IPSWICH TOWN: The Blues are still looking for their first Under-18 win of the season after losing 4-1 at Leicester City.

With Cody Cropper on international duty with the USA, Connor O’Donnell was in goal while Sam Brandon was serving the first of a three-match suspension.

Straight from the whistle, Town found themselves up against it and it was no surprise when City took just two minutes to open the scoring. Sloppy defending allowed a cross into the box that was powered home by an unchallenged City forward.

Ipswich finally settled down and Caolan Lavery went close after good work by Cormac Burke. Josh Carson burst through the City defence but his shot just missed the target, while at the other end a Leicester striker beat O’Donnell to the ball only to fire wide of an empty goal. As the half came to an end the Town keeper kept Town in the match with a fine fingertip save

Eleven minutes into the second half the match was effectively over as the City left back had twice taken advantage of more poor defending to increase their lead to three goals leaving Ipswich looking a dispirited outfit. An unstoppable shot by Elliott Schlup heaped more misery on the Town youngsters and it was only a consolation when Aaron Jones scored the goal of the match with a 20-yard rocket.

With seven of last years’ team moving on, this was always going to be a difficult season for the young Blues who face another tough examination on Saturday with a trip to Aston Villa with a noon start. The following weekend Town play Reading at Playford Road also with a noon kick-off.

Ipswich team: O’Donnell, Bennett, McKeown, Carson, Meekings Schroder, Jones, Lawrence, Lavery, Simmons, Burke.

To complete a miserable day, Town’s U-16’s lost 4-2 to Leicester.