U21s Defeated By Brighton
Monday, 11th Nov 2013 20:52 Jack Doherty scored his first goal for the Town U21s but Mark Kennedy’s men fell to a disappointing 3-1 defeat to Brighton and Hove Albion at Portman Road.
The Blues again included Irish trialist Eoin Wearen, a former West Ham central defender or midfielder, who we understand was previously targeted by Town when a schoolboy.
New addition Stephen Hunt started on the left of midfield, while veteran striker Alan Lee was in the Blues line-up at Portman Road for the first time since rejoining the club.
Summer signing Jack Doherty, playing up front alongside Lee, hit an early 20-yard strike along the sodden turf to Brighton keeper Christian Walton.
On seven, trialist Wearen, playing alongside first-year scholar Matt Clarke at the centre of the defence, headed over from an Anthony Wordsworth right-wing corner.
Frederic Veseli, playing at right midfield, charged down a Walton kick in the 14th minute, but the ball flew well wide of the Albion keeper’s goal.
On 20 Doherty slipped at the vital moment having been found in space in the area by Hunt after Lee had nodded back Elliott Hewitt’s cross from the right.
Brighton went ahead with their first shot in the 24th minute. George Barker brought the ball in from the left before hitting a low shot into the right corner of Scott Loach’s net with the keeper motionless.
Veseli shot wide for the Blues, then on 28 goalscorer Barker picked up the game’s first booking for a foul on Wordsworth.
A minute later, Lee nodded Veseli’s cross down to Hunt, who shot over when he might well have done better.
Barker volleyed Dickenson’s cross from the right wide in the 33rd minute with the visitors looking the more threatening side.
Loach saved well from Shamir Goodwin after the Brighton striker had been gifted the ball just outside the Town area, then Amir Berkane scuffed into the first defender after Wordsworth had played him the ball from a freekick in a promising position just outside the area.
Town almost got back on terms in the 41st minute when Hunt sent in a deep freekick from the right and Wordsworth met it a yard or so out at the far post. The midfielder seemed certain to score but somehow Walton blocked.
It had been a rather lacklustre half from the Blues. Despite having had most of the ball, the visitors had created most of the opportunities and deserved their lead at the break.
Charles Harris struck the second half’s first shot into the sidenetting of Loach’s goal before Seagulls’ skipper Lewis Dunk was booked for a foul on Mark Timlin, who was at left-back for the Blues. On 49 Wordsworth had his name taken for a foul on Harris.
Town got back on terms in the 53rd minute. Hunt crossed from the left, Dunk got a toe to it but Doherty following up slammed in his first goal in a Town shirt from 10 yards.
Parity lasted less than a minute. Albion went straight up the other end and Solomon March cut the ball back from the right to Goodwin, who hit a shot across Loach and into the net.
The Seagulls made it 3-1 on 58 when Goodwin twisted and turned his way past Berkane on the edge of the box before hitting a shot to Loach’s right and into the net for his second of the game.
With a fine rain by now falling steadily, Brighton came close to a fourth in the 64th minute when Loach did well to save from Dickenson down to his right.
The Blues ought to have pulled a goal back a minute later when Hunt ran on to Lee’s flick but Robin Deen just got a toe in as the Town winger looked to flick the ball past Walton.
Cory Galvin replaced Berkane for the final 23 minutes, Veseli moving into the centre of midfield to allow the Irish U17 international to play on the right, then with nine minutes remaining Byron Lawrence took over from Doherty.
The former Waterford United man, more usually a left winger, grew in confidence in the unfamiliar role after scoring his goal.
Lee headed Lawrence’s cross from the left wide with five minutes of scheduled time remaining, then Dunk looped the ball on to the roof of the net after Dickenson had done well to find him with a cross from the right shortly before the end.
Amongst a handful of scouts watching from the stands was Colchester boss Joe Dunne, perhaps weighing up a loan return for Wordsworth, who like Hewitt and Veseli amongst others should have made a greater impact on the game.
Hunt did better than most, despite his lack of fitness, while Lee enjoyed a good battle with Brighton's Dunk throughout and won more than his fair share in the air.
But overall it was another disappointing performance from the U21s, who are still without a win this season. Given the experience in the side, they ought to have beaten a more youthful Brighton team.
Elsewhere, a Town U17 side beat Southend in a friendly at Ipswich Wanderers, Irish U17 international Cemal Ramadan scoring both goals.
U21s: Loach, Hewitt, Wearen, Clarke, Timlin, Veseli, Berkane (Galvin 67), Wordsworth, Hunt, Doherty (Lawrence 81), Lee (Adekunle 90). Unused: Marsden, Robinson.
Brighton: Walton, Chicksen, Rea, Dunk, Deen, Asmundsson, Harris, March, Goodwin, Dickenson, Barker. Unused: Smith, Muitt, Barnett, Benham, Davis. Referee: Carl Pearse.
Photo: Action Images
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Rentaghost added 21:22 - Nov 11
Why is our reserve side so poor at the moment? |  | |
marco007 added 21:29 - Nov 11
Sounds like a disappointing result but more importantly a disappointing performance with players that should be hungry to break into the first team.
