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A headed goal from a set piece in each half from Hungarian centre-half Janos Kovacs consigned the Blues to a 2-0 friendly defeat at Luton. Michael Chopra came closest to scoring for the Blues when his first half header struck the post.
Blues boss Paul Jewell named a side which was a mix of the two teams he fielded in midweek with Scott Loach in goal, Jack Ainsley at right-back, Joe Whight on the left and Damien Delaney and the skippering Luke Chambers at the centre of the defence.
In midfield, Massimo Luongo sat behind Jimmy Bullard in the centre with Cheick Kourouma on the right and former Hatter Andy Drury on the left. Michael Chopra was joined by Ryan Stevenson up front, the Scot having played that role during his time with Hearts.
The first shot of the game was hit by Bullard straight at Luton keeper Mark Tyler after a corner conceded by the stopper when he tipped a Whight cross from deep wide somewhat uncertainly. For the home side, Stuart Fleetwood curled a ninth minute 20-yard freekick wide.
Luton ought to have gone in front in the 11th minute when left-back Lathaniel Rowe-Turner beat Ainsley and crossed low. Fleetwood missed the ball completely but Scott Rendell behind him hit a low strike which Loach saved with his foot.
Play quickly moved to the other end and Ainsley sent in a deft ball towards Chopra, who diverted it to Tyler. Moments later, Luton had the ball in the net but Andre Gray was offside when Jake Howells, a player previously understood to have been eyed by the Blues, played him through.
On 24 Loach pushed a Rendell header wide from a freekick wide on the right but the former Cambridge man was penalised for a push.
Luton were on top at this stage, enjoying most of the possession and creating the better chances. In the 28th minute the ball bounced dangerously in the Blues box but wouldn’t fall for Gray before it went out of play.
Michael Chopra came close to netting his fourth goal of pre-season on 35 when his flicked header diverted Bullard’s freekick from the left against a post with the keeper beaten.
But a minute later, it was the Hatters who would go in front. Howells sent over a deep corner from the right which centre-half Janos Kovacs headed back across goal over Drury on the line and into the net.
A minute before the break, Bullard hit a long-range effort that Tyler couldn’t hold on to. The loose ball fell to Stevenson but Tyler was out quickly to block.
The home side were good for their lead at half-time, having been in control for the most part and having created the better chances. Conceivably it could have been two with Rendell missing the early good opportunity.
With Luton allowing them little time to settle on the ball, the Blues were finding it harder to get their passing going than they did at Cambridge on Wednesday. Despite this, Chopra came close with his header against the post, while only an excellent save from Tyler thwarted Stevenson late on.
Town made a number of changes at the break, Scott Loach, Joe Whight, Jack Ainsley, Cheick Kourouma and Michael Chopra making way for Arran Lee-Barrett, Aaron Cresswell, Carlos Edwards, Luke Hyam, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Jason Scotland. Luton switched Scott Rendell for JJ O’Donnell.
Emmanuel-Thomas hit a low effort through to Tyler then Stevenson headed over as the Blues started the second half more positively than they had ended the first.
On 50 a corner was half-cleared to Hyam 25 yards out and the midfielder stuck what looked to be a goal-bound effort until keeper Tyler pulled off the best save of the game so far to block to his left. Chambers was one of a number of Town players to try to get to the rebound but play was stopped due to a head injury to a Luton player.
Stevenson shot over in the 59th minute with Town beginning to pass the ball around with greater confidence. Three minutes later, Scotland hit a low shot which Tyler claimed comfortably.
Emmanuel-Thomas forced Tyler into another save in the 67th minute, making a powerful run before hitting a low shot which the keeper put behind.
Luton went close to increasing their lead against the run if play on 70, scorer Kovacs again headed a Howells corner towards goal but this time Cresswell was able to clear off the line.
Cresswell curled a shot wide on 79, but with subs coming thick and fast the game was losing its intensity and Town their momentum.
With a minute of normal time remaining, Luton made it two with Janos Kovacs again the scorer. Greg Taylor sent in a freekick from the left and the Hungarian rose to power a header past Lee-Barrett.
Hatters sub Adam Watkins curled a freekick wide shortly before the final whistle confirmed the Blues’ first defeat of pre-season.
Luton had been good for their lead at the break, but after half-time Town improved significantly with Hyam coming closest to beating impressive home goalkeeper Tyler.
But as the half wore on the game lost its shape with the substitutions increasing and the Blues rarely threatened in the closing stages, although on the balance of the second period, Kovacs’s second goal was probably harsh on Paul Jewell’s men.
Dirtydingus I thoroughly agree with everything you say but of course we all hope for miracles. At this moment in time Luongo apart we do not seem to have improved at all with the same old shortfalls i.e. no pace in the side a shaky defence and formations that do not work. Am slightly worried now that so close to the start of the season we still do not have the players required. I like to think I am not a moaner but I am a worrier and at the moment for me it is mid table at best for us next season - please prove me wrong PJ.
