Eli Phipps’s second-half goal saw Cardiff City to a deserved 1-0 victory over a strong Town U23s side featuring Teddy Bishop, Jonny Williams and Luke Varney at Portman Road.

Gerard Nash’s team started in an attacking 4-2-3-1 system with Bishop and Andre Dozzell behind - from the left - Ben Morris, Williams and Shane McLoughlin with Varney the lone striker.

Cardiff were the first side to threaten in the fourth minute when right-back Dylan Rees cut a dangerous ball across Dean Gerken’s six-yard area but no one was there to add the final touch.

The Bluebirds continued to present the greater threat and on 10 Tommy O’Sullivan hit a powerful strike from distance which Dean Gerken tipped onto the bar and over.

Town eventually cleared a Cardiff attack after several attempts on 14, left-back Myles Kenlock intercepting Marco Weymans’s low shot. Three minutes later, Rees shot wide from distance on the right.

A minute later, Williams broke away on the right and hit a low shot which Cardiff keeper Luke O’Reilly claimed.

But the visitors were still on top and on 21 a slick passing move ended with O’Sullivan turning Eli Phipps’s right-wing cross just beyond the far post. A minute later, O’Sullivan crossed from the byline on the left but beyond his team-mates.

The visitors again came close to going in front on the half hour when, after good work from O’Sullivan, Phipps twisted and turned and found himself space in the box before hitting a well-struck shot which Gerken saved down to his left. The loose ball fell to Weymans but his effort on goal deflected just wide off Kenlock.

On 36 Belgian U19 international Weymans hit a spectacular shot on the volley from a cross from the left straight at Gerken.

Town made their best chance of the half in the 39th minute when, after Morris and Williams had cleverly exchanged passes on the left, right-back George Fowler crossed deep from the right and Morris headed down and into Cardiff keeper O’Reilly’s arms at the far post.

A minute before the break Macauley Southam flicked a header wide from a Rees right-wing cross.

Shortly before the whistle, Rees and O’Sullivan both saw efforts blocked and Southam scuffed through to Gerken.

The home team were fortunate to go in level at the break with the visitors having been much the better side, creating virtually all the chances with the Blues looking particularly vulnerable on the break.

Town’s attacking players had been very quiet, while Bishop and Dozzell struggled to gain control of the midfield.

Cardiff’s Robbie Patten twice shot over from distance in the opening minutes of the second period.

On 56 Phipps hit an effort which was too high, then after a wayward clearance from Blues centre-half Chris Smith, the Cardiff number nine scraped wide from the edge of the box.

Just before the hour, Gerken saved Phipps’s clever flick from Rhys Abbruzzese’s cross from the left with the visitors continuing to have the better chances, despite the Blues having improved since the restart.

The Bluebirds finally got their noses in front in the 62nd minute. Dozzell was caught in possession on halfway, the impressive Weymans tricked his way into the area and cut the ball to his left to Phipps, who turned it past Gerken from eight yards.

With 21 minutes remaining Kundai Benyu replaced Morris, who had had a quiet game, starting out on the left before moving to the right. McLoughlin was by now playing down the centre with Varney on the left and Williams on the right with Benyu in behind.

On 71 Williams claimed a penalty as he went to ground as he went past Cardiff sub Rollin Menayese, but referee Ian Rathbone wasn’t interested.

Town briefly put the Bluebirds under a spell of pressure for the first time but without creating a serious chance before Monty Patterson took over from McLoughlin.

Dozzell picked up the game’s first yellow card for a foul as Cardiff broke as the match moved into its final 10 minutes.

The Bluebirds threatened again on 82 when Southam crossed from the right and O’Sullivan turned the ball to Gerken, who saved.

Cardiff were reduced to 10 men for the final five minutes, injury forcing off Patten with all their subs having been used.

Late on, Bishop screwed a shot well wide and the Town youngsters, with manager Mick McCarthy and his assistant Terry Connor watching from directors’ box, never really looked like getting back on terms.

