Two sides with decent unbeaten records met at the Macron Stadium on Saturday afternoon in the Championship as Bolton Wanderers welcomed Ipswich Town.
Ipswich would have gone top of the table with a win, but their dominance didn't result in a goal as Bolton hung on for a point.
Read how it all unfolded in Sports Mole's minute-by-minute updates below.
Afternoon folks! Our feature 3pm kickoff in the Championship sees two sides in good form do battle at the Macron Stadium. It's Bolton versus Ipswich and team news is coming your way next...
BOLTON XI: Lonergan; Ream, Mills, Dervite, Wheater; Danns, Feeney, Pratley, Lee; Clayton, Wilkinson
Subs: Bogdan, Moxey, Spearing, Hall, Trotter, Gudjohnsen, Vela
Subs: Bogdan, Moxey, Spearing, Hall, Trotter, Gudjohnsen, Vela
It's two changes for the home side as Conor Wilkinson and David Wheater come in for Craig Davies and Josh Vela.
IPSWICH XI: Bialkowski; Chambers, Berra, Smith, Mings; Skuse, Bishop, Tabb; Anderson, Murphy, McGoldrick
Subs: Gerken, Parr, Clarke, Ambrose, Bru, N.Hunt, Sammon
Subs: Gerken, Parr, Clarke, Ambrose, Bru, N.Hunt, Sammon
One change from last week's 4-1 win over Leeds for Ipswich as Ted Bishop replaces the ill Stephen Hunt in midfield.
Up in the gods today, here's the view from the gantry #itfc pic.twitter.com/9PECTHQgO3 — Ipswich Town FC (@Official_ITFC) December 13, 2014
Arguably the most interesting of any player in the two squads is Bolton substitute Eidur Gudjohnsen. The veteran forward was cleared to play earlier this week after re-joining his former club ahead of last weekend's game at Reading. He doesn't start, but is likely to make an appearance from the bench.
While Bolton have a new striker available, Ipswich have the top marksman in the league in Daryl Murphy. He has 13 goals after two in the win over Leeds last week to lead all scorers.
Click here to see how the table looks ahead of the 10 3pm kickoffs in the Championship. Ipswich have dropped a place to third after Boro's convincing win over Derby County a little earlier. That does mean, however, that Ipswich will definitely be top after 21 games if they win today.
To do so, they will have to halt Bolton's five-game unbeaten run and put an end to Lennon's 100% home record since replacing Dougie Freedman with the Trotters. They have beaten Brentford, Cardiff, Wigan and Huddersfield in that run, but a visit from Ipswich's poses the most difficult test.
Although Mick McCarthy's side have a great record at home - the best in the league - and don't do so well on their travels, they have lost just one game in 16 since the August defeat to arch rivals Norwich City. Some record.
With less than 10 minutes until kickoff, it's time for my pre-game prediction. I think everything points to a draw and fancy 1-1 today. See what else I had to say about this game on the SM Sofa below.
Ipswich have won three of the last four matches between these two sides, with the last meeting a 1-0 win for Ipswich.
Today's referee is Gary Sutton and he's just led the two sides out at the Macron Stadium.
KICKOFF! We're underway in Lancashire.
Bishop wins a free kick for Ipswich in a good crossing position but Tabb overhits his set piece.
Interestingly, this is Wheater's first game since August. Lennon has brought him in to counter Ipswich's threat at set pieces, with Dervite the man starting at right-back.
Bialkowski with a nervy clearance from the Ipswich area, but he gets away with it. It's been a fairly even start to the game, with Ipswich perhaps just edging it.
SHOT! First shot of the game comes from McGoldrick after a lovely turn about 25 yards out. A comfortable save for Lonergan, but he almost spills it. Murphy was right there if the ball had gone loose. You do not want to gift the Irishman a sight of goal given his current form.
CHANCE! Bishop storms down the right for Ipswich and comes inside before feeding Tabb in acres of space on the left. He takes a touch and goes for goal but it's a good block from Dervite.
CLOSE! Murphy with a cheeky lob after a bit of pinball from the resulting corner that Lonergan has to tip over while backpedalling. Great few minutes for the visitors.
Bad news for Ipswich fans as Bournemouth take an early lead against Cardiff which would see them go above the Tractor Boys if things stayed as they are.
Shouts of handball by the Ipswich players after the ball seemed to hit Mills on the hand. Weirdly, referee Sutton penalises Anderson for handball. Looking at the replays, it would have been harsh on the Bolton man, so a no-call would have been the right decision.
Good play in the middle from Murphy and he sends Anderson away down the right. He looks for an early cross into the middle and McGoldrick, but it's a good interception by Wheater.
CHANCE! Bolton's first chance of the game as Ream threads it through to Clayton down the left. He cuts inside Smith before shooting towards the near post where Berra makes a great block.
From the resulting corner Bialkowski takes a fabulous catch at full stretch at the back post. Bolton's first action in the penalty area and that should give them a bit of confidence.
SHOT! It opens up for Skuse about 25 yards out and he shoots left-footed. It's a decent hit but straight at Lonergan. Skuse has never scored for Ipswich.
