Town face an FA Cup replay at Portman Road a week on Tuesday after drawing 0-0 with Chester at the Deva Stadium. The Blues were lucky not to be behind before a late fight back saw Alan Lee hit the bar.

Boss Jim Magilton made only one change from the side which defeated Birmingham 1-0 on Monday with Shane Supple taking over from Lewis Price in goal. Winger Martin Brittain, widely tipped to play his second Town game after returning from a loan spell at Yeovil, wasn't even included in the 16.

Town's first chance came in the third minute, Chester-born winger Gary Roberts crossing from the right and Billy Clarke heading too close to keeper John Danby. The Blues had started the stronger and Sylvain Legwinski went close with a low 35-yard shot which Danby did well to tip wide.

On 13 Chester striker Gregg Blundell had the ball in the net but the linesman's flag had already been raised. Soon after, Billy Clarke picked up the game's first yellow card for encroaching at a freekick.

There was a big scare for Town in the 21st minute when Blundell was through one-on-one with Supple, although with shades of offside. The striker slipped the ball past Supple but also beyond the post.

The Blues had lost their impetus and weren't keeping hold of possession, while Chester were looking dangerous when playing the ball over the top to Blundell. Town switched to a five-man midfield with Roberts wide on the left and Clarke on the right as boss Jim Magilton looked to regain control in midfield.

Chester defender Ashley Westwood had keeper Danby to thank in the 25th minute when he almost deflected a Matt Richards cross into this own net.

Another ball over the top and another chance for Blundell quickly followed. The striker's shot squirmed under Supple and, fortunately for the keeper, wide of the post. The resultant corner was cleared to Westwood, Supple doing well to save and hold onto the defender's 30-yard strike.

Danby dropped a Roberts freekick under pressure from Alan Lee on the half hour but it came to nothing, then Richards had a strike blocked on the edge of the box and Lee shot wide.

Lee headed a Harding cross wide, before Supple was out to chest the ball away from Blundell on the edge of his area.

In first half injury time, Roberto Martinez cut in from the left and hit a shot across Supple which the keeper saved with an outstretched toe.

It had been a distinctly under par performance from the Blues, who had rarely managed to string their passing together as they had against Birmingham on Monday. The midfield in particular had given possession away far too often with Chester allowing them little time to settle on the ball.

Jim Magilton made a change at the break, Alex Bruce, again looking less comfortable at right-back than he is at centre-half, coming off and Chris Casement taking over, the Northern Irishman making his first appearance this season.

The Town players were unhappy in the 47th minute when referee Jon Moss pulled back play to award the Blues a freekick with Sylvain Legwinski breaking into the penalty area. From Matt Richards's freekick, the ball fell to Richard Naylor at close range but his effort on goal was deflected for a corner.

From the corner, keeper Danby denied first Naylor, then Clarke, the Irishman from virtually point-blank range on the goal-line.

Just before the hour mark Casement was caught in possession by Laurence Wilson who took the ball on before trying to chip Supple, the keeper pushing the ball wide.

The Blues were still very much second best and Jim Magilton and Bryan Klug made a double change in the 67th minute. Matt Richards and Billy Clarke made way for Gavin Williams and Danny Haynes.

As the game wore on and the game increasingly looked like ending in a draw, the Blues added some much needed urgency to their previously torpid performance.

Dan Harding hit a low shot wide from 20 yards, then for the home side, Blundell went over after good work by the excellent Martinez.

In the 87th minute Alan Lee sent a Gary Roberts corner against the crossbar fron close range. The loose ball dropped for Jason De Vos, the Canadian's shot appearing to hit a defender on the hand, but referee Moss was unmoved.

In injury time, Supple and Naylor collided on the edge of the Town box but the ball ran wide. As the game drew to a close, Gary Roberts picked up his third booking of the season for a foul.

A disappointing performance from Town against a determined Chester side. While too many Blues thought they only needed to turn up to win, the home side, with Martinez inspirational in midfield and Blundell always a threat up front, probably deserved more than a replay at Portman Road a week on Tuesday.

Only in the final 10 minutes or so, after the introduction of the excellent Danny Haynes, did Town show anything of the form which beat Championship leaders Birmingham earlier in the week.

The replay will be at Portman Road a week on Tuesday (KO 7.45pm), while the Blues will learn their potential round four opponents on Monday at 1.30pm. Town and Chester will be number 11 in the draw, which will be presented by Sir Trevor Brooking and made by Hope Powell, coach of England women's team and her side's captain Faye White.

Town: Supple, Bruce (Casement 46), Harding, De Vos, Naylor, Legwinski, Garvan, Roberts, Richards (Williams 67), Lee, Clarke (Haynes 67). Unused: Peters, Price. Att: 4,330.

Photo: Action Images

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