Town came from behind to defeat Real Valladolid 3-1 at Portman Road. Javier Baraja put the visitors in front from the spot, but Pim Balkestein, Connor Wickham and a Luis Prieto own goal took the Blues to their win in the second half.

The game was preceded by two minutes’ silence for Sir Bobby Robson, which was impeccably observed by all at Portman Road.

Town, again playing 4-3-3, started brightly and Lee Martin forced a save from Spanish keeper Justo Villar in the fourth minute, then Jon Stead headed straight into the stopper’s arms.

Moments later Stead nodded the ball down to Martin whose shot from a tight angle was looped away from under the bar.

Stead shot wide from 25 yards on nine as the Blues enjoyed much the better of the early chances.

Town ought to have gone in front when Stead headed Delaney’s cross wide in the 27th minute. On the half hour the home side went ahead after Pedro León had been felled inside the area by Pim Balkestein, although the Valladolid player appeared to make as much as he could out of the contact. Javier Baraja sent Richard Wright the wrong way.

The Blues came closest to pulling a goal back before the break on 39 when Damien Delaney stabbed Martin’s freekick wide but from an offside position,

Three minutes into the second half, Stead turned a low cross from Martin to the keeper, then León shot straight at Wright after the Blues had surrendered possession cheaply. Wright saved again soon after, this time from Marquitos.

The visitors were dominating possession with the Blues playing a counter-attacking game utilising Martin’s pace and tricks. On 56 Jaime Peters took over from Colin Healy with Owen Garvan moving into the holding midfield position.

Peters was quickly into the action and within a minute sent in a cross which Stead stabbed wide when he should have done much better.

Just before the hour mark, the Blues were awarded a penalty. Martin broke from halfway, took the ball past a defender, then went wide of the keeper Justo Villar, who sent him to ground.

Jon Stead took the ball from Martin and hit a well struck shot which Villar pushed on to the post. It was appearing impossible for Stead to score and soon after the striker headed a corner against the bar, but fortunately for the Blues the ball dropped for Pim Balkestein who slammed in from nine yards.

In the 63rd minute Richard Wright made a superb save from Nivaldo’s header from a corner. From the subsequent corner Wright claimed the ball and sent Martin away with a superb throw, but the midfielder struck a wild shot. Marquitos’s shot deflected on to the top of the bar on 66 prior to Reggie Lambe and Connor Wickham taking over from Lee Martin and Jon Stead. Soon after Alan Quinn and Jack Ainsley replaced Jon Walters and Alex Bruce.

The Blues went ahead on 77. Reggie Lambe won the ball on halfway, brought the ball forward and played through Connor Wickham. The 16-year-old striker went wide on the left inside the area before hitting a shot across the keeper and into the net off the post.

Town had looked a more dangerous prospect since bringing on the likes of Wickham and Peters in particular, while Lambe, playing his second game for the senior side, was also very much involved.

Tommy Smith replaced Damien Delaney with 11 minutes left, prior to Pedro León shooting at Wright.

The Blues extended their lead in the 83rd minute when Wickham’s cross deflected back out to him on the left. The striker lashed the ball back in and Luis Prieto unluckily deflected past his own keeper. In injury time, Bueno curled a freekick wide.

A result that probably flattered Town a touch with the visitors enjoying a lot of possession and creating a number of chances which a lesser keeper than Richard Wright might not have stopped, while the Blues defence generally did well against the La Liga side’s frontline.

But Town also had more than a few opportunities themselves with Jon Stead missing around five decent chances including the penalty, Martin having created most of them.

Wickham looked far sharper when introduced as a sub, while Jaime Peters also impressed after coming off the bench.

Town: R Wright, Bruce (Ainsley 73), McAuley, Balkestein, Delaney (Smith 79), Walters (Quinn 73), Norris, Healy (Peters 57), Garvan, Martin (Lambe 69), Stead (Wickham 69). Unused: Supple. Att: 5,873.

Photo: Action Images

SuffolkMauler added 08:28 - Aug 1 living in southampton i havent had the chance to see conor wickham in action, is he the real deal? seems like he has had a superb pre season and keane seems to rate him!!
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stainless added 08:37 - Aug 1 I wasn't planning on going last night, but after the days events i thought it would be a chance for me to show my respects to Sir Bobby. The turn out for a pre-season friendly was fantastic and a great performance by the blues was a fitting tribute to The Legend. Connor Wickham looked good when he came on, not sure if RK thinks he can do it for 90mins though, i reckon he is going to become our super-sub this season

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Rozz added 09:23 - Aug 1 Good performance last night, finally shaping up to look like a complete side again. Everyone looked like they knew their place and how the side is going to be playing next season and pulled it off very well. Difficult to judge the opposition though from a spanish league, but they certainly were not the 'top spanish side' that people had talked about. They have only just begun their preseason campaign, and despite some flashes of good passing play looked rather average. From the friendlies I've been to I think that for a 16 year old Wickham has done incredibly well, and doesn't look at all out of place in the 1st team at the minute. It was good to see him get some goals in last night and with Rhodes gone I'm looking forward to watching him progress and develop over the season. I've got a good feeling about him, aswell as the season ahead.