Maybe the doorway to MM first team seems miles away for these guys as we know he loves a settled side!
|  | |
Rentaghost added 21:32 - Nov 11
Is Mark Kennedy the right man to manage the reserve side. He may be an excellent coach but..... | | |
rhybeaniho added 21:39 - Nov 11
Considering there are some decent 1st team players in this side... it is disappointing |  | |
Michael11 added 21:49 - Nov 11
I don't know how Mark Kennedy still has a job. Did nothing as a player and been awful at coaching the u21's! That's quite an established line up and still got hammered. |  | |
Popeye added 22:41 - Nov 11
Kennedy out! | | |
jonnieb57 added 23:06 - Nov 11
What has happened to Kyle Hammond? | | |
runningout added 23:14 - Nov 11
Think Mark Kennedy knows he needs to step up sharpish.. Having a U21 (reserve) team not pulling up trees is understated weakness at our club | | |
Michael11 added 23:43 - Nov 11
Just to add another thought. How would we feel about replacing Mark Kennedy with someone like Keiron Dyer as U21 manager? He has more experience of what it takes to be an ITFC youth player and still puts funds in to the youth set up from his own pocket. Don't know if it's just a silly thought in my head or if it makes sense! | | |
clive_baker added 23:46 - Nov 11
Shame that Lawrence can only get 9 minutes in a game of this nature. Don't get me wrong, i've not seen the u21's play at all this season so can't comment on how he's started the season but he's a player who was taken on the pre season tour with the 1st team squad and was highly thought of at one point. Hope he can kick on a la Luke Hyam. |  | |
Keaneish added 07:33 - Nov 12
Have to agree. How many times have i read 'we fielded a strong side', only to lose…
Not good enough. |  | |
sereneblue added 07:48 - Nov 12
U21's should be seen as one of the foundations of our club. Results such as these aren't really good enough. As posters have said before, a strong team with players pushing for a first team place should be showing more desire! |  | |
ITFCMonk added 07:52 - Nov 12
Does not help if mark kennedy nearly all players out of position |  | |
bluelady added 07:56 - Nov 12
I think you will find Kennedy is advised by MM as to who to play and where. These games are nothing but fitness exercises and enabling MM to see players in various positions. Hence sending out players on loan to her proper competitive games |  | |
Hegansheroes added 08:00 - Nov 12
serenblue-good comment, it used to the Youth Team was the foundation for the club with bso many players coming through & going on to great things, a lot even becoming internationals. As an aside, can anyone remember going to a youth team evening match where you could get tickets for a European game (I think). I seem to remember there being about 24,000 there and think you could get tickets for the Barcelona game. Can anyone enlighten me? | | |
TractorCam added 08:11 - Nov 12
jonnieb57 - I believe he's injured |  | |
martleshamitfc added 08:33 - Nov 12
Maybe we need to field a "weak" side! |  | |
lloyditfc96 added 08:39 - Nov 12
The under 21 team this year has been very poor, we still haven't one a game and things don't look like they are getting any better.
I am for ever reading about how we have a strong u 21 team out, so how are we still not picking up results. I hear there were a few good things about last night Doherty sounds like a good player, one player to keep an eye on.
But for the first team players who are playing in the "developing squad" they should be setting an example and working there bollocks of to show MM what they can offer, but it seems like when the so called "first team players play " they are playing worse than some of the younger players.
This shows me that Mark Kennedy has not got the players fighting enough, he should be telling the likes of Hewitt if you work hard enough you will get a chance with the first team, but instead the work rate of the first team players has been very poor. In my opinion Mark seems a little out of depth to be honest, is always great to see an old player come back and be part of the squad but it has to be benefiting us, and in this case I do not think it is.
Positives from last night, Doherty and Hunts performance | | |
brian_a_mul added 09:01 - Nov 12
In fairness, Mark has to use players that are unfit, coming back from injury to make up a team. We dont have a big playing staff so its a mish-mash of who ever is available or needs a game.
I agree that the senior players (Hewitt/Vaselli) need to make more of an effort, I think that is mainly down to the individual player to fight for his first team place! |  | |
CavendishBlue added 09:09 - Nov 12
Rentaghost
It's NOT a reserve side, it's an U21 team.... | | |
PhilTWTD added 12:03 - Nov 12
Further to earlier posts, Kyle Hammond is only just back in training after a knee injury and Byron Lawrence has only just returned after an ankle problem.
Re players out of position, Mick McCarthy said he wanted a look at Veseli in midfield and Doherty was up front as we're short of strikers. |  | |
sotd78 added 13:36 - Nov 12
But it Is a reserve side. Just called U 21.
If MM is sensible he'll want players fighting for positions - so this is often all about finding the best "back up" player for each role in the first team. Given that we are playing 442 with a fairly settled first team everyone can see who to target to a) keep on their toes and b) nick their place. Hence why Woody is surplus - just who would he replace in the current 442 set-up?
Coaching is not just about the game - although at First Team level it really counts. Here at u 21 it does not REALLY matter - in fact you'll find out a lot more about players when they have to turn out on a wet Monday night for a poor team... |  | |
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