Joe Nuttall’s injury time goal consigned the Blues to a 2-1 defeat at Blackpool. Kiernan Dewsbury-Hall’s 26th minute goal gave the Tangerines a 1-0 half-time lead but Freddie Sears levelled with his first goal of the season on 54 and might have won it seconds before Nuttall’s winner for the home side.

Freddie Sears and Teddy Bishop both made their first league starts of the season either side of Will Keane in a front three as the Blues moved to a 4-3-3 system.

Cole Skuse was in the deeper midfield role behind Emyr Huws and Flynn Downes ahead of a back four of - from the right - Luke Woolfenden, skipper Luke Chambers, Josh Earl and Luke Garbutt.
"Gwion Edwards, Jon Nolan and Alan Judge dropped to the bench having started last week’s 1-0 home defeat to Oxford, while Kayden Jackson served the first game of his three-match ban for last week’s red card.

Young striker Tyreece Simpson was on the bench for the first time in a league game, while Armando Dobra was also in the 18.

Blackpool named the same team for the third successive game with ex-Blues loanee Liam Feeney starting and former Town midfielder Grant Ward on the bench.

The Tangerines won a couple of early corners, the second of which was claimed comfortably by keeper Tomas Holy despite very windy conditions. On six a Garbutt corner from the right floated over Keane’s head at the far post.

Town, in blue shorts, began to control the game and might have gone ahead in the 11th minute. Sears was played in on the right of the area and sent over a low ball which was hit just too hard for Huws as he broke into the box at the far post.

Two minutes later, a long Holy kick from his own area was assisted by the wind into the Blackpool area and bounced over the bar.

Sears got under a bouncing ball just outside the area and sent it well into the stand behind the goal in the 16th minute with the Blues having had the better of the opening quarter of an hour despite the difficult conditions.

There was a scare for Town in the 19th minute when Garbutt failed to deal with an awkward long ball but Chambers prevented Gary Madine from getting in a shot and the on-loan Everton man eventually put a cross from the left behind for a corner which came to nothing.

A minute later Bishop ran into an advertising hoarding at pace as he chased the ball out of play. After initially looking in some pain the academy product was OK to carry on.

Soon after, Downes won the ball in the Town half and brought it forward before feeding Keane to his right on the edge of the Blackpool box from where the ex-Manchester United trainee scraped a low shot across the face when he might have been better looking for Sears in the middle.

In the 24th minute Madine tried to catch Holy off his line with a shot from 35 yards out on the right but sent the ball well into the stand.

Two minutes later, the Tangerines took the lead with Town very much the architects of their own downfall.

First Garbutt’s back-heel not far outside the area on the left gave the ball away, then after the Blues had fended off the initial danger, Downes got in Huws’s way as the Welshman looked to bring it out from the edge of the box and Dewsbury-Hall hit a low shot which flew through a crowd of players beat Holy to his right off the inside of the post.

The Blues looked to hit back, Bishop playing a ball over the top for Sears which was too close to Tangerines keeper Chris Maxwell, who claimed. Off the field sections of the large Town following chanted ‘Lambert, sort it out’ and ‘five more years, you’re having a laugh’.

The Blues players felt they should have been awarded a penalty in the 37th minute when Downes was found in space on the left of the box and hit a shot which Maxwell saved. Sears looked to be first to the loose ball but was challenged as he sought to put away the rebound, the ball going behind.

The Blues claimed a spot-kick but referee Christopher Sarginson waved away the protests and awarded a goalkick, which seemed the least likely of the three possible decisions he could have made.

Downes hit a low shot wide a minute later with the Blues starting to put the home side under pressure. Soon after, Huws struck a shot which Maxwell gathered.

On 43 Chambers went down midway inside the Blackpool half with what looked like a painful knee problem as he battled for the ball with Madine but after treatment was able to carry on. Garbutt took the freekick and not for the first time saw it taken well beyond his team-mates by the wind.

