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PSV 1-0 Town
PSV 1-0 Town
Saturday, 17th Jul 2010 20:04

A first half Danny Koevermans goal saw the Blues to a 1-0 defeat at PSV’s Philips Stadion. Town probably should have been well behind at the break, but put in an improved display in the second half.

The Blues lined up with Alex Bruce replacing the injured Damien Delaney at the centre of the defence with Jaime Peters at right-back and Shane O’Connor on the left. Delaney is set to be out for three months after sustaining a serious leg injury in training on Friday.

A three-man midfield of Grant Leadbitter behind David Norris and Owen Garvan was again employed with Tamás Priskin and Jon Stead on the left and right of Connor Wickham up front. David Norris took the captain’s armband in Jon Walters’s absence due to illness, while Carlos Edwards was with the reserves at Great Yarmouth. Colin Healy missed out due to a hamstring injury.

The game’s first chance came in the third minute when Balazs Dzudzsak crossed from the left and an unmarked Danny Koevermans headed straight at Brian Murphy when he looked destined to score.

A minute later, Jaime Peters sent in a dangerous cross from the right but a defender got across ahead of Tamás Priskin. Moments later, former Manchester City keeper Andreas Isaksson dived low to his right to save Owen Garvan’s low drive.

PSV went ahead on six when Nordin Amrabat crossed from the right and Koevermans turned the ball across Murphy and into the net from the near post.

McAuley blocked an 11th minute Amrabat shot and the PSV winger ought to have made it two on 18 but missed Dzudzsak’s right-wing cross and McAuley put the ball out of play. The home side were giving the Blues a lot of trouble down the right with full-back Stanislav Manolev getting forward unchecked on several occasions, the narrow midfield and left-sided striker Tamás Priskin giving Shane O’Connor little help.

Town’s first serious chance came in the 20th minute when Garvan sent a left-footed cross back into the box after a corner had been cleared and McAuley headed wide.

Ola Toivonen missed another glorious chance to put his side in front in the 23rd minute, breaking from midfield but scuffing his header wide from Otman Bakkal’s left-wing cross.

PSV continued to dominated the game and on 27 Brian Murphy did superbly to tip over Toivonen’s 25-yard strike.


David Norris got his name in referee Makkelie’s book in the 36th minute for a foul on Amrabat, having previously been spoken to by the official for a lunge on Orlando Engelaar.

Town attacks were rare but on 41 Wickham toed the ball to Norris, who fed the on-rushing Garvan, but the Irishman was dispossessed by Manolev.

PSV had a more than decent shout for a penalty just before the beak when Leadbitter looked to have caught Amrabat’s ankle, then moments later Wickham lashed over from 20 yards.

The Blues had been very much second best in a first half dominated by the home side, who deserved to be further in front. The Dutch side showed their greater class, keeping possession comfortably and carving out enough opportunities to be three or four in front.

At half-time PSV showed a film of Sir Bobby Robson’s time in charge at the Philips Stadion, in Dutch aside from the archive footage of Robson’s interviews and press conferences.

The Blues made three changes at the break, O’Connor, Garvan and Stead making way for Jack Ainsley, Luke Hyam, who took the deeper midfield role, and Lee Martin. The former Manchester United man took the left role up front with Priskin moving to the left.

Bulgarian full-back Manolev almost netted in the 51st minute, heading wide having nipped in ahead of Brian Murphy from a corner. Grant Leadbitter sent Town’s first shot of the second period over the bar.

In the 61st minute, Pablo Couñago, Luciano Civelli and Troy Brown replaced Connor Wickham, Jaime Peters and Tamás Priskin. Moments later, PSV’s Belgian defender Timmy Simons, playing his last game for the club before a move to Bundesliga Nurnburg, was chaired off the field by his team-mates and presented with flowers at the side of the pitch before giving a short speech.

Toivonen missed another great opportunity on 68 when sent through on goal. The Swede put the ball low to Murphy’s left but the Irishman gat a hand down to stop it.

Soon after, Luke Hyam picked up a booking for a late tackle and after Koevemens remonstrated with the young midfielder the game briefly threatened to boil over before calm returned.

PSV’s Jagos Vukovic stabbed wide of Murphy’s goal in the 71st minute, the Serbian defender one of many second half substitutions made by the home team.

The second period had been a more even affair, although somewhat disjointed due to the substitutions. On 76 McAuley blocked Dzudzsak’s shot with PSV again guilty of missing a good opportunity.

But Town were also having their moments in front of goal and in the 79th minute a Norris shot was blocked, then McAuley arrived just after a defender as he went after an Ainsley cross.

On 85 Martin seized on a loose ball on halfway and found himself with a clear path to goal until Atiba Hutchison, a Canadian international colleague of Jaime Peters, sped his way back to dispossess the Blues winger.

