Andre Dozzell returned to Blues action as the U23s conceded two late goals to lose an entertaining pre-season friendly 4-3 at King’s Lynn Town. Monty Patterson grabbed a brace and Albert Wilton scored one but the Linnets hit back to secure a deserved victory.
Dozzell, who has been hampered by a hip injury since helping the England U19s to win the European Championships, started and played the first half in Town’s current problem area of central midfield alongside James Blanchfield, who was making his first appearance of pre-season, also due to an injury.
Pat Webber lined-up in a left-sided centre-half position following his recent trial spell with Aldershot.
The home side, who play in the Evo-Stik League Premier Division, should have opened the scoring inside the first four minutes but Toby Hilliard directed his header inches over the bar with Michael Crowe beaten.
At the other end Dozzell curled a freekick over before Conor McKendry's goalbound effort was blocked by Ryan Fryatt.
Crowe was out quickly to block Tom Siddons's effort midway through the first half and minutes later the Town stopper was in the right place again, this time to keep Fryatt's header out.
Lynn keeper Alex Street drew applause from the crowd when he dived at Jack Lankester's feet to gather the ball, while Crowe again kept the scores level on the half hour when he somehow threw himself in front of Siddons's effort following Frazer Blake-Tracy's left-wing cross.
With three minutes of the opening half remaining, the home side finally converted one of their chances - Hilliard turned in a low cross from the right from close range.
Three minutes after the restart, however, Town were level. Lankester capitalised on a defensive mistake and played the ball out to Patterson, who produced a fine finish to find the far top corner of the net.
On 64 Patterson's effort was only blocked by Street and the keeper had to get back quickly to tip Armando Dobra's follow-up header over his bar.
A few minutes later the home side went ahead again when sub Craig Parker fed Ryan Hawkins and the wideman placed the ball under Crowe with a composed left-foot finish.
Crowe acrobatically helped Leon Mettam's flicked header over the woodwork before Patterson equalised for the second time on 73 with a sublime 25-yard free-kick that glanced the inside of the post on its way in.
The New Zealand international then forced Street to push a low drive round his post for a corner, and with 10 minutes remaining the Blues took the lead. Dobra played a fine defence-splitting pass that released Ben Folami and the frontman's chip across goal was bundled over the line by Wilton.
Town's advantage only lasted for two minutes though as Dobra was dispossessed on the edge of his area. Sam Warburton played in Hilliard who made no mistake and slotted home with ease.
Mettam fired over moments later when it looked easier to score but the hosts got the winning goal their performance deserved with a minute of normal time remaining.
Webber conceded a foul out wide and Mettam made amends for his miss by curling a right-footed freekick across Crowe which nestled in the far corner without anyone else getting a touch.
Dozzell looked composed on the ball during his 45 minutes on the field and manager Mick McCarthy will be pleased to see the 18-year-old get a game under his belt with fellow central midfielders Teddy Bishop (groin) and Luke Hyam (ankle) already ruled out of the opening day game against Birmingham and Tom Adeyemi (illness) and Emyr Huws (calf) also concerns.
Town were under pressure for much of the opening period and struggled to trouble the home defence too much. But it was a good workout for Gerard Nash's side with particularly impressive performances from two-goal Patterson and keeper Crowe, who made a number of fine saves.
U23s: Crowe, Fowler (Ronan 57), Clements (Barley 88), Dozzell (Ndaba 46), Marshall, Webber, Lankester (Wilton 57), Blanchfield (McGavin 46), Folami (Hughes 88), McKendry (Dobra 57), Patterson. Unused: Wright. Att: 488.