Town's U21 side lost 1-0 at home to Swansea on Wednesday morning. Watching first-team manager Mick McCarthy won't have been impressed by what he saw, with Gwion Edwards's strike the difference between the two sides.

Town fielded overage players Michael Chopra and Nathan Ellington up front, while fringe youngsters Josh Carson, Luke Hyam and Massimo Luongo started in midfield.

Jack Ainsley's early close-range effort was clawed away by Swansea keeper Oliver Davies and Town continued to have the best of the opening exchanges.

However, the visitors came more into the game and extraordinarily hit the woodwork three times in a matter of seconds after 10 minutes.

Josh Sheehan hit a shot which cannoned off both posts before Loveridge's follow-up drive diverted off a post and flew wide.

The Swans took the lead on 26 minutes when Gwion Edwards hit a low effort into the corner of the net from the edge of the box.

Arran Lee-Barrett had to parry a fierce drive from Jazz Richards to safety, and Town's only other effort of the half saw Joe Whight's header sail harmlessly over the bar.

The second half followed a similar pattern to the first, with Town failing to impose themselves on the game.

Chopra's near-post effort from Ellington's cross was pushed away by Davies before Ellington was denied by a fine saving tackle from full-back Richards.

Although Town introduced Ronan Murray, the visitors always looked in control and they comfortably held on for all three points.

Ellington and Chopra in particular did not show the commitment or enthusiasm that you would have expected to see in front of their new boss.

Hyam was also out of the game for long periods, while Luongo and Carson did add some creativity during the second period.

A Town second string side is in action next Tuesday evening in their much-delayed Suffolk Premier Cup tie against Walsham-le-Willows at their Summer Road ground (KO 7.45pm).

U21s: Lee-Barrett, Hewitt, October, Hyam, Ainsley, Whight, Carson, Luongo, Ellington (Murray 78), Chopra, Lawrence. Unused: Crowe, Hammond, Thorsteinsson, Burke.

Report: James Ager

Photo: Action Images

Big_Foot_Blue added 13:06 - Nov 7 The team that played is quite strong by under 21 standards, I mean we might even play that team in a capital one cup first round game and yet they can't even beat an under 21 team? It's worrying.
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irishtim added 13:07 - Nov 7 Chops cant score at this level. Get rid. Love to know how Ainsley played. Look forward to the match report.
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Diallo added 13:09 - Nov 7 Sorry Big Foot but if the team we put out might be good enough to start a Capital One Cup game why is it that Swansea aren't in the same position? In all honesty being a Premier League side their team was likely stronger than ours. So why should we automatically win?
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Liastro added 13:24 - Nov 7 This is ridiculous! If we can't beat Swansea U21s with what I consider is our strongest team, then we can expect to be in League 1 next year. I can't wait to make the trip to Colchester next year...our club really is flailing. Good luck Mick, but I think the job is too hard a task!
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LankHenners added 13:26 - Nov 7 Our strongest team? What are you on Liastro?
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itfcjoe added 13:33 - Nov 7 Diallo - if you check the Swans team which is on their website they only had one overrage player, and not any that have any first team experience. So we would have been favourites 'on paper' ;-)
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irishtim added 13:38 - Nov 7 Who the F..k gives minus votes. Phil Can we introduce a system that can show who keeps at it. I feel my comment is fair as seems to be shown in the match report.
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LankHenners added 13:41 - Nov 7 irishtim is right - who keeps pressing minus on everyone's posts?
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Liastro added 13:41 - Nov 7 Yeah, who keeps doing this! I thought my comment above was valid, and didn't deserve 2 dislikes! I bet this comment will be disliked as soon as I post it!
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blue78 added 13:44 - Nov 7 Just an idea for the team sat Loach Chambers Mohsni Smith Edwards Cresswell N'daw luongo Carson Chopra Dj
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blue78 added 13:45 - Nov 7 3 c/halfs with wingbacks and 2 up front
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Diallo added 13:47 - Nov 7 Fair enough Joe. But it's not played on paper ;) I am merely saying an U21 match is sometimes a chance to try out players, formations, get people fit and so on. It is akin to a pre-season friendly. It's hardly a valid indicator of anything at all.
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itfc1981 added 13:47 - Nov 7 Get Chopra and Ellington out of our club ASAP
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FenboyBlue added 13:49 - Nov 7 Best tactic to stop Swans: chop 'em on the back of the neck, then twist the beak off. That'll stop 'em.
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itfc1981 added 13:49 - Nov 7 How could anyone disagree with the first poster? Our squad is dross.
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irishtim added 13:51 - Nov 7 @HennersITFC & Liastro 3109. I feel we all had valid comments. I liked urs to get rid of the minus craic. Yes some comments deserve a minus vote but it would be great if Phil & Gav could put a system so we know who is at it. I dont mind getting a thumbs down but sometimes i feel its because i'm irish. Prob have a lot more thumbs down now. Cmon ITFC.
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Liastro added 13:53 - Nov 7 Too right irishtim!
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LankHenners added 13:55 - Nov 7 Exactly, irishtim, sometimes it may be deserved, and everyone is entitled to an opinion, but deliberate spamming is pointless and annoying!
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AlexGreen added 13:56 - Nov 7 The best bit of news from this story has been overlooked: Hewitt played a full 90 minutes. That to me is probably better than the result. Looking forward to seeing you play sometime soon mate!
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irishtim added 14:06 - Nov 7 Un real. Fellow posters agree with me & WE all end up with minus. Ah well sod it. Think Phil & Gav need to look in to it. Maybe get rid or show idiots for who they are.
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bluefeast added 15:26 - Nov 7 Chopra has a commitment issue,maybe thats confidence i do not know. What i do know is that all of the reasons Cardif didnt want him are obvious.
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Northern_Branch added 15:32 - Nov 7 How did Hewitt play Phil? Do you think he'll make the grade?
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irishtim added 15:50 - Nov 7 Langers
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bournemouthblue added 16:59 - Nov 7 You're welcome to only one dislike each on each comment or forum post so there's a lot of dislike floating around here Don't take it to heart people, you've either posted something stupid or you've set yourself up to be thumbed down, chillax! Xx
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lgc added 17:26 - Nov 7 Thumbs down or up what we need is some new players and quick
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