Out-of-favour midfielder Owen Garvan lashed in a stunning third goal to help Town’s reserves to a 3-1 victory at Luton this afternoon. Liam Trotter and Pablo Couñago (pen) had already hit the target before Garvan slammed home an Ed Upson corner from the edge of the area off the underside of the crossbar.

Town might have gone ahead early on but Tommy Smith’s header was too close to the keeper. Smith wore a bandage on the hand injury which has kept him out of the Blues’ most recent first team games.

Liam Trotter put Town in front in the 18th minute, picking up the ball in his own half of the field and exchanging a couple of passes before being flicked in on goal by Pablo Couñago.

Blues keeper Ian McLoughlin making a smart save on 31 but had no chance with Mark Nwokeji’s 40th minute shot which saw the home side back on terms at the break.

Garvan forced an early second half save from the Luton keeper, then from the subsequent corner Trotter had a header cleared off the line. Couñago headed over moments later when he should have done better.

Northern Irish U17 international midfielder Josh Carson, playing as a full-back, fantastically charged down Nwokeji’s shot in the 53rd minute, the striker having got beyond McLoughlin after beating the offside trap.

Couñago shot wide, then on 72 the Blues were awarded a penalty after an Ed Upson cross had been handled. The Spaniard sent the keeper the wrong way from the spot.

On 80 Owen Garvan scored the goal of the game, striking Ed Upson’s corner from the left first time from the edge of the area and into the net off the underside of the bar. The midfielder will rarely score a better goal in his entire career.

Late on, Couñago hit the post with the Blues worthy winners against the Blue Square Premier side’s second string.

Midfielder Ed Upson was probably Town’s man of the match, sending in cross after excellent cross from the left, Reggie Lambe - the subject of a lengthy interview in a Bermudian newspaper today - in particular wasting a good chance for the Blues to add to their lead.

Owen Garvan stood out in the second half even before his goal, while Liam Trotter also did well, particularly first half. At the back Tommy Smith, Troy Brown and Tom Eastman were again impressive.

Town chief scout Steve McCall was spotted amongst a host of representatives from various clubs including Charlton and Liverpool.

Reserves: McLoughlin, Brown, Carson, Garvan, Smith, Lambe, Trotter, Couñago, Healy, Upson. Subs: Lavery, McKeown, Cawley, Clark, Brandon.

Thanks to Terry Roberts.

Photo: Action Images

north_stand77 added 21:56 - Nov 17 We should keep him and not rush to sell. Was he not voted Young Player of the year? He has scored some cracking goals, taken from distance.We lack players who are prepared to take a chance at the moment, unfortunately.
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jas0999 added 22:01 - Nov 17 Although a Garvan fan, can we please put this into perspective - Garvan scored a 'cracking' goal against a Luton XI - reading these posts anyone would have thought he'd done so against the Liverpool or Man Utd first team. Also, Garvan is putting himself in the shop window - after failing to impress RK - so is bound to try. Let's be honest, Garvan was given plenty of chances by Roy at the start of the season and played very badly. Fans who attend reserve games regularly have also pointed out how lazy / poor he has been. So why are people getting on Roy's back over this? I would like nothing more than for Owen to force his way back in the team, but yet realistically the evidence points to Roy being right in dropping him - despite a goal against, erm, Luton!

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warwickblue added 23:11 - Nov 17 Just a brief point - in my opinion Garvan is/was one of those unusual players whose performance is unduly influenced by the quality of those around him. Undoubtedly his most commanding midfield displays were in a relatively settled and comparatively strong team (ie - not for the last couple of seasons really). It is easy to say that any player will look better in a strong side but with Garvan I think it stands out a mile. Just another brief point - "Ed Upson sending in cross after excellent cross from the left." Let's see a bit of that on Saturday then please.

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Surco72 added 07:54 - Nov 18 Jas0999 how is one start all season and not in the squad since august plenty of chances ? Get Real If the team was doing well and creating chances and winning there would be no call for Garvans return ,but we are playing badly ,creating little and not winning . Garvan has always linked well with Counago so it is no suprise he plays well with him also in the team . If we all support Ipswich why are so many people against Garvan coming into the side which may actually improve it ?NO ONE KNOWS UNTIL IT HAPPENS. ? IF he does come back and play well all the blind Keane followers will say it is down to Keane making him a better player anyway !!! So what has Keane got to lose ?Not winning and being in the bottom three ,Oh no we have been there all season !!

