Feeble Blues chuck two points away

Ipswich Town 1-1 Blues

Another game, another draw. And while Blues’ recent record at Portman Road suggests that a draw is a decent result, the inability to take their chances means Blues are just six points above the bottom three with games against Brighton and Derby on the horizon.

After leading from a Jonathan Grounds goal, Blues wasted a hatful of chances, conceded the equaliser, then wasted a hatful more.

Blues may be unbeaten in three games yet the grim reality is that Gianfranco Zola has won two of his 20 games in charge. This afternoon was a prime example of his tactical naivety.

At 1-1, Blues were on top and were chasing the winner. Kerim Frei, Che Adams and Chieck Keita would have been viable options from the bench as Zola went in search of a winner. But introducing Stephen Gleeson instead suggested that he was intent on holding on to the point. You could argue to the contrary after Clayton Donaldson’s introduction – but the Italian refused to take the shackles off three players raring to make a difference – the game really was there for the taking.

Going into Tuesday night’s clash at Brighton, Zola really has nothing to lose. The Seagulls are marching towards a place in the Premier League and will present the toughest of challenges. If Blues go to the Amex playing for a point, they’ll get annihilated. There’s no option but to go and have a good go.

It’s getting to the nerve jangling stage now and Blues could desperately do with a win.