Ipswich Town’s winless run goes on following this afternoon’s 0-0 draw with Bolton.

East Anglian Daily Times: Marc Wilson heads back to the changing rooms after being dismissed in the first half. Picture: STEVE WALLER WWW.STEPHENWALLER.COMMarc Wilson heads back to the changing rooms after being dismissed in the first half. Picture: STEVE WALLER WWW.STEPHENWALLER.COM (Image: © Copyright Stephen Waller)

It looked as though the Blues had been presented with the golden opportunity to break their duck after Marc Wilson’s red card before half time, but the hosts struggled to create any real chances of note against 10 men before being reduced in number themselves following an injury to Jon Walters.

The veteran striker had been introduced in bid to break the deadlock but was heading back to the dressing room 10 minutes later after suffering an injury, with the Blues having used all three of the substitutions.

It was suddenly 10v10 but, as had been the case all afternoon, Paul Hurst’s men lacked any major goal threat as the game drifted towards a draw.

A magnificent Ben Alnwick save from a Luke Chambers header was as close as Ipswich came in the final minutes, with Hurst’s men remaining winless aheading into next weekend’s game at Birmingham. The point does move the Blues off the bottom, though, with Preston North End taking their place at the foot of the table.

East Anglian Daily Times: Marc Wilson pulls back Kayden Jackson as he heads towards goal, with he Bolton player subsequently sent off for the foul. Picture: STEVE WALLER WWW.STEPHENWALLER.COMMarc Wilson pulls back Kayden Jackson as he heads towards goal, with he Bolton player subsequently sent off for the foul. Picture: STEVE WALLER WWW.STEPHENWALLER.COM (Image: © Copyright Stephen Waller)

Toto Nsiala came back into the side following suspension as Janoi Donacien dropped out of the side and Matthew Pennington switched to right back, in what was the only change from the side which started the second half of Tuesday’s draw with Brentford.

The Blues had the better of a scrappy opening of few chances, in which both sides showed nerves, as the hosts used the ball better and found themselves in more advanced positions without testing visiting goalkeeper Ben Alnwick.

But the dynamic of the game changed with 10 minutes left in the half, as Luke Chambers produced a superb piece of defending to thwart Josh Magennis before Grant Ward superbly sprung Jackson away with a piece of industrious running and a measured ball. Jackson raced through on goal, jostling with Wilson throughout before crashing to the turf under pressure from the Wanderers defender.

Wilson was shown the red card before Ward’s free-kick was deflected off the wall and behind for a corner.

East Anglian Daily Times: Grant Ward just fails to direct the ball goalwards in this first half effort. Picture: STEVE WALLER WWW.STEPHENWALLER.COMGrant Ward just fails to direct the ball goalwards in this first half effort. Picture: STEVE WALLER WWW.STEPHENWALLER.COM (Image: © Copyright Stephen Waller)

The Blues were unable to make their man-advantage count before the break as Bolton brought on hulking central defender David Wheater as they adjusted, with the Blues introducing Tayo Edun at the interval in place of Trevoh Chalobah.

As you would expect the hosts started the second half with plenty of the ball against 10 men but struggled to make any kind of chances for themselves against a visiting side happy to sit in two banks of four and leave with a point.

Nsiala connected with Nolan’s cross and headed over on 65 minutes as the Blues created a notable opportunity for the first time, while the home fans began to call for the introduction of Jon Walters.

The change came on 71 minutes but he left the field seven minutes later after appearing to re-injure the Achilles which made him a major doubt for the game.

Alnwick’s save from Chambers was as close as the Blues came, before boos rang out around Portman Road at the end of the contest.

Ipswich Town: Gerken; Pennington, Chambers, Nsiala, Knudsen; Chalobah (Edun 46), Skuse (Walters 71); Ward (Graham 71), Edwards, Nolan; Jackson Subs: Bialkowski, Spence, Downes, Harrison Bolton: Alnwick; Olkowski, Hobbs, Wilson, Grounds; Lowe, Williams; Noone (Donaldson 90), Oztumer (Wheater 36), Buckley (Wildschut 87); Magennis Subs: Matthews, Vela, Doidge, O’Neil. Wildschut Marc Wilson sent off 34

East Anglian Daily Times: Kayden Jackson is just beaten to the ball by Bolton keeper Ben Alnwick early in the game. Picture: STEVE WALLER WWW.STEPHENWALLER.COMKayden Jackson is just beaten to the ball by Bolton keeper Ben Alnwick early in the game. Picture: STEVE WALLER WWW.STEPHENWALLER.COM (Image: © Copyright Stephen Waller)

East Anglian Daily Times: Kayden Jackson is just beaten to the ball by Bolton keeper Ben Alnwick early in the game. Picture: STEVE WALLER WWW.STEPHENWALLER.COMKayden Jackson is just beaten to the ball by Bolton keeper Ben Alnwick early in the game. Picture: STEVE WALLER WWW.STEPHENWALLER.COM (Image: © Copyright Stephen Waller)