Town’s home game with table-propping Burton Albion ended in a drab 0-0 draw with the visitors having the better of the few chances. In the second half of a match watched by Portman Road’s lowest league crowd for almost 20 years, Blues keeper Bartosz Bialkowski saved from former Blue Darren Bent when through one-on-one and brilliantly in the final minute from Kyle McFadzean.

Bersant Celina replaced Freddie Sears on the left of the trio behind lone striker Joe Garner in an otherwise unchanged Town side. For Burton, former Blues loanee Stephen Bywater was in goal, while Bent was up front.

The visitors dominated possession in early stages played in heavy rain but in unthreatening areas and without creating a serious chance. On six on-loan West Ham midfielder Martin Samuelsen shot well wide from distance.

In the 12th minute Lloyd Dyer, who turned down a contract with Town after a successful trial two years ago, cut in from the left and hit a shot not too far over Bartosz Bialkowski’s cross bar.

On 25 Dyer was shown the game’s first yellow card for pulling back Ward as Town looked to break with the Blues still to get going.

The Brewers, who had lost their previous five games in all competitions, continued to see more of the ball as the game reached the half-hour mark with both keepers still untested. On 32 Hope Akpan shot over for the away team.

As half-time approached with Town still having made little impression, sections of the Sir Bobby Robson Stand began to make their criticisms of manager Mick McCarthy’s style of football clear.

Seconds before boos greeted the half-time whistle, a Celina cross from the left was nodded behind at the far post.

That reaction to a thoroughly dull first half came as little surprise with the Blues having failed to register a shot on or off target. On the rare occasions when Town had been in potentially dangerous positions a pass had always gone astray.

The bottom-of-the-table Brewers had seen most of the ball, albeit while looking similarly unthreatening.

Town needed to be much better after the break if they were to claim a second win in succession following last week’s victory at Sunderland.

The Blues began the second half on the front foot, Ward and Jordan Spence seeing early crosses in from the right cut out, then the former Spurs youngster saw a subsequent ball into the box deflected behind.

From Waghorn’s resultant corner from the right, Callum Connolly flicked on at the near post and the ball reached Celina beyond the far post from where he hit a shot on the turn which was blocked.

But it was the visitors and former Town striker Bent who should have scored in the 57th minute. The 34-year-old was threaded in behind Cameron Carter-Vickers but was unable to beat the advancing Bialkowski, who blocked.

The Blues had faded after their brighter start to the half and as the hour mark approached boos rang around the frustrated Portman Road crowd.

Manager McCarthy was evidently similarly less than impressed with proceedings and made a double substitution, debutant Mustapha Carayol and Stephen Gleeson taking over from Ward and Connolly.

Carayol, who joined on a deadline day free transfer after leaving Nottingham Forest, immediately made an impact, cutting in from the right before being felled just on the edge of the area to the right. The freekick was tapped to Waghorn, whose powerfully hit effort flew across the face with no Town player able to add a touch.

Bent made way in the 71st minute to warm applause from his old fans and Northern Ireland international Liam Boyce took over up front for the Brewers.

Sub Carayol wasn’t too far away from a spectacular debut goal in the 80th minute with a well-struck effort from the right which scraped the side-netting. The effort, Town’s closest of the afternoon, led to sarcastic cheers and a reprise of the earlier chants regarding McCarthy’s football.

Two minutes later, Carter-Vickers headed over from Waghorn’s right-sided corner, then on 85 Celina scuffed a weak effort through to Bywater, again to sarcastic cheers.

Burton almost won it in the final minute when Kyle McFadzean’s near-post header from Samuelsen’s corner on the right seemed destined for the roof of the net until Bialkowski pulled off a brilliant reaction save to turn it over the bar.

Soon after, the final whistle went to loud boos and further chants regarding manager McCarthy from the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

Town never looked like getting anything more than a goalless draw from the game, creating few chances - or more accurately half-chances - throughout.

