Town are five points plus goal difference from Premier League safety following a 4-1 home defeat to Tottenham Hotspur and Wolves’ 1-0 win away at 10-man AFC Bournemouth. The Blues started brightly, Liam Delap hitting the post with a header, but Brennan Johnson netted on 18 and 26 before Omari Hutchinson pulled one back nine minutes before the break. However, Spurs added a third through Djed Spence with their first chance of the second half on 77 and Dejan Kulusevski grabbed a fourth with six minutes remaining.

Boss Kieran McKenna made four changes from the side which started last week’s 1-1 draw at Aston Villa with Ben Godfrey, Leif Davis, Jaden Philogene and Jack Clarke returning to the team.

Godfrey took over from the suspended Axel Tuanzebe on the right of the defence with Davis returning at left-back having missed the game at Villa Park with a minor injury.

Philogene was handed his full home debut on the right with Hutchinson in the middle and Jack Clarke on the left behind out-and-out striker Liam Delap.

Julio Enciso missed out having suffered a knee injury last week, while Conor Townsend and Ben Johnson dropped to the bench having started against the Villans.

Skipper Sam Morsy is fit again after the abdominal problem which kept him out at Villa Park but was also among the subs, as was Sammie Szmodics. Dara O’Shea captained in the Egypt international’s absence.

For Tottenham, Johnson, the son of former Blues striker David, returned to the XI for James Maddison, who was on the bench.

Destiny Udogie came in at left-back with Pedro Porro a sub. At centre-half, Archie Gray took over from Ben Davies, who was absent from the squad. Ex-Blues loanee Dane Scarlett was on the bench.

Town, with Ed Sheeran joined by Tottenham-supporting Harry Potter actor Rupert Grint in his box, almost scored within seconds of the start.

Jens Cajuste played through Liam Delap, who burst round the outside of Gray before hitting a shot which Spurs keeper Guglielmo Vicario saved to his left. The loose ball ran to Philogene, whose goal-bound effort struck Omari Hutchinson on the line. Town looked to get another opportunity but the linesman’s flag had been raised as Hutchinson had been offside.

Delap threatened again in the third minute, drifting past Gray on the left of the box as if the former Leeds youngster wasn’t there before stabbing across the face and wide.

Play moved to the other end, Udogie running beyond O’Shea on the Spurs left but Palmer was off his line quickly to claim at the Italian international’s feet.

Delap went even closer to scoring in the seventh minute, flicking a near post header from Phillips’s free-kick out on the right beyond Vicario but off the post. The loose ball didn’t immediately fall kindly but was nodded back to the edge of the area from where Philogene sent an overhead kick deep into the Sir Alf Ramsey Stand.

Tottenham began to see most of the ball and went close to going in front in the 13th minute. Skipper Son Heung-Min got round the outside of Godfrey on the left and cut back to Lucas Bergvall, whose low shot was blocked by O’Shea. The ball ricocheted towards Johnson at the right post but Jacob Greaves somehow managed to take away from the former Forest man. Kulusevski nodded back in but O’Shea was fouled by Mathys Tel.

Moments later, Johnson got his name in referee Tim Robinson’s book for a foul on Davis as the Town full-back sought to break out of defence on the left.

However, in the 18th minute it was Johnson who would net the game’s opening goal. Gray’s long ball sent Son in behind on the left. The South Korean international worked some space to leave Godfrey standing and get to the byline before flashing a low ball across for Johnson, who got in front of Davis and slammed into the net.

The goal was harsh on the Blues, who had had the been the better side and had had most of the early chances, but with the visitors able to take their second serious opportunity, having found a weakness down Town’s right, a reminder of the clinical finishing at Premier League level.

The Blues looked to hit back, Clarke looping a header to Vicario in the 20th minute from a Hutchinson cross, then a minute later Delap hitting a shot from distance which deflected behind.

Following the flag-kick, Philogene shot not too far over, then on 24 Delap scuffed a low effort through to Vicario.

But two minutes later, Johnson doubled his side’s lead. Son was again played in behind Godfrey on the Town right, the visitors’ skipper cutting back to Johnson, who had been left completely unmarked 10 yards out on the far side of the box, from where he slotted home with ease.

