Second-half goals from debutant Josh Yorwerth and Jay Tabb saw the Blues to a 2-1 Capital One Cup first round victory over Stevenage at Portman Road. The visitors, who were awarded a late penalty before referee Fred Graham changed his mind, took the lead in the 34th minute via Christophe Berra’s own goal, but Yorwerth nodded in an equaliser on 55 and Tabb the winner 14 minutes from the end as the Blues improved after the break to claim a place in round two.

Central defender Yorwerth, left-back Myles Kenlock, winger Larsen Touré and striker Brett Pitman were handed their debuts in a much-changed Town line-up. Skipper Luke Chambers was the only player in the XI who started at Brentford on Saturday.

Kenlock was making his first senior appearance, while summer signing from Cardiff Yorwerth’s only previous experience of first team football was during a loan spell with Hereford United in the Evo-Stik League last season.

Guinean international Touré and Pitman also made their Blues bows having joined the club in the summer, while Giles Coke and Jonathan Douglas made their first Town starts.

After a quiet start, Pitman turned the game’s first chance wide at the near post in the ninth minute after Touré had crossed from the right.

Two minutes later, Charlie Lee hit a shot which deflected wide, then following the resultant corner skipper Steven Schumacher fired wide from distance.

The visitors began to present the greater threat with the Blues looking somewhat disjointed in the early stages. On 18 Christophe Berra got in the way of Dean Parrett’s strike, then from the corner Fraser Franks’s header was saved by Dean Gerken.

Just after the 20-minute mark Douglas chipped the ball over the Boro backline towards David McGoldrick but the Town number 10 was flagged offside.

David McAllister scraped a shot well wide in the 26th minute when he should have done much better having been teed up by Dipo Akinyemi after the striker had got in behind Yorwerth, a ball having been played over the top down the left.

Three minutes later, Chambers over-hit his cross from the right after a sweeping Town move involving Jay Tabb, McGoldrick, Kenlock and Douglas.

After Stevenage had taken several goes at clearing a corner on the left - a Douglas shot struck a hand claimed the home crowd - Coke was booked for a foul as Parrett broke. Touré joined him in referee Graham’s book soon afterwards for a foul on Tom Pett.

Tabb was unable to take down Pitman’s clever pass into the area when in a dangerous position, then on 34 the visitors went in front.

Coke was dispossessed midway inside the Town half on the left - the midfielder believing he was fouled - before Akinyemi took the ball into the area easily and found Parrett, who easily beat Yorwerth but whose shot was stopped by Gerken. However, the ball rebounded off the unfortunate Berra and into the net.

The Blues had been thoroughly underwhelming and the League Two visitors deserved their lead.

Town weren’t far from getting back on terms in the 38th minute when Coke fed in Pitman on the left but the former Bournemouth man’s strike flew just the wrong side of Boro keeper Chris Day’s left post.

Two minutes later, Kenlock played in Tabb and the midfielder went similarly close, keeper Day this time touching the ball just wide.

In injury time the Blues threatened again, Touré crossing from the right and Pitman’s header striking a Stevenage defender.

Seconds before the break, Lee was booked for a foul on McGoldrick midway inside the Boro half. The Blues striker failed to find Tabb with a return pass from the freekick, a passage of play which summed up Town’s first-half performance.

The Blues had looked every bit a side featuring 10 changes from their regular line-up, although they probably should have got themselves back on terms towards the break.

While Stevenage’s goal was fortunate, the visitors might have gone in front before that having had the better of the earlier opportunities.

Ryan Fraser’s introduction for Touré at the start of the second half was little surprise, while Boro swapped Dale Gorman and Brett Williams for McAllister and Akinyemi.

Fraser was quickly into the action, sending in a cross from the right which was cleared before Kenlock was booked for a late tackle on sub Gorman as Stevenage broke.

The Blues began to put the visitors under pressure and in the 52nd minute Yorwerth twice went close from a corner on the left.

The Wales U21 international’s initial header was blocked and when the ball ran loose to him he lashed wildly over when he should have claimed a debut goal.

But the Blues continued to threaten, Pitman sweeping the ball wide to Fraser on 55 but the Scottish U21 international winger’s cross was cut out by Williams.

And from the corner Town got back on terms. Fraser sent the ball into the box and Yorwerth stooped to head home the debut goal he should have netted a few minutes earlier.

The Blues had been well on top after the break and pressed almost constantly for a second goal.

Stevenage’s veteran keeper Day first did brilliantly to get down to down to save Pitman’s header from Fraser’s delicate chip into the box on 63, then after Franks had been booked for a foul on Tabb the 40-year-old reacted quickly to superbly block McGoldrick’s point-blank header from Fraser’s corner on the right.

