Please log in or register. Registered visitors get fewer ads.
U21s 1-1 Bristol City
Monday, 21st Oct 2013 21:02

Striker Jack Marriott was on target but a strong Blues U21 side could only draw 1-1 with a more inexperienced Bristol City team at Portman Road.

The Blues, who are still without a win this season, went ahead in the fourth minute from the game’s first serious attempt on goal, Jack Marriott curling the ball beyond Robins keeper Max O’Leary and into the corner of the net after an error by Jack Batten.

Town continued to dominate the opening stages against a less experienced visiting outfit and for a while it looked like it was going to be a case of how many the Blues might score. On seven skipper Carlos Edwards crossed from the left but too far behind the waiting Town strikers.

Edwards, who was in his usual right midfield role, lashed wide, then Wes Burns, who scored a hat-trick against Town’s U18s last season and was one of two Robins with first team experience, sent a dangerous ball across the Blues’ area but behind his team-mates.

Kayode Bola picked up the game’s first yellow card in the 29th minute for an agricultural lunge on Jordan Adekunle with the left winger in full flight. Edwards’s freekick beat everyone and O’Leary claimed.

After the early goal Town had become somewhat over-casual and in the 31st minute they were almost made to pay. Tyrone Mings, at left-back with David October and Frederic Veseli in the centre, tried to play his way out of trouble but gave the ball away. Burns was found in space by a cross-field ball but lashed his shot well over.

Three minutes later, Blues keeper Michael Crowe made a superb instinct save from Lewis Hall with the visitors now on top.


Town gradually got back on top and came close to going 2-0 in front in the 44th minute when Bola got under a ball down the left and Marriott cut it back to Adekunle. His goal-bound strike was blocked on the line by a combination of Nouble and Robins defender Pierce Mitchell.

The Blues just about deserved their lead at the break, although the performance had gone off the boil after they had gone in front in the opening minutes with too many players appearing to believe that the game was going to be rather easier than in proved.

However, by the end there was more purpose about their play and Adekunle was unfortunate not to add the second towards the end.

Burns hit an early second-half strike over for the visitors, then Nouble cut in from the left and hit a low shot which O’Leary saved down to his right.

The Robins ought to have been back on terms in the 50th minute when Omagbulahan Ariyibi brought the ball in from the left but scraped wide when one on one with Crowe.

Amir Berkane shot wide for the Blues, then at the other end Ariyibi scraped an effort past Crowe’s right post.

Bristol City got back on terms in the 67th minute with the goal having more than an element of good fortune about it. Lewis Hall’s freekick from wide on the right appeared to be an overhit cross but it ended up looping over Crowe — who conceded a not dissimilar goal in the recent U18s draw with Huddersfield — and into the net.

Burns was booked for an obvious dive soon after, then was given a final warning for a foul on Blues sub Mark Timlin.

The visitors were good for their lead having been the better side since the break with the Blues far less impressive than they ought to have been given the personnel on show.

Sub Matt Clarke headed just over from Timlin’s knockback in the 83rd minute as Town looked to get back ahead.

Nouble thought he’d scored two minutes later from Edwards’s cross after good work from Clarke, but the linesman’s flag was raised.

First-year scholar Clarke had livened things up since his introduction and on 88 headed through to O’Leary shortly after Tabb had slammed a shot against the wall following a rather over-worked freekick on the edge of the box.

In injury time, Nouble almost won it. Edwards crossed from the right and the striker volleyed the ball goalwards only for O’Leary to react quickly to divert it over the bar. From the corner, Nouble headed wide.

Manager Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor, who watched from the stands won’t have been too impressed with the performance given the inexperience of the Bristol City line-up, who were worth their point.

None of the senior players involved particularly made a case for their inclusion in Saturday’s first team at Bolton.

U21s: Crowe, Hewitt, Mings, Berkane (M Clarke 78), Veseli, October, Edwards (c), Tabb, Marriott, Nouble, Adkunle (Timlin 63). Unused: McDermid, Winter, Doherty.

Bristol City: O’Leary, Mitchell, King (Fry 87), Mufuta (c),Bola, Batten, Ajala, Hall, Burns, Morrell, Ariyibi. Unused: Fry, Withey, Bishop, Castenheira.


Photo: Action Images



Please report offensive, libellous or inappropriate posts by using the links provided.



blueboy1981 added 21:16 - Oct 21
...... doesn't say much for our so called experienced 'reserve stars' - about time Jack Marriot was given a chance at 1st Team level instead of just warming the bench.

Sorry I forgot - that would be showing too much flair - we may get dizzy.
0

Robbie12345 added 21:18 - Oct 21
How embarrassing...
0

Garv added 21:34 - Oct 21
And yet Nouble still gets game time over Marriot?
0

Garv added 21:35 - Oct 21
Because he's tall.
0

bigolconnor added 21:35 - Oct 21
Whatever. Mings et al got a bit above themselves very quickly. Twitter makes these young kids believe the hype.
0

manualthetisfanclub added 21:42 - Oct 21
Frank nouble will never be any good while I've got a hole in my a##e! He is awful!
0

bigolconnor added 21:47 - Oct 21
Yeah that annoys me too Garv. What's the point in putting Nouble on instead of Marriott for the 1st XI
0

hogster1970 added 22:19 - Oct 21
well me and the daughter debs went to watch, mainly to see marriot in action, and all i can say is wtf isnt he infront of frank i dont know, good feet very strong loads of running and knows were the goal is,

frank had the very rare climps of a bit of skill but not alot, and looked lazy, and to a point so did carlos and tabb, these two should have been working like mad to show why they should start but they didnt look that interested.

