A hugely frustrating afternoon for the Brewers saw a brace of goals each from Alan Judge and Kayden Jackson condemn Albion to a 4-1 defeat against Ipswich Town at Portman Road

On an afternoon when conditions started out okay only to get worse as the afternoon progressed it was a similar story for Albion who began brightly and scored their first ever goal at Portman Road when Jamie Murphy bagged a fourth in six games via a devastating move that cut Ipswich open down their left hand side on six minutes.

Once the home side got their act together Albion found it difficult and crucially the home side were in front on the stroke of half time. After Judge had equalised from close range a route one goal saw Jackson calmly lob the ball beyond Kieran O'Hara who took no further part after that, coming off with what looked like an ankle problem to hand Ben Garratt a Brewers League debut.

Who knows how the second half might have gone it Albion had been level at the break with something to build on but Ipswich took the game away from the Brewers with both Jackson and Judge doubling their tallies for the afternoon as the home side, along with the windy swirling conditions swept Albion aside.

Looking to break a run of four draws in five games Albion showed three changes to the side as Nigel Clough tried to freshen up his side for the trip to Suffolk. Despite conceding a late equaliser against Oxford in midweek the defensive unit remained the same with the changes coming further up the pitch. Stephen Quinn returned to his defensive midfield role in place of Kieran Wallace who dropped to the bench whilst Clough also opted for the fresh legs of Joe Powell in a straight swap for Scott Fraser. Oliver Sarkic's availability again after serving his one-match ban saw him return to the side in place of Nathan Broadhead who also found himself amongst the substitutes.

The Tractor Boys, looking to arrest an alarming slump in form, should really have been ahead inside the first five minutes, Will Keane latching onto a cross inside the box and taking a touch which proved to be enough of a delay for Reece Hutchinson to close him down and prevent the shot.

It proved to be a vital block as a minute later Albion were ahead. Ryan Edwards turned on the right side of midfield and fired a low ball across towards the left for MURPHY to run on to into acres of space, cutting inside a defender and calmly sidefooting past Holy.

Murphy was almost at it again on ten minutes, Sarkic this time picking him out on the left but this time the Scot tried a curling effort only finding the waiting arms of the Czech goalkeeper.

The home stopper was already the busier of the two keepers and he had to be alert and on his toes on the quarter of an hour mark as Powell tested him with an effort from the edge of the boxnthat needed turning over the bar.

Havig struggled to get a foothold in the game, Town should really have equalised on twenty minutes. Conor Shaughnessy was unlucky to lose possession around the halfway line and that allowed Flynn Downes to send Alan Judge away down the right, the midfielder striking for goal from the edge of the box but seeing his rising effort hit the crossbar with O'Hara struggling to get close to it.

And another chance went begging for Ipswich on 28 minutes when Kayden Jackson held the line well enough to find himself through on goal from another ball through the Albion defence, this time from Keane, but having rounded O'Hara he could not find the target from a wide angle.

The former Accrington man proved to be a better provider than scorer and he was wide on the right moments later to fire in a low cross that JUDGE was adept enough to turn home inside the far post.

Sarkic had a chance to test Holy from a free kick on 42 minutes after Reece Hutchinson had brought brought down 22 yards out but his curling effort was comfortable for the Ipswich keeper who only had to drop to his right to snuff out the danger.

On the stroke of half time the home side grabbed the lead with a goal that was hugely disappointing for the Brewers. A long punt from Holy bounced inside the Burton half and JACKSON capitalised on the bounce of the ball after it had eluded Nartey and the striker nipped in to lob the ball over the advancing O'Hara who, before play could restart, hobbled off to replaced by Ben Garratt after seemingly injuring his ankle.

And Albion had Garratt to thank in the added on time at the end of the half, the keeper blocking at point blank range from Keane trying to turn home Jackson's cross at the near post.

A hugely frustrating and ultimately pivotal end to a half that had started so positively for the Brewers.

Half time: Ipswich Town 2-1 Burton Albion

The home side sensed the chance to go for the jugular at the start of the second half and they extended their lead six minutes in with Judge pouncing on a miscontrol from Hutchinson to nurst down the left before whipping in a cross that JACKSON, going to ground managed to somehow loop a header beyond Garratt into the corner of the net.

And as the afternoon continued to get gradually worse for the Brewers, Richard Nartey took no further part after the 61 minute mark limping off after a challenge with Keane to be replaced by Kieran Wallace.

Three minutes later and it was 4-1 to the hosts. Jackson was denied a clean shot on goal by a challenge on the edge of the box but the loose ball fell for JUDGE whose shot was half blocked by Garratt who then had to race back to try and scoop the ball away from the line as it trickled in but ther assistant adjudged the ball to have crossed the line before the keeper got there.

It could have got worse twenty minutes from time when Keane latched onto a speculative ball into the box, his shot on the turnrising over the angle of the target.

Substitute Teddy Bishop had only been on the pitch a matter of second when he forced Garratt into a fine save diving low to his left to turn the ball around the post.

Albion tried to rally themselves and both Akins and Edwards snatched at chances to finish a cross from Murphyfrom eight yards out.

Jackson missed a chance to complete his hat-trick on 75 minutes racing clear all too easily but Garratt stood tall to turn his effort around the post.

Broadhead entered the action for the final twelve minutes or so of normal time as Murphy took a breather after six straight starts after a long injury lay-off.

Brayford raided forwards with ten to play and with a fortunate bounce off a defender was able to set himself for a curling left footer that didnt clear the crossbar by too much.

Ipswich should haver had a fifth inside the final five minutes, substitute Freddie Sears nicking the ball from Wallace and driving into the area and Albion were grateful that the striker took the greedy approach, trying to find the net from an acute angle rather than pull the ball back for a team mate with a much easier chance.

Albion surived without any further scares but a result that equals their biggest defeat of the season also extends the winless run to six games with the Brewers really in need of a win.