Ipswich Town finished last in the Interwetten Cup after losing to Fortuna Dusseldorf and SV Meppen. STUART WATSON gives his thoughts on the Blues’ involvement in the four-team friendly competition.

East Anglian Daily Times: Emyr Huws in action during the first 45 minutes Picture: ROSS HALLSEmyr Huws in action during the first 45 minutes Picture: ROSS HALLS (Image: Archant)

PERSPECTIVE

Fortuna Dusseldorf have just finished 10th in the Bundesliga ahead of some big clubs. They were promoted the year before. Their team included Turkish, USA and Ghanaian internationals, as well as several Germans capped at youth level. It's the equivalent of playing a West Ham, Watford, Bournemouth or Burnley on the rise.

Town, meanwhile, were still without injured trio of Alan Judge (wrist), Jon Nolan (calf) and Gwion Edwards (groin). New loan signing Luke Garbutt didn't feature having only joined up with the squad late on Thursday.

The starting line-up for game one included just five senior outfield players - Janoi Donacien, Toto Nsiala, Cole Skuse, Emyr Huws and James Norwood (more on him in a moment). Only two of them, Skuse and Huws, have sustained experience of second-tier football.

East Anglian Daily Times: James Norwood in action for the first time for Ipswich Town Picture: ROSS HALLSJames Norwood in action for the first time for Ipswich Town Picture: ROSS HALLS (Image: Archant)

You also have to remember that Huws and Jack Lankester are still playing catch-up with their fitness/sharpness following long-term injuries.

Nsiala then pulled his hamstring clearing a ball and had to be replaced by the inexperienced Bailey Clements midway through the opening match. That meant a major reshuffle which ended with Skuse deployed at centre-back.

So yes, there was a gulf in class. Fortuna looked quicker, stronger and technically better all over the pitch. But that was always to be expected.

The chastening 45 minutes ended with Tristan Nydam being floored by a thunderous shot blasted into his groin from close-range.

East Anglian Daily Times: James Norwood celebrates scoring his first Ipswich Town goal Picture: ROSS HALLSJames Norwood celebrates scoring his first Ipswich Town goal Picture: ROSS HALLS (Image: Archant)

A valuable learning exercise playing against such quality opposition as Dusseldorf and SC Paderborn (3-2 defeat) the previous weekend? Or further demoralisation following a torturous relegation campaign? Time will tell.

AND YET...

Town still have to look at areas for improvement when it came to the goals conceded in game one.

East Anglian Daily Times: Kayden Jackson in action during Town's second game of the Interwetten Cup. Picture: ROSS HALLSKayden Jackson in action during Town's second game of the Interwetten Cup. Picture: ROSS HALLS (Image: Archant)

Nydam, who started at left-back, was slow to stop the cross which led to towering midfielder Oliver Fink getting across Luke Woolfenden and glancing home the opener (2).

Bartosz Bialkowski then fumbled a routine long-range shot from Erik Thommy into his net for the second (10) - a slightly worrying sight following on from his season to forget and a collapsed move to Millwall.

The third came on the counter-attack. A Town free-kick into the box was cleared and winger Bernard Tekpetey was too quick for Skuse before pulling the ball back for a Thommy tap-in (14).

And the fourth was pretty messy. This time Mattihas Zimmermann was given too much time and space down the right, Janoi Donacien was slow to react when the low cross fell loose in the box and Tekpetey found the bottom corner (27).

East Anglian Daily Times: Paul Lambert watched on during the clash with SV Meppen at the Interwetten Cup. Picture: ROSS HALLSPaul Lambert watched on during the clash with SV Meppen at the Interwetten Cup. Picture: ROSS HALLS (Image: Archant)

The temptation to go long to Norwood was taken a few too many times. There was some youthful naïvety about the press. On a couple of occasions Town got away with some blind backwards passes in midfield. Corners weren't defended particularly convincingly either.

There are certainly things to work on.

INSTANT FANS' FAVOURITE

East Anglian Daily Times: Teddy Bishop on the ball against SV Meppen. Picture: ROSS HALLSTeddy Bishop on the ball against SV Meppen. Picture: ROSS HALLS (Image: Archant)

The positive... Town fans are going to absolutely love James Norwood.

