Ipswich Town goalkeeper Scott Loach was keen to take the positives out of Saturday’s 0-0 draw with Blackpool at Portman Road.

The Blues went close through David McGoldrick’s close-range header that fizzed wide and Daryl Murphy’s right-foot shot that was saved by Matt Gilks, but that was about as good as it got on a frustrating afternoon.

The visitors, with one win in 17 prior to today’s game, actually carved out the better chances but Loach denied Faris Haroun on no fewer than three occasions - the pick of his saves coming late in the second half.

The former Watford man was only picked to play after Dean Gerken picked up a neck injury and was ruled out at around 1pm, and impressed in his first league start since August.

“I would say it’s probably two points dropped because we should be making this place a fortress, but on the flip-side we have proved hard to beat again and another team has come here and not beaten us. That sends a message out to the rest of the league,” he said.

“On another day, had we taken our chances, we would have probably gone on to win two or 3-0 but the longer it went on, the more they thought they had a chance and we got a bit nervy.”

Town are now two points off the play-offs but sixth-placed Reading have a game in hand and could stretch the gap to five with victory at QPR on Sunday.

For more from Loach, discussing his Ipswich Town future, see Monday’s EADT and Ipswich Star.