Cardiff played well throughout and deserved their win. Had they finished more clinically - and Gerken hadn’t been on his mettle - their margin of victory would have been more comfortable.

Williams and Varney were both on the periphery throughout - with Cardiff keeper O’Reilly having a quiet evening - while Bishop and Dozzell were more involved after the break but without ever taking charge.

Town: Gerken, Fowler, Kenlock, Dozzell, Digby, C Smith (c), McLoughlin (Patterson 74), Bishop, Varney, Williams, Morris (Benyu 69). Unused: Webber, Wright, Blanchfield.

Cardiff: O’Reilly, Rees (Wharton 64), Abbruzzese, Baker, Blaise (Menayese 64), James (c), Southam, Patten, Phipps (Welch 74), O’Sullivan, Weymans. Unused: Byrne.

Photo: TWTD

TractorBoy666 added 21:14 - Oct 24 Worrying. But then again what should you expect when you sell your star striker and don't replace him.
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Smithy added 21:17 - Oct 24 We'll be known as Ipswich Nil before too long
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Cloddyseedbed added 22:31 - Oct 24 I had the misfortune to be at this match. I thought it would be good to witness Bishop, Dozzel and Williams running riot, my god I couldn't have been more wrong. What division are Cardiff in and they have a far stronger 2nd string than we do. Cardiff were putting pressure on us high up the pitch and never gave us time on the ball. When Bishop and Williams did have it they ran into trouble, had difficulty controlling and keeping the ball and passes were going astray all over the pitch. It was just like watching the 1st team, long aimless balls up front, little possession, nobody able to keep the ball and make a pass and no firepower. I can't remember a shot. If we are hoping Bishop and Williams are going to transform our season a lot of progress needs to be made by them both. Bishop looks a shadow of the potential he showed over a season ago. Nobody in the team did themselves credit on tonights performance and it looks like the team is set out to play like the 1st team in conceding possession easily and unable to create and have a shot or even score. The club seems to really be going down hill at the moment, even the pitch hadn't been marked out and lines could hardly be made out, especially the centre circle and some of the penalty area's. Probably can't afford the labour or white paint.

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blues1 added 22:39 - Oct 24 Cloddyseed. I presume ur taking the piss? "What division are Cardiff in?" If ur not u clearly know nothing about football. Likewise tractorboy666. What has not replacing Murphy got to do with an under23 match?
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Cloddyseedbed added 22:45 - Oct 24 Ha blues1 it was tongue in cheek. Mr Warnock has obviously got the club all fired up and players are desperate to show up well and catch his eye. As for us, where can you see us going?
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BlueNomad added 22:47 - Oct 24 All the experts say those midfielders should all be in the team ahead of Douglas, except the expert MM.
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blues1 added 22:59 - Oct 24 Cloddyseed. U can see us going down unless we get rid of McCarthy. And thats not tongue in cheek. That's my real dear for us
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BrettenhamBlue added 23:17 - Oct 24 I wasn't at the match but a good friend was. "Should have been more than 1-0. Looked more like 4-0 from a spectators perspective. Gerken highlight for Ipswich. Bishop and Dozzell outplayed completely in midfield. Can clearly see why Morris isn't ready. Subs very poor. Too much hoofing and very little passing. Williams very poor". Sounds promising. Not.
7

Battyboy added 23:19 - Oct 24 I watch all the under 23 games and this was terrible tonight. The midfield was a shambles tonight no one taking control and the passing was non existen! I have been impressed with McDonell, Blanchfield and Benyu and they were surely missed tonight.
3

wayway added 23:55 - Oct 24 blues1 shouldn't you change your handle to blues0
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cartman1972 added 00:06 - Oct 25 Seems the whole club is woeful at present, it's either lack of application and grassroots skill or the mm effect has spread like a pandemic infecting all
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Eireannach_gorm added 01:09 - Oct 25 Good to see we are resting McDonnell for his annual final game of the season cameo.
4