On 26, Son was found on the left again but this time hit a low shot which deflected but with Palmer able to save. Four minutes later, Clarke was yellow-carded for standing on Spence’s foot after the ball had gone.

It was a dispirited Portman Road as the half-hour mark passed with the Blues having played well before all but gifting Spurs their two goals.

However, the mood was significantly lifted in the 36th minute when Town pulled a goal back.

Phillips won the ball five yards outside the Tottenham box and threaded in Clarke on the left of the area. The winger, a one-time Spurs player, cut back to Hutchinson, who smashed a shot across Vicario and into the net, the former Chelsea man’s third goal of the season.

Three minutes later, the same two players combined again, Clarke finding Hutchinson on the edge of the area but this time his shot was too weak to test Vicario. Soon after, Godfrey was booked for a foul on Son.

Town’s impetus, both on and off the pitch, had been restored by the goal but in the 42nd minute Rodrigo Bentancur, Tottenham’s scorer in the Blues’ win in North London in November, brought the ball forward into the area unchallenged before his shot was saved by Palmer, Greaves subsequently nodding behind.

As the game moved into three minutes of injury time, Son was again found in space on the Spurs left but this time his shot was blocked by Godfrey.

That was the last action of an entertaining, end-to-end half. The Blues had started like a house on fire with Delap having three opportunities before Tottenham had settled into the match.

But as so often this season, the Blues were made to pay for not taking their chances with the visitors going into a two-goal lead having found easy pickings down Town’s right flank with Tuanzebe badly missed and Godfrey evidently not back to the top of his game after his half-season of inaction in Italy with Atalanta and Davis twice losing Johnson.

However, despite being two goals behind, the Blues stayed in the game and Phillips, Clarke and Hutchinson made the most of the opportunity to pull a goal back when it came.

Town made a change at half-time, a predictable one, Luke Woolfenden taking over from Godfrey with O’Shea moving out to the right and the Ipswich-born defender taking up his usual central role.

The second half hadn’t settled into a pattern before Cajuste required treatment, Bentancur inadvertently falling on the grounded Swedish international and twisting his ankle. The on-loan Napoli man continued briefly before taking to the turf again and was replaced by Jack Taylor.

Neither side showed any serious threat until the 56th minute when Clarke and Delap won possession on the left with Vicario out of his goal but the winger’s low cross was cut out.

Moments later, Gray fouled his former Leeds teammate Davis out on the left but the free-kick came to nothing. However, within a minute Philogene was felled just outside the box by Udogie.

Hutchinson’s free-kick slammed into the wall, as did Phillips’s follow-up, but the ball reached the forward again on the right and his deep cross found Woolfenden at the far post, where he nodded into the ground and past Vicario. The centre-half thought he’d scored his first Premier League goal until the linesman raised his flag, VAR confirming that the defender had been offside.

Spurs had the next chance, Davis sliding in to block in front of Johnson as the forward looked to shoot as a low cross reached him from the left.

Following the corner, Kevin Danso was shoulder barged to the ground somewhat firmly by O’Shea, the on-loan Lens man claiming a penalty but with referee Robinson and VAR not interested.

Spurs subsequently made their first changes, goalscorer Johnson and Udogie making way for ex-Norwich forward Maddison and Porro, then on 68 Nathan Broadhead took over from Clarke for Town.

The Blues were beginning to put the visitors under pressure with Philogene and Hutchinson both having an impact down the right, Broadhead almost having an opportunity for a clear shot at goal from a ball in from the right before being closed down.

Spurs made a double change on 75, ex-Blues loanee Scarlett and Wilson Odobert coming on for Son and Tel, ahead of a Town free-kick from which O’Shea and Danso clashed heads.

Referee Robinson annoyed the home support by starting with a drop ball with play having stopped as it had gone out for a Blues throw, then for a dubious foul by Philogene on Maddison.

The ex-Canary, whose every touch had been booed by Town fans, created the visitors’ third goal in the 77th minute. The England international skipped his way into the area surrounded by defenders before laying off to Spence, whose shot deflected off Woolfenden’s calf and into the roof of the net.

