Town trail 1-0 to Utrecht at half-time, French striker Sebastien Haller having netted in the 16th minute.

New Blues signing Jonas Knudsen was amongst the subs, along with centre-half Christophe Berra with skipper Luke Chambers partnering Tommy Smith at the heart of the defence. Scottish international Berra is suspended for next week’s opener at Brentford having been sent off in the play-off semi-final at Norwich.

Freddie Sears was alongside Daryl Murphy up front, while trialists Giles Coke and Larsen Touré were also amongst the subs. Jonny Parr was missing from the squad due to a slight knock.

The Blues started brightly and came close to going in front in the third minute when Ryan Fraser had a shot blocked and then Ainsley Maitland-Niles scuffed an effort wide after the visitors had failed to clear following a right-wing cross from the on-loan Arsenal winger.

Town continued to dominate proceedings and in the 11th minute Maitland-Niles hit a powerful strike from the edge of the box which highly-rated Utrecht keeper Robbin Ruiter palmed away from the danger zone.

Despite the Blues having had the better of it in the early stages, Utrecht went ahead with their first serious attack of the game in the 16th minute.

Right wing-back Sean Klaiber was given time and space to whip over a low cross and Haller reacted sharply to get in front of Josh Emmanuel and fire into the roof of the net before Bartosz Bialkowski could react.

On 23 Teddy Bishop curled an effort through to Ruiter, from just outside the box, but having gone in front the visitors had begun to play keep-ball, passing it around confidently with the Blues largely chasing shadows.

Bishop did well to cut in from the left during a rare Town foray forward in the 34th minute but was unable to find a team-mate.

Utrecht went straight up the other end and left wing-back Louis Nganioni crossed low and Haller flicked just over at the near post.

The Blues came close to getting back on terms in the 43rd minute when Sears latched on to a poor backpass from Mark van der Maal but Ruiter reacted impressively quickly to block. The loose ball ran to Fraser but his shot was deflected wide.

Moments later, Maitland-Niles battled his way on from the right and cleverly found Murphy inside the area but Utrecht defender Chris Kum made a superb challenge to dispossess the Irishman as he prepared to shoot.

The whistle went soon after with the scoreline a fair reflection of the half. After Town had made a strong start, Utrecht dominated once they gone in front with the Blues seeing little of the ball for long spells.

Town: Bialkowski, Emmanuel, Chambers, Smith, Tabb, Skuse, Bishop, Maitland-Niles, Fraser, Murphy, Sears. Subs: Gerken, Knudsen, Yorwerth, Berra, Kenlock, Robinson, Bru, Coke, Touré, McDonnell, McGoldrick, Pitman.

FC Utrecht: Ruiter, van der Maarel, Kum, Ayoub, Janssen (c), Ludwig, Letcshert, Klaiber, Nganioni, Haller, Ramselaar. Subs: Bednarek, Strieder, Markiet, Diemers, Rubin, Peterson, Cortie, Barazite.

Photo: Action Images

Fixed_It added 16:12 - Aug 1 I think Phil likes their GK.
2

Bluetone added 16:12 - Aug 1 A couple of phrases in that report might need to be explained to McCarthy. Right wing-back. The visitors had begun to play keep-ball, passing it around confidently.
1

DutchTractorboy added 16:19 - Aug 1 Ruiter and Haller certainly have qualities that can take them to a higher level of football than Utrecht, no disrespect. Too bad they are showing it today.
2

wkj added 16:51 - Aug 1 Sneaky town goal at the death :D
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