In injury time, Maxwell saved Sears’s shot from the edge of the area down to his left after Keane had knocked down. Soon after, Bishop was halted in his tracks as he weaved his way into the area.

On the balance of the half, the Blues didn’t deserve to be behind having seen most of the ball and most of the chances.

But they could only have themselves to blame for the Blackpool goal which was the result of a series of errors.

At the other end, the Blues had had the chances to level the scores as they finished the half strongly but had again lacked a clinical edge, either missing the target or finding Maxwell in their way, although Sears might well have had a penalty.

Nathan Delfouneso flicked a header through to Holy soon after the restart, then on 51 Feeney hit a low shot at the far post which flew behind off Garbutt.

The Blues had caused Blackpool little danger since the break but in the 55th minute they equalised.

The home side failed to deal with a long ball ball down the right, Downes doing well to win possession and find Keane. The striker found himself some space before cutting the ball across the area to Sears, who fired past Maxwell to claim his first goal of the season, his last having come on January 26th last year prior to his ACL injury.

On 59 Downes was booked for shaking off Matthew Virtue-Thick who had been hanging off his shirt as he tried to bring the ball forward. It was the midfielder’s 10th league booking of the season meaning the England U19 international is banned for the next two games. Almost immediately, Downes and Bishop were swapped for Alan Judge and Dobra.

The game was developing into an end to end affair with Town dominating possession in the Blackpool half but not finding a way through the Tangerines’ backline, while the home side looked to catch the Blues on the break.

In the 66th minute Sears smashed a shot against a defender on the edge of the box before Blackpool switched Connor Ronan for Joe Nuttall.

Five minutes later, Sears crossed deep from the right and Judge scuffed a volley into the ground and through to Maxwell.

Soon after, Garbutt cut the ball back to Keane at the near post from where the striker managed an effort at goal which Maxwell turned behind. From the corner, Keane’s header looped well over.

But Blackpool were seeing more of the ball and in the 77th minute they went close to going back in front. After Holy had almost been caught out by Feeney’s pace - and the if anything even stronger wind - as he rushed out of his area to the left, the resultant corner was sent in and Madine headed against the bar. The ball bounced back out but Holy was able to claim.

At the other end, Dobra fed Judge, who hit a low shot not too far wide of Maxwell’s right post. On 81 Dewsbury-Hall was yellow-carded for a foul on Dobra.

As rain began to fall heavily, an attempted Holy long kick was virtually stopped in the air by the wind prior to Keane being replaced by Simpson, who was making his league debut.

Simpson was quickly into the action, breaking down the left and sending over a deep cross. Dobra cleverly tricked his way back in from the other flank but laid the ball off slightly too short for Judge on the edge of the box. On 86 Calum MacDonald was booked for a foul on Woolfenden as Town broke.

In injury time Sears looked like he might win it at one end when he was played through on goal by Judge but Maxwell saved to his left. And immediately the home side went up the other end and claimed the three points.

A cross was sent in from the right and sub Nuttall beat Holy to it at the near post to nod into the net. The Blackpool players celebrated with their fans behind the goal causing an advertising hoarding to fall over.

Town desperately went looking for another equaliser in the remaining seconds, Holy going up for corner, but referee Sarginson’s whistle confirmed another frustrating and ultimately pointless afternoon for the Blues.

Having got back on terms, the Blues saw plenty of the ball and had chances but as so often of late without finding the net.

Sears looked like he was going to win it in injury time only for Nuttall to grab a win for the home side which on the balance of the game they hadn’t deserved.

The result leaves Town still ninth, five points off the play-offs and nine from the top two ahead of back-to-back home games against Fleetwood and Coventry.

Blackpool: Maxwell, Turton, Moore, Husband, Macdonald, Feeney, Virtue, Ronan (Nuttall 67), Dewsbury-Hall, Delfouneso, Madine. Unused: Sims, Howe, Bola, Edwards, Spearing, Ward.

