’t that strong. A point away at Stoke is a good one, even if they were down to 10 men. It shows how far we’ve come that we were expected to win today. We only lost one game in this poor run. We’ll probably end up in the play offs and, if we do, it will have been a great season. You never know we may still finish top two. Whatever happens it’ll be a long hard slog and will only get harder from here. I’m looking forward to it with great relish.

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planetblue_2011 added 18:23 - Jan 1 You don’t win when you don’t shoot, I know we had 2 on target but we had enough possession to create chances for a winner but just huffed & puffed in the final third. We miss Hirst & another decent striker, which we must buy this month. 0-0 was about fair result today
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Kirbmeister added 18:24 - Jan 1 Dab - spot on, like a few other posters on here who are realistic.
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blueboy1981 added 18:28 - Jan 1 TimmyH ….. I wouldn’t worry too much, there are many Managers out of the Game at the moment, some very good too, but victims of Playboy Club Owners - so there is multi choice right now. In terms if ‘opinion within the game’ many are not ‘waxing lyrical’ about us right now and predicting us to ‘fall away’ from serious contention - which should give our whole Club the incentive and determination to PROVE THEM WRONG !

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Suffolkboy added 18:29 - Jan 1 Why don’t we accept these challenges are simply here ? Why don’t we accept we’ve a great Management team , good owners and a spirited united squad who together will , as of now ,continue to do their very best ? COYB
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blueboy1981 added 18:37 - Jan 1 For the persistent Deniers - 74% Possession today - 2 Shots on Target !! Doesn’t that prove something ? - even to YOU.
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Texastom added 18:43 - Jan 1 Youth policy anyone? What’s happened to it? There must be some decent players that need development? We are famous for it, it’s embedded in our history of success…..
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Eeyore added 18:50 - Jan 1 Good result. I was in Stoke family stand because couldn’t get away ticket. (No one in that area even wears red!). I felt that our away support was a bit quieter than Normal. Still, impressed that we could probably sell 5000 away tickets for every game. It’s always entertaining (more nail-biting perhaps) with us playing out from back, so even a nil-nil is never dull! After a shaky start, Axel started to really enjoy his role. Very impressed with Edmundson. How does he not play for ages and come in a look like he’s always been there !? Definitely will not leave. Wolfie was great again. Thought Broadhead should perhaps have started as centre forward and not bother with Jackson/Ladapo. We had a real go at getting a winner in the second half.

4

Billericay12 added 18:52 - Jan 1 Solid performance by George Edmondson today. Would be mad to sell him.
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warktheline added 18:58 - Jan 1 As a ‘unit’ the team are struggling for a multiple of reasons….the depth and quality of squad isn’t there, IF we are going to continue this push for AUTOMATIC PROMOTION. It’s going to be an interesting ‘window’ and an insight to just how ‘inventive and creative’, alongside ambitious the club is. Experienced Seasoned professionals shouldn’t be ruled out…. We have to stay within the ‘fair play rules’! Let’s take stock of where we are at present…sitting 2nd above LEEDS and SOUTHAMPTON as we start 2024! McKenna’s success rate arguably is unparalleled. McKenna’s intelligence and style of play appears to be too much for teams sitting outside of the top 4….as even with a depleted starting 11 are to date, unable to beat us! He’s already established Ipswich Town FC as one of the best sides in the Championship!…yeah interesting times ahead, but let’s not forget, exciting times ahead too! …relegation form? Really? In McKenna we all should trust!…it’s a ‘play off’ spot at worst!

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jon_talbot56 added 19:02 - Jan 1 Some positives today. All our defenders including Edmundson looked solid although we missed having forward runs on the flanks from deep positions. Also Jackson had a presence today, unlike against QPR. No one played badly but a lot of the final balls were not very good and we found it difficult against a packed penalty area. We obviously lack a combative striker at present. Not too much wrong against a side who have been in form recently

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jon_talbot56 added 19:02 - Jan 1 Some positives today. All our defenders including Edmundson looked solid although we missed having forward runs on the flanks from deep positions. Also Jackson had a presence today, unlike against QPR. No one played badly but a lot of the final balls were not very good and we found it difficult against a packed penalty area. We obviously lack a combative striker at present. Not too much wrong against a side who have been in form recently

0

jon_talbot56 added 19:02 - Jan 1 Some positives today. All our defenders including Edmundson looked solid although we missed having forward runs on the flanks from deep positions. Also Jackson had a presence today, unlike against QPR. No one played badly but a lot of the final balls were not very good and we found it difficult against a packed penalty area. We obviously lack a combative striker at present. Not too much wrong against a side who have been in form recently

1

Mariner1974 added 19:14 - Jan 1 Interesting few weeks ahead in the transfer window and a chance for McKenna to find give some players a rest and get them back on the training field with some decent time to bed some things in at Playford Road. If we got to Jan 1st still in second, then we were always going to go and look to bring in players up the ante for a crack at the Prem. The Owners wouldn't be able to help themselves, and it just makes sense to do so. We should be able to attract a strong calibre of players, and though gutting to not have Hirst for the whole season, a key player was always gonna pick up an injury at some point. Sadly it's George, and not it opens it up for us to bring in someone to be that will suit the team for second half of the season. We had Hirst in our sights for a while, & I'm sure we have others that we've been keeping a keen eye on. Today was the classic rainy winter game like Huddersfield where it's harder to play our football. The approach play picked up, but missed that final ball or touch of inspiration. Omari needs space and to be one on one to show what he can do, Burns wasn't getting past his man today and didn't have Clarke/JD behind him to offer that back up. Once they parked the bus with 10 men, it made it harder rather than easier, as many of our goals come with that bit of extra space from a team intent on attack. Play Walton/JD /Axel/ Edmundson/ Humphreys/ Ball/ Taylor/ Aluko/ Harness/ Omari/ Ladapo against AFC Wimbledon, giving Humphreys some more game time in that left back position, and a chance for Omari to get his confidence back up & Taylor to get his mojo working, and rest all our major first teamers for Sunderland game. We'll hopefully have some fresh faces in to learn the Mckenna way on the training field in the coming weeks, and have a new striker to try out against Sunderland alongside the usual band of Merry Men. 2nd at New Year....Pretty amazing right? What a year...let's rest up and train hard, with some new acquistions to push on for the Prem!

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Mariner1974 added 19:16 - Jan 1 Few typos in there, but you get the gist!
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