IPSWICH Town somehow managed to fail to score from a host of chances in the opening 50 minutes of their Championship fixture against Portsmouth at Portman Road on Saturday.

Ipswich Town 0-2 Portsmouth

IPSWICH Town somehow managed to fail to score from a host of chances in the opening 50 minutes of their Championship fixture against Portsmouth at Portman Road on Saturday.

How it remained goalless at the interval was unbelievable with the Blues having 13 attempts on goal and passing up many excellent opportunities.

Town manager Paul Jewell will surely intensify his search for a goalscorer after this defeat as his team should have had the game well won by the time Portsmouth came to life.

The visitors in the end finished worthy winners and David Nugent, who always seems to score at Portman Road and against Ipswich, revelled in a low 55th minute shot that found the net with the home team at that time having had 16 attempts on goal against just four for the visitors.

David Cotterill made it 2-0 in the 77th minute after lax Town defensive play.

Town made one change from the side that was beaten 2-0 at leaders QPR on Tuesday with skipper Norris passed fit after sustaining ankle and knee ligament damage a fortnight ago at Barnsley.

He came in for Healy who pulled a stomach muscle at Loftus Road.

Portsmouth, who had not conceded a goal for three games, were unchanged and included former Blues favourite Hreidarsson, 36, at left back.

Kanu came back into the squad after visiting his sick mother in Nigeria during the week to be named on the bench with the visitors able to name six substitutes after only naming five on Tuesday.

Town had the first chance after eight minutes of sparring. The ball moved sweetly from Fulop to Wickham and on to Martin. From the number 11’s low cross Leadbitter’s fierce low shot rebounded off a defender to strike Leadbitter and roll a yard wide for a goal kick.

Three minutes later McAuley met Bullard’s corner with a bullet header at the far post. The ball struck Scotland standing in front of Ashdown and spun away for a goal kick.

Soon after Leadbitter fired wildly over when well placed from another good Martin cross as Town’s inability to test opposing keepers continued.

In the 17th minute another chance went begging. Edwards crossed superbly from the right and the ball reached an unmarked Wickham just beyond the far post. The youngster’s point-blank shot was blocked by a desperate Ashdown with Ipswich already having eight shots.

Two minutes later it was Scotland’s turn to go close from a Bullard free-kick – with his glancing header going a foot wide of the far post.

Like the previous Saturday it had been raining throughout the game with the ball rolling invitingly over the surface to help produce a high tempo game.

In the 38th minute Portsmouth, who had grew increasingly into the game, should have taken the lead when McAuley and Leadbitter got in each other’s way and presented a free route to goal for Kitson. Fulop came out to narrow the angle and did well to block the eventual shot.

After being confined in their own half for a while a bright Town move almost brought a 43rd minute goal. Martin fed Edwards and the low cross was met at the near post by Scotland who missed the target from four yards.

A minute later, Edwards and Norris combined for the latter to cross to the far post where Wickham from two yards was unable to head into the net.

Within seconds of the restart, Ipswich missed their best chance so far – and that is saying something! Edwards crossed perfectly from the right and Wickham got ahead of his marker to send a free seven yard header straight at Ashdown. A foot either way and it would surely have been a goal.

Scotland tried his luck in the 52nd minute when the ball dropped at his feet 18 yards out, and his low left-foot strike whizzed a foot wide.

Town paid for their failure to score in the 55th minute when Portsmouth took the lead. The ball fell to Nugent wide left after a cross from the right is half cleared. Nugent took the ball beyond Norris to bury a strong low right foot shot into the net.

To add to Town’s misery the heavens opened to accompany that goal with Pompey moving up a gear with their goal.

A poor kick out by Fulop led to the visitors scoring again in the 77th minute. Nugent gained possession and played the ball square for Cotterill to go clear and steer his 16 yard shot beyond the exposed Ipswich keeper.

With four minutes left a neat pass by Civelli put Priskin clear but he delayed his shot and the referee turned down strong claims for a penalty when the substitute was brought down from behind.

If Ipswich had played all day it is unlikely they would have scored.

Teams

Ipswich Town: Fulop; Edwards, McAuley, Delaney, Kennedy; Martin (Priskin 83), Norris (Drury 72), Bullard, Leadbitter, Wickham; Scotland (Civelli 72). Substitutes: Lee-Barrett, Peters, O’Dea, Smith.

Portsmouth: Ashdown; de Laet, Rocha, Halford, Hreidarsson; Hogg, Mullins (Kanu 89), Cotterill, Ward (Mokoena 65), Nugent (Dickinson 89); Kitson. Substitutes: Flahavan, Ciftci. Kilbey.

Referee: Mr S Mathieson (Cheshire)

Attendance: 23,345 (931 Portsmouth)

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FULL MATCH FACTS IPSWICH TOWN v PORTSMOUTH

Marks

Ipswich Town: Fulop 5; Edwards 6, McAuley 7, Delaney 7, Kennedy 6; Martin 8, Norris 7, Bullard 7, Leadbitter 6, Wickham 6; Scotland 6.

Portsmouth: Ashdown 7; de Laet 7, Rocha 7, Halford 7, Hreidarsson 7; Hogg 6, Mullins 6, Cotterill 7, Ward 6, Nugent 7; Kitson 6.

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STATS

Ipswich Town 0

Goals: -

Bookings: -

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 6

Shots off target: 12

Woodwork: -

Corners: 6

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 8

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Portsmouth 2

Goal: Nugent 55, Cotterill 77

Bookings: Rocha 18.

Sent off: -

Shots on target: 5

Shots off target: 0

Woodwork: -

Corners: 4

Free-kicks conceded (including off sides): 8