The Blues were marginally better in spells in the second half than they had been in the first but Bywater was still never seriously tested.

Burton were closest to breaking the deadlock with Bialkowski, again the Blues’ man of the match, making a sharp save from Bent and then his stunning late reaction stop from McFadzean.

The crowd of 13,815 - 17 fewer than the season’s previous smallest home Championship crowd for the Reading match - is the lowest Portman Road crowd for a home game in the league since 13,212 attended the Blues' 1-0 victory over Swindon in October 1998.

A dismal draw from what was viewed as a must-win game sees the Blues stay 12th, eight points from the play-offs ahead of next Sunday’s East Anglian derby at Norwich City.

Town: Bialkowski, Spence, Carter-Vickers, Chambers (c), Skuse, Connolly (Gleeson 60), Ward (Carayol 60), Waghorn, Celina, Garner. Unused: M Crowe, Iorfa, Webster, Hyam, Sears.

Burton: Bywater, Brayford (c), Allen, McFadzean, Bent (Boyce 71), Akins, Dyer (Sordell 80), Naylor, Davenport, Samuelsen, Akpan. Unused: Campbell, McCrory, Buxton, Barker, Sbarra. Referee: David Webb (Lancashire). Att: 13,815 (Burton: 169).

Photo: TWTD

grumpyoldman added 17:31 - Feb 10 We didn't lose so what's with all the negative comments, MM is a football genius we are lucky to have such an experienced manager, you don't want to wish for him to go because his replacement could be worse, he has done miracles on a small budget, he saved us from relegation. No I don't believe that crap either but I thought I would list the reasons his supporters will give for backing Neanderthal Mick. A legend in his own lunch time!

33

juniorblue added 17:32 - Feb 10 Looking at the BBC stats this sounded like an absolute shambles. MM will provide excuses but it simply isn't good enough. Crowds dropping and dire 'football' = MM out. Surely Evans has to act now.
27

BraveDave added 17:33 - Feb 10 That has to be one of the worst league performances for several seasons. First half was terrible. 2nd half was a very slight improvement, but at the same time we always looked vulnerable at the back. I'd be surprised if Evans doesn't meet with McCarthy this week - regardless of how much of the blame you place on McCarthy's shoulders, as an owner there comes a point when you can't ignore the falling attendances and angry fans. Can't really see any benefit in McCarthy staying, but not sure what follows him will be any better - this goes deeper than the manager.

12

delias_cheesy_flaps added 17:34 - Feb 10 LMFAO MM a 2 year extension, you are the king of comedy!
11

Taricco_Fan added 17:34 - Feb 10 £30 saved. I was planning on going but decided against it at the last minute. Had a feeling this game was going to be a terrible one. Should have been a £10 ticket job as this fixture was last year. Unsurprising result. But hey ho. "Careful what you wish for", "no-one could do as well as Mick" and all that...
28

Northstandveteran added 17:37 - Feb 10 As predicted 0-0
5

runaround added 17:39 - Feb 10 What a stunning result! Performance sounds as drab as the weather! I am taking a year off from going to football mainly for family reasons. Often I miss it like hell, matches like today make it much easier to take. 1 shot on target against a bottom of the league side missing a number of their first team? Embarrassing! The club is just so stale & worsening steadily. Change is very obviously required a new coach with new ideas to breathe new life into what on the whole is a decent squad. A more joined up approach between first team, owner & academy too, all singing from the same hymn sheet with a clear vision of how to move the club forward & it doesn't necessarily have to cost millions Things are turning toxic & defeat at Carrot Road next Sunday will make it worse very quickly. What is there to look forward to for ITFC fans now?