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Pendejo added 09:47 - Aug 1 Rhodes is 16 is he? Was his birth certificate organised by FG? The few seconds I saw on SSN he looked physically, and played, like a 30 year old not some kid straight out of school. Can't wait to see him in the flesh against Leicester (& on TV against Coventry). COYB!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 8 days & counting
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Rozz added 11:47 - Aug 1 Wickham, not Rhodes, but yeah he's a big lump for a 16 year old.
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IvorTheEngine added 16:06 - Aug 1 good game last night wickham is a big boy for 16 years old hes bigger than stead he took both goals well looking forward to the new season
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Big_Foot_Blue added 16:08 - Aug 1 Everyone knows we need strikers and after selling Rhodes this is even more crucial. However i think there may be more out the door first because Pablo wasn't even on the bench and Lisbie isnt even in the team photo which was in EADT! Looks like its bye bye Lisbie
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PunchNoHopers added 17:46 - Aug 1 In the first half, we played well but same problems as last season under Jim resurfaced. Defence looks solid, but is always likely to give away a silly goal and we really didn't look like scoring. In fact think Stead could have played til midnight and still not scored! However once the substitutes were introduced in the second half we looked a better team and had much better balance! Sorry, but Stead on his own up front, is not the answer. And clearly Pablo and Lisbie don't look as if they are needed this season, although I expect wages may prove a stumbling block in any move away from Portman Road.

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JayITFC added 17:48 - Aug 1 Wickham looked very good last night, can see him getting in on the action this coming season...
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bluewarrior added 18:40 - Aug 1 Distinct lack of moans from the anti RK lobby today! Although not the finished article I thought we had a balance that was clearly sadly lacking last year - round pegs in round holes at last. When you think about it it isn't rocket science is it althought try telling that to JM. Wickham is going to be a hell of a player for sure but a good few others looked impressive too. It's shaping up nicely but we still need more cutting edge up front.

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Mungo added 19:21 - Aug 1 Sounds like a decent result (unfortunately I wasn't there) against a good, although less match fit, continental side. Wickham sounds like a fantastic prospect but we shouldn't put too much pressure on him. Remember, he is very young.
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tractorboybig added 19:31 - Aug 1 keep yer feet on the ground, lets see where we are going at coventry, this result is meaningless.
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ChrisBeeston added 19:48 - Aug 1 Good result, looks like we have a clear first 11 for a change. Still need a striker and quality cover in midfield a bit thin, but lets hope for a good start and not too many injuries to key players!
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buzbyblue added 19:51 - Aug 1 A step in the right direction, still can't help feeling the squad is a tad light with another 3 or 4 quality players required..... Injuries would really bugger us up as things stand.
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parkinshair added 20:14 - Aug 1 Did'nt go last night due to the time I finished work. Sounds like the best pre season performance so far. Sad about Rhodes going but whats done is done, lets give the players we've got our full support for next season.
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John_Warks_Willy added 20:50 - Aug 1 can't wait till Coventry....so excited now. The new season seems ages and ages away and then it smacks you in the face. Im hoping for signing or two next week though. And nice site by the way.
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DaveAngelEcoWarrior added 20:58 - Aug 1 Nice one for the switch guys. Bring on the season
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jamiesmirh added 21:20 - Aug 1 Lee martin stood out the most for me he never gave up
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ljkITFC added 22:01 - Aug 1 I have heard a premiership team are looking at wickham, I wonder if keane will let him go hmmm
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bluewarrior added 00:05 - Aug 2 I understand what everyone is saying on here about too many going out and not the right quality coming in but think about this. Other than two or three very notable exceptions the actual proper transfer activity this year has been very limited. Loads of speculation butnot a great deal of activity and clearly the econic situation is having an impact. Look at ManUre - £80m supposedly burning a hole in their pocket and yet very little happening. This is the challenge facing keane - if nobody is selling unless it's crazy money then there's very little anyone can do. I do however think that there will be a flurry of activity at the end of the window and so I think does keane or he wouldn't be letting anyone go - the guy definitely isn't stupid. Watch this space but I think we can confidently expect the merry go round to start very shortly and once it does one thing leads to another and I'm fully expecting some top quality proven arrivals. Keane will have the money as we have seen and I believe he also has a game plan.

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IvorTheEngine added 21:36 - Aug 2 well said bluewarror lots of movement in the next week or so watch out !!!!!
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