Town fell to an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Belgian second division side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in their final pre-season friendly at Portman Road. The Blues had dominated but only went in front in the 61st minute through Daryl Murphy, but the Belgians hit back with two goals in three minutes on 72 and 75 via Mathias Fixelles and Nicolas Rajsel.
Trialist Roland Lamah made his second start for the Blues, having previously impressed in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at Charlton Athletic.
Also starting was summer addition Adam Webster at centre-half alongside Christophe Berra, while Daryl Murphy was partnered by Freddie Sears up front.
David McGoldrick was on the bench, while Brett Pitman (toe) and Luke Hyam (knee) missed out but are expected to be fit for next week. Dean Gerken was again not included, due to his hamstring injury.
Town dominated the early stages against the Belgian second tier side - who had brought an 122-strong but noisy following - and Sears forced visiting keeper Anthony Sadin into a save in the fifth minute, the Royale Union captain blocking from the striker at a tight angle on the left following a corner, however, the linesman’s flag had been raised.
Two minutes later a subsequent corner, also on the left, led to another chance. Trialist Lamah cleverly played in Berra on the left of the box but Murphy couldn’t reach the Scotland international’s cross.
As the game moved past the 10-minute mark Lamah unleashed a powerful strike from distance which flew just over Sadin’s bar.
The visitors’ first chance came in the 14th minute when a cross from the right reached Rajsel deep on the left but skipper Luke Chambers got across to block.
Kevin Bru curled a 19th-minute freekick just past Sadin’s left post with the Blues continuing to have most of the game but so far without providing a test for Royale Union keeper Sadin.
The Blues twice went close to going in front in the 23rd minute when Murphy flicked a near-post header from Sears’s left-wing cross against the bar. The loose bouncing ball fell to Bishop on the edge of the six-yard box but Royale Union keeper Sadin somehow kept out his header at point-blank.
The Belgians’ rare forays forward had largely been snuffed out by the Town defence with Bartosz Bialkowski untroubled. On the half hour Charles Morren struck a low shot from 20 yards but well wide of Bialkowski’s post.
Three minutes later, Murphy saw a shot blocked, then Bru looped a dipping effort from distance which went over.
On 36 Jonas Knudsen crossed from the left and Murphy headed straight at the Belgian keeper.
Two minutes later, the Blues went closer, Chambers flicking on a Berra header from a Bru corner but Tracy Mpati Bibuangu cleared off the line.
Lamah shot wide from 25 years in the 42nd minute with the Blues continuing to have chances but so far without taking any of them.
And that was the way the game remained at the break. A largely one-sided game in which the Blues had created a number of opportunities but without converting any of them.
Tommy Smith replaced Berra - who had required treatment during the first half - ahead of the start of the second period.
Four minutes after the restart Lamah made a powerful run from deep and looked to feed Sears but the striker had strayed offside. The break prompted shouts of ‘Sign him up!’ from the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.
The second half substitutions began in the 53rd minute when David McGoldrick replaced Bishop.
On 57 Jordan Massengo was yellow-carded for pulling back McGoldrick and while the Blues prepared to take the freekick Andre Dozzell took over from Lamah, who was warmly applauded off again having made an impression.
Freddy Mombongo Dues looped an overhead kick to Bialkowski, before the Blues finally went in front in the 61st minute. Bru sent over a corner from the left and Murphy rose highest to head home his first goal of pre-season.
Two minutes later, Bru stabbed wide after a loose ball fell to him just inside the penalty area.
As Town looked to add to their lead McGoldrick headed against a defender from a Knudsen cross from the left.
But on 72 the visitors equalised. From a Blues corner, Rajsel brought the ball forward at pace with Cole Skuse the only Town man back. He fed Fixelles breaking to his left, who beat the advancing Bialkowski.
And three minutes later, the Belgians were in front. Skipper Chambers was caught in possession by Rajsel, who took the ball inside before smashing a shot past Bialkowski.
As the game moved into its final 10 minutes McGoldrick hit a freekick into the Royale Union wall, then Dozzell volleyed through to the keeper. Moments later, McGoldrick skipped into the area on the left but stabbed wide.
In the closing stages, their goals having given them confidence, the visitors began to pass the ball around more confidently with the Blues rarely threatening to get back on terms.
In the one minute of injury time McGoldrick saw a shot blocked and then from the resultant corner a number of players, including Chambers and Webster, had efforts cleared off the line by the keeper or his defenders. That was the last action with the visitors celebrating their victory at the final whistle.
It was a win which should never have been theirs with Town having had the chances to have had the game sealed before their quick-fire second-half goals, prior to which they had presented little if any threat.
Having been angered by the defending which had led to Cambridge’s equaliser last week, manager Mick McCarthy is likely to have been even less impressed with the way his side conceded the two Royale Union goals and fell to a defeat to such comparatively lowly opposition.
Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra (T Smith 46), Knudsen, Skuse, Bru, Bishop (McGoldrick 53), Lamah (Dozzell 58), Sears, Murphy. Unused: Crowe, Emmanuel, Kenlock, Douglas, Digby, Malarczyk, McDonnell, Stewart, McLoughlin.
RUSG: Sadin (c), Morren, Mpati Bibuangu, Cabeke, Vandiepenbeeck, Wallaert (Fixelles 67), Aguemon (Zitte 83), Martens, Mombongo Dues, Rajsel, Massengo. Unused: Salah, Kaminiaris, Neels, Palmeri, Saussez. Referee: Nicholas Kingsley. Att: 3,713 (RUSG: 122).