Martin tore around for the last five minutes or so with the Blues again largely having to watch the home side play keep ball, the referee blowing his whistle to a ripple of applause.

Town had been a better side in the second period but still failed to force keeper Isaksson into a single save. The Dutch side again looked the more dangerous in front of goal and should have been comfortably in the lead on the balance of the first half.

There were few particularly outstanding performances from the Town side. Gareth McAuley made some solid challenges at the back and Brian Murphy made one fine save in a generally safe display. Young sub Luke Hyam started brightly and didn’t look overawed, although he faded as the half wore on, perhaps affected by the booking incident.

Overall, the Blues were probably a bit fortunate to lose by only the single goal, but a defeat to Holland’s third best team is no disgrace for a Championship side.

Highlights of the game are available on the PSV website.

Town: Murphy, Peters (Brown 61), O’Connor (Ainsley 46), Leadbitter, McAuley, Bruce, Stead (Martin 46), Garvan (Hyam 46), Wickham (Couñago 61), Norris, Priskin (Civelli 61). Unused: Lee-Barrett. Att: 13,300.


Photo: Action Images



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BlueFin added 20:08 - Jul 17
PSV just didn´t want us to look terrible! Martin was surprisingly good tonight! Still, looks positive..
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kerryblue added 20:13 - Jul 17
Just watched the game also and we didnt really look so bad and was impressed by Martin he was lively and obs has a point to prove.
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StowTractorBoy added 20:33 - Jul 17
Watched the match and whilst 1-0 is a reasonable scoreline against a very good side the weaknesses there are plain to see. Peters and O'Connor at full full backs were woeful as time and time again they were rounded far too easily. Priskin was totally ineffective and how Watford conned us into paying £1.7M is beyond me.
Our service to the front men was poor with too many long balls hit aimlessly towards our strikers. Stead on the right does not work and it was shown again tonight how desperate we are for some pace in the team. The plus points were Lee Martin looking useful for once and the performances of Hyam and Brown looked promising. I know PSV are a different class to the likes of Barnsley and Scunthorpe but I fear a long difficult season especially as Delaney is now out for a long time. The cheque book must come out now as again we cannot create chances let alone score goals - how any shots did we have tonight - very very few. I am very concerned.
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Mark added 20:33 - Jul 17
Not a bad result and it seems the lads are doing better than last pre-season.

Big blow about Delaney. The defence was looking solid last season and without him and D.Wright I am a bit worried about the strength and experience of our defence.

What does the fact three transfer-listed players (Bruce, Garvan, Stead) started the match say? They are not considered good enough by the manager to stay with Ipswich, yet are in the first 11?! This probably explained why Keane said he wants to bring in five new players.
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WREXHAM_BLUE added 20:38 - Jul 17
Shame about the result obviously, however by far the most disappointing news is that of Delaney's injury - massive blow!
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Blue_Fred added 21:12 - Jul 17
@Mark here's my theory -

could it be that Keane is using these games as a shop window ? if we really need to reduce the wages before we add then a couple of good pre-season performances could get interest in xfr listees
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Jesney_Havoc added 21:19 - Jul 17
The Evening Star said 'Goal fest' Ffffpppp paff . A*se busicuits

A Priskin hat trick would certainly help. Wait a minute! he didn't turn up again.

Boads well...... !
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devontractorboy added 21:54 - Jul 17
Our lack of fire power and vulnerability at the back are very worrying. A long hard season ahead I fear, perhaps the decision to let David Wright leave was questionable, like most of Keanes decisions! Priskin is fast becoming our worst ever signing after mark Fish!!!
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jas0999 added 21:56 - Jul 17
I only managed to get home to watch the second half. Not too worried by the loss - PSV are clearly a more superior side and for the best part we look solid. Martin was decent, whilst Peters put in a decent shift.