GiveusaWave added 05:36 - Oct 25 These players should be forcing their way into the first team. Whatever has happened to Bishop, Dozzell, Benyu et al (2016)? These players are the rising stars of our club and they are not stepping up to the mark. Mick is playing Douglas because Dozzell and Benyu are not stepping up. What an ideal opportunity for one of them to break into the first team, and they aren't taking it. Frustrating. As for McDonnell, feel very sorry for him. He seems to have ended up like Dylan Connolly and Jack Doherty, both of which were highly rated until they got here. They were both tipped as future Internationals. Connolly has gone on to score 4 goals in 3 games for Bray Wanderers. Doherty doesn't seem to be doing quite so well having been released by Longford Town and is now at Carrick Utd (but looks like he could be out on-loan all season to Parkvilla FC). It's unreal what's happened to both players. I just hope McDonnell doesn't go the same way. In 2012 we also had Mark Timlin, who was considered the future of Irish football. Reminds me of an old article from the Ipswich Star, I will try to find it. http://www.ipswichstar.co.uk/sport/striking_similarities_praise_for_young_ipswic

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surgery added 05:40 - Oct 25 At least we now know who MM is comparing them to when he says Dougie and his mate are different class! LOL On a more serious note, the lads playing last night probably couldn't be arsed to put there all into it because they know they'll never get picked anyway, and are just as despondent as the rest of us are
4

planetblue_2011 added 07:18 - Oct 25 Oh dear didn't sound like a good performance at all. Cardiff were all over us. I did like Gerald Nash's more attacking formation, but didn't work this time unfortunately.
1

therein61 added 07:57 - Oct 25 Seems like the Cardiff boys were up for it trying to impress their manager who would not be afraid to play them in the first team unlike our boys who whatever they do have no chance.
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blues1 added 08:31 - Oct 25 Yer way way. Might be more appropriate right now
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brittaniaman added 09:14 - Oct 25 Three words that we are being labeled with at the moment, (Ipswich town nil) Cardiff First and second team,, WARNOCK has certainly got them fired up ????
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positivity added 09:24 - Oct 25 shows the value of the much maligned skuse/douglas/hyam/bru. If you're going to play 4-2-3-1, bishop and dozzell shouldn't be the 2, you can't control a game like that, you need at least 1 water carrier in there. as for saying "our boys have no chance of playing", varney, & williams have played in every single game they've been fit for, bishop 13 out of 14. if they want to push for a start, they need to impress more as subs and in these games...

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Surco72 added 09:40 - Oct 25 Perhaps all the youngsters have realised it doesn't matter how they play they will not break into 1st team and other players will be selected if fit , where is the incentive to any players ? Whole club is stale and needs a change and new ideas Cardiff will be pushing for playoffs because they had the balls to change something that wasn't working we will stay with same back four , Skuse and Douglas and stay lower mid table all season being told how everything is brilliant and we have money to spend on players !!

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positivity added 09:55 - Oct 25 surco, youngsters can break into this team, last game, we had grant, ward, lawrence, webster and emmanuel all 21 or younger, game before we had bishop & digby. The youngsters have to prove they can be relied upon more than skuse/douglas/grant, and I'm guessing this was the idea between selecting dozzell and bishop to play the 2
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muccletonjoe added 10:07 - Oct 25 I think you will find if bish and williams played out of their skins last night and we had won 3 - 0 they would still be watching the first team on saturday.
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positivity added 10:12 - Oct 25 seeing as bishop started the last game we played at home and williams played in both of the last games that he was fit for; i think you're talking nonsense!!!
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braveblue added 10:40 - Oct 25 Sounds like a new system and players being played out of position. This club is a shambles.
3

TR11BLU added 10:43 - Oct 25 Dino out now
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