Town missed the chance to make up points on leaders Wycombe Wanderers after drawing 0-0 at home to Gillingham. The Blues, who are back up to second, started very slowly but improved, however, were unable to find the goal which would have ended their League One winless run, which has now stretched to six games.

Boss Paul Lambert made three changes with Janoi Donacien returning to the XI at right-back in a 4-4-2 system with Luke Garbutt on the left and Toto Nsiala and Luke Woolfenden the centre-halves. Skipper Luke Chambers was suspended for one match after Saturday’s red card, while Will Norris continued in goal.

In centre midfield Cole Skuse, who captained, was partnered by Jon Nolan with Alan Judge returning to the starting line-up on the left and Gwion Edwards on the right. Flynn Downes dropped to the bench.

Kayden Jackson was back up front alongside James Norwood with Will Keane among the subs as was Freddie Sears, in the 18 for the first time this season following his ACL injury.

Gillingham fielded an unchanged team from the 3-1 home victory over the MK Dons with former Town academy youngster Stuart O’Keefe in their midfield and ex-Blues loanee Ben Pringle on the bench.

As the lunchtime heavy rain continued, and with Luke Garbutt off the pitch having what appeared to be a problem with his boot attended to, the visitors struck the first shot in the second minute, Norris saving to his right from Brandon Hanlan. From the resultant corner, the ball was cleared to Olly Jones, who blazed over.

The Gills continued to look the more threatening side with the Blues’ forays forward breaking down too easily. On 13, after a mix-up between Nsiala and Woolfenden, former Colchester man Mikael Mandron curled a shot not too far wide of Norris’s right post.

Two minutes later, Nsiala allowed Hanlan to get away from him on the Gillingham left after failing to read the ball on the wet surface but got back to slide in superbly and take the ball away from the Gills forward well inside the area to the left as he prepared to shoot past the advancing Norris, who was also felled by the former Shrewsbury defender’s challenge.

On 23 Norris inexplicably kicked the ball straight to Mandron just outside the area but fortunately the immediate opportunity was snuffed out by Nsiala and Woolfenden and when it was played out to Thomas O'Connor on the left his low shot was easy for the relieved keeper.

Four minutes later, with the Blues still struggling to get going with the visitors having adjusted to the conditions far better than Town, Norwood was booked for a foul on Gills skipper Max Ehmer.

The Blues’ first chance came in the 32nd minute from a Garbutt freekick from deep. Norwood’s knee diverted it to Judge, who turned it into the path of Jackson as he tried to go past a defender on the edge of the box. The former Accrington striker’s first shot was blocked by Ehmer and his second from a tight angle flew into the side-netting.

On 36 Judge hit the first defender with a freekick from the right, then subsequently played the ball out after it had been returned to him, leading to a smattering of boos.

Moments later, with Town starting to get on top and show more of a threat, Norwood flicked a cross from the left towards goal but didn’t get enough on it to divert it past Gillingham number one Jack Bonham.

The Blues continued to see most of the ball and in the 39th minute, after a long spell of possession, an Edwards cross almost found Garbutt breaking into the box at the far post.

Town were suddenly on top and in control with Gillingham unable to get out of their half but with the Blues unable to carve out a serious chance.

But as the game moved into injury time, Town should have taken the lead. Judge picked up a loose pass just inside the Gills’ half and played it into the path of Jackson to his left.

The striker broke past a defender with Norwood unmarked and in space in the middle calling for it. However, the Blues’ number nine expected Norwood to hold his run and cut back behind him as the ex-Tranmere frontman continued to break into the six-yard box. Just before the whistle, Nsiala was booked for pulling back Hanlan on the right.

There were muted boos as the half was brought to a close. The Blues had started very poorly and allowed the Gills to have much the better of the first 25 minutes or so before finally finding their feet.

Town then had the visitors pinned back in their box for a brief spell before the Gills forced their way out before the Blues had their big chance which Jackson and Norwood should have turned into the game’s opening goal.

