Two second half goals gave PSV victory against a very ordinary looking Town side this afternoon. The away side showed some slick passing which the Blues couldn't match.
Town started with John McGreal and Hermann Hreidarsson in the defence for the first time during the British-based pre-season games. Up front Alun Armstrong returned with Martijn Reuser on the right of midfield and Jamie Clapham on the left, although these two swapped positions halfway through the first half. None of the new signings played due to injury.
The first half lacked goalmouth action although Stewart almost latched on to a Reuser cross in the 27th minute. Alun Armstrong came closest to a goal for Town when he found himself one-on-one with Waterreus in the PSV goal. The keeper saved his effort and then a second go at goal after Armstrong had recovered the ball.
At the other end Town were living dangerously with runs down the right from Lucius particularly troubling. On two occasions Kezman should have done better after being given the ball on a plate. Town were lucky to escape, especially the second time when there was an almighty scramble.
The second half started with Jermaine Wright hitting a shot after a Reuser cross was cleared, sadly nothing came of this. PSV were looking the stronger side with their passing very impressive. Town had never really got going and particularly missed Jim Magilton pulling the strings in midfield.
John McGreal was not having his best game and a little while after the break he lost the ball giving Kezman a free run at goal. Keith Branagan was beaten but the striker's shot went the wrong side of the post.
But the deadlock was not to last. PSV went ahead in the 57th minute when Kevin Hofland headed a nearpost corner past Branagan. Questions could be raised as to who was marking Hofland and where the man on the post had got to.
George Burley decided that changes were needed and Richard Naylor and Darren Bent replaced Jamie Clapham and Alun Armstrong. Armstrong had been amongst the more impressive Town players while Clapham had had a quiet afternoon. Naylor went up front and Bent went into an unfamiliar midfield role.
Immediately Bent was into the action, but perhaps not in the way he might have imagined. He played the ball back to Keith Branagan from the edge of the area but too close to a striker. Branagan dived on the ball and referee Dermot Gallagher blew his whistle. He had ruled a passback and PSV had the opportunity to hit a freekick from around ten yards. Keith Branagan dealt with the kick well and Richard Naylor sorted out any PSV players keen to take a kick at the keeper while he was grounded.
In the 76th minute Marcus Stewart had Town's best chance. Stewart got on the end of a cross and sent the ball goalwards only for Waterreus to fling himself across his goal and keep it out. A minute or so later Richard Naylor volleyed across the face of the goal with Bent running in but not near enough to get a touch.
PSV's second came late on when Arnold Bruggink hit a shot from the edge of the area. His effort looped over Keith Branagan who appeared to be unsighted. It was as good a goal as you'll see and was well deserved after a stylish display from the Dutch side.
PSV held on to the ball in the latter stages and Town failed to create anything clearcut.
Not the best of performances from the Blues, but we have seen poor pre-season performances before only for the side to do well when the season proper starts. Two years ago Town were awful against FC Twente, but then got off to a flyer in the League. Let's hope this is more of the same.
Branagan, Makin, Hreidarsson, McGreal, Bramble, Wright, Reuser, Holland, Stewart, Armstrong (Naylor 68), Clapham.(Bent 68).