Phillips, who had continued his recent positive progress, received treatment in the aftermath of the goal and was eventually replaced by Morsy, who was handed his armband by O’Shea, while George Hirst took over from Delap.

In the 84th minute, the visitors scored their fourth. With Greaves down in the Spurs half following a clash of heads with Scarlett, Kulusevski brought the ball forward down the right, cut inside Woolfenden before hitting a shot which curled into the net off the inside of the far post. Greaves claimed play should have been stopped due to his head injury, but in vain.

Three minutes later, O’Shea headed into the side-netting from a tight angle from a deep corner from the right.

VAR had a look at a Kulusevski challenge on Broadhead in the area during eight minutes of injury time, but the Blues were once again unsuccessful.

Referee Robinson was booed off by the Town support at the whistle, mainly for his performance in the Leicester match earlier in the season, although the Blues had been on the end of one or two questionable decisions from the West Sussex-based official.

An afternoon which had begun with so much promise finished as another of frustration and disappointment and a ninth home defeat of the season, compounded by Wolves’ surprise win at Bournemouth, which leaves the Blues five points away from safety with the Old Gold having a goal difference superior by 12.

Once again, Town were unable to score during their spells on top, both in the first half and at 2-1 in the second, with the opposition taking their opportunities more clinically when they came with Son exploiting the Blues’ weakness down their right side time and again in the first half, creating two goals and two further chances.

Town had spells on top and there was little between the teams for long periods, the Blues showing their usual spirit with Phillips, Clarke and Hutchinson combining well for the goal, but the difference was in both final thirds and once Spurs had scored their third there was no way back into the match.

McKenna’s 18th-placed side, whose path to Premier League survival looks ever more difficult, are next in action away at Manchester United on Wednesday, the Red Devils having drawn 2-2 at Everton earlier today.

Town: Palmer, Godfrey (Woolfenden 46), O’Shea (c), Greaves, Davis, Phillips (Morsy 79), Cajuste (Taylor 52), Philogene, Hutchinson, Clarke (Broadhead 68), Delap (Hirst 79). Unused: Muric, Johnson, Townsend, Szmodics.

Spurs: Vicario, Spence, Danso, Gray, Udogie (Porro 64), Bentancur, Bergvall, Johnson (Maddison 64), Kulusevski, Son (c) (Scarlett 75), Tel (Odobert 75). Unused: Kinsky, Reguilon, Sarr, Bissouma, Moore.

Photo: Reuters

Leejames99 added 11:05 - Feb 23 What I would love to know is who the league one player fans think should go down instead of us, Wolves a team who have been in the Prem for years? We got back in Championship after 4 seasons in league 1 and now some supporters are demanding we stay in Prem with those same players and that we just wasted money on all our signings they are all rubbish etc it's pathetic, which players should we have bought with Prem experience to a team favourites for the drop? Or from abroad to a team favourite for drop? In League did we ever dream player of Kalvin Phillips would play for Town, no we didn't is the answer. Last January when we were competing in Championship if we had gone and bought Phillogene, Greaves, Clarke, Szmodicks we would of all been ecstatic. Do some fans think the club, owners, the chairman, the manager and players did not know we would most likely go down this year, of course they did. Do you think we spent millions on players not established in Prem without knowing relegation was most likely, of course we didn't. All the above knew relegation was very much on the cards and bought players who are the best from the Championship and proven there, including Muric who was Championship keeper of season, that's not worked out so we got Palmer, 11 clean sheets in Championship, just to survive Championship last year would of been welcomed to get promoted was above and beyond but too soon but what it did do is allowed us to get the ground Prem ready, buy the best young talent from Championship who are not only assets but fit in to the clubs long term strategy, J Clarke and Phillogene and Godfrey all played well yesterday it was the tinkering to accomodate Davis let us down as he cant defend in Prem and thinks he is now a winger, and our bench is nowhere near Prem standard yet. Our attack next year will be unbelievable in the Championship as proved vs Coventry and Delap I think has probaly surprised himself, just because he in headlines this year doesn't mean a top 4 club will sign him and the deal is clever in that the only club he will be going too is Man City for 40 million and we will double our money just like villa did with Phillogene, and quite right too, if a club wants to pay 60 million for Delap then Man City will quite rightly buy him back as he is a homegrown player for them so any sale is pure profit, and who says Delap will want to go just yet and sit on bench at a mid table club, if he goes anywhere its back to City first and we double our investment and for 40 million we can definately buy a top striker and quality midfield, with hopefully Flynne Downes one of them and Cameron humphreys maybe given a chance, who knows, but we are in the best shape the club has been in 22 years and our model is far better than most relegated from Prem the likes of Norwich, Watford, West Brom. In last 5 seasons Bournemouth, Fulham, Leicester, Southampton, Burnley, Sheff Utd all gone down and we have better talent if relegated than all of them. We aren't a shop window club, all our new signings are on long term contracts and if you think Ashton allowed relegation clauses as the favourites to be relegated then it's madness, the players have all bought into the long term plan. A night out with Ed they all be happy. I think a season I Championship with some new additions and let's face it we dont need too many for Championship and we will be looking good, the old guard will mostly go, H clarke, Woolfeden will stay as they are Ipswich and we will buy the best midfielders we can get and develop and if we do stay up (which we still can at the moment) then we will keep Cajuste etc so nothing is doom and gloom at our club. It's been a good learning curve for Mckennas progress too, he has changed line-up far too much and you just het feeling he has been a bit too soft and sentimental to league one lads but what is done is done. We are moving as a club in the direction whether that's down or survival no harm will be done. COYB