The new boy, held back against Paderborn last weekend, played as if his first appearance in a Town shirt was a cup final.

Off the pitch he is raucous, bubbly and already the joker in the pack.

On the pitch he chases everything, scraps for every ball, snarls at the referee, hollers at his team-mates and is not adverse to some off-the-ball altercations.

East Anglian Daily Times: James Norwood made his first Ipswich Town appearance at the Interwetten Cup. Picture: ROSS HALLSJames Norwood made his first Ipswich Town appearance at the Interwetten Cup. Picture: ROSS HALLS (Image: Archant)

Think Joe Garner combined with Martyn Waghorn.

After bagging 32 goals for Tranmere last season it took him less than five minutes to get off the mark for Town. The Blues kicked off after going 1-0 down, a long ball forward bounced and Norwood did superbly to calmly side-foot beyond on-rushing keeper Michael Rensing.

PUNISHED ON PENALTIES

East Anglian Daily Times: Paul Lambert watches on during the Interwetten Cup. Picture: ROSS HALLSPaul Lambert watches on during the Interwetten Cup. Picture: ROSS HALLS (Image: Archant)

Hosts SV Meppen went into the third/fourth play-off with Town after losing on penalties to Dutch top-flight side Utrecht following a goalless draw.

They finished 13th in the German third-tier last season. That makes them Gillingham in English terms. This was a far more even match-up.

Paul Lambert changed his entire team for the second 45 minute match of the afternoon. They were able to get on the front foot and put into practise some of the shape and style work done during this week's training camp.

Jordan Roberts was robust and lively on the left. He saw an early chance blocked. At the back, Corrie Ndaba did his chances of taking the suspended Luke Chambers' spot on the opening day against Burton no harm with an assured display.

East Anglian Daily Times: Jordan Roberts played in Town's second game of the Interwetten Cup against SV Meppen. Picture: ROSS HALLSJordan Roberts played in Town's second game of the Interwetten Cup against SV Meppen. Picture: ROSS HALLS (Image: Archant)

Opportunities came and went. Kayden Jackson produced a deft finish on the run following a good move involving Myles Kenlock, Teddy Bishop and Roberts. Sadly, the offside flag was up.

Jackson's running on the last shoulder continued to cause problems. Twice he rounded the keeper following some good build-up, hitting the post from an acute angle and then seeing an effort blocked by the lunge of a desperate defender.

And so it went to penalties. The Germans, of course, came out on top. Jackson scored from the spot, but then Andre Dozzell, Luke Chambers and Jordan Roberts were all denied by keeper Erik Domaschke. All decent saves rather than terrible misses.

Utrecht went on to beat Fortuna 1-0 in the final.

East Anglian Daily Times: Ipswich Town and Fortuna fans together during the Interwetten tournament Picture: ROSS HALLSIpswich Town and Fortuna fans together during the Interwetten tournament Picture: ROSS HALLS (Image: Archant)

BISHOP BLOW

With Nsiala having already limped off, the day was further marred by the sight of seeing Teddy Bishop go off injured.

The midfielder started 12 games in the second half of last season and, we hoped, was beyond all those constant set-backs.

East Anglian Daily Times: Teddy Bishop in action during the third place play-off against Meppen Picture: ROSS HALLSTeddy Bishop in action during the third place play-off against Meppen Picture: ROSS HALLS (Image: Archant)

He was just starting to hit his stride in the game against Meppen, driving at opposition players at pace and forcing fouls. Then, after taking the ball from a throw-in, his right knee twisted awkwardly.

There was lengthy attention from the physios. He seemed in some discomfort. All we can do is keep everything crossed that it's not serious.

TEAMS

East Anglian Daily Times: Myles Kenlock in action during the third place play-off against Meppen Picture: ROSS HALLSMyles Kenlock in action during the third place play-off against Meppen Picture: ROSS HALLS (Image: Archant)

v DUSSELDORF (4-1-4-1): Bialkowski; Donacien, Woolfenden, Nsiala (Clements 16), Nydam; Skuse (cpt); Lankester, El Mizouni, Huws, Dobra; Norwood.

v MEPPEN (4-2-3-1): Holy; Emmanuel, Chambers (cpt), Ndaba, Kenlock; Downes, Dozzell; Rowe, Bishop (Clements 35), Roberts; Jackson.