Pitman just failed to find Fraser with a delicate return flick as the two exchanged a one-two on the edge of the box on 70, then after a quickly taken freekick on the right Douglas shot into the side-netting.

Skipper Chambers almost put the icing on a superb Blues move in the 74th minute. Kenlock weaved his way past a number of Stevenage on midway played before finding Pitman. The striker moved the ball on to Fraser, who sent over a cross to the far post which Chambers headed back across goal but just past the post.

Town finally got their noses in front in the 77th minute. Pitman turned Fraser’s ball into the path of McGoldrick down the right flank. The Town number 10 cleverly took the ball past his man with his first touch, taking it inside and into the area before finding the unmarked Tabb at the far post, who tapped home.

Moments later debutant right-back Kenlock was replaced by Tommy Smith to warm applause, the 18-year-old looking like he was cramping up as he left the field.

McGoldrick’s deft flick sent Fraser away on the right but Tabb’s effort at the far post was easy for Day.

There was a scare for the Blues, who had dominated since half-time, in the 82nd minute when Stevenage appeared to have been awarded a penalty.

Parrett looked like he’d tripped over the ball as he broke into the area, causing the chasing Berra to lose his footing.

Referee Graham initially awarded a spot-kick, reacting to his linesman’s flag, but after consultation and some lobbying from Berra amongst others instead gave a drop ball inside the area, much to the chagrin of Boro boss Teddy Sheringham and his players.

As the game moved into injury time Town went close again, McGoldrick turning a volley against Day from Pitman’s chip.

The Irish international was thwarted by the one-time England U21 international keeper again moments later when his header from Tabb’s cross was stopped on the line. The loose ball fell to McGoldrick, who crossed to Tabb, who blazed over.

Referee Graham’s final whistle signalled some half-hearted further appeals from the Stevenage players but the official eventually appeared to have got the penalty decision right.

Having been poor in the first half, the Blues were excellent after the break with sub Fraser providing some much-needed inspiration and the Scotland U21 international, Pitman and McGoldrick were at the heart of most of Town’s best moments.

Town boss Mick McCarthy will have been delighted with the way his side improved in the second half after their poor first-half display and with his first cup victory as Blues manager.

The draw for the second round takes place on Sky Sports following the Doncaster-Leeds tie on Thursday evening.

Town: Gerken, Chambers (c), Yorwerth, Berra, Kenlock (Smith 77), Coke, Douglas, Touré (Fraser 46), Tabb, McGoldrick, Pitman. Unused: Bialkowski, McDonnell, Benyu, Murphy, Sears.

Stevenage: Day, McCombe, Franks, Schumacher (c) (Conlon 78), Pett, McAllister (Gorman 46), Parrett, Wells, Akinyemi (Williams 46), Lee, Okimo. Unused: Jackson, Hughes, Casey, Johnson. Referee: Fred Graham (Stanford-le-Hope, Essex). Att: 10,449 (Stevenage: 388).

Photo: Action Images

pitseablue added 23:21 - Aug 11 Not much to add to what others have written.Second half we showed how much strength in depth we have now. And some very promising young players coming through. Everything is looking so bright.
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BtreeBlueBlood added 23:29 - Aug 11 Listening to radio Suffolk. Mick mills may have mentioned the new formation. 4-2-3-1 Mid holding "skuse" n Douglas if bru is out Then Sears mcg n Fraser Murphy up top
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liam88 added 23:39 - Aug 11 Kenlock looks a very good prospect , definately MOTM, ££££
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essex57 added 23:55 - Aug 11 Why do people keep on about Williams those who attended tonight saw enough good ball play in the second half from the players we have got to confine Jw to the history books Kenley looks a great prospect
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essex57 added 23:59 - Aug 11 Should read Kenlock good prospect
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StowTractorBoy added 00:19 - Aug 12 We looked very rusty in the first half which is understandable with all the changes made. Even in the rusty period was very impressed with Kenlock and although Yorwerth was at times a little out of his depth he did very well and got better as the game wore on. His goal put the icing on the cake for him. The highlight for me was Ryan Fraser who is a breath of fresh air and wouldn't it be lovely if he stayed with us instead of going back to Bournemouth. Pitman looked lively and will score goals for us I'm sure and McGoldrick looked more like himself especially in the second half. There is no doubt we deserved the win but we made hard work of it and had the penalty decision stood (no way a penalty) it may have been a different story. It is interesting that the Referee did not agree with the linos interpretation of events yet he gave a penalty when the lino only flagged for a free kick. The main thing is they got it right but was arrived at in somewhat bizarre circumstances. Now for Sheffield Wednesday who will be a tough nut to crack I am sure.

