Town dominated the first half of their pre-season friendly against Shelbourne in Dublin, Frank Nouble going close twice, but were unable to break the deadlock.
Boss Mick McCarthy was amongst those absent from a sunny Tolka Park, along with skipper Carlos Edwards, who is with Trinidad and Tobago at the CONCACAF Gold Cup in the US, Paul Taylor, who is taking his recovery from his foot injury steadily, and Jay Emmanuel-Thomas, whose proposed swap move to Bristol City is still under discussion.
The Blues, wearing their new home kit, started the game with Scott Loach in goal, Elliott Hewitt at right-back, Aaron Cresswell on the left and Luke Chambers and Tyrone Mings at the centre of the defence.
Cole Skuse made his first appearance in a Town shirt in the middle of midfield alongside Anthony Wordsworth with first-year pro Mark Timlin on the right and Josh Carson on the left, although the pair switched over at times. Michael Chopra partnered Frank Nouble up front.
The Blues dominated from the off against a very young Shelbourne side — the current table-proppers face Drogheda in a League of Ireland game tomorrow — and came close to going in front in the fifth minute when Nouble headed Aaron Cresswell’s freekick from the right just wide at the far post when he probably should have scored.
Two minutes later, Wordsworth struck a low shot from distance but failed to trouble home keeper Ger Hanley.
The Blues continued to dominate and in the 13th minute a mazy dribble down the middle by Nouble ended with Carson hitting a shot which keeper Hanley did well to save. Timlin was adjudged to have committed a foul as he looked to get in a rebound.
Michael Chopra came close to opening his goals account in the 21st minute from a Carson cross from the left but the striker went through his shot too early and the ball flew wide.
Shelbourne’s first effort on goal wasn’t until the 35th minute when Aaron Robinson hit a speculative strike from distance which failed to trouble the underemployed Loach. On 37 Timlin hit a low shot but Hanley claimed easily.
Town went closer to going in front a minute later when Wordsworth crossed perfectly from the left and Hanley did well to push over Nouble’s goal-bound header.
The Blues were again near to an opening goal in the 40th minute when Nouble played in Wordsworth on the left of the area but Hanley was out quickly to block as the ex-Colchester man looked to flick the ball past him.
The home side almost took the lead very much against the run of play in the 43rd minute when Dylan Connolly curled a freekick from the edge of the box towards the top corner which Loach pawed away for a corner.
That was the final chance of an entertaining half dominated by the Blues, who on the balance of play and chances ought to have been well in front. Connolly’s late freekick might have given the home side a surprise lead.
As the teams left the field at the break, the Blues’ second half side — including Jay Tabb who had been missed off the teamsheet — were warming up.
MK Dons boss Karl Robinson — whose team are in Ireland for friendlies of their own - and ex-Blues keeper Shane Supple were amongst a small crowd mainly made up of Town supporters.
Town first half: Loach, Hewitt, Cresswell, Chambers, Mings, Skuse, Timlin, Wordsworth, Nouble, Chopra, Carson.
Town second half: Gerken, Hammond, Smith, Seaborne, October, Lawrence, Hyam, Berkane, McGoldrick, Tabb, Murphy.
Shelborne first half: Hanley, Gannon, McGlynn, O’Connor, Tobin, Robinson, Doyle, McGarne, Walsh, Taylor, Connolly.
Shelborne second half: Murphy, Hamilton, Desond, Corrigan, Molloy, Robinson, Ash, Farrell, Mooney, Byrne, Weldon, Birnsumba.