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Tractor_Boy_002 added 07:59 - Nov 18 anyone got a video, garvan should be a first team regular. c'mon keano, open ur eyes.
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Bluecynic added 08:29 - Nov 18 Jas0999- forget the opposition yesterday - it was the way Owen's goal was taken that was so good. As it was scored from a corner it is immaterial who the ressies were playing as he struck with such force and no defence would have had a chance. I don't, personally, think that Garvan is a lazy player. He may look it but he is watching the play all match and looking for options. Healy, on the other hand, tells all the players what to do and then messes things up. I don't know what the problem is with Roy/Garvan but I don't think the lad is going to get a look in with Mr.K at the helm so maybe a loan is the best solution.

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candyshop added 08:48 - Nov 18 Give up people GARVAN isnt up to standard!!!!!.........he was playing against a Blue Square res team!!!! I'd give the boy Upson a crack.....i've played against him couple of times recently and he looked an excellent player.....he is def a creative type....
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bedsitfc added 09:16 - Nov 18 ipswich feen - garvan is a langer haha
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Thetruth added 09:32 - Nov 18 Garvan really is not good enough, so many people booed a lot of his performances, he was lazy, scared to out decent heavy tackles in, just not up to the job. We need to be signing someone with quality to compliment Leadbitter, that is the kind of quality we need, not Owen Garvan.
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Thetruth added 09:34 - Nov 18 Guess he has found his level......... Lashing in a shot against Luton Town reserves.......... Dont recall any lashing moments when in our first team....... Gives the Evening Star a chance to write garbage again, what a sad bunch of people
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hype313 added 09:42 - Nov 18 If Garvan cant play well against a second string Luton side then he might aswell join a sunday league side back in Dublin and get a desk job, To now start saying "oh he should be in the team" is absolute garbage, he just isnt that good!!! Its only the Anti-Keane brigade wanting him in as they think all the players out of favour are good enough to play for Arsenal....Forget Garvan, He is, unfortunatley another youth who hasnt made the grade and there are plenty of them!

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Surco72 added 10:26 - Nov 18 If Garvan plays poorly for the reserves it is because he is not good enough if he plays well it is because the opposition is poor, how can he win ? The Truth who was our top scoring midfielder last season ? Who lashed a 25 yard volley in at Plymouth ? Perhaps if you had been there you would be able to recall it for our first team ? Maybe we will sign a player to compliment Leadbitter but until that happens we are picking lesser players ,creating little and are bottom of the league .That is the TRUTH

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Seasider added 10:52 - Nov 18 We must not get too carried away as it was only Luton reserves who aren't even a League club at present time.All midfielders we have at present time are similar,work hard but pretty pedestrian,Garvan has a bit of flair but not quite in the same category as Giovani Dos Santos,and our own Keiron.Whatevers happened to Dyer as he doesn't seem to feature much for the 'Hammers'.Know he's a bit of a 'sicknote' but even a half fit Keiran Dyer would do better than some of our current squad.!?

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ITFC4EVER added 11:54 - Nov 18 quinn and leadbitter in the middle they work well together hope you read this RK
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SomershamBlue added 11:56 - Nov 18 It's been a real rollercoaster ride for 'Town fans watching OG play. I've seen him play some excellent stuff and thought 'oh good, he's got his act together and will do well for us" - next game, he's getting caught on the ball and looks totally lost. I really don't know what to make of him - but I do think that it's probably time for a fresh start for him now. ITFC is a football club, not a kindergarten.

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danknott added 12:32 - Nov 18 Good boy Garvan.......
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Thetruth added 13:46 - Nov 18 Surco 72 I think you just have something personal with me You have your opinions and I will voice mine Now take a jog
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Ash_TJ added 14:57 - Nov 18 To those who think this is irrelevant because of the oppisition, may I remind you Pablo played aswell and didn't exactly set the pitch ablaze. Does that mean he's not good enough for the 1st team now too? When Garvan played bad he got dropped from the squad all together. When Trotter played even worse he was kept in the team, as was Balkestein, McAuley, Walters and many others. Quite simply double standards by Keane, he's well capable of still putting in the kind of performances he did against Chelsea earlier in the year, like he had been doing consistently over the past few years for the Town, yet Keane is treating this situation with just plain ignorance.

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Surco72 added 15:06 - Nov 18 The Truth It is certainly nothing personal ,i am sorry if you got that impression . I just dont like the way our youngsters are slagged off lets support our players as we are being told to do with Mr Keane .Why must we constantly support the manager but criticizing the players is ok ? But i see you did avoid answering either of my questions to you and tried to deflect it onto something else .

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Thetruth added 15:48 - Nov 18 Surco 72 Your right its hard to answer questions from ITFC Stato's and people who travel everywhere. Im just an arm chair supporter, you could say clueless..............
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DrJeckyll added 15:47 - Nov 19 i saw eric gates sent off in my first game at portman road. We were playing villa (dirty dirty dirty) lost 4-2 and eric, taking exception to a tackle walked up to the villa player and booted him square up the bum.
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