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gippeswyk added 01:09 - Aug 12 Game of two halves. Town were awful first 30 minutes. Different side after the break and played some lovely football. Could have run out 4 or 5 - 1 winners. Fraser replacing ineffective Toure was key. Fraser is sheer quality and linked up beautifully with Pittman and Didzy. Kenlock grew into the game and had a great spell second half. Yorwerth took his goal well and was solid with Berra. Some promising talent in the squad but first 30 minutes was hopeless.

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yun added 02:10 - Aug 12 Very exciting to have game-changing pace this season.
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BlueIrish added 03:56 - Aug 12 He's great is Tabby. Different class.
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Keaneish added 06:38 - Aug 12 Ouch Toure. Subbed after 45 mins on your home debut to lower league opposition.
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jas0999 added 06:53 - Aug 12 I'm very pleased with the win and to get through, but can't get too carried away after essentially struggling to beat league two opposition with a team that Mick stated yesterday could play a championship game. I'm not convinced. There were some good performances, the strike force may not have scored this season but looked good. Impressed with Yorwerth. Kenlock looks like another good one for the future. Did well against league two opposition and deserves praise, but week in week out in the championship would be a different ask. Midfield didn't have the same balance as Saturday. Fraser changed the game. With only him and Niles as our main wingers ( others all out of favour clearly), I'm still concerned if one or both go off Saturday. Options? Tabb worked hard and Douglas did okay. I don't see what some do in Coke. Gave the ball away for the goal and although improved, for me he's very similar to other players we have but not as good. Less said about Toure the better! Overall a useful workout against a league two side, summed up as a woeful first half and much improved in the second. A deserved win in the end.

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dannyrr added 06:55 - Aug 12 Have to agree that the first half was awful and it always looked like the opposition were more likely to score than us. Fraser changed the game and we played better football in the second half. Myles Kenlock should be proud of his debut - definitely worth his standing ovation. Good performances from many of the new boys and what a bizarre situation with the penalty and hard to understand why he did a drop ball. But a win is a win and could easily have had more goals.

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Sospiri added 08:02 - Aug 12 I just saw Yorwerth's interview. A very articulate, intelligent and reflective young man. He has the right stuff.up top to be good player.
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blueherts added 08:30 - Aug 12 second half with Fraser on our attacking play - albeit against lower league -was very impressive - movement , interchanging and Dids really grew into that 'give me the ball' approach he has - he had some great link up with Pittman and Fraser and Tabb also plyed his part I do think MM has a nice selection challange with McGoldrick as I think on his day he is our best player and really brings others in Maybe him as part of a 3 with two holding midfielders behind and a man up top Sears was great on Saturday and with Pittman and Murph you suddenly have some real choices I have probably seem more football in our last two games than for many a while ! And the most pleasing thing is we are getting youngsters given a chance and really taking them - credit to MM et al for Kenlock and Emmanuel - those two senior debuts were very impressive and added to the loanees Fraser and Niles we really have some young talent emerging Oh and we still have the Irish lad McDonnell who , by all accounts is class This season 4 goals - 3 from midfield ! and with all that attacking talent around it bodes well Tough one on Saturday but I think we have a very good squad having seen pretty much most in last two games and with Bishop , Hyam to come back

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Slambo added 09:01 - Aug 12 People keep saying how awful the 1st half was, but we still should've had 3 goals after both Pitman and Tabb missed one-on-ones and Tabb dithered on that chance in front of goal. Their goal was also another ridiculous calamity! I thought Coke was excellent, only losing his way a bit after that under hit backpass. Wonderful touch and composure on the ball and able to find the right pass - very much what Cole Skuse is consistently underrated for. Yorwerth did have a funny old game - I think he was trying a bit too hard, steaming into tackles when he could've just stood the player up. I like that he tries to pass it out from the back... Miles Kenlock - another quality youth player. He's from Ipswich as well, isn't he..? Category 1 youth academy in all but name...

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RaymondovicBlue added 09:22 - Aug 12 Strange isn't it .... Tommy Smith is part of a BACK FOUR that got it wrong (at Chambers' instruction as leader of the line) and we slate him - even though the match report states many good bits of play.... Christophe Berra scores an own goal and is "shaky" at best according to the match report and ..... "let's hope he's up for Saturday" I really am glad Mick chooses his team in a far more objective way that we would !!! I think Berra is the better player and should play with TS on the bench, but Tommy is far better than many on here make out and deserves far better treatment here. Just saying! That said - can't disagree with the optimism from this "B team" playing so well. Several from this side will think they deserve A team football - and they WILL get some! LOVING the 4-2-3-1 idea, but not sure we can play BOTH wingers from Saturday at once - but if Fraser starts and runs himself ragged then what a sub Miles is ... the opposition defences who have been run ragged by Fraser and co will be really unhappy to see him on the touchline with 20 to go ! Also - midway though second half, the first "hoof" of the match will take them by surprise and we will score !! What a season we have ahead !!!