After an unconvincing first few minutes, the Blues began to get on top and in the 52nd minute Edwards sent in a dangerous cross for Jackson but the striker mistimed his header and the ball looped high and wide.

Three minutes later, Jackson broke away down the left following a Gills corner and his low cross towards Norwood was deflected only just past his own post by a visiting defender.

In the 58th minute Nsiala painfully collided with one of the metal gates on the front of the stand as he slid in to try to prevent the ball from going out for a corner. The central defender was fine to carry on, but not until after O'Keefe had tried to forcefully rip the ball from his hands as he was lying on the ground, for which he was spoken to by referee Craig Hicks.

Town were in control of the game but without creating too many openings, while having the odd moment of hesitation at the other end with the conditions not helping.

On 63 a deflected Nolan cross-shot ricocheted across the area and wide, then five minutes later a Skuse effort from distance looked on its way out until it hit Edwards on the arm and bounced through to Bonham.

In the 70th minute Jackson found space on the left of the box and teed-up Judge, who looked set to shoot but played into the path of the ex-Accrington striker, who had failed to continue his run.

Bonham failed to collect a cross from the right, then Nolan struck a shot which was blocked as Gillingham briefly teetered.

But after Bonham had been visited by the Gillingham physio, the Blues’ momentum subsided and on 77 the visitors, hardly involved from an attacking perspective since half-time, came close to a goal.

The ball was allowed to run to O’Connor in space from the right on the edge of the box but Nolan somehow diverted it wide.

The visitors threatened again as the game moved into its final 10 minutes, Norris saving superbly from Lee, before Garbutt diverted Ehmer’s follow-up off the line and wide.

A minutes later, Sears was introduced for Donacien, the striker receiving the biggest cheer of the afternoon having been sidelined with his ACL injury since February. On 85 Mandron was replaced by Alex Jakubiak for the Gills.

The visitors began to look the more dangerous side as the game moved into its final minutes. In the 87th minute Ehmer nodded down at the far post from a corner and Norris kept it out before Edwards cleared.

Moments after the fourth official’s board had announced five additional minutes, Judge was yellow-carded for a foul on Connor Ogilvie, then Edwards joined him on the book for a late tackle on Alfie Jones, who subsequently had his name added for kicking the ball away to waste time.

Town were pressing as the final whistle drew closer but the Blues were unable to find the goal which would end their winless league run.

The end was greeted by louder boos than at half-time after another frustrating afternoon at Portman Road.

The Blues were the better side for much of the second half but again without ever really convincing and not managing a shot on target.

Crosses flashed across the box and shots were blocked but Bonham wasn’t forced into a save and the best chance of the period fell to O’Connor for the visitors.

Despite Town again failing to win at home - where they have still only won only three times this season - the Blues are back up to second, a point ahead of Oxford, who are ahead of Peterborough, who were beaten 3-0 at home by Doncaster, on goal difference. The Blues are now six points behind leaders Wycombe, who were defeated 2-0 at Portsmouth.

The Blues are next in action at Lincoln on Sunday before they travel to face the Chairboys on New Year’s Day.

Town: Norris, Donacien (Sears 81), Nsiala, Woolfenden, Garbutt, Edwards, Skuse (c), Judge, Nolan, Jackson, Norwood. Unused: Holy, Dozzell, Huws, Keane, Wilson, Downes.

Gillingham: Bonham, O’Keefe, Ehmer (c), Ogilvie, Hanlan, Mandron (Jakubiak 85), Fuller, Jones, Lee, O’Connor, Tucker. Unused: Walsh, Hodson, Ndjoli, Charles-Cook, Pringle, Marshall. Referee: Craig Hicks (Surrey). Att: 22,082 (Gillingham: 576).