StowTractorBoy,dont worry, we all hope for miracles at some point ,and we all have dreams, i still look for UFO,s, and if i could put up with the midges i'd go to Scotland and hope to see Nessie ,but im getting better. COYB
StowTractorBoy: I'm afraid you might be right. I don't think our defence is strong enough, and although we're ok in the midfield, I don't think we've got enough fire power to compensate for letting in too many goals. The defence didn't always look that secure in Holland, and against the better Championship teams, I think we'll get found out. Still hoping another couple of signings might tip the balance, but if we only got one, I'd go for another centre back. It's not like the old Joe Royle days when we might let in 3 but we might score 5. COYB.
@dissboy - were you around to watch the team under Mr Duncan? - if so can you tell me why Mr Duncan is always brought up alongside Mr Keane's? - although I was not a season ticket holder during those 3 seasons I can quite honestly tell you (I saw a few games) that although under his management they never played inspiring football BUT they certainly weren't worse than under Keane and I'd say under current management too and comparatively speaking had less funds (the then Pioneer stand causing us financial problems for numerous years). Duncan's management saw us 8th, 8th and 9th during his reign AND with a better win % than PJ, Keane and Magilton!! The reason Duncan has the aura of 'bad manager' tied around his neck were the failings to get Ipswich back into Division 1 after so many successful years, now we are use to it the managers aren't any worse than him - really??
Saying that I relatively agree with your assumption in your last paragraph, we'll never continuously be a top flight team and continue to spend most of our time in this league with maybe the 'odd blip' thrown in as we either get promoted for a time or get into the play-offs - that is generally about our standard at this club (looking back over the last 50 years).
Dissboyitfc people like you are what is wrong your Keane never the right manager brought in to promote ME nothing else and at least he had a plan (not a very good one I admit) but he kept to his believes .This idiot has no idea . As for Duncan just look at his record I say no more. just remember ME has given ITFC nothing all he is doing is servicing the debt if he walks away we still owe over 70M and as for Clegg you must be deluded or related if you think he has done anything for this club.
Keane brought in to promote ME???! Are you mad??? Is that why he was gven millions to waste??
I was chuffed when we got Keane (like the vast majority of fans you included no doubt) but he made a total hash of it beccuase he thought/still thinks everyone is wrong and he is always right. He was unpopular with the players and staff and ultimately failed.
As for Duncan, he was manager when I first started watching the town and didnt do too badly (look at the record books I think we finished 7th/8th twice so were there or there abouts, certainly a lot closer than recent seasons). The problem was he came off the back of the most sucessful time in the clubs history and think that burden crippled him. By the time the famous blackburn game came along (which I went to) he was finished with the fans invading the pitch and burning banners etc.
I am however struggling to justify what exactly Clegg is acheiving currently, he seems to be constantly justifying why he's at the club and has failed to tie down players we have invested in. 1 leaving for free is fair enough however the whole lot is failure at cheif exec level.
Talbs77 you seem to be the one who is mad that money has been added to our debt and who gave the go ahead for these transfers. Keane was put in as a front man big name manager and he was never suitable for Ipswich and who was to blame Evans and Clegg .
TimmyH couldnt agree with you more. Yeah Duncan ultimately failed but in comparison to the Keane/Magilton eras it wasnt too bad.
bluey123 you seem to be of the opinion that this is all ME/Cleggs fault?? Whilst I can agree with you to some point on clegg I cant understand how a man who is keeping the club afloat, ploughed millions of pounds into the club, be criticised. My only criticism of ME is his insistance on anonimy which I think has impeded him to a point as fans would like to hear his views as Chairman/owner of the club.
So bluey123 is pj a big name front man and were you honestly chastising the club when they appointed Keane??
As for your view on the debt, my understanding is that ME has underwritten the debt when he bought the club. I checked with the head of finance were I work the other day who is also a town fan and he stated that basically the old debt of £45m no longer applies to the club although phil could correct me if I'm wrong.
Some seriously deluded people on this forum without an ounce of a clue! There's a few posts on here that are demented! Chopra not that good!? He's scored 3 in 3!? What more do you want!? PJ worst manager in history!? Please...
Yes i was watching the town under John Duncan and i stand by what i say it was not football the ipswich way, you are right when you say he joined at a difficult time. he was recruited from chesterfield if i remember and he had met with some success there working on a shoestring and that was why the itfc board recruited him. it really was a poor brand of football very direct and at times very uninspiring . i remember Baltachas debut a game in which he scored, although being a defender/sweeper , Duncan plays him on the wing. My point is i still supported the team through thick and thin home and away, driving to most away games.
My point is i want those supporters who moan about where we are to wake up and remember we have done this all b4. This is not the worst team in history and it certainly isnt the best either, thats for sure. one thing is for sure in my opinion is Roy Keane is for me the worst Manager in itfc history, no manager has done more to destroy the club.
Paul Jewell may not be our saviour, He needs to produce the results this coming season or he will be relieved of his job....COYB
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