Mohamed Diamé’s goal three minutes after the restart was enough to see leaders Hull City to a 1-0 victory over the Blues at Portman Road. Town went closest to scoring before the break when Daryl Murphy hit the post, but having gone in front the Tigers dominated the second half.

Mick McCarthy made three changes with top scorer Brett Pitman coming in up front and Jonathan Douglas and Luke Hyam returning to the central midfield roles in the anticipated 4-4-2 formation.

Douglas was back after a three-match ban and Hyam from a calf injury which had sidelined him for the last two games.

Kevin Bru and Kevin Foley both dropped to the bench, while Ainsley Maitland-Niles wasn’t in the 18.

Hull made nine changes from the team which drew 0-0 at Arsenal in the FA Cup on Saturday with only Curtis Davies and David Meyler keeping their places.

Freddie Sears created the game’s first excitement in the sixth minute when he broke past Andrew Robertson down the Town right but his cross was too deep for strike pair Pitman and Murphy.

There was a scare for the Blues in the 10th minute when Tommy Smith got the ball caught under his feet and lost possession to Abel Hernández not far outside the area on the left.

The New Zealand international hauled the Uruguayan down as he looked to break into the box with only Bartosz Bialkowski to beat and was perhaps fortunate not to see a yellow card.

Robert Snodgrass took the freekick and sent it curling away from Bialkowski to his left, but the on-form Polish keeper got across to superbly tip it past the post.

Hull had most of the ball in the opening 20 minutes but with the freekick their only chance, while the Blues occasionally threatened to create an opening on the break.

On 25 Hernández shot over, then Smith did superbly to block a Diamé effort from the left of the area after he had appeared to have got away from the Town central defender.

A minute later, the Blues claimed a penalty when Pitman looked to be shoved as a Sears cross came over from the left. The ball was bundled out of play and from Pringle’s corner Berra’s header was stabbed behind.

Town were by now in charge and on 27 Murphy saw a shot deflect wide, Hull subsequently making heavy weather of clearing the danger after the resultant corner.

In the 37th minute, the Blues went within a whisker of going in front. Pringle, the man on all Town’s set pieces, whipped in a near post freekick from the left, which skipper Luke Chambers headed against a defender.

The loose ball fell to Murphy, who lashed a shot which struck the inside of the post and flashed across the goalmouth before being cleared.

Five minutes later, another Pringle freekick from the left caused more danger, the ball falling to Chambers a few yards out but the Blues’ captain was unable to get in a clean strike and the ball looped harmlessly to Tigers keeper Allan McGregor.

Town were ended the half on top, Sears making a strong run through the middle before shooting over, then Douglas similarly went high with a strike from distance.

Hull had started the half the stronger side but with Snodgrass’s freekick, which was superbly saved by Bialkowski, their only chance.

Town grew into the game and by half-time were in charge and had created chances, several from Pringle’s excellent set pieces.

The visitors threatened first after the break, Berra blocked a Hernández strike and Bialkowski rather needlessly punched the loose ball away before David Meyler hit a low shot which the Blues keeper claimed more comfortably.

But the Championship leaders didn’t have to wait too long to go in front. Robertson played in Diamé between two Town defenders and the striker dinked it over BIalkowski and into the net.

The Senegalese international almost immediately shot over and then Chambers blocked brilliantly from Meyler as the visitors took control of the game.

On 52, Bialkowski saved superbly from Sam Clucas, then one-time Blues loanee Jack Livermore smashed the rebound against the post.

The Tigers had dominated since the goal, passing the ball around confidently and looking likely to add to their lead, but on 59 Chambers caused McGregor an awkward moment with a cross-shot from the right which the keeper was pleased to see fly just over his bar.

In the 64th minute, with the visitors still on top, Kevin Bru replaced Hyam, who had suffered a knock. Five minutes later, as Hull swapped Hernández for Chuba Akpom, Pringle and Sears switched flanks.

Hull continued to control the game comfortably and might have increased their lead in the 75th minute when Moses Odubajo got behind the Blues’ backline on the right but crossed poorly and Chambers cleared.