Photo: TWTD

Westy added 08:19 - Dec 27 I wasn't able to go to the match today but heard it on the radio. Sad to hear the boos at the end of the game. I've been going to Portnan Road for over forty years and I can honestly say I've never booed an Ipswich player although there have been plenty of times when I haven't applauded. They are not quite the same. We criticise players of any club that kiss the badge one week and leave the next, so come on people, don't cheer the team one week and boo the next. But surely we should have enough to beat Gillingham and end this, not losing run, but winless run. Again, not quite the same. The point we secured actually propelled us back into an automatic promotion spot in the context of results elsewhere.

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Steelmonkey added 08:32 - Dec 27 After a decent start to the season the team have stalled, whether that's a case because of all the international breaks or Lambert's rotation policy is debatable. What isn't up for debate is the fact we are not even getting shots on goal. Three players that have disappointed me this season are Norwood, Judge and Nolan. Norwood only wants the ball to his feet, he has to learn to move to the ball and create his own space every pass to him yesterday was intercepted and defenders had him in their pockets. Nolan looked so slow he wouldn't have caught a cold, and Judge is contributing very little. I was surprised that it was Donacien who went off. Kayden Jackson was getting stick from a guy behind me and not deserved imo as he seemed the only one with any movement about him. Great to see Freddie back but he was only ever going to get a ten minute run out. We are still in a great position and should be able to get back on to winning waves but the team have to wake their ideas up. They had a brilliant opportunity to give a decent display in front of a big crowd but most must have gone away feeling very disappointed. It was the first time my son had accompanied me to a game for several seasons his comment was not much has changed has it dad.

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chalky added 09:34 - Dec 27 I would much rather be saying nice things but yet again disappointment is huge. A 0-0 draw at home in front of 22,000 fans is a disgrace, made worse by zero shots on target against a very average League One side. There is insufficient creativity from midfield, no punch up front and indecision all round. Give the kids a chance - they can't do worse, and what crime did Wilson commit to be left out so often ? Lambert's recent record of no wins in six and one win in twelve is appalling. Worse, he injects little or no spirit in the team. How were Gillingham allowed to dominate the first 25 minutes ? Yes, taxi for PL. Bring on Burley and Butcher.

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Dolphinblue added 09:41 - Dec 27 Ipswich fans.....joke 😂😂😂😂
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blue86 added 09:49 - Dec 27 Norwich fans joke.......😂🐬😂🐬😂🐬
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runaround added 10:05 - Dec 27 Yet another poor performance in terrible conditions. The players confidence is shot & they really look like they don't know what they are supposed to be doing out there. No link up between players & no idea if what style or system they are meant to be playing. It's obvious that all the chopping & changing of players & formation has led to this & the players were as edgy as the fans. There was no leader out on the pitch and players “being brave” will not alone turn this around. Lambert's post match comments were just deflecting away from scrutiny of how he has caused this. Other results amazingly mean we're back in top 2 but that won't last unless Lambert sorts this now

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RegencyBlue added 10:15 - Dec 27 Why does Lambert start Nsiala ahead of Wilson? I wouldn't start Nsiala ahead of the tea lady FFS! I like Lambert but this is fast becoming an awful mess. Just decide on your best eleven and best formation and stick with it. If you don't it will be you rotating, out of the door!
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algarvefan added 12:01 - Dec 27 Lambert is suffering from 'Micklemccartyism', he won't listen to anyone else and cannot take any critical comments. At this point we need change from him or change from him.
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Blueballs83 added 12:08 - Dec 27 For Lambert not to know his best starting 11 or even formation is criminal after the amount of time he has had with these players. Over the last 4 games we have mustered only a handful of shots and although I have doubts over Jackson, Norwood has proven over the last few seasons, he can score. A lack of good service is the main issue and not playing with creative midfielders is causing this. We don't have good enough wingers to play 442, so playing 433 with Dozzell who is arguably the only creative player in a partnership with Downes and one other is the answer.

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ChrisFelix added 16:50 - Dec 27 How to throw away automatic promotion, continue thos form & we will soon be mid table. Watch highlights from other lower league games its simple, to score goals you must get the ball into the opponents penalty box. Do this & Norwood & Jackson will score
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