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Carberry added 11:16 - Feb 23 Recruitment, recruitment, recruitment - that's been our downfall, as well as a manager who constantly tinkers with the line-up. We buy a goalkeeper in the Summer and have to replace him in January - startlingly inept. Can anyone put their hand on their heart and say our signings are Premier League quality, apart from Delap? And we have spent a lot of money. I've said it before, our scouting footprint ends at Felixstowe. The only players who have come from overseas are those other clubs had already identified and rejected. And what do we do, have long drawn out negotiations to get Szmodics and Philogene, neither of whom are making an impression - egos at play here. And yet there are still people who say how wonderfully our club is run; I don't think so.

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Leejames99 added 11:27 - Feb 23 @carberry What players did you want us to get who are Prem ready? The club wasn't Prem ready so we bought the best young and Championship talent, we were lucky to get Phillips and even Delap has surprised how well he done, if clubs thought he was tgat good they would of signed him but we did. So funny comments on here who moan but never say who we should of signed instead and who from Prem should be going down instead of us. Comparing ourselves to Brighton and Brentford it's ridiculous, the best we could hope for this season is 4th bottom and we can still get there at the moment but if not we will be super strong in Championship because of the foresight of the signings we made knowing relegation is a very high possibility. The tinkering I agree Morsy, Burns etc should of never been in starting 11 from first game but Mckenna knows they aren't Prem quality now.

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Tedray added 11:38 - Feb 23 I love "little" Ipswich sadly with their "Little" players. It would be such a breath of fresh air to have them survive but it appears that the powers that be do not welcome us to the party. Perhaps we got the buying strategy wrong and rather than hedge our bets for the future should have bought fewer new players at a greater individual cost.As unfortunately too often we have found ourselves fighting a rearguard action cracks in selection,tactics and player ability get magnified.However as we are at a disadvantage in so many ways lets fight the good fight and hope for an unexpected outcome.Come on the Town.

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Linkboy13 added 11:53 - Feb 23 Godfrey was taken off because he was on a yellow like Tuanzebe last week not because he was absolutely useless and couldn't be bothered to track back should never pull a blue shirt on again.
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Carberry added 12:10 - Feb 23 Leejames99, I very much doubt the management were planning for us to get relegated this season. And I, for one, would rather like us to stay up but if you want to have fun in the Championship then looks like your wish will come true. We should be trying to emulate Brentford, Brighton and Bournemouth, they have been very smart with the recruitment of players and managers and did it by getting promoted and staying there. And the idea that we went up too early is a fallacy. The gap between the Championship and Premier League is so great that you can never be ready. That's why it is all about intelligent recruitment.

