Ipswich Town vs Bolton Wanderers. Sky Bet Championship.
Portman RoadAttendance14,755.
Point still enough to move Ipswich off bottom of the Championship
Saturday 22 September 2018 19:36, UK
Ipswich Town are still looking for their first win of the season after they were held to a goalless draw by 10-man Bolton Wanderers at Portman Road.
It was the struggling Suffolk side's fifth draw of the season, however it did lift them off the foot of the Sky Bet Championship table - above Preston on goal difference - and they remain unbeaten at home after playing most of the game against 10 men after Bolton defender Marc Wilson was sent off.
Both sides were having difficulty stringing worthwhile passes together and the flow of play was punctuated by tackles and offside decisions with the two strikers for both sides, Josh Magennis for the visitors and Kayden Jackson for Ipswich, having to live off long balls through the middle of the park which was dominated by defenders.
However, neat play between Jonathan Grounds and Will Buckley led to the first corner - midway through the first half - which was struck wide by Ireland international and summer signing Wilson.
Then a darting run by Ipswich midfielder Grant Ward in the 28th minute led to a foul from Joe Williams, but the resulting free-kick by Gwion Edwards was fired straight at Bolton goalkeeper Ben Alnwick.
Wanderers were then reduced to 10 men in the 34th minute when Wilson was shown the red card by referee Stephen Martin.
It began when Ward evaded two tackles down the left and fed Jackson, who outpaced the Bolton defender only to be fouled just outside the penalty area.
As a result the visitors made an immediate substitution with central defender David Wheater replacing attacking midfielder Erhun Oztumer.
But Ward's resulting free-kick struck the defensive wall and went out for a corner.
Fulham loanee Tayo Edun was introduced at the start of the second half as Ipswich replaced Trevoh Chalobah.
The hosts pressed for an opener and - in the 51st minute - Town left-back Jonas Knudsen's right-footed shot from outside the box was blocked by Wheater for a corner.
Ipswich were dominating the play as the hour mark approached but the Bolton defence held firm as they pulled every player back behind the ball.
Jonathan Walters and Jordan Graham were introduced for Ipswich in the 71st minute and moments later a rare Bolton attack led to them winning a corner.
But Walters, who was struggling with an Achilles problem, went down in the penalty area in the 78th minute after chasing the ball and succumbed to his injuries - leaving his side also with 10 men as all three substitutions had already been made.
Wheater had a wonderful chance to take the lead for Bolton five minutes later but his shot was blocked by Toto Nsiala.
Then Alnwick produced a wonderful save from a header by Ipswich skipper Luke Chambers following a free-kick by Graham as both sides held on for a point.
Paul Hurst: "It was a frustrating afternoon, that's the overriding emotion. We didn't work their keeper enough and Dean Gerkin didn't have a save to make.
"There was little goalmouth action, lots of probing and pressing but certainly that lack of quality whether it's that final ball, an attempt at goal, a cross, I'm not sure how many real balls we put in the box and then some of the passing was okay. Things are occurring, you can only put it down to confidence."
Phil Parkinson: "I'm very pleased with the point. I thought the sending-off was harsh and I've seen it back again and there's minimal, in any contact.
"If you take everything into consideration, a day less rest than Ipswich, a long trip down yesterday and down to 10 men, if you add all those things together it's a performance of real character for us.
