Blues manager Mick McCarthy felt Town’s 0-0 draw away against League One Peterborough was a good workout for his side and he was happy with their performance.

“It was a good workout, I was pleased with the way we played,” he said. “It wasn’t easy, the pitch is great, it’s lovely but it was just a bit long and a bit sticky for both teams, so it didn’t get a great tempo to it, but I thought it was a good game.”

He added: “Results aren’t the most important thing, but we all want to win [friendlies] and it kind of reflects better when fans see that you’re winning.

“But I’m not so sure actually, if you win all the pre-season games it sets everything up so everyone has high expectations.

“I thought we played well and I thought the kids that came on did really well for the last half an hour.”

McCarthy felt 18-year-old midfielder Adam McDonnell was unlucky not to score when he hit the post in the second half.

“Yes, but there weren’t a lot of chances,” he continued. “I just think it was hard to create them on what really was a slow pitch and it was hard to get any tempo around the box, that goes for both teams. There weren’t many chances but I thought we had the better of them.”

Former Sheffield Wednesday man Giles Coke played the first 60 minutes for Town and will spend the next few days at the club and is likely to feature at Colchester on Tuesday.

“We’re just having a look at him,” McCarthy said. “I’m still looking for players, he’s available, he’s out of contract, so I’m having a look.”

He says he hopes Brett Pitman will be back from his foot injury for the trip to the Weston Homes Community Stadium, along with fellow frontman Freddie Sears.

“Brett, I’m hopeful Tuesday,” he added. “Freddie Sears, I’m hopeful Tuesday as well, his thigh tightened up yesterday in training, we’ll just have to wait and see.”

As for his other strikers, McCarthy was pleased to see Daryl Murphy get 60 minutes under his belt.

“Great to see Murph back playing,” he said. “If you’ve got a 27-goal scorer from last season you want to see him playing asap but he had to have his rest, he needed it, he certainly deserved it. It’s great to have him back, and Didzy.”

The Town boss says that while he doesn’t learn too much about his senior pros in pre-season he does get to know a bit more about the club’s youngsters: “I wouldn’t learn much about the ones who played for me last year.

“I probably know them inside out, their personalities, their characteristics, what they do, what they can’t do as well. I know that.

“Some of the young ‘uns it’s interesting to see them, whether they compete as well as the more senior ones, whether they’re as tough as the senior ones, are they prepared to get on the ball, do they track back, do they do all the dirty jobs? It’s interesting to see them. I think they’ve done well.”

Photo: Action Images

Sixto6 added 20:54 - Jul 25 Come on Mick spend a couple of quid on a creative midfielder to get us excited!
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topguy added 22:17 - Jul 25 It makes me think would it long term, we got excited when we signed finidi George for millions and chopra the same, if we did and he was as bad as them we would be calling for his head, MM knows this if theres a player about who can do the same for less, then we would be fools not to take him. this day and age money doesn't win you games it creates expectation and that's dangerous if the player doesn't deliver.

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Cakeman added 22:38 - Jul 25 What bothers me at the moment is the amount of players we have already suffering from minor knocks and niggles. We haven't even kicked a ball in anger yet and here we are struggling with our thin squad!
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grumpyoldman added 09:19 - Jul 26 Cakeman, in friendlies why would you play with a minor niggle, in games that mean anything it's a different matter. We are not struggling MM is giving youngsters a run out to see how they fare, by doing this he has some idea of how they cope against physically stronger opponents than they are used to.
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GiveusaWave added 08:34 - Jul 27 Sorry, but not enthusiastic about our chances this year. Other teams have significantly strengthened and a don't feel we will be able to compete so effectively. I predicted a 6th place scrape into play-offs last season and that came true. For the record I am predicting 13th/14th for this season unless we make 3/4 significant signings in the next few days. Striker wise; very excited. But not so excited by our defence. Please prove me wrong youngsters!

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