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Leejames99 added 12:25 - Feb 23 @linkboy13 yes that's right was all Godfrey's fault, do you even watch the matches, first goal Son had Godfrey and O'Shea on him and took them both, that's football it's called skill the issue was Davis ball watching and not seeing Johnson coming in, wasn't even covering post, 2nd goal same thing Johnson standing on his own, 3rd goal was a lucky deflection and 4th was Davis again too far forward not marking Kulevski in LB and couldn't run back on time. Davis should not of been playing unless in front of Townsend. Godfrey got a yellow on 40 mins so was wise bring hin off one touch on Son and he would been off especially with that ref.

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Carberry added 12:29 - Feb 23 Godfrey was not taken off because he got a yellow after 40 mins. It was either an injury or his performance, probably the latter as he was getting roasted by Son.
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Leejames99 added 12:42 - Feb 23 @Cranberry I don't WANT us to go down but am realistic enough to know it was highly likely as was majority of other people, you never say who should be going down instead of us, so who? Nottingham Forest stayed up by skin of teeth which we may still do, Bournemouth did go down, so did Newcastle, Fulham twice, Burnley twice, Leicester, Southampton it has pretty much been same 3 up and down last few seasons as the gulf is so big, Leeds should of gone up on paper but we had a miracle so its just the way it is. Brentford have kept same manager and made alot of money from selling too, same with Brighton, i dont think 2 seasons ago in league one that finding a scout to find top international players or potentials prodigys to come and play alongside Sam Morsy and Co was a priority, nor needed. If you going to slate me tell me who we should of signed and who should be going down instead, we can still stay up at the moment and I hope we do but I think at this moment in time we are okay either way and alot of that is down to keeping the manager, would you prefer we do like the rest sack Mckenna bring in a journeyman or ex player? IpswichTown have a plan and a model there set out and ate sticking too and right now are way ahead of schedule.

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Leejames99 added 12:49 - Feb 23 Godfrey wasn't getting roasted watch the highlights! First, 2nd and forth were down to Davis. Son is one of best forwards in league and takes on many a defender do you think Wes burns done better, at prem level giving a striker spacevto just stand on his own in box, run in and tap ball in and then just leave someone like Kuleveski on his own is outrageous for a left back

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Carberry added 13:39 - Feb 23 Leejames99, I'm not slating you, I'm disagreeing with you. I can't tell you who we should have signed because I don't have access to an International database of players. What a strange argument that says I have to tell you who should being going down instead of us. We aren't good enough, if we were then we would be better than other teams and would stay up. That's how it works. Did I say sack McKenna, no. He will be gone of his own volition in the Summer if his stock is still high enough to attract Premier League interest. And please don't talk about length of contracts for either him or players, it just means you can get more compensation. Do you think Philogene came here to play Championship football, of course not. However who will buy him is another matter. Delap is probably the only one to walk into another Prem side, so he will be gone. 'Godfrey wasn't getting roasted watched the highlights', that says it all. The highlights - is that enough? He was having a very difficult time of it and Spurs were focusing on his wing all first half. Did you watch the 90 minutes or just Match of the Day?