With Delaney out for months, we need to look for cover. But defence and midfield are not the worrying areas. Although I hope Wickham will shine this season, you have to ask who will score the goals along side him. Can we really rely on a 17 year old? Stead and Priskin have not looked good. pablo's goal scoring ratio last year was extremely poor. We MUST sign a decent striker. If we don't then sadly even I have to admit it could be another poor season. Shame, because the midfield and defence look solid.
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runaround added 22:38 - Jul 17
Watched on line. I thought PSV showed their class and controlled much of the game but we did not perform too badly and put together a few decent spells of passing. I think McAuley looked solid in defence whilst Troy Brown impressed me. Wickham also looked good whilst in contrast to some comments above i thought Peters and Priskin also did OK. The mainn wqorry for me was the lack of creativity in the side and O'Conner being ripped to shreads by their winger. I think it shows we are still short in a few areas but as friendlies go it was another good work out
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Cleggy added 23:47 - Jul 17
SIMON SAYS ANY OFFERS FOR LEE MARTIN YET?????
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Cleggy added 23:52 - Jul 17
SIMON SAYS BUY A LEE MARTIN GET A COLIN HEALY FREE>>>>
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Blueknight85 added 00:11 - Jul 18
i watched the game tonight on iraqgoals Alex bruce played in delaneys spot for this game atleast...he werent to hot lol.
Garvan was utter kak as usual still moping around in the middle like a 5 year old sucking his thumb only coming to life when someone has the ball to pass to him as he watches players walk past him towards our goal laughing at him. but he didnt even have his pass with him tonight.
Conner whickham looked ok had a coupe of little chances but we were being overrun in the first half to be honest so he didnt have a great deal.
stead didnt look like he knew what football was.
Leadbitter had a good game and some great tackles!
Priskin was finidng Conner well and played one great through ball in paticular in the first half.
Lee martin done ok when he came on he got a few good crosses in then i think he moved into more of a stikers role
Civelli was off the pace understanably when he came on but you could see in his positional awarness and what he was trying to do that he could be very nifty on the left wing when hes fully fit and confident.
Jamie peters looked pretty good at right got skinned a couple of times but recovered well
Shane o'conner looked very solid except for the goal we let in but i blame alex bruce for that mostly and shane was out of position in the middle covering but should have been marking the scorer closer
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WadzillaBhoy added 00:27 - Jul 18
Looks like Tommy is going to get a spot in the 1st XI then! I think it would be harsh to blame O'Connor, if we were playing 4-4-2 he would get help from the left midfielder. I wish I knew it was online I would have loved to have watched it.
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ipswichfrancis added 02:18 - Jul 18
Putting players "on sale" list into starting eleven is to promote them to interested clubs and increase chances of shipping them out....... but RK cannot be forgiven for making the same old mistakes, releasing/selling players even before recruiting capable replacements, this is going to haunt us for the rest of the season with many more comments like "inadequate cover/lack of depth" from all corners... sadly, it looks to be another struggle this season......
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16_Jack_ken_16 added 08:36 - Jul 18
Wicked news appart from big dammo going out but apart from that its good to hear lee martin turned up :)
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slowerball added 08:52 - Jul 18
PSV TV were always going to show their highlights, I have no issue with that, and so we won't get the full flavour of this game, albeit we were well beaten I think with 1-0 being kind perhaps.

These games are for match fitness and to look at who is and isn't looking sharp, etc. The result matters not - but a decent game for us in a very stadium. We won't be playing a side like this every week!

Seeing Bruce flapping around and sticking his arm up for off side did remind me how bad he is. Yes, VERY much in the shop window. Please someone buy him - he's not that bad really... honest. I'll drive him there myself.
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RetroBlue added 11:57 - Jul 18
The squad looks paper thin to me , and even moreso now Delaney is out injured .

Im very concerned at Cleggs apparent inability to secure RK's targets and to shift out the dead wood.
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TractorCam added 14:32 - Jul 18
Not a bad result i suppose against a club of good quality, and to hear the team playing well aswell is a good sign for the new season, COYB
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Hermann_eats_puffin added 14:58 - Jul 18
1-0 against a team of PSV's calibre is not the end of the world and it's nice to see young players such as Brown, O'Connor, Ainsley, and Hyam given a chance. The injury to Delaney is a big blow but we have Tommy Smith to come in after his extended post World Cup break. The successful town teams of the past were built around a backbone of youth talent and so it will be great to see some of the current crop given a chance in the coming season. For an interesting view on the youth development in England see this article; http://www.independent.co.uk/sport/football/world-cup/academy-system-of-big-four
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naaridge1coly7 added 14:59 - Jul 18
change the manager before the cheque book comes out please,this woeful kind of football simply will not be accepted by the masses any longer....

KEANE OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Surco72 added 08:38 - Jul 19
I still like the three in midfield but this will only work with attacking fullbacks or wide men ,which we had neither of with Peters and O Connor looking poor and playing 2 strikers in the wide positions in Stead and Priskin( Priskin is shocking and we should try and get anything for him) .
And Blueknight if Garvan hadnt been playing we would have had no shots on target for the whole game or made their keeper make a save ,and it is hard for a passing midfielder to get his game going if there are no wide options or very little movement up front like we have . Much better to have players running around a lot putting in tackles but not troubling the opposition ,oh yeah thats what we did last season .
I for one believe this paper thin squad is in a lot worse position than when Keane took over and we will have a very difficult Aug and Sept
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Sindre94 added 09:24 - May 3
haha
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