Tractor Boys out of gear as they fail to Cook up a storm

IPSWICH failed to end a 22-year goal drought against the U’s – but it was Oxford the home fans booed off.

Not since Mark Venus converted a penalty in February 1999 had the Tractor Boys won this fixture.

This was also a fourth stalemate in the last five meetings, with Oxford coming out on top 1-0 two seasons ago.

Ipswich fans hounded out former bosses Mick McCarthy and then Paul Lambert for lacklustre displays.

But it was the sixthplace U’s who were barracked for being boring because of their time-wasting tactics.

Town boss Paul Cook

(right) said: “They were hanging on at the end.

“For our supporters I always want us to be the aggressive team at Portman Road and I felt we were.

“I was really pleased with everything about our performance.”

Ipswich, who remain four points off the play-offs in ninth, hit the same post twice in the opening 20 minutes.

Macauley Bonne was first to be denied with a glancing header from Lee Evans’ corner that keeper Simon

IPSWICH OXFORD UTD

Eastwood touched on to the near post. But he was then beaten by Bersant Celina’s low drive from the edge of the box, before the ball cannoned off the woodwork. Oxford made a strong start and poor Ipswich defending almost let Nathan Holland in but Janoi Donacien was forced into a dodgy last-ditch tackle.

And angry Oxford boss Karl Robinson was convinced it should have been a penalty.

He said: “If someone doesn’t get the football it’s a foul anywhere else on the pitch.

“It’s a big talking point and one I will obviously moan about.”

IPSWICH: Walton 7; Donacien 7, Nsiala 7, Edmundson 7, Clements 7; Morsy 7, Evans 6; Burns 6 (Aluko (71st) 5), Celina 8 (Pigott 90th), Edwards 6 (Chaplin (71st) 5); Bonne 6

OXFORD UTD: Eastwood 7; Long 7, Moore 7, Thorniley 7, Seddon 7; Henry 6 (McGuane (70th) 5), Kane 6, Brannagan 6; Sykes 7, Taylor 6 (Agyei 89th), Holland 6 (Williams 90th)

STAR MAN: Bersant Celina

REF: S Oldham