WHEN fans list the greatest-ever Town games, matches with Bolton Wanderers usually feature somewhere towards the top.

Specifically, the 1999/00 play-offs, the Marcus Stewart-inspired comeback to draw 2-2 away and the subsequent red cards, penalties and goals-aplenty 5-3 win at Portman Road to take the Blues to Wembley and then on into the Premier League.

Sadly, Saturday’s 1-1 draw at the Macron Stadium isn’t going to take a place on anyone’s best-ever list.

It was largely one of those drab games that the Championship throws up all too frequently.

In the first half neither side seemed to be able to pass the ball, although the Blues at least seemed to be the ones trying to give it a go.

However, all too often promising spells in possession ended with a poor final or penultimate ball, while Bolton’s tactic of getting it forward quickly to big frontman Gary Madine saw them create most of the first half’s few opportunities.

Madine put Wanderers in front before the second period had settled and they had chances to seal it before Town equalised eight minutes from time via Joe Garner after a flowing move not really in keeping with the rest of the match.

The Blues were the more likely winners in the closing stages with Martyn Waghorn smashing a brilliant strike off the woodwork.

While an away point should never be sniffed at, Town, now 12th, six points off the play-offs, really needed all three to build on the previous week’s 1-0 home victory over Leeds.

The highlight of the game from a Blues perspective was the promising performance of new signing Stephen Gleeson, who was introduced as a half-time sub for the injured Cole Skuse.

The 29-year-old free signing from Birmingham got on the ball and passed it around confidently, starting the move which led to the goal.

On first viewing the Irishman looks like he could prove to be the playmaker the Town midfield has desperately required for some seasons.

The Blues’ other new signing, on-loan Spurs centre-half Cameron Carter-Vickers, had a tougher Town baptism with Madine giving him and skipper Luke Chambers a difficult afternoon throughout.

As so often seems to be the case, much of the week’s discussion has focused on manager Mick McCarthy’s post-match observations, particularly those relating to the Gleeson signing.

“I saw a comment about me signing somebody and fans were underwhelmed,” the Town boss said. “I bet they were underwhelmed when I signed Glees as well, but that’s why they’re fans and that's why I’m the manager.”

While I would guess the point he was making was that as an experienced Championship manager he’s better placed to see the worth of a free signing such as Gleeson than supporters, given his terminally broken relationship with fans it was always going to be taken as a dig.

He also said: “We come up here and, I don’t know what it is, do we think we’re Ipswich Town with Sir Bobby Robson still involved here with all the players and we’re a top, top team and we should come here and beat them?”

He presumably meant that fans may have been unrealistically expecting an easy run-of-the-mill victory at Bolton given their lowly position, the Trotters having gone into the game in 21st.

Again, he may have had a point, albeit a hyperbole-heavy one, but the comment did little other than antagonise the situation further.

The more the season wears on, the more a change in the summer seems inevitable, which, as I’ve said before, is probably for the best for all concerned.

That’s not to say this campaign is over.

The Blues are still in with a shout at the play-offs, even if there’s not too much belief among fans that they will make them.

Having failed to win at Bolton, they will certainly need to take a decent haul of points from the upcoming two games against teams in the relegation zone, away at 22nd-placed Sunderland and table-propping Burton at home.

Before those matches there is the small matter of Wolves at Portman Road tomorrow.

The leaders showed they aren’t infallible by losing 2-0 at home to Nottingham Forest last weekend.

Although nine points clear, Wolves aren’t the team last year’s champions Newcastle were and Town beat the Magpies 3-1 at Portman Road last April in one of the best games of the McCarthy era.

A victory over McCarthy’s former club on Saturday would be similarly memorable and would a provide a major boost the Blues’ play-off aspirations.