16

Daleyitfc added 17:40 - Feb 10 RobITFC : that person was me ; I'm usually more pessimistic, but felt we might just salvage a point on this occasion, and was right ...
9

Spanishblueblood added 17:48 - Feb 10 I bet Swn, Gcon, Pratmatic, Bert and the rest of the budgie brigade cant wait til next weekend, yet another defeat at the hands of the sister botherers!
6

ipswichthickandthin added 17:50 - Feb 10 What on earth is going on with our club the guy says it's a huge game and then we take till the 80th minute to register a shot on target and not register one shot of any sort in the first half against the poorest side in the league at home. I can only conclude that Mccarthey has forbidden the team to shoot or create anything. I'm speechless there are no words left to describe how diabolically poor we are. However I for one am Ipswich till I die.

8

TimmyH added 17:50 - Feb 10 Shocking game of football (apparently, thank God I wasn't there) - No shots on target, off target or blocked shots or corners according to BBC stats - absolutely disgraceful considering we're playing a bottom placed club! Result not surprising though as we're one of the most inconsistent teams in this division, you just have to look at our home, drawn and away record which just backs this up. Personally feel the club should give a refund for such turgid football, well at least the 1st half display. Burton probably deserved to win today so feel sorry for them as well as our supporters who had to endure that.

16

ronnyd added 17:53 - Feb 10 Worst crowd this century, says it all really. Rubbish.
15

Northstandveteran added 17:54 - Feb 10 Daleyitfc. Also predicted on "this is a huge game post" What on earth would make a non season ticket holder, or for that matter a season ticket holder, want to go out on a wet freezing cold Saturday to watch this? I honestly can't think of anything less tedious.
8

dukey44 added 17:55 - Feb 10 Just waiting for more dross to fall out of our managers mouth on what exactly happened today?
10

TimmyH added 17:55 - Feb 10 * first half on the stats I should add, not much better 2nd half
2

ArnieM added 17:55 - Feb 10 Any chance we cud tempt Cloughie here ? Burton played wassay better football than McCarthy mob today and their midfield three were streets ahead of ours.
11

massivemole added 18:00 - Feb 10 Oi grumps, sorry fat fingers gave u a down vote. Can't reverse it.
0

BraveDave added 18:02 - Feb 10 Spanishblueblood. Why don't you stop baiting people. No one will be happy with what is currently happening, but you would rather not offer an opinion. Grow up. Lots of people have different perspectives on this - doesn't mean they are not passionate about our club. But you just keep on point scoring. Great work
0

geminimustang added 18:02 - Feb 10 I agree with you all,as soon as MM crossed the white line looking resplendent in his blue kit,i knew we give Burton a game.Oh,wait a minute,MM didn't play,he merely sent out the team who played crap but of course it's his fault.If you can't win,don't lose,we didn't,we move on.For the whingers who are only happy slagging off the team,MM,TC,ME,go support another team,you're becoming very boring.I hope MM stays and the whingers go,please.

-31

liam88 added 18:03 - Feb 10 #SendMickHome
11

liam88 added 18:07 - Feb 10 If you can't win at home against bottom side there's something wrong geminimustang
16

MicksZzzTactics added 18:08 - Feb 10 PLEASE! forget BBC @TimmyH .... and the rest of you stat-seeking-geeks too for that matter! Rather visit www. whoscored.com for near complete & dissected stats (although occasionally parts of ALL these dissected stats only appear some time after the final whistle) Today's'"Match Center" page is here: https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1192579/Live/England-Championship-2017-2018-Ip as you can see there are so called "More" buttons to click underneath each main stat category ...and additionally you can click on all sorts of extra nifty things like "Match Report" (where you can see a listing of the team's strengths, weaknesses & styles in that particular game) , "Chalkboard", ,"Heatmaps" and what have you!!! NJOY :-) :-)

4

BraveDave added 18:10 - Feb 10 Mickszzztactics - are you all right?
0

bluearmy81 added 18:11 - Feb 10 They looked like a team of strangers. No tactics, no penetration and all too predictable.
7

RobITFC added 18:11 - Feb 10 DaleyITFC , well done, you obviously knew how MM would set up the team for a home game against the bottom club! lol , so who is going to the next home game? anyone?
4

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