Town recorded their fifth successive home draw at the start of the season as Bolton Wanderers left Portman Road following a hard-fought 0-0 stalemate, despite having been a man down for 47 minutes. The Trotters lost Marc Wilson to a red card on 34 after he hauled down Kayden Jackson but the Blues only created one serious chance - a Luke Chambers header brilliantly saved by Ben Alnwick - having been reduced to 10 men themselves late on when Jon Walters suffered an injury with all three substitutions already having been made.

Toto Nsiala returned to the Town starting line-up following the completion of his three-game suspension for his red card at Sheffield Wednesday.

The former Shrewsbury man is started at the centre of the defence alongside skipper Luke Chambers with Matthew Pennington moving to right-back with Janoi Donacien dropping out.

The St Lucian was again the loanee to miss out on a place in the matchday squad - only five are permitted in the 18 - with former Jon Walters fit enough to take a place on the bench after his achilles injury.

Bolton made four changes to the team which lost 2-0 at Middlesbrough in midweek with Mark Beevers, David Wheater, Gary O'Neil and Josh Vela dropping out of the starting line-up in favour of Wilson, Erhun Oztumer, Will Buckley and Craig Noone.

Jason Lowe scraped a weak shot wide for Bolton after five minutes following a long throw in an opening 20 minutes of little penalty area action. Town had most of the ball but without creating an opportunity.

On 21 Wilson scuffed a volley wide at the far post from a Oztumer cross after a corner, but Town were in control of the game even if they’d not been able to test Bolton skipper and keeper Alnwick.

In the 29th minute Grant Ward was bundled over by Craig Noone just outside the area on the left and Gwion Edwards, who had already sent in a couple of potentially dangerous crosses from the right, hit a powerfully-struck freekick into Alnwick’s midriff.

The visitors were reduced to 10 men in the 34th minute when Wilson was shown a straight red card for denying Jackson an obvious goalscoring opportunity.

Ward did superbly on the left to bring the ball out of a tight area following a Bolton attack, then sent Jackson away with a superb pass. The pacy former Accrington man burst away beyond Wilson, who dragged him back as he broke towards the area with only Alnwick to beat.

Referee Stephen Martin immediately awarded a freekick - with Town making few protests that it was a penalty - then showed Wilson his red card to little complaint from the Trotters players.

As Ward prepared to take the freekick, which was deflected wide off the wall, Bolton boss Phil Parkinson swapped Oztumer for Wheater.

A minute before the break, Trevoh Chalobah was booked for a foul on Will Buckley with Town subsequently making heavy weather of clearing the danger from the freekick and subsequent corner.

Town had continued to enjoy a great deal of possession and had passed the ball around confidently, although largely in unthreatening areas but still without testing Alnwick.

Seconds before the whistle, Ward ended a long spell of Town passing by scraping a shot well wide.

It had been a first half of few incidents aside from Wilson’s red card, which looked the correct decision, the Ireland international had been caught out by Jackson’s blistering pace.

Neither keeper, however, had been forced to make a save in the entire 45 minutes in which Bolton perhaps had the better of the chances - or perhaps more accurately half-chances - with the Blues backline not always defending with confidence.

Chalobah was replaced by Tayo Edun ahead of the second half with the Blues starting on the front foot.

On 47 Pennington scuffed a shot wide from distance after an Edwards cross had been cleared, then Jon Nolan mishit a bouncing ball well wide from 25 yards out.

Town, with Edwards and Ward having swapped flanks, continued to dominate possession but struggled to find a way through the unsurprisingly deeply encamped 10 men of Bolton. In the 59th minute Nolan found some space to hit a shot but curled it well wide.

Five minutes later, Nolan crossed into the box after a corner had been cleared and Nsiala nodded over.

Despite having had all the ball in the second half the Blues were still to test Alnwick and on 71 manager Paul Hurst made a double change.

It was little surprise that Walters was added to the attack alongside Jackson with Jordan Graham joining him on the left of a four-man midfield with Ward and Cole Skuse making way.

Walters hadn’t had time to make any impact before he pulled up with what looked like a recurrence of the achilles injury which saw him miss Tuesday’s game against Brentford in the 81st minute as he chased a ball on the right of the area.

The clearly anguished Ireland international was treated on the pitch before eventually making his way around the peripherary to the tunnel alongside physio Matt Byard with the game now 10 versus 10.

