Town’s U21s were beaten 2-0 by Charlton at Portman Road with striker Sylvan Ebanks-Blake completing 63 minutes as he continues his comeback from his hamstring injury.

The visitors took the lead just before the half hour mark, via a fine strike from Harry Gerard from the edge of the box, and Town keeper Michael Crowe was caught out for the second goal with 10 minutes remaining as Tobi Sho-Silva headed in at the near post from a corner.

The 233 fans present weren't treated to a classic and will have hoped to see more from Ebanks-Blake during his just over an hour on the field. Although having little service, the former Wolves man didn't look ready for a full 90 minutes.

The visitors had an opportunity to go in front inside two minutes, but Piotr Parzyszek failed to get hold of his shot that was easily collected by Crowe.

Charlton came close to grabbing an opener 10 minutes later, this time Crowe elected to rush out of goal to clear, but his effort fell to the feet of Gerard who saw his shot blocked on the edge of the box.

Town were under pressure again in the 26th minute when Sho-Silva was put through on goal, but Tyrone Mings came across to make a goal saving tackle.

The visitors finally went in front two minutes later, Gerard picked the ball up on the edge of the box and was unchallenged as he struck a shot, which went flying into the back of the net.

The Addicks came within inches of getting a second when an in-swinging corner went over Crowe and fell onto the head of Parzyszek, who guided his effort onto the bar.

Anthony Wordsworth was unlucky not to be awarded a penalty when he looked to have been pushed in the box when jumping for a header, but referee Paul Burnham waved play on.

After 78 minutes Town had their best effort on goal through a Wordsworth freekick. The midfielder’s shot from the right of the 18-yard-box went just over.

With 10 minutes left the Addicks doubled their lead from a corner. Morgan Fox played a corner to the near post and Sho-Silva headed past an on-rushing Crowe.

Town had a good opportunity two minutes later when substitute Mark Timlin was found free at the far post, but his shot was blocked for a corner.

On-trial Spurs winger Roman Michael-Percil looked to attack when he was on the ball but didn't receive it enough on the left-wing to make an impact during his 73 minutes in the pitch.

U21s: Crowe, Richardson, Mings (c), Wordsworth, Sowunmi, Clarke, Hammond, Lawrence (Timlin 60), Ebanks-Blake (Adekunle 63), Bishop, Michael-Percil (Doherty 73). Unused: McDermid, Leddy.

Charlton: Hamer, Muldoon, Fox, Lennon, Feeley (c), Munns, Robinson, Gerard, Sho-Silva, Daniel (Jordan 73), Parzyszek. Unused: Phillips, Jordan, Afolabi, Kennedy.

Photo: ITFC

Photo: Action Images

TractorCam added 21:25 - Feb 17 kennedy out
6

StuartBrett8 added 21:35 - Feb 17 Bring back proper reserves fixtures... we always seem to get beat in under 21 matches, not great for moral is it?
6

rambohambo added 21:42 - Feb 17 Did we play defensive ? Then play on the counter which never works and is boring ? Must be a itfc thing atm
4

rambohambo added 21:45 - Feb 17 Btw it says Doherty was a unused sub but came on at 73 ?
0

Cloddyseedbed added 21:47 - Feb 17 Sounds about right, when we do get a winger on the pitch we don't use him. 78 minutes before we get a decent effort on goal. Seems the whole club is now set up to play this way!
11

h32 added 22:21 - Feb 17 ........ par for the course it seems - doesn't exactly inspire, or raise hopes.
2

bluemikey100 added 22:46 - Feb 17 no forward match fit diddy injured sylvan only manage 60 mins then only marriott he out on loan hmmm loookin gud lookin gud
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hogster1970 added 23:03 - Feb 17 well me and my daughter went, and was a awfull game, just hoofing it about all over the place, very hard to pick the bones out of it, the trialist looked ok in patches, richardson didnt exactly excite me to much although wasnt on the ball much in fist half a RB, didnt realy do much second half when he came in as a holding role in midfield, mings done ok though, jack done ok when he came on, and actually ran at players, so a bit ecited about him, blake was so so, and looked like he was limping a bit when he went off, woody looked so so but did try, but as a unit it was hopeless, no wonder we are struggling, i think needham reserves would easily beat either team from what i saw tonight

2

battyblue added 05:00 - Feb 18 Getting to be the norm something needs to change throughout the club and soon.
3

bluefeast added 07:03 - Feb 18 I smell decline. Please can we bring in an innovative dutch coach , hmm , do we know anyone >?
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callmeted added 08:59 - Feb 18 no Taylor in this game either ?
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Michael11 added 09:43 - Feb 18 How does Mark Kennedy still have a job? We must have one of the worst development teams in the country. Every time I come on here our U21's have lost. Get someone like Matt Holland or Keiron Dyer in charge.
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BrettenhamBlue added 23:41 - Feb 18 Hi Michael11, Record for u21's this year can be found here- http://www.futbol24.com/team/England/Ipswich-U21/ We are not doing so well.....
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BrettenhamBlue added 23:45 - Feb 18 Hard to say what has gone so wrong for them. We have played more games than most of the teams around us too. The worrying thing is that we do seem to get hopelessly outplayed in every match. Doesn't bode well for the future.
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Michael11 added 15:02 - Feb 19 PJewellisaGod Thanks mate, quite worrying that our U21 side isn't as good as Brentford's. Especially when quite a lot of first team fringe players seem to play most games.
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