Town will rue a number of first half missed chances as their final pre-season game at home to Levski Sofia ended 1-1. Pablo Couñago scored the Blues goal in the second half after a fine cross from Darren Bent, while Nigerian Temile Omonigho notched a late equaliser for the visitors.

Prior to the game Joe Royle said that the side lining up against Levski would be there or thereabouts his first choice for the first home league game against Reading next Saturday. The most likely change if any is at left-back where Chris Makin, out with a thigh injury, would probably replace Matt Richards when fit.

The Blues ought to have been one-up in the first minute, a fine Jim Magilton pass splitting the Bulgarians' defence and putting through Darren Bent. The striker had only keeper Ivankov to beat but the Bulgarian international was equal to him and pulled off an excellent save.

On 20 Pablo Couñago was presented with an equally decent opportunity, again from a Magilton pass. The Spaniard tried to flick the ball over Ivankov but again the keeper came off best.

Magilton himself ought to have done better in front of goal in the 28th minute when, while totally unmarked, he headed a deep Wilnis cross wide of the Levski goal.

The Blues called for a penalty in the 25th minute when Magilton was tackled inside the area and the ball appeared to rebound on to a defender's hand. Had a spot-kick been awarded it would have been very harsh.

New keeper Kelvin Davis was rarely involved in a first half almost totally controlled by Town.

The early stages of the second period were a different matter entirely with the Bulgarians starting to live up to their billing. Just after the break Richard Eromoigbe hit a long range shot wide and shortly afterwards there was a moment or two of panic in the Blues area before Matt Richards intervened to clear.

On 53 Georges Santos, strong throughout in the centre of midfield, hit a shot which was deflected wide. From the corner the Frenchman had an effort cleared off the line before the other new signing, Drissa Diallo, also came close.

Santos looked to be knocked cold five minutes later after a solid collision with keeper Ivankov as the pair challenged for a Magilton freekick from deep on the left. After treatment both were OK to carry on.

Town went ahead in the 69th minute, Santos playing a long pass wide for Darren Bent to chase down the right flank. The youngster reached the ball and sent in a superb cross to Couñago at the edge of the six-yard box. The former Celta Vigo man took the ball away from a defender before putting the ball past the keeper on the turn.

The Blues looked to have the victory wrapped up despite an improved second half display by Levski when Temile Omonigho popped up 30 yards out to half volley powerfully beyond Davis and into the net. The keeper had little chance, although questions ought to be asked about the lack of closing on the Nigerian.

A reasonably entertaining work-out for Town with Drissa Diallo probably the pick of the players, commanding at the back, reading the game well and on occasion bringing the ball out impressively. Naylor alongside him was similarly solid.

Santos at the heart of the midfield added strength with Magilton particularly creative early on. All three strikers will rue chances although none of them had a bad game. Marcus Bent silenced one or two doubters with a length of the pitch run after a Town corner, cutting out a ball about to reach an unmarked attacker inside the Blues' area.

Town were better in the first half than the second and by the end a number of players looked tired, and it was a surprise that Joe Royle didn't use more subs other than the 86th minute introduction of Jermaine Wright.

As ever it is difficult to learn too much from a friendly, but overall throughout the pre-season programme Town look like they can score goals and certainly appear more capable of defending than they did last season.

Town: Davis, Wilnis, Richards, Naylor, Diallo, Santos (Wright 86), Magilton, Miller, Couñago, M Bent, D Bent.

Photo: Action Images

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