Bolton suddenly saw the chance of what had looked an unlikely victory and the Blues found themselves under pressure for the first time. On 83 a loose ball fell to Wheater inside the Town box but Chambers slid in to block.

Three minutes later, the Blues went close as close as they would come to a goal. Graham’s freekick from the left was flicked on towards the top corner by Chambers but somehow Alnwick was able to get across to brilliantly paw it out for a corner.

Despite the numbers having been evened up the game had returned to the pattern from prior to Walters’s injury.

Edun was booked for a foul in injury time as Town kept pushing in the closing stages but without being able to find the goal which would bring them their first win of the season.

The final whistle was greeted by boos - brief but far louder than than those at half-time on Tuesday - and then muted applause as the players left the field.

Having played 47 minutes with an extra man Town missed a big opportunity to finally grab that elusive first win of the season.

The prodded and probed but only seriously threatened once when Alnwick superbly saved Chambers’s header.

In some ways Town might have been better off had Bolton not been reduced to 10 men, the Trotters having defended staunchly and in depth after the red card. A more open approach from the visitors with 11 players might have suited Town more.

The draw will up the already significant pressure on manager Hurst, despite the Blues having climbed a place off the bottom of the table on goal difference courtesy of Sheffield United’s 3-2 victory over Preston, former Blue David McGoldrick having scored the late winner.

Town have their next chance to finally end their winless run and reduce that pressure when they travel to Birmingham - who won 2-1 at Leeds today - next Saturday.

Town: Gerken, Pennington, Nsiala, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Skuse (Graham 71), Chalobah (Edun 46), Edwards, Ward (Walters 71), Nolan, Jackson. Unused: Bialkowski, Harrison, Spence, Downes.

Bolton: Alnwick (c), Olkowski, Hobbs, Wilson, Grounds, Williams, Lowe, Buckley (Wildschut 87), Noone (Donaldson 90), Oztumer (Wheater 36), Magennis. Unused: Matthews, Vela, Doidge, O’Neil. Referee: Stephen Martin (Staffordshire). Att: 14,755.

Photo: TWTD

ChrisFelix added 17:47 - Sep 22 We play 3 at the back to accommodate Chambers but dont have wing backs. Against 10 men we keep both defensive midfielders on. To play Walters when not fit was a bad decision
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Michael101 added 17:48 - Sep 22 Is the ghost of mad Mick still about ,he always said keep the point you have
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cornishblu added 17:49 - Sep 22 Whilst not having seen enough of the games to directly comment...that doesn't stop most on here so neither will it me . We wanted change, and I remain delighted that change has happened .....what I absolutely agree with though is that the players we have let go have just been replaced by top end lower league players....leaving a team of top end lower league players with no role models or championship quality players to learn off ...that wasn't the change we wanted in such a wholesale manner We however are quick to forget though that the Waghorn money is yet to be spent...and the wages of those off our books must heavily outweigh the wages of those who have been brought into the club,,..so Mr Evans ,,where has the money gone .,..and what in being brave enough to appoint a new manager have you not backed him and insisted that he spend decent money on replacements .. I hate the fact that MM called out that all the teams he got sacked from then got relegated and in hating that am hating more that he has not been slow in being smug and having a sly pop at us. Mick you left a club in a toxic position with its own fans hating what was being delivered and a player base that Could only play one style of football ....we were going down in financial terms, community terms and fan base terms ....relegation was therefore the next in the cards We have an owner though that post the Keane and jewel era is absolutely scared stiff to do the right thing and invest ......Mr Evans these managers get appointed by you .,.if you made mistakes with the first three then don't hold that against the fourth ...or even subsequent ones ....and if you are not prepared to invest to right the wrongs you oversaw ...then do the right thing ! COYB

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oldegold added 17:49 - Sep 22 Loanees instead of our young players..big mistake
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warno added 17:50 - Sep 22 Can someone please tell me why Freddy Sears is not even on the bench - is he injured?
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wherescounago added 17:52 - Sep 22 Under 18s top of their league, under 23s top of their league, first team just off the bottom of their league on goal difference and that was thanks to one of our ex players getting the winner for his new club. Yes Mr Hurst you have worked wonders, for God's sake go and take your lower league no hopers with you. Marcus Evans let those running our younger teams take over first team duties!!!!!

