Returning keeper Scott Loach made three important saves from Blackpool midfielder Faris Haroun as the Blues and Seasiders drew a blank at Portman Road. Top scorer David McGoldrick headed disappointing Town's best opportunity wide in the ninth minute with Loach thwarting Haroun twice in the first half and once late on in the second.

Loach came in for his first league start since August with first-choice keeper Dean Gerken missing out having woken up with a stiff neck.

Midfielder Paul Green was handed his full debut and his first appearance for Town at Portman Road, while Luke Hyam returned to the starting line-up after his gashed leg.

Frank Nouble and Jay Tabb dropped to the bench, alongside Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, back from his hamstring injury, and academy keeper Michael Crowe.

Former Town striker Michael Chopra was on the bench for Blackpool, alongside ex-Blues loanee Ricardo Fuller.

Following a minute’s applause in tribute to Sir Tom Finney, McGoldrick went close to breaking the deadlock in the third minute. First he just failed to get a touch on Chambers’s cross from the right, before David Perkins blocked his shot after Stephen Hunt had cut it back from the left.

Daryl Murphy went close in the sixth minute, breaking into the area on the right and hitting a low shot which Seasiders’ keeper Matt Gilks could only palm away, fortunately for the visitors just beyond Green.

Town had started well and in the ninth minute again went close, Luke Chambers crossing from the right and McGoldrick heading just wide at the near post. The Blues number 10 will feel he should have been celebrating his 17th goal of the season.

Both sides were forced into substitutions after only 12 minutes. Hyam, who had been out with a gashed leg, was replaced by Tabb, while Andrew Halliday took over from Jack Robinson at left-back for the Tangerines.

Blackpool’s first chance fell to Kirk Broadfoot, the Scot turning a 16th minute freekick from deep into the side-netting.

Town had been unable to make their early dominance count and in the 29th minute the visitors weren’t far from going in front when Stephen Dobbie played in Haroun and the Belgian midfielder forced Loach to save well down to his left. The ball ran loose but Chambers did well to get to it and stab it away ahead of Perkins.

Haroun picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul on Tabb soon after, then Steven Davies lashed well over from distance.

The Seasiders were by now on top with the Blues making little headway in the Blackpool half and giving the ball away too easily in their own territory.

On 40 Loach again had to save down to his left from Haroun after Smith had given the ball away on the Town left.

After a bright start in which they should have gone in front, McGoldrick’s chance having been the best opportunity, the Town performance drifted and only a couple of sharp Loach saves had prevented the visitors from being ahead after a not overly enthralling half.

Haroun, who was linked with Town prior to his move into English football with Middlesbrough in the summer of 2011, threatened again within a minute of the restart, hitting a right-footed shot across the face of goal from Dobbie’s pass.

Boss Mick McCarthy had switched around his midfield at the break with Green moving into the centre and Tabb going out to the right. In the 50th minute MacKenzie was booked for a foul on McGoldrick.

Murphy shot not far wide from the left of the area on 54 after latching on to Christophe Berra’s clearance with Town looking more dangerous in the opening minutes of the second period than they had in the closing stages of the first. Two minutes later, Hunt shot over from Murphy’s knockdown.

Blackpool boss Barry Ferguson switched strikers Davies and Keogh for Fuller and David Goodwillie in the 63rd minute, meaning there would be no appearance from ex-Blue Chopra, who earlier had been booed by Town fans as he warmed up.

Perkins was booked for a blatant trip on Murphy after the Irishman had got away from him 10 yards inside the Blackpool half. From Hunt’s quickly taken freekick, Murphy teed up Tabb, who scuffed weakly to Gilks.

On 70 McGoldrick and particularly the Sir Bobby Robson Stand felt Broadfoot had handled in the area as the striker tried to take the ball past him, but referee Mark Haywood waved away the protests.

On the touchline manager McCarthy made his feelings known to the fourth official before switching Green for Paul Anderson, who moved into his usual right midfield role with Tabb switching back to the centre.

Four minutes later, as the game moved into its final quarter of an hour with rain by now falling heavily and the pitch increasingly difficult, Ebanks-Blake was handed his league debut for the tiring Hunt, Murphy moving to left midfield.

MacKenzie headed wide for Blackpool from a freekick on the left but having strayed offside, then Dobbie’s 83rd minute shot deflected wide off Tommy Smith.

The Seasiders were looking the more likely scorers and in the 86th minute Loach again thwarted Haroun, this time blocking from the Belgian from close range. Two minutes later, Dobbie shot well over from distance.

In the final minute of scheduled time, Murphy brought the ball forward from deep but wasted the opportunity. As the game moved into three minutes of injury time the Irishman’s strike deflected wide.

