On the balance of play Bolton deserved something from this game. They had more possession and a lot more shots on target but thankfully, Bartosz Bialkowski was once again in fine form.
What it so difficult to take however is the way in which we let slip another two goal lead for the third time this season.
It could be argued that having taken a commanding lead we should have been good enough to see this one out but once again our appalling habit of throwing points away reared its ugly head again and we had to be content with a draw.
After Ainsley Maitland Niles had expertly delivered a free kick onto the head of Christophe Berra to extend our lead after half time, we should have been good enough to hold out but within less than a minute we had gifted the home side a goal, when we switched off and Wilson volleyed home from around 25 yards to the dismay of the 500 travelling fans.
It could be argued that Bialkowski was partly responsible after he punched the ball clear when perhaps he could have got both hands on it but this would be very harsh, after another outstanding performance from the Pole who had kept the blues in the game.
The same could be said for Ainsley Maitland-Niles because Wellington Silva conned the referee Mark Haywood when he dived and slow-motion replays clearly show that Maitland-Niles got the ball and not the man and there appeared to be no contact with the player at all!
As manager Mick McCarthy said afterwards, no blame should be attributed to our young loanee from Arsenal because he was not looking to foul anyone and it is apparent he didn’t commit one!
Naivety was his enemy here because he should just have booted it out for a corner but he will undoubtedly learn from this.
Arguably the highlight of the game was the wonder strike from Kevin Bru that put the Tractor Boys in front midway through the first half.
It was Christophe Berra who laid the ball back to him from a corner and the Mauritius international let fly from the edge of the box and the ball nestled into the back of the net via the crossbar – giving the Bolton keeper Rachubka no chance.
To grab a draw from the jaws of victory is always disappointing and the fact that it has occurred on three separate occasions so far this season is serious cause for concern.
We could have found ourselves back in the last play-off place this morning but instead we have moved one place up to eighth, with a testing game to come on Saturday away to rivals Cardiff City.
Seven points out of three games is not bad after three consecutive defeats but only time will tell whether this was the last nail in our play-off coffin or not?
Bolton Wanderers: Rachubka, Wilson, Derik, Holding, Moxey, Spearing, Trotter (Madine 67), Davies, Pratley (Silva 90), Feeney, Clough (Dobbie 83). Subs not used: Campbell, Danns, Woolery, Finney. Booked: Spearin, Silva.
Ipswich Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Smith, Berra, Knudsen, Foley (Hyam 69), Douglas, Pringle (Maitland-Niles 71), Bru (Varney 51), Sears, Pitman. Unused: Gerken, Digby, Touré.
Referee: Mark Haywood from Yorkshire).
Attendance: 12,681 of which 504 were travelling Town supporters.
Frank Weston – editor of Vital Ipswich
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