David McGoldrick netted a brilliant low drive deep in injury time to grab Town a last-gasp 2-2 draw against bottom club Rotherham United at Portman Road. Freddie Sears had put the Blues in front in the third minute but man of the match Danny Ward equalised four minutes later, then put the visitors in front three minutes after the break. Town rarely looked like getting back on terms in a lacklustre second half until McGoldrick’s late strike.

McGoldrick, Teddy Bishop, Cole Skuse and Myles Kenlock all returned to what was an unusually attacking Town starting line-up.

McGoldrick, who was making his first start since the opening day of the season, formed a a front two with Sears, while Bishop came back into the middle of midfield with Skuse, who was back after missing out at Newcastle with a toe injury.

Kenlock was handed his first appearance of the season at left-back in place of Jonas Knudsen, who suffered a back injury at Newcastle.

Conor Grant dropped to the bench, alongside ex-Millers striker Leon Best, and there was no place in the 18 for Jonathan Douglas.

Rotherham included former Town keeper Lewis Price among their subs, along with their new signing, veteran Nigerian international striker Peter Odemwingie.

The Blues started brightly with Sears and Tom Lawrence, playing wide on the left, both having early crosses blocked.

And in only the third minute Town went in front. Lawrence appeared to rather scuff his freekick in from the right but Sears reacted quickly to the miscue and turned the ball past Millers’ keeper Lee Camp at the near post to claim his second goal in three games following his long goal drought.

But the Blues’ lead lasted only four minutes. Centre-half Adam Webster cleared Joe Newell’s corner from the right to 18-yard line, Jon Taylor beat Bishop in the air and headed it back into edge of the six-yard box, and Danny Ward turned home his seventh goal of the season from close range.

On 10 Town keeper Bialkowski came off his line quickly to punch away from Dexter Blackstock as the former Forest striker chased a header from halfway down the middle. Blackstock required treatment having collided with Bialkowski but was eventually OK to carry on.

Blues strike pair Sears and McGoldrick combined to create an opportunity on 21, the former West Ham man eventually cutting the ball back from the right but behind the Irish international. Kenlock ran in from deep on the left and smashed a shot against a defender.

Town were starting to get on top and for a spell the visitors found themselves pinned back in their half following a corner on the left won by Lawrence, with the Blues passing the ball around with what has recently been uncharacteristic confidence.

However, it was Rotherham who created the next serious chance, a loose ball falling to scorer Ward in the box and Webster doing well to block his shot.

McGoldrick threatened for the first time on 26, the striker heading over from Lawrence’s freekick on the right with the on-loan Leicester man starting to find his range with his set pieces.

On 32 Will Vaulks shot wide off a Town defender after a long throw from the right had been cleared to the edge of the box.

A minute later, Bishop, who had had a quiet half up to that point, skipped his way past a number of Rotherham players and rode a couple of tackles as he broke into the area from the left but scraped his shot wide.

In the 35th minute the visitors were forced to swap ex-Colchester man Greg Halford, who had picked up a knock, for Dominic Ball.

Kenlock, who was enjoying an impressive first half, wasn’t too far away from putting the Blues back in front on 36 when he forced Camp to scramble away his far post header from Grant Ward’s looping cross from the right.

McGoldrick and Sears interchanged again in the 38th minute on the Town left, the latter eventually cutting the ball into the area but a defender cleared before it reached his strike partner.

In injury time Berra was caught in the head by a Rotherham boot following a Town corner but referee Darren Bond waved away the Blues’ penalty appeals. The loose ball fell to Webster but his snapshot flew out for a throw on the far side.

The final whistle was greeted by scattered applause from the home support, who will have been pleased with an enterprising first-half display from their side.

Having claimed the early lead Town will have been disappointed to concede the equaliser almost immediately with set pieces Rotherham’s main threat throughout the period.

The Blues had kept the ball better than has often been the case recently and passed it around confidently in spells with Sears and McGoldrick combining well on a number of occasions.

However, aside from Kenlock’s header, Millers keeper Camp hadn’t been forced into making many saves with the visitors’ backline defending with greater solidity than has often been the case this season.

The second half got off to the worst possible start for Town with Rotherham taking the lead in only the 48th minute.

Webster and Berra got in one another’s way as Vaulks’s long throw came into the area from the right and Danny Ward turned a volley past Bialkowski, the striker’s eighth goal of the campaign.

A minute later, as Town looked to get back in the match, Grant Ward volleyed over from not far outside the area after a Lawrence corner had been cleared.

