Ipswich Town recorded a 3-1 win at League One side Peterborough United last night. STUART WATSON reports on 120-minutes of pre-season action at London Road.
DON’T PANIC
There was immediate concern when Bartosz Bialkowski’s name was not among the travelling 29-man squad, but news soon emerged that Town’s star keeper had a stomach bug. There’s been a bit of illness in the Blues camp of late and that was the reason that new boy Tom Adeyemi was absent too.
THE FORMAT
This was a friendly with a twist, both teams fielding completely different line-ups for each extended 60 minute half. It did feel a tad too long, with most of the excitement and all the goals happening in the opening hour. It will have been a good fitness exercise though.
ONE THAT GOT AWAY?
Posh broke the deadlock in the 14th minute through a familiar face in the form of Jack Marriott.
The 22-year-old striker was prolific at youth team level for the Blues, let go by Mick McCarthy after several loan spells away, with his 28 goals in two seasons for League Two side Luton Town earning him a £400k switch to Posh earlier this summer.
The youngster offered a reminder of his fox-in-the-box instincts when arriving at just the right time to convert a sweeping low cross. He also lashed an effort from the edge of the box just wide and put a glancing header just beyond the far post.
FLYNN’S FLYING
There’s been a lot of excitement surrounding the progress of Flynn Downes and you can see why.
McCarthy has enthused about the 18-year-old’s tenacity. He was sent-off a few times in youth games last season and has been dumping first-teamers on their backsides in training.
The Essex-born player is more than just a midfield destroyer though. He always shows the ball, drives forward when he’s in possession and is not afraid to attempt a defence-splitting pass.
Town are well-stocked stocked in his position, but the teenager has a chance.
MIXED FROM MCGOLDRICK
It was good to see David McGoldick make his first outing of pre-season after shaking off the knock he picked up while away with the Republic of Ireland.
There was the usual mix of class and frustration. One minute there were silky touches and body swerves, the next he was putting a free-kick onto the roof of the stand and failing to spot a killer pass.
He was in the right place at the right time to gobble up a rebound goal in the 23rd minute to level the scores.
MORE GOALS FOR GARNER
Joe Garner arrived from Rangers for a £750k fee with questions marks about his goalscoring record at Championship level.
The 29-year-old has now bagged five goals in three pre-season outings totalling 150 minutes.
He lost his marker to head home Danny Rowe’s looping corner in the 41st minute, then cheekily exchanged several square with Bersant Celina inside the box before converting his second of the night (47) following a poor kick by hapless keeper Jonathan Bond.
NEW BOYS
Tricky left-winger Bersant Celina – who is on a season-long loan from Man City – hasn’t trained much due to illness and took a while to get going. There were glimpses of his direct-running and technique, including that calm assist and a near post effort which was well-saved.
Athletic right-back Dominic Iorfa played in the more low-key second half. The Wolves loanee wasn’t involved that much.
SECOND HALF
Town knocked the ball about nicely without creating too many openings. Grant Ward was the pick of the bunch, producing several teasing crosses from the right, before hobbling off late on. His replacement, Monty Patterson, twice went close.
TEAMS
PETERBOROUGH UTD
First half: (3-5-2): Bond; Baldwin, Tafazolli, Hughes; Anderson; Forrester, Lloyd, Doughty; Edwards; Morias, Marriott.
Second-half (3-5-2): Tibbetts; Penny, Bostwick, Cartwright; Borg (Burrows 104); Chettle, Douglas, Grant; Freestone; Maddison, Miller.
IPSWICH TOWN
First half (4-4-2): Gerken; Spence, Chambers (cpt), Knudsen, Nydam; Rowe, Downes, Bru, Celina; McGoldrick, Garner.
Second half (4-4-2): Crowe; Iorfa (Fowler 101), C.Smith, T.Smith, Kenlock; Ward (Patterson 113), Skuse (cpt), Bishop, McKendry; Sears, Morris (McLoughlin 101).
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