Two minutes later, there were calls for a Town penalty when Douglas went to ground as he took a bouncing ball into the area but mainly from the stands and referee Malone quickly waved the claims away.

In the 79th minute Luke Varney took over from Pringle, who was warmly applauded off after an impressive home debut.

Soon after, Davies headed across the face of goal from a Snodgrass freekick when it seemed easier to score. Two minutes later at the other end, Pitman curled a freekick wide.

Town were finally beginning to get more of a foothold in the game and on 85 Murphy headed a Chambers cross from the right well wide. Two minutes later, Smith was booked for puling back Akpom.

As the game moved into three minutes of added on time, Sears forced McGregor to save down to his right after he had chested down and hit a low shot.

And from the corner the Blues almost grabbed an unlikely equaliser, Smith heading over under pressure at the far post. But there were no further chances before referee Malone blew the final whistle.

Having ended the first half the better side, the Blues never got going after the break with Hull scoring their goal only three minutes after the restart.

From there they dominated and looked every bit this season’s Championship title winners in waiting and they might have won more comfortably with Livermore coming close to a second when he hit the post and Davies heading across the face when he should have scored.

Town rarely threatened until the closing stages and will feel they ought to have taken their opportunities during their spell on top before the break when Murphy went closest when he struck an upright.

The result sees the end of the Blues’ 16-game, three-year long Tuesday night home run with the Blues now having lost four of their last five matches in all competitions.

Town, who are down to 10th in the table, now six points off the play-offs, next travel to Huddersfield, who drew 1-1 away against the MK Dons this evening, on Saturday.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Douglas, Hyam (Bru 64), Pringle (Varney 79), Sears, Pitman, Murphy. Unused: Gerken, Digby, Foley, Tabb, Touré.

Hull City: McGregor, Odubajo, Dawson (c), Davies, Robertson, Snodgrass, Meyler (Huddlestone 87), Livermore, Clucas, Diamé (Powell 84), Hernández (Akpom 69). Unused: Jakupović, Maguire, Maloney, Elmohamady. Referee: Brendan Malone (Wiltshire). Att: 17,630 (Hull City: 393).

Photo: Action Images

Ruddockclyro added 22:26 - Feb 23 Deep_Blue What's depressing is that no-one seems to get behind the team anymore, i can remember a few season gone by when people would get behind the team even though we'd be stuck in a mid-table rut. Now we've actually broke the top 10 places all the optimism seems to off vanished. As soon as we do win a game, half the people on here don't even post anyway, only come out to moan.

-10

bluefeast added 22:27 - Feb 23 boro are coached brighton are coached and prston are coached ,what are we exactly ,certainly not progressive are we ,its all so dull.
6

bluefeast added 22:27 - Feb 23 IN MICK WE RUST
17

EssexTractor added 22:29 - Feb 23 No surprise Hull won as Bluefeast says they are coached The evidence of our coaching is known only to a blind man MM says he could not get any better than the staff he has... Just because of MEs purse strings? That we may never know..when did our Owner, not Ian Milne clearly express his desires, his ambitions for everyone to understand? How can there be no one better than Digby, Toure, Varney( just about a 10 minute man) ...maybe he sees another Mings emerging out of nowhere, a £10 grand man quite bewildering turning into an £8m man...those " flukes" are just that. So to Bluefeasts point where is the coaching talent of MM and his staff, and where are the scouts? I admire those who pleadingly say " put in the youngsters" , but sadly what youngsters..look at the Under 21 results....just as sad as their senior colleagues.... If there was someone to coach them , maybe yes, but now...? For the first time in 23 years my season ticket renewal is in grave doubt..

9

mrmorisato added 22:29 - Feb 23 I'm normally optimistic about town's results but after Skuse and Fraser have now joined the lengthy injury list I think our season is coming to a close sooner than I had anticipated. It's now in danger of becoming a thoroughly disappointing season, Mick's biggest mistake was not taking the Portsmouth game seriously coupled with no investment in January :( If Mick is still with Ipswich in the summer he must spend big on a strong midfielder, left back and a right sided winger. If ME is serious about Town in the long run he must invest more into the squad.