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Razor added 09:55 - Aug 12 The pleasing thing is that we now have a SQUAD and a very good one at that. Also it seems that Mick may care about a cup run this year, he obviously had a word or two at half time and it clearly worked. Didz looke sharp and effective, could play behind the front two and create havoc and where did Kenlock come from----looks a real star in the making. Roll on Saturday----really looking forward to clipping the owls wings.

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bohslegend added 09:58 - Aug 12 A few slightly unfair comments re the shape and balance of the team 1st half - I think if only for a sense of fair comment you have fully acknowledge that this was an experimental starting 11 made up of players who have never played a competitive match together before and were bound to take a while to settle. As it happens, they settled extremely well 2nd half and looked like they had played a whole season together already, such was the movement and understanding throughout the team. So two things; firstly we've broken a bit of a hoodoo by beating a lower league team in the early rounds of the cup (okay should always do that but they always seem to give us trouble) and secondly MM has yet again shown faith in young players coming through and perhaps answered some of the critics at this early stage of the season who still seem to think we are light on quality numbers within the squad. In Mick We Trust!

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itsonlyme added 10:30 - Aug 12 Kenlock was the shining light last night. He put in a MOM performance. We are definitely stronger than last season which bodes well. I don't think many of these players would let the first team down if called upon! Hope springs eternal!
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jocasaja added 10:52 - Aug 12 In the end an enjoyable game. Coke looks neat and tidy and will be a solid squad player. Yorwerth looked less than confident but grew into the game. Ryan Fraser an excellent player. Good to see McGoldrick getting his touch back - quality. Very impressed with Kenlock - nervy at times, but when he started to relax he showed real ability in getting forward and taking on players - much better squad than last year - will be interesting to see team selection for Saturday - I would quite like to see McGoldrick up front with Sears - perhaps use Murphy to come on and make an impact from the bench - hope that there is 20,000 + on Sat and that we create a great atmosphere ! COYB !!

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KiwiTractor added 10:52 - Aug 12 Well I wouldn't have won any awards in a pick the goal scorers competition! Well done lads, nice to remember what a cup victory feels like.
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TotalBlue added 11:39 - Aug 12 Well done Mick finally we get past round 1. Nice to see a ref who will actually use some sense. My only worry now is a cup run would be great but every year we seem to dip in form in January and if were still in it then and the FA cup we would have 9 matches in total which could see a lot of injuries but if mick can get us through that the premiership and Wembley could very well be waiting.. COYB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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greenkingtone added 13:52 - Aug 12 Regarding the confusion over the penalty decision and its reversal on Tuesday evening, it is unlikely that anyone other than the two officials involved know the details of the decision. Referees sometimes instruct their linesmen to leave penalty decisions to them rather than put the responsibility on the assistant. Hence a linesman has to be 100% certain that the requirements of Law 12 are met, before putting his flag across his chest. A flag held above the head would indicate an offside in the centre of the pitch, or another infringement outside the penalty area, for example. Running the line is a difficult and isolated job, but these days communication between the linesmen and the referee must be much easier with wireless technology deployed. Referees are naturally reluctant to explain some of their decisions so I doubt we will ever learn the facts. However last night's officials were brave enough to admit an error and to put it right. A dropped ball appears to be the fairest way to restart the game.

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Seasider added 19:05 - Aug 12 Funny how many different opinions there are on players. I didn't think Toure played that badly first half. Tabb as well as scoring a tap in also missed a couple of good chances,and also was caught in possession. However think we all agree about the wee Scot who changed the game. Thought Didsy had a great game bringing down balls and killing them stone dead;and some of his crossfield passes reminded me of Glenn Hoddle in his prime.Hope we can secure him on a long contract soon. Like Murphy who had a quiet game on Saturday,think Berra is still getting up to speed as is Douglas. Not particularly impressed with Coke but good squad man,our left back along with Ryan Fraser joint mom.

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TimmyH added 20:09 - Aug 12 Just glad to get through...compared to other years debacles in this competition this was yet another banana skin. Sounds like a few players stood out well tonight namely Kenlock and Fraser, and have to say it seems we could be a potent force attacking wise this season BUT on the other side of the coin would really like to see the defense tighten up and at least see another signing at the back.

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