Ipswich Town’s young guns travel to Premier League side Crystal Palace in the Carabao Cup second round tonight. STUART WATSON previews the match.
Whatever happens tonight, Ipswich Town’s youngsters will be better for the experience.
That’s according to Ipswich Town manager Mick McCarthy, the Blues boss having revealed he will name the youngest team of his 25-year managerial career for a Carabao Cup second round tie at Premier League side Crystal Palace.
Town have won their opening five games of the season, but McCarthy says he can’t risk any more senior players joining a lengthy injury list ahead of Saturday’s Championship visit of Fulham (an international break following that).
As a result, he’s taking a host of untested academy graduates to face an under-pressure Eagles side who have lost their opening two league games under new boss Frank de Boer – including a 3-0 home loss to newly-promoted Huddersfield.
With teenage midfielders Flynn Downes and Tristan Nydam having already made an encouraging breakthrough for Town in the opening two weeks of the campaign, McCarthy said: “Those two have been brilliant and that has inspired a few of the other younger ones.
“If, heaven forbid, we do get beat and don’t play well and they get a knock-back then that’s all part of the learning process. “Young players need to realise it’s not all roses and chocolates every week. There are disappointments and a big part of being a footballer is learning how to deal with that and get yourself going again.
“This is an opportunity for them. If we do get beaten it would be nice if somebody shines and I’m left thinking ‘wow, I can use him’.”
Manchester City loanee Bersant Celina shone in the first round win at League Two side Luton, but is yet to make his Championship debut. With the 20-year-old Kosovan winger set to start tonight, McCarthy said: “He’s not happy about it, but I’ve sent him a copy of the league. And anyway, he’s been poorly for something like six weeks.
“It’s up to him to do things positively and work his way in.”
Town have made it past the second round of this competition only four times since relegation from the Premier League in 2002.
McCarthy added: “As a manager, and the clue’s in the title, you have to manage your squad and get the best out of them over the course of a long season.”
Competition: Carabao Cup, second round
Where: Selhurst Park
When: Tonight, 7.30pm
Opposition lowdown
Nickname: The Eagles
Manager: Frank de Boer (June ‘17) W2 D0 L2
Ground: Selhurst Park
Capacity: 25,456
Position last season: 14th in Premier League
Last game: L 1-0 Liverpool (a)
Key summer signings: Jairo Ridewald (Ajax, £8m), Ruben Loftus-Cheek (Chelsea, loan)
Top-scorer 16/17: Christian Benteke (17)
Most assists 16/17: Wilfried Zaha (9)
Most apps 16/17: Joel Ward (42)
EFL Cup 16/17: 2nd rd (L 2-0 at Southampton)
Last meeting
Ipswich Town 3 Crystal Palace 0
Date: April 16, 2013
Frank Nouble’s persistence saw him score twice and Aaron Cresswell scored a stunner. Town eased to safety, while Ian Holloway’s Eagles went on to win the play-offs.
TOWN: Loach; Stearman, Chambers, Smith, Cresswell; Edwards, N’Daw, Hyam, E-Thomas; Nouble, Murphy.
Stats
5-0 – The margin of defeat for Town on their last visit to Palace (Nov ‘12, Mick McCarthy’s second game)
29 – Home league wins for Palace since promotion (out of 77).
2010 – The year Town last won at Palace. Andros Townsend – now at Palace – was sent off for the Blues that day, with goals from Grant Leadbitter and Carlos Edwards sealing a 2-1 victory.
Ipswich Town team news
• Mick McCarthy says he will field the youngest team of his 25-year managerial career as he cannot risk any more senior players getting injured.
• Emyr Huws was due to start but yesterday felt his troublesome Achilles in training again, while Luke Hyam continues his recovery in the Under-23s.
• Luke Chambers (ankle), Tommy Smith (hamstring), Adam Webster (ankle), Tom Adeyemi (calf), Teddy Bishop (groin) are also Andre Dozzell (knee) sidelined.
• Keeper Dean Gerken will captain the team tonight, wingers Bersant Celina and Danny Rowe are likely to start, while teenager midfielders Flynn Downes and Tristan Nydam will get another chance to shine.
• Academy graduates George Fowler, Luke Woolfenden, Chris Smith, Pat Webber, Conor McKendry, Ben Folami, Monty Patterson, Ben Morris and Shane McLoughlin will all be involved.
Crystal Palace team news
• Wilfried Zaha (knee), Papa N’Diaye Souare (broken leg) and Connor Wickham (knee) are all sidelined.
• Bakary Sako faces a late fitness test, while the likes of Yohan Cabaye, Damien Delaney and Jonny Williams could make their first appearances of the season.
Key opposition man
Christian Benteke
The Belgian international striker scored 15 goals in his debut season following a £27m switch from Liverpool. He made 40 appearances, including four in the cups.
Opposition boss
After Saturday’s 1-0 defeat at Liverpool, Frank de Boer said: “If we play with that kind of intensity and discipline the results will come. Of course everybody wants to win. I am always looking at the process of the team and how they are developing as individuals and a team. If I see there is progress then I am satisfied.”
Betting
Crystal Palace (4/11)
Draw after 90 mins (9/2)
Ipswich Town (10/1)
Referee
Andy Davies (Hampshire)
Games: 3, Yellows: 12, Reds: 0
Stuart’s prediction
Palace 2 Ipswich 0
The Eagles are keen to get off mark and even a much-changed side should ease to victory. Hope Town’s kids can put up a gallant fight.
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