The Blues finally added some urgency to their game in the final moments with a number of crosses flying into the box, McGoldrick scuffing well wide when found in space by Cresswell 14 yards out.

Town had to be content with their first 0-0 home draw since February 2010 and it would have been harsh on Blackpool to have taken nothing from the game.

Having started the first half well, the Blues’ performance deteriorated and they would have been behind but for two fine Loach saves from Haroun.

The returning Town keeper made another important stop from the Belgian in the second half with the Blues again under par.

Manager Mick McCarthy will be pleased with the clean sheet — the third on the trot at home - but disappointed with the overall performance and failure to take all three points against a Blackpool side now without a win in 15 matches.

Town: Loach, Chambers, Berra, Smith, Cresswell, Green (Anderson 71), Hyam (Tabb 12), Skuse, Hunt (Ebanks-Blake 75), McGoldrick, Murphy. Unused: Crowe, Mings, Richardson, Nouble.

Blackpool: Gilks, McMahon, Broadfoot, MacKenzie, Robinson (Halliday 12), Angel, Perkins, Haroun, Dobbie, Keogh (Goodwillie 63), Davies (Fuller 63). Unused: Cathcart, Basham, Grandin, Chopra. Referee: Mark Haywood (West Yorkshire). Att: 16,010 (Blackpool: 285).

Photo: Action Images

roytheboy added 13:50 - Feb 16 As a Season Ticket holder, I think I deserve to be told why Paul Taylor is not being played, he is our most exciting forward, I know that both he and Mick Mc'carthy can both be volatile individuals, I expect therefore that it is simply a matter of time before we hear that he has gone, what a pity, he has such a lot to offer with his skills.
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StochesStotasBlewe added 14:06 - Feb 16 blue mon09, Most of us post honest assesments of what we have witnessed & are most certainly not armchair TV mugs you so eloquently describe. Generally, the football on show has been piss poor at best, however, if you are satisfied with this, fine, that's your opinion, some of us want better.
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essexboy added 14:26 - Feb 16 Pinewoodblueboy(Andy) !.why bother to go then
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JWM added 14:30 - Feb 16 The problem is that a lot of people on here expect Champagne football on a Brown Ale Budget!
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NoelTheDub added 14:46 - Feb 16 JWM...I would like to taste a bit of champagne not a full glass as we have no money but with 9 defenders our manager puts on the pitch this wont happen.All I want to see is our team having a go ,full stop.The paying public at least deserve to see some forward minded players trying to win a game.
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blueboy1981 added 14:49 - Feb 16 ..... the 'low expectancy' brigade are out in force again - complete with their usual ABUSE for people who dare to think differently. Sad people is all I can say for both themselves and the Club, because with 'supporters' like them the Club just doesn't need to be succesful - ALL IS WELL with them. End of - no further dialogue required - other than to hit the minus button, and of course the (to be expected) ABUSE, which comes as standard unfortunately.

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StochesStotasBlewe added 14:54 - Feb 16 essexboy. (Andy)??explain?. I go because I love my club, have been a supporter for 45 years, have had some massive highs, equally some massive lows, Ipswich is where I was born, it is where I live now, have watched our club play & beat some of Europes finest teams, I & others have aspirations that this may happen again, THAT is why I go. JWM, I realistic enough to know we can,t play champagne football ala Barcelona, Arsenal etc, but at least aspire to some sparkling wine style as the likes of Swansea prove can be achieved.

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thebeat added 15:16 - Feb 16 Are there really some fans out there who have no problem with us playing 3 centre halves and 3 defensive midfielders including one of them out of position at home against a team with no win in 14 and no manager when we have Edwards,Anderson and Taylor not getting a game? They are probly the same kind of people who agree with non competitive sports at school. I have no problem going to Leicester and playing that way but not every game regardless of who we are playing. Same old excuse we've spent no money.. We have some bloody good attacking players getting nowhere near the first team and its just plain wrong. However you look at it yesterdays tactics were cowardly simple as that.

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JWM added 15:18 - Feb 16 I haven't abused anyone! The problem is that some aren't in touch with reality and the dire mess that this once great football club is in. McCarthy has made the most of what he has available to him. It will take time to build a team and a squad and I am prepared for the long haul. It makes me laugh when all these mugs on here throw their dummies out after every poor result! It's Football get used to it!

