Luciano Civelli and Damien Delaney returned to action after injury but couldn’t prevent the reserves from falling to a 2-0 defeat to Oxford United at Portman Road. The visitors were two goals up via Sam Deering and Richie Baker at the break and the Blues never seriously threatened to get back into the game.
Oxford went in front with the game’s first serious chance when Sam Deering’s fifth minute freekick from the left took a deflection off Jack Ainsley and wrong-footed Arran Lee-Barrett.
Town looked to hit back quickly and Oxford keeper Simon Eastwood twice saved from Reggie Lambe, the first from a Civelli through ball with the Argentinian making a strong start to his comeback game.
Defender Troy Brown header wide, then Ronan Murray shot straight at the keeper, before Colin Healy was somewhat pointlessly booked for taking a freekick too quickly. Eventually Civelli hit a low shot which Eastwood saved.
Murray came close to equalising in the 34th minute when he controlled a bouncing ball inside the area but looped his shot over the bar.
Oxford increased their lead moments later when a cross from the left was nodded down on the edge of the area and Richie Baker slammed a shot into top corner of Lee-Barrett’s net giving the keeper no chance.
The scoreline was a touch harsh on the Blues at the break as they’d had much of the ball, however, Chris Kiwomya’s men had created little of note, while the visitors had taken their chances, even if they were a little fortunate with the first goal.
Damien Delaney and Luciano Civelli both made way at the break as had been planned, Tom Eastman and Jamie Griffiths taking over at the centre of the defence and at left midfield respectively.
It was a solid if unspectacular display from Delaney, while Civelli showed the usual classy touches without overly imposing himself on the game and faded as the half wore on, perhaps unsurprisingly given his very lengthy absence. Both look like they’ll need more reserve games before progressing into the first team.
The Blues rarely looked like getting back into the game in the early stages of the second period. On 63 Josh Carson took over from the quiet Billy Clark and the Northern Irishman came close to netting almost immediately, just failing to get a toe to Murray’s ball from the left. Moments later, Lambe was similarly not far from a Griffiths cross from the same flank.
Lambe hammered a shot at Eastwood on 67 when he ought to have crossed, then Carson struck a low effort which the keeper saved to his left. Murray curled a shot just over as the game entered its final 15 minutes.
Murray saw another effort deflect wide on 80, then with five minutes to go Carson struck a low shot which Eastwood claimed. The Oxford keeper did well to palm away Healy’s freekick soon afterwards, but was fortunate that his defenders cleared after he had failed to make contact with the resultant corner.
Town had never really looked like getting themselves back in the match despite putting on some late pressure. For all their huffing and puffing and a great deal of effort from Murray in particular, there was little quality in the final third and in the end Oxford, who looked a decent enough side and had taken their opportunities when they came, deserved their victory.
Boss Roy Keane watched the game from the Britannia Stand with first team coach Tony Loughlan and chief scout Steve McCall.
Town: Lee-Barrett, Ainsley, Dunbar, Cawley, Brown, Delaney (Eastman 46), Clark (Carson 63), Lambe, Murray, Healy, Civelli (Griffiths 46). Unused: O’Donnell, Lavery.