Ipswich v Blackpool: Ipswich Town were held to a frustrating 0-0 draw with Championship strugglers Blackpool, at Portman Road, on Saturday afternoon.

The Blues stretched their unbeaten record to five against a team who went into the contest with just one win in 17 league and cup games prior to the game.

After a bright start that saw David McGoldrick flash a near post diving header a yard wide, and Daryl Murphy denied by Matt Gilks, the visitors defended resolutely and battled their way back into the game.

And Town could count themselves a little fortunate to earn a point, returning goalkeeper Scott Loach, making his first league start since August 24 after replacing Dean Gerken (neck), pulling off three fine saves to deny Faris Haroun.

His final save came in the dying moments, the former Watford goalkeeper spreading himself to deny the Belgium with just a few minutes left.

To compound matters, Luke Hyam, making his first start in a month, hobbled off after 11 minutes, while David McGoldrick picked up a knee injury and needed treatment after the final whistle.

After the game, manager Mick McCarthy, said: “We started very well and had our best chances early on but didn’t take them, and then I thought the game settled.

“The early substitutions disturbed the game, they had the best chance in the second part of the first half and then I thought the game became a scrap.

“They were not great conditions to play in and we could have won or lost it.”

– For five pages of action, reaction and comment, see Monday’s Ipswich Star and EADT.

Ipswich Town (4-4-2): Loach; Chambers (cpt), Berra, Smith, Cresswell; Green (Anderson 71), Hyam, Skuse, Hunt (Ebanks-Blake 75); Murphy, McGoldrick.

Unused subs: Crowe, Mings, Tabb, Richardson, Nouble.

Blackpool (4-1-3-2): Gilks; McMahon, MacKenzie, Broadfoot, Robinson (Halliday 12); Angel; Haroun, Perkins, Dobbie; Keogh (Goodwillie 64), Davies (Fuller 63).

Unused Subs: Chopra, Basham, Cathcart, Grandin.

Booked: Perkins, MacKenzie, Broadfoot.