Ipswich Town boss Mick McCarthy says he had to give his side a bit of a talking to at half-time in their 3-0 pre-season win at Colchester United

The League One hosts were the better team in a goalless first half, but Town improved after the restart and won 3-0 thanks to Frank Nouble’s quickfire double (54 and 56) and Jack Marriott’s fine strike (77).

“They were very good in the first half and I was unhappy with us,” said McCarthy. “Then we sorted a few things out and played better in the second half.

“Organisation was the problem. I was a bit annoyed that they couldn’t organise themselves on the pitch because they do normally.

“I’ve been there as a player though when it’s all going wrong. They needed to come inside and after that we made sure it was sorted out.”

On Nouble, McCarthy said: “That was a remarkable turnaround from the first half let me tell you, but his finishing was good. And Jack’s Jack isn’t he? I can’t imagine he was offside for the other either (Marriott denied a second by the flag).”

Colchester United boss Joe Dunne said: “Take the result away I think a lot of good things happened tonight. I was really pleased with that first half performance, we moved the ball exceptionally well and created some good opportunities.

“We made a couple of changes at half-time, Ipswich upped it a bit at the start of the second half and we just conceded at the wrong moments. That’s the experience of the Championship clubs though.

“There was one or two errors for the goals, but overall I’m pleased. We’ve done a lot of good things and got some valuable information for the season ahead.”

Former Ipswich, Newcastle and Charlton midfielder Darren Ambrose played on trial for the U’s, but Dunne says the 30-year-old – a free agent following his release by Birmingham – will not be signing for the club.

“There was an opportunity to get Darren in a couple of weeks ago but the squad was settled,” said the U’s boss. “We’ve picked up a couple of knocks in the last couple of days so we’ve brought him in for the game tonight and I thought he did really well.

“He just came in to play tonight and that’s as far as it goes.”

Meanwhile, Dunne – who was already without the injured trio of Sanchez Watt, Jabo Ibehre and Marcus Bean – confirmed that Alex Gilbey and Dan Holman had both gone off injured, Gilbey needing stitches to a cut shin he suffered during a challenge with ex U’s man Anthony Wordsworth.