The Blues drew 0-0 for the first time of the season, against Gillingham at the Priestfield Stadium. A draw was probably the right result from a scrappy game, although the Gills hit the bar late on.

Town lined-up unchanged from the side which beat Cardiff 1-0 in midweek. Skipper Jim Magilton was considered fit enough to take a place on the subs' bench after recovering from the calf injury he sustained in the 6-0 win against Nottingham Forest.

The Blues started brightly and in the seventh minute Darren Bent crossed and Ian Westlake's shot was blocked by Paul Smith. Four minutes later Richard Naylor got his head to a Currie freekick on halfway but keeper Jason Brown had little problem gathering.

Gillingham's first shot on goal came in the 11th minute, but Michael Flynn's strike was easy for Kelvin Davis.

On the quarter hour, Gillingham striker Darius Henderson got himself in the book for a very obvious dive as Kelvin Davis went to ground at his feet, the keeper also appearing to get a hand to the ball.

Henderson tried to put his side ahead through more legitimate means three minutes later but screwed his edge of the area effort wide.

On 19 the home side had the best chance of the half. Richard Naylor failed to defend a high ball into the box, Henderson nodding to a well-placed Mamady Sidibe. The Mali international should have scored but instead shot wide.

Soon after, Shefki Kuqi put pressure on keeper Jason Brown on the edge of the box, the ball dropping to Matt Richards, however, his goalbound but not overly strong header was cleared by a defender.

Jason De Vos headed a Darren Currie header over the bar, before Kuqi shot weakly to the keeper.

Just after the half hour mark, Fabian Wilnis had a shot blocked close to goal. The Gills failed to clear properly but Tommy Miller shot well wide.

Shortly before the break, Jonathon Douglas shot from a tight angle on the right and Kelvin Davis pushed over.

The Blues had enjoyed most of the possession throughout the half without ever really being at their best. A very uneven surface made passing difficult, while Gillingham seemed largely happy to try to stop Town playing and attempt to catch them on the break.

Town changed personnel and formation for the second period, Jim Magilton taking over from Matt Richards. David Unsworth went to left-back and Darren Currie to the left of midfield.

Magilton almost created an opening for Kuqi in the 55th minute, his low ball across the box just too far in front of the Finnish frontman.

Kelvin Davis was at his best in the 58th minute, pushing Flynn's shot from the edge of the box wide. Flynn had seized on a weak headed clearance from Fabian Wilnis.

Gillingham keeper Jason Brown picked up a caution a minute later for a cynical foul on Darren Bent. The Town striker had been sent away beyond the Gills' defence on the left and Brown brought him down. Bent had been out wide when the challenge was made and the referee was probably right to decide that the incident didn't constitute an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

On 62 Jim Magilton caught a volley sweetly from 20 yards but the strike was too close to Brown.

David Unsworth became the first Town player to enter the referee's book for a foul in the 65th minute. Soon after, Kevin Horlock replaced Ian Westlake, while six minutes later James Scowcroft took over from Shefki Kuqi.

Darren Bent mis-hit a decent chance on the right of the penalty area, before Magilton brought the ball in from the right and sent a chip over keeper Brown but wide of the far post.

Town felt they should have had a freekick in a dangerous position on the edge of the penalty area by the byline in the 82nd minute when Scowcroft was clattered by Ian Cox, but referee Brian Curson saw no infringement.

With two minutes remaining, Jason De Vos hit a weak back-pass which Sidibe gleefully intercepted but, as Davis rushed out towards him, slid the ball wide when he really ought to have done better.

As the game entered injury time, Gillingham hit the woodwork. Sub Darren Byfield broke into the area and found Jonathon Douglas, who crashed a strike off the crossbar. James McEveley picked up a yellow card for dissent in the closing moments.

A draw was probably a fair result and, perhaps surprisingly given their position in the bottom three, was clearly the outcome that the home side were aiming for throughout. It was once again a case of Town having to try to break down a defensive opposition while trying to avoid being caught on the break.

Having said that, the Gills certainly had the better of the chances with Kelvin Davis the busier goalkeeper and Sidibe missing two good chances. Town were better in the first half than in the second and the half-time formation change didn't really work out.

Four points from two away games in a week isn't a bad return and Town's draw at Gillingham is a better result than Wigan's recent defeat at the Priestfield. The Latics' draw at Nottingham Forest keeps the Blues within three points of the top two, albeit with a worse goal difference, while Sunderland - still to visit Town and the JJB Stadium - are now two points clear at the top of the table.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Richards (Magilton 46), Unsworth, De Vos, Naylor, Miller, Currie, Westlake (Horlock 65), Bent, Kuqi (Scowcroft 71). Unused: Price, Couñago. Att: 9,311.

Photo: Action Images

Ipswich Town Polls