There was another scare for the Blues from a Rotherham long throw, this time from the left, in the 56th minute when Vaulks’s ball into the area avoided everyone until it reached Richard Wood beyond the far post but the Millers’ skipper shot wide.

At the other end, Grant Ward went well wide after Lawrence had brought the ball deep into the Rotherham half.

The goal had given the visitors confidence, however, and they were having most of the ball, while Vaulks’s long throws continued to cause problems.

McGoldrick rode a couple of tackles and shot over on 63 with the Blues still to really get going after the break.

Two minutes later, Ward crossed from the Town right, McGoldrick flicked on but Lawrence’s header was easy for Camp to claim.

Moments later, Town made two changes, Ward and Bishop making way for Leon Best and Jonny Williams with Sears moving to wide left and Lawrence to the right.

On 71 Williams crossed from the left towards Best but the ball was headed clear to McGoldrick, but the striker curled his shot well over.

With the Sir Bobby Robson Stand vocally complaining about Town’s style of football in no uncertain terms - “Mick McCarthy, your football is s–t” - Luke Varney took over from Kenlock, who will have been very happy with his display.

Rotherham looked to be seeing out four minutes of injury time until McGoldrick’s dramatic equaliser.

Webster crossed from the left, a defender headed the ball out to McGoldrick, who smashed a low drive through a crowd of players and past his old Forest team-mate Camp. The Rotherham players, who thought they had claimed their first away win of the season, collapsed to the floor.

There wasn’t time for any further action before referee Bond ended the game. Despite the late goal there were still boos on the final whistle and further frustrated chants aimed at manager McCarthy.

The Blues failed to capitalise on their early lead, giving away the first of two set-piece goals soon afterwards, and while they were on top and played well in spells in the first half, they created few chances.

Town struggled to get going in the second half after conceding Rotherham’s second goal so early on. They huffed and puffed but never created a clear-cut opportunity until McGoldrick - who looked out on his feet by that stage - hammered home his goal.

Despite the late equaliser, a home draw with the division’s bottom side - Rotherham had lost their last seven games, had lost all seven of their away games and were eight points from safety - is huge disappointment for Town and added to fans’ frustrations with manager McCarthy, as was evident from the chants from the terraces.

The point moves the Blues up to 15th in the table with a trip to Sheffield Wednesday, who lost 2-0 at Derby today, next week.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra, Kenlock (Varney 84), Skuse, Lawrence, Bishop (Williams 66), G Ward (Best 66), Sears, McGoldrick. Unused: Gerken, Emmanuel, Bru, Grant.

Rotherham: Camp, Fisher (Odemwingie 80), Fry, Wood (c), Mattock, Taylor, Halford (Ball 35), Vaulks, Newell, D Ward, Blackstock. Unused: Price, Kelly, Forde, Forster-Caskey, Brown. Referee: Darren Bond (Lancashire). Attendance: 15,247 (Rotherham: 205).

Photo: TWTD

bostonusablue added 17:45 - Oct 29 If anyone dares to defend McCarthy now they should be sectioned!! How bad does it have to get before he's fired? I've lost hope for our once great club.
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runaround added 17:46 - Oct 29 Pleased with the line up & some of the play first half however apart from that it was appalling. No desire, no passion, no shape, no commitment. The players looked lost at times with no idea of how to attack. The crowd was understandably quiet as were the players, where were the leaders, Micks different class proper blokes Chambo, Bez & Skusey? They should have been to the fore today helping through the likes of Kenlock who struggled. There was seemingly no guidance from the bench either with Mick not the man on the touch line that he was 2 years. I have thought for a while that it increasingly seems like Micks time at ITFC is nearing an end but today proved that it has to end as it just feels like he has lost it here & whatever he tries to change it won't work. The fans are bored & have had enough. The longer this goes on the more the club is damaged. I have no faith in ME making the correct decision or making it quickly but even he must see it's inevitable now. Didzy's cracking last kick of the game equaliser barely papers over the chasm of a crack. Thanks Mick for the last 4 years but time to go

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Elizabeth added 17:47 - Oct 29 Whatever players you have they can be coached to play a certain style of football .. They may not have the technical ability but this hoof ball is quite honestly the worst football I have seen at Ipswich for some years now !! The formation and balance of the team is shocking and not being able to beat the likes of Rotherham at home is not good enough .. Long cold winter beckons if things don't change !! Makes you wonder what happens in training week in , week out !! From what we see at the weekends SOD ALL !!