Town: Holy, Woolfenden, Chambers (c), Earl, Garbutt, Skuse, Downes (Judge 60), Huws, Sears, Bishop (Dobra 60), Keane (Simpson 83). Unused: Norris, Wilson, Edwards, Nolan. Referee: Christopher Sarginson (Staffordshire).

Photo: Pagepix

warktheline added 22:17 - Feb 29 .....and who continually appoints these managers blueboy? You are chained and pacified by the Trojan horse!
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Marinersnose added 22:24 - Feb 29 ME failed to invest in January when the team were well placed having started the season amassing a good number of points without having played well. PL has initiated good support and the crowd have been immense for such a poor lower league so credit for that. PL contrary to many reports has an extremely poor but large squad of players. Two keepers who are average at best , two second division strikers who are exactly that and struggle even at this level. Most of the squad were already here on big contracts thanks to PH. We've been unlucky with injuries to key players and PL has made a decent signing in KVY. Downes and Woolfenden have been superb but will ply their trade elsewhere next season along with Garbutt. We have some decent young players in Dobra El Mizouni Ndaba Lankester to name but a few but they are not strong enough to get the club out of this league. I also feel many of the squad don't fancy promotion as they couldn't play at Championship level hence there is clear evidence that the team lacks a winning mentality . PL picks the team and has made some questionable decisions but the players have let him and the fans down. Today we had enough chances to win but frail defenders switched off and we lose. Same v Oxford Sunderland. Players don't want it badly enough . I've watch Edwards shy out of so many challenges this season which says it all. He's not the only player. Skuse and Chambers are passed their best but still contribute but they're not the future. Sacking PL for me will not change this regime of selling our best players. Next season will see crowds of 8-10k I'm sure as we've all had enough. Thank goodness I've been privileged to have watched the real Ipswich Town in 70's 80's and those memories will remain. Unfortunately our youngsters can only read about the history of this once fantastic club. RIP

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algarvefan added 22:28 - Feb 29 I don't care if people like this or not, in respect of changing the manager now, it's too late in the season, there are not enough games left. The owner, the manager and the players are all we have, there is no'Roy of the Rovers' miracle on the horizon. Having watched every game this season, we have lacked confidence for the duration, a hangover I suspect from a disastrous campaign last time out. If I'm honest I didn't think we would get promoted this season, we were so poor last season, without a complete clear out it was never going to happen. However we have what we have, 10 games to go and 'if' we can get going again we can make the play offs. So if confidence is the issue, we are not going to see any staff changes, protesting and booing is hardly going to help the situation. I hope people will continue to be good supporters and get behind the team. There were, in spite of some comments on here some good things about our display today, the players reaction Tuesday will be key, so lets do all we can do and support the team. The end of the season is the time for recriminations if there are to be any. Who knows...... stranger things have happened!!!

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billythefish added 23:03 - Feb 29 Marcus Evans, you are to blame, why would you keep the debt owing to you high, oh I get it because you charge our club a high interest rate to service the debt, the debt to the club you claim to support. Lambert, sorry pal but you ain't got a clue have you? Please stop destroying our club
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billythefish added 23:11 - Feb 29 Sindre94 not sure what game you watch
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blueboy1981 added 23:18 - Feb 29 warktheline - I have no more time for Evans that what you have, or what he has overseen happen to our Club under his Ownership - he has made some horrendous decisions, and appointments. However, I make no apologies for not calling for his outgoing until realistic alternative/s are forthcoming. It is pointless to be otherwise. The giving of Lambert his ludicrous contract really is laughable, and unbelievable throughout the game. It was obviously based on pressure from Lambert, his B/s, and deceiving start to this season - Evans must now be regretting that big time. Lambert was looking for what he's got from the start, and he got it - I'm convinced that was his sole aim, fortune favoured him in that early good run of results, it all worked in his favour. A huge mistake by Evans, who obviously thought of stability being all important going forward. Lambert is simply not a good, competent Manager, and baring miracles Evans will have no choice but to bite that bullet, and pay up for that mistake. All the evidence Evans needs to see Lambert is anything but what he portrays is there for him to see first hand. Over to you Evans to do the necessary, and learn from costly mistakes, if there is no get out clause in the contract at the end of this season.

