Town surrendered their unbeaten pre-season record in a rather dull game at Portman Road this afernoon. The Dutchmen from Enschede thoroughly deserved their victory through goals by the implausibly named Jan Vennegoor of Heeselink (someone at Portman Road surely must have misheard the name) and Scottish international Scott Booth. FC Twente took the lead midway through a first half which they completely dominated. Town's midfield was totally overrun with trialist Romeo Wouden utterly out of his depth and was substituted at half-time. Jermaine Wright also found it hard going during a very worrying first period for Town. There were even the first signs of dissent from the North Stand with shouts for the chairman to get his chequebook out.
Richard Wright was probably Town's best player in the first half with a particularly good save from a Scott Booth overhead kick. Not a half that George Burley's men will want to remember.
The second half began little better with an early goal from Scott Booth. By this time Jamie Clapham had moved into the left midfield position and Mark Venus was patrolling the left-back position with Wayne Brown filling in at centre-half and lookig very good too. After Booth's goal Town fought back and looked slightly more impressive. Richard Naylor replaced Fabian Wilnis and Stockwell went to right back with James Scowcroft dropping into midfield. For a man so often written off he looked by far our most effective striker and put in Town's goal a minute or so from time after having an effort saved.
A workout which worryingly showed Town's main frailties; lack of as squad, weak midfield without Jim Magilton and an inability to score goals. It is clear that money needs to be spent as soon as possible, Axeldahl was only given 7 minutes to impress by the way - why bother?
It seems likely that Town will line up next week much as they did in the second half this afternoon. An improvement is certainly required before next week.