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grumpyoldman added 17:48 - Oct 29 Vancouver Blue, please don't mention the funds MM has, others at other clubs with less money have done a much better job. The argument about the amount of money is a smokescreen used by MM to justify his style of play, there are a lot of players available in every transfer window who he could have mounded into a more attack minded team, it is his decision and his alone the players he signs and the style they play. Evans does not pick the team or decide on tactics, he just subsidises the club to the tune of approximately £8 million a season.

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Taricco_Fan added 17:50 - Oct 29 No change for me. MM out.
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Mick_Mills_Tache added 17:50 - Oct 29 Just waiting for his press conference now..."Rotherham are good team in a false position. I fully expect them to finish mid table."
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TimmyH added 17:51 - Oct 29 I haven't read other posters comments but I have never felt so underwhelmed at a last gasp equaliser...sums it up all for me this result against a bottom of the table team who haven't got a point away from home until now. Clear proof the decline of this club under McCarthy this season. I'll say it once more (for those who gave me -82 thumbs down) when I said the contract extension for McCarthy last season wasn't good for the club due to the cosy relationship between him and the owner, how are you feeling now? Poor result and clearly not good enough...waiting for the blurb from Mick about Rotherham were up for it, new manager curse etc.etc etc. Yawn!!!!!!

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VulpineBlue added 17:58 - Oct 29 Has he gone yet? I have a season ticket but like dirtydingusmagee even though I've paid there are better ways to spend my time. When challenged about his boring tactics MM has always said that 'its a results game'. We now have neither entertainment nor results. One more season ticket holder who won't be back.
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jas0999 added 18:01 - Oct 29 Unacceptable result. Forget the albeit excellent equaliser, a draw simply isn't good enough, nor was this performance. We were really no better than Rotherham, a team who lost ten of fourteen until today. Massive changes needed at the club starting with MM who must now be sacked. Evans either needs to find a way to invest significant sums or sell to someone with the ambition. Both Evans and McCarthy are destroying our once proud club. The fans deserve better. Failing to best Rotherham isn't better it is absolutely shocking and disgusting. If Evans doesn't act, it shows his lack of respect for the fan base.

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DurhamTownFan added 18:02 - Oct 29 Ok, & get why people are asking who else there is, but as it is things are getting a bit toxic. I think there's a case that we need a change, even if that would constitute a risk. So much negativity around at the moment is doing nobody any good!
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surgery added 18:02 - Oct 29 I know nothing about employment law, but I would have thought that if he walks then he walks with sod all but, if he is sacked, then the club has to pay him the remainder of his contract. If I am right,then I can't see him resigning
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TheSelkirk added 18:06 - Oct 29 Sadly, the only Town player on the pitch who had the balls to try something 'different' was a centre back. Hats off to AdamWebster.
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TractorBoy666 added 18:06 - Oct 29 Fans telling supporters to stay away from the club if we can't support the team, really? I'm sorry but it took 80-85 minutes for our fans to start turning, you should be grateful it took that long. Things will not turn around until McCarthy walks unfortunately. Losing to Rotherham would and should have been unacceptable, but for a good finish from McGoldrick. I have never been so downhearted will a late goal in my time supporting this club, I'm not sure who was more gutted, us or the Rotherham lot! The injury excuse can no longer be an excuse, whatever the player we have they will always play the McCarthy way. The two players that stood out for me were the two loanees, Lawrence and Williams when coming on. Sad times. Mick out.

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therein61 added 18:08 - Oct 29 Mick just don't bother coming out with your usual comments(great skipper great skuse et al) just do the decent thing and GO!!!!!!!!! before you take us to where we were heading 4 years ago(which you saved us from and gave us hope) you are now trying to defend the indefensible re your whole couldn't give a toss about the supporters attitude and your blind loyalty to so called footballers not fit to wear the shirt(not just our's sunday pub teams as well!!!!) you call yourself an honest Yorkshire man, well be honest admit that you have lost it at Town and go(if you are honest instead of trying to bullSH1T the fans who pay your lovely salary(for what!?)then you could walk with some thanks) and let a manager with some positive ideas come in and turn around our season.

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markytitfc added 18:13 - Oct 29 Vancouver blue I COULD DO A BETTER XXXXING JOB!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 18:13 - Oct 29 That's my patience threshold pretty much reached. I really think we have the players to Challenge this season, and with those players returning from injury an improvement was expected. I fear Mick has taken us as far as he can, greatful for what he has done, saved us from the drop, cleared out dead wood and over hyped Jonny think they've made its and despite current position will leave the club in better state then what he inherited but time to go. Unless a serious upturn in fortune occurs I think he will be gone by xmas. He said himself, a must win and we should be beating these at home all day, even in the tops turvy league that is the champ. Please let DMG stay fit, please, please , please.