CHANCE! Down the other end Feeney beats Mings on the right and cuts the ball back to Lee. He does well to stab it on to Ream, who clearly doesn't want to shoot as he tries to make one more pass when a shot was the better option. It comes back to him, but he fires well over on his weaker right foot.
After some patient passing down the left, Bishop cuts inside and is the latest to have a go from range for Ipswich. If shots like this keep coming in, it will be an easy afternoon for Lonergan. Tame.
Ipswich have had six shots and got four on target. Bolton have got neither of their two attempts on goal.
Clayton stays down after a barge from Berra. It wasn't a foul, but the Bolton striker seems to have injured his knee in the collision.
A warm round of applause as Gudjohnsen is sent out to warm up with Clayton still on the ground. I'm not sure Lennon will have wanted to use him this early.
Lovely turn on the halfway line out on the right by Murphy and he instantly looks to ping it out to Anderson on the left but gets his angles all wrong. The Ipswich front three of Murphy, McGoldrick and Anderson are fluid and often change which side they play from.
CLOSE! Clayton goes down again, but Ipswich carry on as Mings fires it across the field to Murphy on the right. He cuts inside onto his stronger left foot and curls an effort a yard or so wide. He's scored two or three goals like that this season already.
It's a really horrible sight as Clayton's knee just buckles under him and he's now being stretchered off the field. Jay Spearing is on in his place and that means Wilkinson will be up front on his own.
In fact, it looks like Lee has gone up as striker, with Wilkinson out on the left.
A bit of a nothing few minutes. Since that break in play for Clayton's injury, the game hasn't sparked back into life.
SHOT! Arguably Bolton's best period of the game as they keep the ball for a good while and work it from side to side before Spearing's shot from 22 yards or so fizzes a couple of yards wide.
Almost a calamitous moment for Bialkowski as he fumbles a deep cross and it bounces down off his leg. Luckily it doesn't break too far and he's able to collect it.
Feeney, who is having a good time of it against Mings down the Bolton right, cuts in onto his left foot and delivers a dangerous cross that Skuse heads clear.
Murphy gets a talking to from referee Sutton after a late tackle on Lee. He's a little lucky not to be the first person booked.
Ipswich break through Anderson and McGoldrick down the right and the latter's cutback is behind Murphy and almost reaches Tabb at the back post. Good interception from Dervite.
With five minutes of the half remaining, you'd probably say that McCarthy would be the happier of the two managers. His side started the game really well, but Bolton have come into it a little more since the half-hour mark.
McGoldrick lets fly from range and that's a great block from Mills. It was certainly travelling and a much-needed block from the Trotters centre-back.
Free kick to Ipswich in a good crossing position. Remember, they score a lot from set pieces...
A good ball in from Anderson and it's great, brave keeping from Lonergan to punch clear under pressure.
BOOKING! Sutton pulls out his yellow card for the first time after McGoldrick slid in late and took out Feeney.
Three minutes added on at the end of the first half because of that injury to Clayton.
Murphy fires over a dangerous bouncing cross that Ream chests back to his keeper. He would have been a little worried there as it bounced quickly off his chest and had to be caught by Lonergan at head height.
Skuse with a wild shot from 25 yards. That should be that for the first half.
HALF-TIME: BOLTON 0-0 IPSWICH
No goals at the interval, then. Ipswich were the better side, but didn't create too many clear-cut chances. Bolton had the odd moment, but Lennon won't be happy with his side's display.
McCarthy, on the other hand, will be pleased with the way Ipswich have stifled their opponents. He'll be quite confident that chances will come in the second half.
See my tweet below for how it all stands in the table at the moment. With Bournemouth beating Cardiff 3-1, the Cherries are set to go top by virtue of goals scored. It's so close up there!
How it stands in the #Championship at half time. Very, very close at the top. #bwfc v #itfc ➜ http://t.co/4DOmhlPBH4 pic.twitter.com/4SriFhWLCZ
— Pascal Lemesre (@_PascalDL) December 13, 2014
If it all stayed the same, Bolton would be five points clear of safety and 10 adrift of the playoffs. We're almost at the halfway mark of the season now!
Here's Bishop and Ream battling for the ball at the Macron.
HALF TIME: #BWFC 0-0 Ipswich. Disjointed opening half ends goalless. Tim Ream has had our best chance. #BOLvIPS pic.twitter.com/bzH0NvCXwk — Bolton Wanderers FC (@OfficialBWFC) December 13, 2014
Remember, Bolton have already been forced to make a change with Clayton, who had the hosts best chance, coming off and Spearing coming on. Ipswich still have all three subs available.
"Oh I Wish It Could Be Christmas Every Day" is being played at half time. How very festive. The two teams should be back out soon.
STATS: Bolton had 58% possession, but just four shots to Ipswich's nine. Bialkowski hasn't yet had to make a save in the Ipswich goal, while opposite number Lonergan has been tested on four occasions.
KICKOFF! Bolton get us back underway. No changes from either side at the break.