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blue_moon09 added 15:55 - Feb 16 Expectations levels are too high from so called fans that post drivel on this website. My mate Ray Bidwolf, was at the game yesterday and his cancelling his season ticket with NCFC and his buying one with town as he thinks the entertainment on offer is that good. Keep calm and enjoy you mid table finish. HAHA
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thebeat added 15:58 - Feb 16 JWM stop using this long haul thing as an excuse. Just answer the question do you think its ok to be frightened to death of every team we play no matter how poor they are? We have the players to play with more attacking intent and beat these teams quite easily but Mick wants to bore the points out of them every single week. Like i said against the likes of Leicester and Burnley away maybe but not garbage like Blackpool at home. Do you not understand that?

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oddball added 16:11 - Feb 16 Awesome season, coyb :-)
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bluey123 added 16:11 - Feb 16 ITFC are in 8th should be safe from relegation little chance of play offs why oh why does McCarthy not give us something to enjoy it baffles me but then Im just a season ticket holder who knows nothing according to McCarthy. Saturday was a great chance to attack and someone a real match what do we end up with having to be saved from defeat by our second choice keeper who will be dropped next game.

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thebeat added 16:23 - Feb 16 There are some clueless clowns on here.
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davebessex added 16:55 - Feb 16 (4-2-3-1 ) GERKEN (RICHARDSON BERRA/CHAMBERS SMITH CRESSWELL) SKUSE GREEN ( TAYLOR MCGOLDRICK HUNT/ANDERSON) SEB
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davebessex added 17:04 - Feb 16 4-2-3-1 GERKEN ( RICHARDSON BERRA SMITH CRESSWELL) (SKUSE GREEN) (TAYLOR MCGOLDRICK HUNT) (BLAKE)
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davebessex added 17:04 - Feb 16 4-2-3-1 GERKEN ( RICHARDSON BERRA SMITH CRESSWELL) (SKUSE GREEN) (TAYLOR MCGOLDRICK HUNT) (BLAKE)
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davebessex added 17:11 - Feb 16 Sorry my first time posting didn't mean to put it on 3 times must be the Essex connection
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NoelTheDub added 17:14 - Feb 16 davebessex.....Thats the team we want to see at PR ,but MM clearly dosent think so
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thebeat added 17:44 - Feb 16 Far too adventurous for Mr Mogadon
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TimmyH added 18:01 - Feb 16 Top 6 now becoming more likely now to be involved in at least the play-offs with Readings away win at QPR, obviously not the team that turned up a couple of weeks ago, I should think we probably bored them into submission. Interesting to note even when they were down to 10 men they still harassed QPR in their half and tried taking the game to them, can you imagine Mick doing the same if we were in the same position? clearly not.

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Elizabeth added 19:14 - Feb 16 Oh dear, this season is becoming so frustrating ! So near but so far,I fear will be our fate in May. I listened to the commentary on Radio Suffolk and Brenner was really struggling to make the game sound exciting. It was not good listening and Charlie Nicholas's body language said it all on Sky Sports! Don't give up on the team just yet as you never quite know what will happen in football. It's a funny old game.

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Steelmonkey added 19:16 - Feb 16 Cloddyseedbed - yesterday's game sums up just how much you know about football,your comments about Tom Finney being a past town great were absolutely astonishing. Tom Finney only ever played for PNE and England apart from a guest appearance for Southampton. Shame on you.
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50yearsablue added 19:31 - Feb 16 I have accepted all season that we have to win the hard way as we don't have the flair players to excite. I don't usually criticise Mick McCarthy for his team selection as I accept he knows best although many 'experts' on here think otherwise. However, it is wearing a bit thin that we have to match up to the system used by mediocre/poor teams, especially at home. Yesterday was a prime example and we could not muster a single decent effort against a team winless in 14 games. The only excitement in the game occurred after the time added board had been raised. I will exempt the back 5 (although Cresswell had a shocker) and the strikers had no service. The problem stemmed from midfield where everyone, apart from Skuse in patches, was abysmal, with the only width created by Chambers; unfortunately he cannot cross a decent ball. Reading were terrific today and we are nearer to them on points than we are on performance. I would respect Mick more if he admitted he got team selection, tactics and substitutions wrong on this occasion

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bushbaby7 added 19:56 - Feb 16 I don't consider myself a 'true' Ipswich fan by any means, I've only been going this season!! But i will say im a huge football fan! I went a few times with my mate a few games towards the end of last season and enjoyed what I saw, so I decided to invest in a season ticket. Having watched town play some quality attacking football in many games this season, it beggars belief that when teams like Bolton/Blackpool come to Portman road we can't play them off the park! Nobody likes defensive football, it's not in our nature to like defensive football! It's not pretty and it's not attractive. Do I have a point to make? probably not, but I would say that until there is a more attractive style of football and possibly a more attacking intent from the manager then there will be a lot of grumpy people a few more empty seats at Portman Road.

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