8

MicksZzzTactics added 18:13 - Oct 29 Sooo "we huffed and we puffed but NEVER created a clear-cut opportunity.... until McGoldrick's 95 minute strike" that is!!!, and comparing that TWTD game description with other reviews starting floating around all over the place I gather we had HOW MANY "SHOTS ON TARGET" for the first 49 minutes of the 2nd half???? LOL .......... And this against not only the hapless bottom side in the division, but one without a win in their last 10 and with all prior 7 league away matches lost .... and lost heavily mind you!!!, as entering today's game they had a chaotic -19 goal differential and with 23 of their staggering 33 goals conceded being on foreign soil! Aye very very well done then Master Mick, yet another "excellent point" ne'st-ce pas???????? :-) :-) :-) :-) Ohhh that 's right you beyond arrogant tw@t you did actually went all public saying "WE HAVE TO WIN THIS ONE. PERIOD" a few days ago didn't you now, you lucky lucky son of a dinosaur?????????? Soooo what are you gonna do about this here truly "Gung-Ho" performance (your colorful lingo too remember? And for those out there who are unaware of this expression"Gung-Ho" = Extremely excited and enthusiastic about doing something"! ) then, and about your boyz not only being ANYTHING but impressive offensively especially in the 2nd half but most importantly not winning after all?????????? Oh and please don't begin with some particular Zzzzilly excuses circling around us -- in wonderful wonderful hindsight -- sorely missing "The Force" .... you know the Special Gifted One .... the one who "RUNS for miles and miles" .... the one you find to be chronically "terrific" ..... and above all is in a"DIFFERENT CLASS". Just don't go 'there' Mick. Period!!!

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blueboy1981 added 18:15 - Oct 29 ........ 15000 'quoted' attendance will keep the bean counter happy enough - so don't expect change. Needs to be far less than that - for action of the desired kind.
8

Bluetone added 18:15 - Oct 29 McCarthy a two word press conference please those words? "I quit"
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battyblue added 18:15 - Oct 29 There was not 15000 there season ticket holders who do not go still get counted as if they are. ,,more like 11000/1150 I should think. Has the t-at resigned yet.
8

jeddy added 18:16 - Oct 29 McCarthy man up and do the honourable thing and resign. MM has lost the fans and it appears the players as well. I'm sure our squad is better this season than last but the second half this afternoon was dire to say the least. I'm sure Evans would not put up with this rubbish in his business empire so he has to take action now. What depth of despair will we stoop before we see any action to stem the decline of ITFC.

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prebsa added 18:17 - Oct 29 Everything already said. Disgusted to even watch that game. Dosent matter who the team is if they haven't won away then that result is unacceptable! Can't believe the top story isent "Mick sacked from role at Ipswich Town" it needs to soon otherwise we are in big trouble!
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algarvefan added 18:17 - Oct 29 I honestly believe we will go down if things carry on as they are!! A fresh injection of players is very unlikely (where has all the money gone?) so the only option is a change of management, lets hope it's not left too late!! Evans out and MM too!
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dannyrr added 18:20 - Oct 29 As usual we failed to get a result against a struggling club. No doubt it will be because they got a new manager who managed to organise them and they will now kick on. Every team that are struggling must love playing us as we will always give them a leg up. I guessed this would happen today and we were lucky to rescue a point at the death which saves blushes. Even after today we're still only three points off the relegation zone but still only six points off the playoff places. Something has to change and surely everyone can see the issues from owner to manager and the fans. MM will not walk and with the extended contract I can't see him being sacked and he'll continue with the same players and tactics.

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truthhurts added 18:24 - Oct 29 Having given up my season ticket this year after 20+ years (no, i'm not proud in having done so) i can safely say i'm happy in my decision. And that is hard to swallow. Supporters that rally behind Mick McCarthy have always been saying something along the lines of 'entertainment doesn't bother me, it's the winning that counts'. That statement doesn't wash with me and is 100% behind the reason i didn't renew this season. So what do his supporters say now? Not only is the team still playing awefully (quoted from mates that still go), we are also not picking up many points! Super Mick has lost his 'magic'. Please go. Then maybe we can play football again. Be entertaining again. Win fans back again. Bye Mick (please!!!!)

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