Nothing of note at the start of the second 45. Ipswich fans won't like to hear that Norwich have scored three in quick succession at the start of the second half to lead 10-man Huddersfield 3-0.
Ipswich's pressing is causing Bolton to lump the ball forward quite often and with the aerial presence of Berra and Smith, Bolton's frontline is having very little joy.
The attendance at the Macron Stadium is 15,186, with 905 of those being Ipswich fans.
Ipswich have a free kick about 30 yards out but that's really poor from Sutton as McGoldrick had just turned his man and was about to shoot. The ref was looking at the play and somehow decided that the Tractor Boys didn't have advantage.
Skuse tees it up for McGoldrick but his shot comes to nothing.
CHANCE! Big, big chance for Ipswich to take the lead as McGoldrick's shot from 25 yards fell perfectly for Tabb and he couldn't beat Lonergan after the Bolton keeper came out quickly and spread himself. Best chance of the game by a long way.
Bolton surge down the other end and Feeney's low cross is put out for a corner by Berra. Smith heads clear the resulting set piece.
No football at the moment after a clash of heads between Anderson and Pratley. The latter has come off worse and has been down for some time. Are Bolton going to be forced into another change?
BOLTON SUB: Pratley is going off and he's replaced by Gudjohnsen for his second debut, 16 years after his first.
SAVE! Lonergan tips the ball over after Tabb's diving header. The little midfielder denied again.
McGoldrick is given time and space 20 yards out and drags his shot a long way wide. Tabb was closing in at the back post and almost slid in to poke it home. Ipswich on top at the moment.
CLOSE! The chances keep on coming for Ipswich as Berra's clearance sets McGoldrick away. He has to take the ball onto his left foot and strikes it sidefooted on the half-volley. Lonergan is beaten, but so is the far post.
It's all Ipswich as McGoldrick fluffs his lines and then Mings fires in a low cross that the hosts defend well. At the moment it just feels like a matter of time before the Tractors Boys score.
SAVE! Lonergan holds the ball well from a McGoldrick shot after the Ipswich striker had shifted the ball onto his right foot.
BOLTON SUB: The home side make their third and final change as Vela replaces Wheater at the back. That will see Dervite return to his usual position of centre-back.
IPSWICH SUB: Bishop, who started brightly but has faded out of the game, comes off for Kevin Bru. McCarthy's first change.
Gudjohnsen almost finds Lee with a through-ball after a throwback run from the centre of midfield to the edge fo the area. Bolton's first action near the Ipswich box for some time.
Bolton still haven't had a shot on target. Ipswich's tally is up to 17, with seven of those testing Lonergan.
Gorgeous turn on halfway for McGoldrick and he quickly finds strike partner Murphy. He looks for a reverse through-ball into Tabb that's well cut out by Vela.
BOOKING! Mings is cautioned for a foul on Feeney.
IPSWICH SUB: Second change for the visitors as Anderson comes off for Noel Hunt. The latter couldn't play against parent club Leeds last weekend, but scored an injury-time winner in his last appearance at Charlton.
Lee blocks Hunt's cross in a 'painful' area. He'll be down for the next minute or so before he regains his composure. Remember, Bolton have made all three subs.
McGoldrick with a wild volley that is sliced horribly wide. It was a really difficult chance, but McGoldrick is kicking himself for not making more of it.
Around 10 minutes to go if you include injury time. Ipswich will feel that they deserve the points, but a point isn't the worst result. The fact that they will be top if they win will make it even harder to swallow if they can't break the deadlock.
Lovely reverse pass into Tabb from Mings but the former's cross isn't quite high enough for Murphy.
BOOKING! Ream is cautioned for bundling over Hunt as Ipswich tried to break. Lennon and Bolton fans are fuming, but you can see why it was given. Hunt got his body across and was felled.
Lonergan with another tremendous save to keep out Smith's header, but it wouldn't have counted as Smith fouled his man.
IPSWICH SUB: Final change of the game sees Tabb come off for Darren Ambrose. The former will be kicking himself for missing that chance earlier in the second half.
BOOKING! Gudjohnsen tugs back Hunt to give Ipswich a free kick in an inviting position right on the 90-minute mark.
Bru's free kick is headed out. Four minutes added on at the Macron.
BOOKING! Hunt flies in on Ream and that's a clear booking for the Ipswich sub.
SHOT! Corner to Bolton after Lee's shot was blocked by Berra. Bolton want a penalty, but I think that was his chest that blocked it.
FULL-TIME: BOLTON 0-0 IPSWICH
Ipswich are the first team to stop Bolton winning at home under Neil Lennon. Both sides extend their unbeaten runs, with Ipswich now eight without defeat and Bolton six unbeaten.
Ipswich were the far better team, but drop two places in the table to fourth as they couldn't make their dominance pay. They remain just a point off the top and really showcased why they are right up there this season.
As for Bolton, they are 18th in the table and five points above the bottom three. Lennon will know that his side escaped with a point.
Thanks for joining me today. Have a click around on site to read all of today's match reports and if you fancy, click here for our live coverage of Arsenal's game against Newcastle United in the Premier League.
Written by
Pascal Lemesre
Pascal Lemesre
