Most seasons have one or two interesting figures bubbling to the top of the statistics, but this one has more than most, so I thought I'd provide a few observations.

Firstly, the draws, which are proving so costly. In years gone by, with two points for a win, they wouldn't have been so bad, but as we all know, one victory and one defeat is better than two draws, however encouraging unbeaten runs seem. Cardiff, in third place, have lost more matches (seven) than Ipswich, third from bottom (six).

Town are the draw kings of England, with 12 matches out of 20 having ended all square. Only Port Vale, in League Two, with 10 draws, have also reached double figures. In 39 of Ipswich's 66 seasons in the Football League (that's well over half of them), the club drew fewer than 12 matches in the entire season, and that mark has been reached this season while still well short of the halfway point. The club record is currently 18 draws in a season, achieved in 1990-1991; that year, the club finished 14th in Division Two, one of its lowest league positions since coming up from the Third Division (South) in the fifties.

I'm not someone who subscribes to the '0-0 draw equals boring game' school of thought. Even now, I remember standing on my milk crate in Churchmans for a fantastic FA Cup quarter-final against Leeds in 1975 which finished scoreless. However, we are seeing rather a lot of 0-0s at the moment. The club has rarely had more than three in a season, although the last two seasons have both seen four matches ending this way, and this season we've already seen four. The record, by the way, is seven.

It's at Portman Road where the problems really lie. Tomorrow (10th December) marks one year since Town's last home win by more than the odd goal. 10 home games with only six goals scored is the sorriest tale, and here's the new all-time record: this has never happened within a single season before in the club's history. The previous low was seven goals in 10 home matches, which has happened a few times. The last time was only earlier in 2009, in the run culminating in the home defeat by Doncaster last April - two such low-scoring home runs in a calendar year is almost unheard of.

I'd like to dig out some encouraging statistics at the moment, but predictably, it's hard. The nine-match unbeaten run is obviously the highlight - it's the longest unbeaten run since the end of the 2004/05 season under Joe Royle, when the club went 11 matches without defeat before going down 2-0 at Sunderland. Before that, the best unbeaten run was 18 matches in the middle of the 1999/00 promotion season.

And the impressive run of just one goal conceded in four games doesn't happen very often - it's only the seventh time this decade. If anyone can think up some more encouraging statistics to investigate, my spreadsheets are at your disposal.

moomoosereni added 12:05 - Dec 9 Impressive work! Sky sports News: Magilton suspended. As always can't get on with all his players, no win in 7, looks like the P45 is coming for him again.
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DrJeckyll added 12:08 - Dec 9 One encouraging point, the season after we drew 18 games we won the title
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ITFC1985 added 12:40 - Dec 9 Just imagine if most those draws had of been defeats, the boo boys would be having a field day!!!
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Ftnfwest added 12:58 - Dec 9 where in cherry cherry hinton, cherry hinton blue? That's my home...er suburb (or was)
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Tractorog added 13:33 - Dec 9 We just need Keane to headbut a few strikers to get them scoring... well that's what my mate Jim says.
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bedsitfc added 15:35 - Dec 9 we need norris to get back as he will get in the box more often
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Bluearmy added 15:54 - Dec 9 bedsitfc what we need is strikers who can take chances not waste them but i agree with your point as well
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naa added 16:48 - Dec 9 My only worry about Norris' return is where will he play? I don't think he should replace Garvan, and obviously not Leadbitter, and he's not great out wide. I think Leadbitter and Garvan are capable of pushing up more. Leadbitter in particular sits a bit deeper than he needs to - especially last night where Boro weren't threatening at all. He had a few shots from 25 yards or so, but I'd like ot see him getting into the box. He hasn't done that enough, especially when Trotter was playing the supposed defencive role. More attacking options can only help.

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WadzillaBhoy added 10:47 - Feb 20 Ulrich Le Pen - the 13min wonder!
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