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BlueMachines added 23:18 - Feb 29 Sindre94. I understand where you are coming from. But for me, in January our Manager and owner knew our top scorer was struggling with injury and was going to need an operation. But did we invest in anyway to cover or negate that? No. Of course we didn't and now we are at the bare bones. If we had a player who could convert chances and add goals to the games we have been more dominate in then we may have won a few. But you are right, fine margins in those games are costing us. But as per normal no investment is costing us.

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Dockerblue added 23:35 - Feb 29 Some fair comments on here, very good assessment from algarvefan. The truth is Lambert did inherit a poor squad of players thanks to PH transfer policy and we are weaker this season however l,m with RobsonWalk, the weak link is our so-called skipper. Too much influence at the club except on the pitch where he is totally ineffective, can,t tackle, positioning sense non-existent and most of the time beaten easily in the air and his biggest failing is he let the ball bounce in front of him. It,s almost like playing with 10 men every game. We are going nowhere while he,s at the club. Another thing l remember is from when we lost at Lincoln in the cup a few years ago, Terry Butcher said on national TV that the players should be ashamed of themselves, well Terry is back at the club now so maybe PL should get him in the dressing room to kick them up the backsides now. Oh for a captain like Butch now!

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Tractorboy1985 added 23:49 - Feb 29 Sindre94 you are one of the happy clappy tw@ts I'm on about!! Wake up and realise this club is a f ing joke and we need to put pressure on our ‘billionaire' owner!! Come on.. why are we standing for this??
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RobsonWark added 01:27 - Mar 1 Why do you guys keep blaming Evans? He is not the one picking the team. Every f###ing manager keeps picking Chambers as our great captain and leader. He wouldn't get in a Sunday morning reserve team!! WHY CAN THE SO CALLED PROFESSIONAL MANAGERS NOT SEE WHAT WE ALL CAN SEE ABOUT CHAMBERS?
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BeattiesBackPocket added 01:34 - Mar 1 Blueboy1981 I've given you an up and down on page 4 because you blame FINALLY the owner then in the next breath take it away because there's no alternative!? It's not down to us to find one it's evans? As I keep saying he has bought the demise of the club and you condoning ANYTHING he does is as bad as what he's been doing sorry mate it is. That's always the go to on any Evans supporter ‘name an alternative' well there were 3 others originally and as I keep saying WE WERE ALREADY OUT OF ADMINISTRATION BEFORE EVANS BOUGHT US!? Stop saying he saved us! A successful businessman who's target was get us out the championship has ultimately taken us to our LOWEST position EVER HOW DARE ANYONE SUPPORT THIS GUY NOW. YOU are as bad as him if you do!

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RobsonWark added 01:44 - Mar 1 BeattiesBackPocket added 01:34 - Mar 1 "Blueboy1981 I've given you an up and down on page 4 because you blame FINALLY the owner then in the next breath take it away because there's no alternative!? It's not down to us to find one it's evans? As I keep saying he has bought the demise of the club and you condoning ANYTHING he does is as bad as what he's been doing sorry mate it is. That's always the go to on any Evans supporter ‘name an alternative' well there were 3 others originally and as I keep saying WE WERE ALREADY OUT OF ADMINISTRATION BEFORE EVANS BOUGHT US!? Stop saying he saved us! A successful businessman who's target was get us out the championship has ultimately taken us to our LOWEST position EVER HOW DARE ANYONE SUPPORT THIS GUY NOW. YOU are as bad as him if you do!" IT'S THE MANAGERS WHO KEEP PICKING CHAMBERS WEEK IN WEEK OUT WHEN ALL THE OTHER PLAYERS CAN BE ROTATED!!!

