Ipswich Town 0-0 Burton Albion
- Published
Ipswich managed only one shot on target at Portman Road
Bottom club Burton Albion remained four points from safety in the Championship after a low-quality draw at Ipswich.
The hosts failed to register a shot in a turgid first half, with neither keeper needing to make a save.
Former Ipswich striker Darren Bent could have broken the deadlock for the Brewers but saw his shot blocked by the legs of goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.
Bialkowski was forced into another top save late on when he tipped Kyle McFadzean's near-post header over.
Mick McCarthy's Tractor Boys stay 12th, eight points from the final play-off spot, following a limp display which saw them have their only attempt on target in the 85th minute.
McFadzean's 90th-minute header came from Martin Samuelsen's corner, while ex-England international Bent should arguably have opened his Burton account when John Brayford sent him through on goal.
Ipswich showed small signs of improvement after Mustapha Carayol was introduced off the bench for his debut, but he could only find the side-netting from 25 yards.
Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy:
"It's probably the worst game here all season. It was tough and maybe the opposition had a bearing on that.
"We did not play well at all and they made it really hard for us.
"A lesser together committed bunch of lads could have been beaten.
"Nigel's team acquitted themselves well and you have to give some credit to them. It was a poor performance by us."
Burton boss Nigel Clough:
"It's two points dropped and the performance deserved the three points.
"To play as well as we did in two games and only get one point is very harsh on us, but it was nice to keep a clean sheet.
"The nicest thing is that we are not playing like a team at the bottom of the league and we will try that until the end of the season - but what will be will be.
"We tried to win the game right up to the last minute and couldn't have done any more apart from score."
- Published3 February 2018