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dirtydingusmagee added 14:22 - Feb 23 Out of curiosity can those that still think we can stay up say where the points to survive are likely to come from , i cant see them but im not regarded as a true supporter as i think we will be in Championship next season .Please tell !
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Leejames99 added 14:32 - Feb 23 @carberry Fair play, yeah I watched whole game and just rewatched, i agree that Son had the measure of Godfrey but Greaves, O'Shea and Godfrey were all covering Davis, his defending in prem is shocking, I like him but I definately feel he be better left mid in this league it's too quick for him. I dont think Mckenna will go at all, if Ashton thought for one minute he was going we would of sacked him by now but its not good in my opinion and who is better on that manager merry go round. And in terms of players playing in Championship I 100% think Phillogene knew when he signed he might be playing in Championship next year, we wouldnt of spent 20 mill for a handful of games for a left winger he and J Clarke etc all been bought for the next stage of ipswich Town, we dont need to sell, what be point buying all them players to then sell them all again, that would be like we were competition winners. Only club Delap will be going is back Man City if anywhere and we be 40 million better off to rebuild more, if we double our money in a season that's good going, he is still developing he isn't prolific is he and doesn't like to pass but has been a stand out player but I think we will most certainly get a good striker with 40 million and he may not want to go, lots hood friends here, being a benchwarmer not a good career move and would City want to sell him to a rival. And will Mckenna want to up root his whole family with his girls settled and go to a big club where a sacking is enevitable, he is here for the journey I think. I think Davis might go to a prem club and maybe Delap but Hutch, Szmodicks, J Clarke, Greaves etc all stay for next season relegated or not. It's the Morsy, Chaplin, Burns will all go. Harry Clarke be back, Cam humphries be back id imagine Downes be back if we go down. Who is going to want Hutch and Phillogene etc at the moment, promoted clubs, whats point them going to club to be in a relegation scrap again? If after one season we didn't bounce straight back then yes they go for sure but not yet, and if we stay up (which I hope we do) they all stay. I think we showed vs Coventry we are more than equipped for the Championship but likewise I think if we stay up and the League lot go then we will be able to establish ourselves. We need to hope Southampton and Leicester beat Wolves and that's the 6 points but unfortunately on paper Wolves remaining games are all lower half aside Man City. Town just need to play with no fear now and what will be will be but I think vs Man Utd it needs to be like Villa game with no league 1 players and we have Tunazabe back, play a 4 -3-2-1 same as Everton did. Pray Cajuste, Phillips not out.

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ArnieM added 15:23 - Feb 23 Midfield is our major problem now, and it feeds in to a stu ted attack and overwhelmed defence. Our midfield is too thin in numbers ( McKenna ta tics), and far too slow and one dimensional. Midfield needs sorting out in the summer. I'll say again, we were promoted too soon ( by two seasons I'd say). Hence the squad is ill- equipped for the Plastic League. Personally, I won't miss thus so are league one bit. As the song goes..." PL corrupt as F **" and nothing I've seen so far this season makes me challenge the sentiment of this song...

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blueboy1981 added 15:42 - Feb 23 The Bullet has to be Bitten now - the difficult part was achieved with Promotion at long last to the Premiership. Job Done - after decades of mediocrity. The somewhat easier task was to stay, by Recruiting as needed and necessary to achieve that aim. We spent £120million plus, not an insignificant amount, but other than DELAP (Prem’ Quality) the rest have arguably been an abject total failure. Over recent times we have definitely gone backwards, not forwards - equally so, we are rotating players in the team as if we are a pretend Champions League team. Why ? if the judgement has been right by McKenna it should surely by now not be at all necessary - there is no team continuity within at all, and every game a third of the team perform like strangers. It’s there for all to see without Blue Tints. McKenna at Prem’ level, thus far, has proved it’s beyond him, and Recruitment has been extremely mediocre and inadequate for the required level. This won’t go down well with some - because it’s TRUE - you don’t need to look any further why, baring a small miracle Mr McKenna, we’re back in the Championship in August. And prepare yourselves for changes, a no Guarantees of a timely RETURN to where we are, for a while longer anyway.

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Leejames99 added 16:34 - Feb 23 Blueboy81 Who would you of felt were appropriate signings? And if you think signings are so awful who would be your starting 11? Easy bit staying in the league after 22 years away with half a squad of league one players, ridiculous, absolute nothing to back up those comments, 120 million is nothing in this league, Phillogene only played 2 games and 1 sub in Prem, Jack Clarke only 6 starts, Godfrey only 2, Townsend only 1, its nothing to do with those players we don't know yet if they Prem quality. 3 teams have to go down that's the way of the league and we were favourites to say bad recruitment is ridiculous, how is it easier to stay in Prem than get out of Championship especially now. You just write random statements - so just so we all in the picture according to your opinion We should stay up Manager no good for Prem Recruitment a disaster We will never return to Prem if we go down All players bought will be sold We will be just like Luron now Owners will sell Club is in turmoil and going backwards? And your an Ipswich Town fan? Wish you had forecast this at start season we could of kept season ticket money and bought nobody, oh well back to back relegation according to your opinion. Unfortunate if only we could of signed Isak, Mbeumo, De Bruyne, and Van Djik and maybe Bowen ...didn't Bowen play for Hull hmm Let me grab my blue tinted glasses it's all a dream, roll on Morecambe. I guess we lucky Ed Sheeran writes good songs at least.

