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

PhilTWTD added 18:00 - Nov 7 Re thumbs issue, I'll get Gav to look into it. He can tell if people are just being annoying. Re Hewitt, sorry I wasn't at the game, so not able to give an insight.
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greentractorboy added 18:05 - Nov 7 we must get rid off chopra what a waste of space he cant even make a efort in front off his new boss what does that tell you about the man. after all ipswich as a club have done for him
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irishtim added 18:10 - Nov 7 Even Phil Gets a minus.
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floridaboy added 18:39 - Nov 7 Time for a complete clearout. If possible send all the loan players back to their respective clubs and if we have to have loanees then at least they will be MMs players not PJs Then have a January fire sale. Out go Chopra, Ellington, JET, Edwards to name 4 plus probably 4 of the biggest wage earners. MM has a reputation for getting in lower league players and making them into good players. Lets give him the chance to do it!

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mostyn55 added 18:48 - Nov 7 Why are we playing Ellington if, let's be honest, he wont play for the club again. Marriott is banging in the goals for the U18s, seems logical to include him in all U21 games as a natural progression. Rhodes scored a silly amount of goals for our reserves so if Marriott or another youngster continues to do it for our U21s it can only be a good thing, surely?!
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muccletonjoe added 19:12 - Nov 7 Alot of these players should not be playing for the under21s , they should be in first team , i do not include chopra in that statement
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itfchorry added 19:16 - Nov 7 Clegg Out
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104 added 20:21 - Nov 7 This should be about the youth team !!! its a joke
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petermorris added 21:06 - Nov 7 I should be allowed to vote down my own posts. Especially after I've calmed down.
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dirtydingusmagee added 16:58 - Nov 9 Taxi for Chopra. PLEASE .
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