7

bluefeast added 22:29 - Feb 23 The fans are bored ,thats why ,and if all were honest they would say the brand of football and lack of excitement as killed off the passion.
26

Stato added 22:30 - Feb 23 Year on year progress ? Don't make me laugh
10

Notts_tractor added 22:31 - Feb 23 McCarthy's "football" is unwatchable. The problem is that the benchmark is Keane and Jewell, so everyone says what a great job he's done. This season we have won a lot of games that frankly we never looked that brilliant in, but that's kept us on the fringes. When faced with teams with an ounce of quality it's shown. Saturday will be interesting - Hudds with a fresh, hugely positive approach to the game under their new coach versus our dinosaur. I think I already know how that will go

14

TimmyH added 22:32 - Feb 23 Sounded very much like the Middlesborough game when we played ok first half but second half very much second best to a team which hardly needed to get out of first or second gear to beat us, just currently shows where we are and that's NOT a play-off team. You just have to look at the current midfield and it simply isn't good enough coupled with an ever leakier defense spells mid-table. Time to start earning your corn Mr McCarthy - one things to get a £1M bonus for keeping us up back in 2012/13 but it will be more of a mark if you get us back in the play-offs (6th spot) now the chips are down with a lack of January signings and injuries. Time for a run of form, not in November/December BUT when it matters!!!!

7

bluefeast added 22:33 - Feb 23 oar and parr were held back and left what has replaced them our bench could change a tyre let alone our fortunes on the pitch
2

Norwichbeater added 22:36 - Feb 23 I believe it is us supporters that have been coming for years that are really starting to tire with this shxx I keep trying to keep the belief but I am really losing patience. ME came in and stated that his goal was to get us to the premiership. What has changed? Perhaps his business makes enough money through championship exposure. Forget what money Ipswich are in debt. Look at what his worth has gone up to. MM really is boring me. Not sure where we can go with present set up apart from backwards. He is clueless regarding tactics. I genuinely believe I different manager could get this team playing great football with loads of goals. Grrrrrr to Ipswich at the moment.

7

blueboy1981 added 22:40 - Feb 23 Lots of disillusioned supporters - and more than a few players too, I would guess. Sears .... ?? - what an awful waste playing for this Club - UNFORTUNATELY. Not many will be terribly keen to leave the treatment table right now - and can you really blame them ? Soon be 'spin time' again - should be interesting to see / hear - this season on fast run down now.... !!!

9

markwill45 added 22:42 - Feb 23 I'm always trying to be positive but I'm afraid the playoffs are now looking remote. Need to learn from mistakes now and put things right. Obviously the quality of players are nowhere near as talented as our opponents. We need to buy some quality but where, when from who is the money going to come from. Whoever have the richest owners win trophies. I'm sorry to say money has taken over and poor clubs will not do well FACT.

3

itfcbam added 22:43 - Feb 23 Grumpy old man. Boro and Brighton get bigger attendence than us. Preston have the momentum from promotion, much like Wolves last season. Haven't checked this out 100% but would bet we are lower mid table for attendences. Therefore without parachute payments it is extremely difficult. We are ahead of "bigger" clubs, certainly by attendence in teams like Leeds and Forest.

-4

StochesStotasBlewe added 22:48 - Feb 23 Absolute crock of s##t. We were lucky to get nil. What on earth do they do in training all week. Perhaps the Mick apologists can enlighten me. It sure as hell isn,t passing. On a more worrying note, several supporters who sit near me wont be renewing season tickets. Doesn,t bode well for the future, but who can blame them really.
16

prebsa added 22:49 - Feb 23 Simple matter of the fact is we do not have a team cam apple of making the play offs. Not one of our defenders looks simple on the ball and their only option is to smash it at Murphy. Douglas and Hyam in the middle was a joke at times with sideways passing lumps into places where no one was standing and just wondering around giving their midfield miles too much space. Murphy is nowhere and haven't been for ages yet we continue to waste Sears out wide and leave Murphy upfront based on last years form. We didn't show any quality tonight and never looked like scoring. Hull had time on the ball time to look up pass move get it back work around and repeat. We got the ball lumped it forward and immediately lost it. We are supposed to be the home team and I don't actually remember us forcing a good save (please someone correct me because I hope that is false). We didn't deserve anything from the game and while we continue to play like this we will continue down towards the middle of the table where we actually should be aiming for this the squad and tactics we use.