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martin587 added 17:53 - Sep 22 I don't really know where to start after another really poor showing against ten men for over an hour. This was a massive chance to get three points but once again we failed to take full advantage of a poor Bolton side.I felt the defence was ok but we lack presence in midfield and the quality for someone to make the telling pass.Again our striker was isolated.What is the situation with regard to Dozzell,is he fit or not.We seem to get all these vague stories but nothing concrete. I still back PH but things need to change quickly and I mean quickly otherwise we will be up the Swanee without a paddle. All I can say is the three or four teams above must be waiting for us.Please get this sorted quickly Paul otherwise we are going to be in the same position as we were last season with the MM saga. Every week I say this but “next week is a must win game”

4

BraveDave added 17:53 - Sep 22 Warno - because he is no good! We have many problems, but he is not the answer to any of them
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blue86 added 17:55 - Sep 22 really wanted hurst to succeed, but not looking good. with the player recruitment so far, it would have probably been great and worked out if we were in league 2, only issue is we are (currently) in the championship. big decisions to be made or we are going down! but even with a new manager in he will still have to work with what we have until jan. stick or twist? i dont know? but what im getting more sure of as each game passes is league 1 football next season for us. come on hurst prove me wrong. coyb

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Suffolkboy added 18:04 - Sep 22 Simply & not unexpectedly another characterless , apparently fairly incompetent shambles , with what appears from every report to be a lack of creativity on the field ; coupled to a dearth of knowledge , experience and imagination off the field ! This pattern needs to be killed off pronto and reversed ; very sadly I can't see that PH ( & CD ) have shown us they are the men for the job . Endless declarations of enthusiasm and commitment are not the answer & we're looking for answers in the team , on the pitch and with some goals to our credit ( GOALS actually win games , and we are seeing terribly few ) . Something has to change dramatically quickly in so many respects and angles , and I see no evidence it will or can unless a miracle occurs --AND they are few and far between ! Over to you Mr Evans !!

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Bluesparx added 18:04 - Sep 22 Just to play devils advocate here, straight after the sending off I thought to myself - unless we win 3-0 or more the win won't count as a win with some fans as it was only against 10 men, especially if we were to snatch a late 1-0, so maybe there would still be the same negativity as what's on this board now if we had- albeit with 2 more points. Yes it's disappointing not to capitalise on the red card but as someone else on here mentioned under MM we would have somehow lost, then he'd be saying bad luck, bonkers etc... I have a feeling that PH has worked out his formation and who should be playing in that within the last 1 and a half games...let's see how the next 3 games unfold before saying everything was a bad idea....bring back MM Etc

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ihatecanaries added 18:06 - Sep 22 I called it at half time, I said we wouldn't score let alone win against 10 men. Time to get real folks we are going down, I am 100% certain of this. The club is rotten from top to bottom, we need a new owner, manager and at least 20 players. How many deluded fools are still going to say "its still early days" or "PH needs more time"
8

runaround added 18:09 - Sep 22 Very poor today. Started by just hoofing the ball towards their giant central defenders before eventually starting to pass the ball but it was all too slow pedestrian and predictable. It took us 84 minutes to make their keeper make a save & just did not do enough to win. I can't see us winning a game playing that way. Surely not “Hurst” fully fit players such as Dozzell, Bishop & Rowe can't be any less threatening than Nolan & Chalobah? We looked every inch a relegation side. Very concerned

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bluearmy4life added 18:12 - Sep 22 Sorry not good enough at all. We're in for a relegation battle already! I hope I'm proved Paul, but I think your beginning to look out of your depth. I hope I am proved wrong I really do. Each game from now on in is a cup final. I think by 12-15 games played if were still winless, we have to act. This is Paul Hurts team, not MM. if it was still MM inherited team, there would be more slack than what there is already. Not good enough Ipswich