alot of balls going side ways and back wards, this seems to be the only way we play and it wont get you promoted , these kids she be playing some nice footy but alas was quiet pediestian and boring to be fair.
0

Michael11 added 22:23 - Oct 21
I think it's time we gave Jack Marriott a chance. Frank Nouble hasn't done enough to warrant a place on the bench let alone the first team. Its looking more like we'll be a solid mid table team this year so why not develop a striker who has a lot of potential to be a top goal scorer for us over the next season or two!
0

runningout added 22:36 - Oct 21
should be ashamed of themselves.. but for some reason, dont think they will be
0

petersongoal added 23:12 - Oct 21
Adekunle and Mings had a nightmare tonight, as did Nouble really. Marriott was my MOTM. Edwards and Tabb looked frustrated with the youngsters for most of the night. A real shame to watch a strong Ipswich U21 team dominate but almost lose a game against an inexperienced, young team like Bristol U21s. I've gotta say though, the ticket price was great and I'd gladly go again if Ipswich did this on a more regular basis.
0

miltonsnephew added 23:17 - Oct 21
Mowbray for Ipswich you heard it here first!! :p just parted from Middlesbrough
0

dav86 added 01:53 - Oct 22
He departed about 7 o'clock, well that's when the breaking news came out
0

battyblue added 05:34 - Oct 22
What a waste of space Frank Nouble is i agree with you all what's the point of playing him in the first eleven when he doesn't look good enough for the under twenty ones he is taking away someone else chance and doesn't deserve it
0

yun added 05:51 - Oct 22
I'm baffled by Nouble. We put more crosses into the box than most teams in the division, but this 6ft 3' striker can't get on the end of any of them. He could do worse than watching a showreel of Marcus Stewart goals and doing some work on the timing of his runs.
0

bluefeast added 08:44 - Oct 22
marriot will get his chance
0

Jewels added 08:51 - Oct 22
MM has his favourites - The only thing Nouble is good for is giving away free kicks. Don't know why MM doesn't play Wordsworth who has got some creativity. He wasn't even on the bench Saturday. In some respects I hope that MM gets the Ireland job so that hopefully a new Manager will give Wordsworth, Taylor and Marriot a chance.
0

Keaneish added 09:04 - Oct 22
Have to agree, surely this will see Marriott move up the pecking order ahead of Nouble now?
0

shefkuqi32 added 09:06 - Oct 22
I can understand to a point that it must be hard to find motivation for these kind of games for the older players but these young players pushing for the first team this really isn't very good at all.

From what i've seen of Nouble he is so bad, although hes young, hes not at this level and I don't think he ever will. Safe to say Jordon Rhodes he aint.
0

Robbie12345 added 09:27 - Oct 22
What I don't understand is why isn't Nouble playing like he did last season? Tones of energy, chased down everything and won lots from that, was a pain to defenders and just the kind of player we need... Reminds me of Jimmy Bullard..
0

BillBlue added 09:42 - Oct 22
I agree with you all on this matter of Marriott and have been saying so for months. I have also asked, endlessly, as to why Nouble is so regularly played that I have now had time to work it out. TC bought him while at Wolves from people who were glad to see the back of him and gave him rave notices. They both came here and immediately splashed out £125k to people who were delighted to get rid of him and again gave him rave notices. Now stop and think. If they don't play him all the time they will be proven wrong, wont they? No matter about the Towns or supporters needs they are not as important as their massive egos! I will wager a bet that when (fingers crosssed) they get the Ireland job Nouble will suddenly become an Irishman.
0

lloyditfc96 added 11:17 - Oct 22
I don't see what is wrong with giving Marriott a start, he will play for the shirt and will be very hungry to make an impact, he is a very promising young lad, don't see why Noubles getting a look in over him? And as jay Tabb and Carlos Edwards go, I think its poor how they didn't put a good shift in last night, should be setting a high standard
0

MathieandMarshall added 12:25 - Oct 22
Anyone know where Wordsworth is? didn't feature in this game and left out of the squad on Saturday. Injured? or out of favour?
0

tractorintheloft added 12:30 - Oct 22
Lots of negative stuff about Nouble on here and the odd conspiracy theory. Reminds me of the debates about should Shefki Kuqi be getting in ahead of Pabs. We should get behind MM & TC and whoever they feel should be on the pitch. Hope to see Marriott in 1st team action soon but trust MM will know when that is as he sees him train and develop.
0

mickymacsbarmyarmy added 12:43 - Oct 22
to say frank the plank is poor is an understatement.Ive been watching town for 40 years & can safely say he is wihout doubt I M O the worst striker to ever wear the blue & white.Blue square prem is his level at best but feel he would struggle to even get in my local team braintree town.Hardly gets a touch when he is on,just running down blind alleys, and is like a 10 year old learning the offside rule caught offside time and again.Still feel it was him who cost us a point at qpr mowing barton down 80 yards from goal & then not standing in front of the ball so a quick free kick couldnt be taken.More interested in his stupid clack image than being an even average footballer!!
0


You need to login in order to post your comments

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls

About Us Contact Us Terms & Conditions Privacy Cookies Advertising
© TWTD 1995-2024