A Town reserves side was beaten 1-0 by Southend’s development squad in a behind-closed-doors friendly at Playford Road this afternoon.

Defender Ryan Auger scored the winning goal for the Shrimpers against a Town side featuring Sylvan Ebanks-Blake, Jay Tabb, Carlos Edwards, Frazer Richardson and Paul Taylor.

Southend's first-team coach Graham Coughlan was delighted with his side's display, telling their club site: “It was another good performance, especially we had a young side up against an experienced Ipswich team.

“Luke Prosser played an hour and came through it well, while Lee Barnard got another good 50 minutes in. We played some really good football, especially in the first half.

“The shape and understanding for a young side was good and there were a number of promising performances.”

Town’s U21s have no scheduled league match this week, while the U18s are in action at Bristol City on Thursday afternoon (KO 1pm).

Photo: Action Images

RaymondovicBlue added 16:46 - Mar 18 Not THAT strong a Town side then?!?! Any report of how we played? Did ANY of our players shine in the mist?? Or was it "just important for SEB to get some time " ... did he play the full 90?
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kingcarloss added 16:46 - Mar 18 Mick bemoans the lack of opportunities players get in reserve or u21 games, but for me with squad players like they had in today it shows how poor we really are and do we really want to be facing premier league reserve sides next year. If the u21 management set up is that poor get rid of them and job giving jobs for the boys. ie Kennedy, Lee and whoever else is failing to motivate our squad players.

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OldClactonBlue added 16:51 - Mar 18 Can they get relegated from that League. They don't seem to win many games!
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martleshamitfc added 17:03 - Mar 18 OldClactonBlue - It was a friendly.
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kingcarloss added 17:43 - Mar 18 First team squad players are played in these games to gain fitness, sharpness, i have seen a lot of these games and to me the squad players look disinterested which to me is not help our youngsters out at all, getting beat week in week out cannot be good for morale at any level.
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chicorytwin added 17:51 - Mar 18 Absolutely shocking result !! If I was ME I would be very worried.
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sereneblue added 17:51 - Mar 18 I bet we played one up front!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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blueboy1981 added 18:45 - Mar 18 ......... absolutely shocking that we haven't better back up at the Club - have known the time when we had a Reserve Team / Youth Team that would / could compete on level terms with the best in the Country. Even allowing for the Club, and times having changed - we should do much better than this.
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jas0999 added 19:07 - Mar 18 Although I appreciate these type of games are used to get injured players fit, it also highlights how average our squad is. The players we had on display should have been good enough to win this game. Whether you think Mick is right or not, he demands effort from players whether it be in training, the full team, the under 21 s or the reserves. Certain players don't bother and that perhaps explains why they are not selected. Until we strengthen our squad, adding pace and quality we are going nowhere.

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muccletonjoe added 19:22 - Mar 18 Interesting to see the wonderful Paul Taylor does not even manage a goal against Southend , why should mick put him up against Brighton , I certainly wouldnt
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TimmyH added 19:40 - Mar 18 notice 'Big Frank' wasn't in the line up (not sure if he's fit again) ...but no point just singling out Taylor for not scoring, what about the rest?!
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muccletonjoe added 19:43 - Mar 18 I was only pointing out Taylor because of the constant claims some people make about him starting in the first team , I really cannot see the reasons for this
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Michael11 added 20:02 - Mar 18 Kennedy Out.
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thebeat added 20:49 - Mar 18 muccletonjoe were you not at the QPR and Birmingham home games? He was our best player in both games, especially Birmingham. He needs a run of games, but he wont get that incase he becomes undroppable, there wont be any room for "Big Frank" then (who inexplicably keeps getting runs of games)
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algarvefan added 21:13 - Mar 18 There appears to be no building for the future, the lack of youngsters coming through, always a Town strong point, appears non existent. This does not bode well for our future!!!!!!
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muccletonjoe added 23:05 - Mar 18 Yes I was at both of those games the beat , I might agree with the Birmingham game , but he does not strike me as someone who is a team player. Infact he seems to play like he is better than anyone else , which from what I have seen of him , he most certainly isn't. Offload and find someone better , I hope is micks plan.
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bluelodgeblue added 08:42 - Mar 19 Can we win anything these days!!!!
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braveblue added 09:07 - Mar 19 Muccltonjoe. Were you at the game on Saturday. Did you see Taylor head and shoulders above the rest. Who would you play instead - Anderson, Tabb?
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michael99 added 17:01 - Mar 19 Good to see that goal machine taylor scored again
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muccletonjoe added 22:03 - Mar 19 If I DID have the choice Braveblue I would be playing Marriott
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Steelmonkey added 00:30 - Mar 21 Frank gets in the team purely for his physical presence something that was evidently missing against Wigan. Our players are so easily knocked off the ball, and until we can match teams on those terms it will be championship football for us at PR, but that's just one reason with what's wrong with the side. History shows that players of small stature can do the business, but I'm afraid our current crop just can't cut the mustard.

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