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BraveDave added 18:13 - Sep 22 Ihatecanaries - talking of deluded fools, a new owner, new manager and 20 new players. That was easy, wasn't it. Give yourself a pat on the back. Then maybe give a realistic solution to where we find ourselves
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potter84 added 18:15 - Sep 22 I sympathise with all town fans but don't agree with all that's said past and present, the atmosphere around the ground last year was awful to say the least, but I saw this coming! Mick over archived with limited resources, he had an eye for talent more hits than misses. Ask yourself a question do any of us seriously think he would have invested the money on Harrison/Kayden/Nolan and Nsiala? I personally feel the amount spent would have been better suited to maybe one/two players of real quality under micks management. Ok the style of play wasn't great but look where we were and where we are? Besides the point I'm trying to make I feel as fans we expect to much from what we actually have. We need to stop looking at the past. Get back to basics, support the team, encourage some confidence and hopefully a big chunk of luck we can kick on. On another note we lack goals and the boys up top need help ino it's another wild shot but the only person I think that's worth bringing in at present with Jon Walters out is Bent. Unattached and paper work the only formality? Hurst needs time so let's give him it! Up the town!!

2

FinnishBlue added 18:15 - Sep 22 Birmingham, Boro and Swans before international break. If still winless, there will be new manager for QPR match. In any case tough times ahead...
2

bonamassablue added 18:16 - Sep 22 This manager deosn't have a clue. He has come in and got rid of very experienced players, replaced them with lower league players, upset the few experienced pros left and not given the very promising youth players a chance. He has shown a total lack of respect and appreciation of the Championship. It's way above the standard he has been used to and he is out of his depth. The team today played like the group of strangers that they are. I have been following town on and off for 55 years and can very well remember the crowd calling for Bobby Robson's head when he struggled after coming to Portman Road, so I know that sometimes you have to give someone a chance but I cannot see that he will be able to keep us in this division. I agreed that Mick had to go when he did, but that solid mid table team seems a very distant dream now.

16

TimmyH added 18:17 - Sep 22 Though not a fan of McCarthy we would not have lost this game!, we probably like today would have struggled to win it (as his teams lacked creativity to break down teams and largely depended on dead ball situations or a bit of quality from a Premier loanee). Even by MM's standards we would have won a home game by now and possibly snatched an away victory (probably against Rotherham). Sad times...

6

Barhamblue added 18:18 - Sep 22 The McCarthy outers. You know who you are. The reflection in the mirror will be in serious denial tonight. Enjoy the season guy's , it's certainly going to be emotional.
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thechangingman added 18:21 - Sep 22 I think it's fair to say that very few of us, if any, saw this coming in the relief that followed MM's departure. There's also little doubt that the vast majority of fans wanted a definitive and decisive change - which we duly got. I guess it was all too much of a step-up for Hurst who then, rather foolishly, decided to have a whole-sale clear-out. In hindsight, this was a very, very dangerous gamble and in the here-and-now we can all see that it hasn't worked. Personally, I think that we're already relegated (although, of course, I'd absolutely love to be proved wrong!) and we need to start re-strategizing for this inevitability. I know this won't win me a lot of love on here but maybe, just maybe this is what we need in order to properly address the complete and utter car-crash that our wonderful club has become. Whatever else happens, I hope that the disaster ahead finally seals ME's fate and his time at our club. Whilst he remains at the helm I have no optimism left whatsoever that we'll be able to EVER move forwards positively. It's no good moaning about the 'monkeys' we need to get rid of the 'organ-grinder'. I am sorry to have written a novel here but I love Ipswich Town Football Club. Always have, always will. My heart is breaking to watch this horror-show but with a complete overhaul we might, just might, be able to rise again in the future...

8

ButchersArmy added 18:25 - Sep 22 Looking at our next run of fixtures, I struggle to find a match where we have a chance of even getting a point, let alone 3 points. Maybe Birmingham away and Preston at home but we keep thinking that for the past 9 matches, and we only have 5 payjetic points on board!!. Boro, Leeds and Swansea are going to have a field day playing with out bunch of outclassed 1st Div clowns. ME should give him a 3 match ultimatum and get Hurst out if we are still winless by then. I never rated him in the first place. Frigging disgrace that Hurst.

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leahcar88 added 18:26 - Sep 22 Why are people talking about mick he's history now. Back to the present. Hurst it is your job to instill confindence.
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Surco72 added 18:26 - Sep 22 Too many loan players , too many defensive minded players , too many players not proven at this level . Club has made good profit for the chairmen in transfers though
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Skip73 added 18:28 - Sep 22 Anybody saying we'd have lost this under MM is deluded. We'd have had Waghorn and Garner for a start instead of the woeful strikers Hurst has brought in so we would've probably scored at least 1.
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