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BeattiesBackPocket added 01:52 - Mar 1 Blueboy1981 you realise the reason we are in this predicament is because we have had the bottom 6 lowest (or 18th highest as Evans spin likes to put it) wage budget past 4/5 seasons?? Yes?? THAT IS THE ONLY REASON we are where we are now we have a poor team no matter what budget the manager now has to try and sell the crap we have (unlikely) to buy or bring in players much like when you get relegated from any league you have a slightly higher wage budget than the rest does NOT mean your team is better so get a grip and start realising the owner needs to start getting the criticism NOW BEFORE LEAVUE TWO BECKONS

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BeattiesBackPocket added 01:58 - Mar 1 Robsonwalk you yourself blamed Evans on page 3!?!? I'm not sticking up for the manager I'm saying WHO would come and do any better than the 6 managers we've had so READ ALL MY COMMENTS!! Page 3 explains my point! We won't get any better than the likes of lambert whilst Evans and the budget is in place END OF
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RobsonWark added 02:21 - Mar 1 BeattiesBackPocket added 01:58 - Mar 1 "Robsonwalk you yourself blamed Evans on page 3!?!? I'm not sticking up for the manager I'm saying WHO would come and do any better than the 6 managers we've had so READ ALL MY COMMENTS!! Page 3 explains my point! We won't get any better than the likes of lambert whilst Evans and the budget is in place END OF" I have never blamed Evans...I've only ever blamed the managers who keep picking CHAMBERS week in week out!!

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RobsonWark added 02:22 - Mar 1 CHAMBERS is trying his best to take us to non league!
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Bluearmy_81 added 02:23 - Mar 1 Anyone saying "Evans doesn't pick the team" is showing a staggering lack of insight when it comes to culpability and responsibility running a football club. It's actually embarassing as the main cause of our demise is as plain as day for any self respecting football fan with half an idea about what they're talking about...
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Minneapolis_ITFC added 02:24 - Mar 1 Wonder what response would have been had the team held out for a point or indeed had we won it instead of them late on. It's becoming another season of dismay. Last year was garbage what with the relegation and final league position but any opportunity we got now is being p1ssed away game after game week after week. The five year contract extension for Lambert was insanity from the moment it arrived. Best guess the club acts NOW and hires someone else while there's STILL time to turn this season around and just go all out for the promotion bid. If Lambert stays in position we're done for this season. Wish him no harm but he's the wrong man in the wrong place. 40 years back this weekend this team was beating Manchester United by six clear goals in the upper reaches of the old First Division. Arguably one of Europe's best assembled club sides which showed in the following years UEFA Cup triumph. People of a certain age won't always comprehend or even care but damn it the club has fallen away to such extent since then it's hard to put measure on it.

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RobsonWark added 02:45 - Mar 1 Minneapolis_ITFC insanity was giving CHAMBERS a two year contract!!
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Doctor_Earman added 02:59 - Mar 1 As a doctor I can confirm that our season is on a life support machine. A loss to Fleetwood on Tuesday and its plug will well truly have been pulled.
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TrueBlueFerret added 06:45 - Mar 1 EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY!!
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ipswichone added 07:04 - Mar 1 first have to mention bad ref and one blind linesman.sears was pushed over, as he went to score what would have been a definite goal. sear and dobra need to be in starting line up, as they have zip and know-how to score. the defence is woeful at times, although luke was to blame for messing around with ball just outside the area when Blackpool took the lead
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warktheline added 07:12 - Mar 1 Evans needs to be made to feel very uncomfortable at Portman Road! He's deserves nothing more than being pressured and hounded, negative publicity ! If not that, then mass boycotting of games! He's nowt more than a stain on our clubs history. Damning statements from previous manager and players have shown and proved Evans has no desire or enthusiasm towards driving the club forward! Trojan Horse out!

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londontractorboy57 added 07:54 - Mar 1 Hyperbrit still waiting for your answers or as I suspected you are quick with rhetoric but slow when it comes to putting facts behind the words.
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londontractorboy57 added 07:54 - Mar 1 Hyperbrit still waiting for your answers or as I suspected you are quick with rhetoric but slow when it comes to putting facts behind the words.
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