IPSWICH Town were denied victory in Saturday’s Championship fixture against Hull City at Portman Road by an 85th minute equaliser by substitute Jay Simpson.

Ipswich Town 1-1 Hull City

IPSWICH Town were denied victory in Saturday’s Championship fixture against Hull City at Portman Road by an 85th minute equaliser by substitute Jay Simpson.

In a gritty 90 minutes of action Jason Scotland’s 58th minute goal looked to have won the points for Town.

Andy Drury made a highly impressive full Ipswich debut but Hull were lively opponents and without Jimmy Bullard and David Norris Ipswich went off the boil a little towards the end.

But 14 points from the last 18 on offer is still a good return for the Blues.

Ipswich made one change from the side that thrashed Doncaster Rovers 6-0 at the Keepmoat Stadium on Tuesday with Drury coming in for his full Football League debut at the age of 27.

He replaced Bullard, who was unable to play under the terms of his loan move from Hull City. Hyam took Drury’s place on the bench with Leadbitter carrying on as skipper in the absence of injured skipper Norris.

Hull with one just away defeat since September were unchanged from the team that beat Preston 1-0 at the KC Stadium in their previous match. Rosenior, who was on loan at Ipswich last year from Reading, was included in the Tigers team at right back.

It had been raining all day and it continued to pour down as the teams warmed up.

Playing in the middle of a midfield five, Drury was soon in action sending a strong 18 yard volley straight at Guzan after a neat fourth minute Scotland flick.

In the 11th minute a neat progressive Town move ended with a smart cross by Martin with Drury looking to have been pushed by Dawson as the ball reached the six-yard box. What looked like an obvious penalty was ignored by the match officials.

Belaid’s 30 yard screaming free-kick after a Kennedy foul flew a couple of inches over the bar to give a reminder of the danger offered by Hull.

Ipswich were certainly not having it all their own way against a side that had not lost away since September, but when Martin crossed superbly in the 29th minute, Wickham missed the target with his far post volley. Within seconds, Guzan dived smartly to his left to keep out a thunderbolt 25 yard effort by Leadbitter.

In the 39th minute the impressive Drury played Kennedy in behind the visiting defence, and when the full back pulled the ball back from the by-line Wickham was tackled just as he was about to shoot.

Delaney found the ball at his feet close in at the far post after a Drury free-kick from the right in the 48th minute. He was soon closed down and the chance had gone.

Wickham’s long punt upfield led to Ipswich taking a 58th minute lead. Scotland was confronted by Gerrard only, but the striker was by the left touchline. He cut inside and sent a low right shot through the legs of Gerrard and inside the far post off the hands of a diving Guzan. It was Scotland’s ninth goal making him joint leading scorer with Norris.

Hull had their first shot on target four minutes later when McLean found himself unmarked with Fulop diving to his left to save at the second attempt.

With their second shot on target, Hull levelled in the 85th minute after Town had lost much of their early initiative. A cross from the left saw substitute Simpson get between two home defenders and guide his 10 yard header into the right hand top corner of Fulop’s goal.

Stewart was taken of by stretcher with what looked like a serious injury in stoppage time with a draw a fair result.

Teams

Ipswich Town: Fulop; Edwards, McAuley, Delaney, Kennedy; Martin (Civelli 82), Drury, Healy, Leadbitter, Wickham; Scotland (Priskin 79). Substitutes: Lee-Barrett, Smith, Peters, Hyam, O’Dea.

Hull City: Guzan; Rosenior, Chester, Gerrard, Dawson; Stewart (Devitt 90), Evans, Koren, Belaid (Simpson 77); McLean (Barmby 62), Fryatt. Substitutes: Harper, Hobbs, Cairney, Duke.

Referee: Mr C Pawson (South Yorkshire)

Attendance: 19,125 (640 Hull)

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FULL MATCH FACTS IPSWICH TOWN v HULL CITY

Marks

Ipswich Town: Fulop 7; Edwards 7, McAuley 8, Delaney 7, Kennedy 7; Martin 7, Drury 8, Healy 7, Leadbitter 7, Wickham 7; Scotland 7.

Hull City: Guzan 6; Rosenior 7, Chester 8, Gerrard 7, Dawson 7; Stewart 7, Evans 7, Koren 6, Belaid 6; McLean 7, Fryatt 6.

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MATCH STATS

Ipswich Town 1

Goals: Scotland 58

Bookings: Leadbitter 32.

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 3

Shots off target: 7

Woodwork: -

Corners: 9

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 13

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Hull City 1

Goal: Simpson 85

Bookings: -.

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 2

Shots off target: 4

Woodwork: -

Corners: 7

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 7