8

MicksZzzTactics added 22:49 - Feb 23 :-) Really! As for the game we had our chances as well as on a whole the upperhand in the 1st half ... but having failed to capitalize -- including an agonizingly inside-the-post'er bouncing the wrong way (something which happens to every team now and again I might stress!) and once the Tigers had gone in front well they showed their true class ..... and we simply showed our lack of it, in a few too many departments!!! Both with regard to more or less reverting to our and Dinosaur Mick's same old tactical inept ways, as customary not helped whatsoever by having a few too many square-pegs-in-round-holes and a rather pitiful and especially UNcreative bench .... i.e. above all simply no viable "Plan B"!!! With regard to the 'form-table' I reckon it now reads: 4 points from the last possible 21 ... and still 'The Dinosaur' will keep telling us over and over again throughout this calendar year that: "We are OK"???!!! and are in no need of ANY kind of reinforcement whatsoever???!!!, as the squad i(in his rather twisted opinion) is both "strong" enough, "broad" enough and "flexible" enough, particular with the return this week of the 2 of his personal favorites i.e. the ever soooo "GOOD" Mr. Hyam and Mr. Douglas. PLEAAAAAAAAAAASE!!! Get a grip Mick .... otherwise I think it's more than time for you to simply leave. Period!!!

6

bluefeast added 22:50 - Feb 23 The brand of football keeps the fans away , people like me who went every week with my children , i can and will not waste my life watching a MM team ,i bet the players feel really down , not being allowed to express themselves ,we have talent but its squeezed out of them by mick the jurasic no idea man ,i suspect the fans will turn soon big time ,tonight there were a number singing we want our club back at the end apparently ,expect that to grow as people think hold on this is the managers fault

18

bluey123 added 22:50 - Feb 23 Itfcbam you should get the facts before putting rubbish on here Boro do not have bigger attendances than us and they do have a chairman who has much less wealth than Evans. And Evans has taken more in transfers than he has spent out so please get your facts right
3

blueboy1981 added 22:50 - Feb 23 This squad is undoubtedly limited in terms of quality - BUT - I still believe are capable of better if everyone is played to their strengths, and in their rightful / best positions. The main problems remain, and continue - square pegs / round holes - and players played OUT of position. McCarthy is a 'one trick carthorse' - sadly left behind by the modern game and demands.

12

Gazelle added 22:52 - Feb 23 markwill45 you are spot on. We are just not good enough and it's no good complaining about it.
1

brittaniaman added 22:54 - Feb 23 Please note guys it is 7pts. we need now to get in to the Playoffs, due to our awful goal tally even Preston have leap frogged us with there plus 2 GD. AND WHERE WERE THEY A FEW WEEKS AWAY ??? I mean to say 3pts. out of 12 for this month,, is hardly going to get us any where near the top six !!!
3

Stato added 22:55 - Feb 23 Super Mick McCarthy ????? Please stop singing that
11

itfcbam added 22:58 - Feb 23 Sorry bluey123. Boro average 4500 more than us per game!! As for Evans, who funds the 6m shortfall each season?? Sorry for not getting facts straight and perhaps having a little reality. Would you spend that much money on a non profit making business?
-1

ITFCsince67 added 22:59 - Feb 23 Tells you all you need to know about the total apathy from the fans at the club. Playing the top of the league side on a dry Tuesday night and only 17K turn up. O and don't get me on a rant over ticket prices. RIP ITFC
6

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls