Deep pockets Marcus?

Derek Davis

IT is a good job Marcus Evans has got deep pockets, and a seemingly endless supply of patience.

After the club announced losses of around �5.5m during the week there was little evidence that the Blues owner is going to see any return on his investment any time soon.

Promotion looks a forlorn hope and these sorts of results at home are hardly going to entice supporters to go to games, never mind look to renew season tickets.

Against a Wednesday side that has won just twice away all season Ipswich failed to impress.

While there were some entertaining moments around both goalmouths, on the whole the dwindling Town support were treated to mediocre fare against a mediocre side.

This had all the hallmarks of a mid-table scrap between two average teams playing mundane football.

Of course both sides continue to talk up their play-off prospects but few will give the Owls much hope and while the hard core of Town fans continue to dream the reality is going to hit them hard sooner rather than later.

This draw means Town are eight points off the top six, to even get in among them would mean town putting a string of three wins together, with everyone else not picking up a point.

As the Blues have failed to win three in a row in nearly two years the likelihood of that happening now is extremely remote.

The reason is quite simply this Town side is not good enough.

Perhaps the players are of better quality than the side that was top six this time last year but they are not playing like it.

It could be too many players are performing within themselves and while we continuously hear all the talk about self-belief and confidence and going on a run, there is little tangible evidence.

It is true of course, that teams can go on an amazing run, Sheffield United last year, Crystal Palace are another example often used, and to a lesser extent Nottingham Forest of late. But all those team went on good runs after a change of manager and it is clear that after sacrificing Bryan Klug, Jim Magilton is here for the duration.

With Veliche Shumulikoski suspended for one game, Magilton opted for a midfield powerhouse of Tommy Miler and David Norris, using Danny Haynes on the right wing and putting Jon Walters out of position on the left, with Alan Quinn on the bench.

Although Walters had a couple of shots wide and one terrific effort cleared off the line by Richard Wood, he was no where near as effective as Town fans got accustomed to last season.

Haynes was a bright spark bombing down the right putting Tommy Spurr under pressure but on the whole the Blues lacked any real inventiveness around the 18-yard box.

It was an unimaginative display against a Wednesday side organised into two banks of four happy to prod and poke on the counter.

Francis Jeffers was mercilessly booed by the North Stand but operating with the lovely Jermaine Johnson, kept Town's defence on their toes.

Midfielder Steve Watson was causing problems running from midfield and the Blues were given an early warning when he met a low Jeffers cross that he turned just wide.

Watson hit another just over the bar after on -loan Wolves winger Michael gray set him up and Alex Bruce did well to block a Johnson header at the far post following a dangerous corner.

But the warnings were not heeded and when skipper Gareth McAuley failed to get any help in dealing with Johnson who he had shepherded wide, Town went behind.

Johnson tricked his way into finding space and crossed deep for Watson who got away from Ben Thatcher and nodded past a stranded Richard Wright.

It was harsh on McAuley who defended well overall and he made amends for the equaliser.

Lee Grant had pushed a fine Haynes shot around a post and from the corner Miller delivered perfectly.

McAuley met the ball with a powerful header that grant did very well to save but Counago was well placed to nod in from close range and notch his eighth goal of the season.

Although Town huffed and puffed, Wednesday were content to sit back and defend, springing the odd counter.

Johnson thought he had the winner after a breakaway but strayed offside as he took Jeffers' pass.

Town lost Iv�n Campo as he tried to catch up with Johnson and collapsed in a heap with a suspected calf injury.

That meant Leeds United target Alex Bruce moving to centre half, and Moritz Volz getting a game.

Town have the depth of squad but it is just not performing.

A new player coming in this week may give the place a lift but it would probably be purely cosmetic as the problems clearly run deep and signing a couple of cheques is not going to be the answer for Evans and the loss-making Blues.