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blueboy1981 added 16:46 - Feb 23 Leejames99 - you often use a thousand words to say little, if anything. It’s not for me to tell McKenna or you who I think should have been signed, he is paid well to know as Manager, what is clear is Recruitment, as I stated, has not been to the level of the Prem’, if it was we wouldn’t be struggling and Relegation Candidates. A finish of 17th this season would not have been too much to expect of McKenna this season. Relegation is Failure, if it happens, which I’m sure you would prefer me to say !

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Leejames99 added 17:11 - Feb 23 How can you blame recruitment if they hardly played? Only Delap, Hutchinson,and O'Shea have played over 20 games then Phillips, Cajuste and Szmodicks 16 the rest minimal Encisco 2 J Clarke 6 Phillogene 2 Townsend 1 Johnson 9 So you have said you like Delap but ALL the rest not Prem standard so Phillips of Man City, Cajuste of Lazio, the Championship top scorer, 2 of the countries best up and coming wingers etc no good in your opinion. I agree but Mckenna biggest mistake was empathy and sentiment to his league 1 players, Morsy 21 games in midfield has been a joke, bringing on Luongo, playing Burns in every position just to let him play, not telling Davis he is a defender, buying players but not playing them and instead playing Chaplin etc these players were league 1 and Championship at most players so that only goes back to blaming the goalkeeper again which is boring but some fans will not have it that the old guard (heroes as they are) are not Prem standard aside Davis if he is going forward, Woolfeden and H Clarke, possibly Broadhead, that's it. We have the best of the Championship with most potential to become a unit to hopefully become a established Prem team, we will replace the league 1 lot in the Summer whichever division we are in but if it is the Championship that doesn't mean Mckenna failed in Prem we just got there a season or so too early but what it's done has given us the chance to keep building the club, 3 have to go down but likewise 3 have to up and if the worst happens then we will be firm favourites to do just that.

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blueboy1981 added 18:36 - Feb 23 Troubled Months ahead you Guys - although of course you won’t want to know that ! Far from being an acceptable position for the Owners of the Club, after this latest defeat debacle - and you best believe it !!
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:13 - Feb 23 Blueboy i dont think staying up is easier than getting promoted ,it has always been difficult and the fact that the bottom 3 as it stands all came up together and will almost certainly drop back together proves that.We will have to try again and hopefully will be stronger 2nd time around ..
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blueboy1981 added 20:38 - Feb 23 dirtydingus …. you may well be right, but 17th and safe shouldn’t have been too much of an ask - for in the eyes of some, the Best Young Manager in the Game, with the obvious full backing of the Club Owners. Relegation will be a Disaster for them and unjust, they didn’t buy and invest in our Club for Championship Football. And can we honestly feel £120 - £150million has been well spent already ? I feel we have overall gone backwards from how we started the season off. No use of any of us glossing it up to what it now clearly isn’t - right now it’s sad and disappointing, without putting a false face to it ! We’ve made progress of course as a Club, but Relegation will be a Huge Kick where it Hurts for the Club. Let’s still hope otherwise, but can you see where POINTS are now likely to come from ? - I realistically cannot !

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blues1 added 21:02 - Feb 23 TimmyH. Actually I upmarket plenty of comments on here. If they're deserving of it. And have often unmarked you too. Ut if some1s just posting negative rubbish, then he's, I'll downmark them. Whoever that might be.
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oldegold added 21:31 - Feb 23 I didn't see the match yesterday but am of the idea that McKenna rotates too many players and in the autumn should have stuck with a settled team...never been an advocate of shuffling the team around and it seems every game there are too many changes and players play like complete strangers....
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oldegold added 21:33 - Feb 23 BTW where has Burgess gone?
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TimmyH added 21:56 - Feb 23 See Leif Davis was put through the grinder by the 'pundit' that is Danny Murphy on MOTD last night...not really any surprise there, before the game a number were wanting Townsend to remain in the LB position. Davis has struggled by and large at the higher level.
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