U21s Lose Late On
Monday, 8th Apr 2013 22:26

Two goals in the final two minutes saw the Blues’ U21s fall to a 3-2 defeat to Charlton at Portman Road, Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Jack Marriott netting for Town.

The Addicks had the best chance of the opening 20 minutes with captain Bradley Jordan putting the ball past the right post from inside the box.

Town took the lead in the 28th minute with the ball coming to Emmanuel-Thomas in the box, who took a great first touch to create some space and then swivelled and shot, sending the ball into the bottom left corner.

Four minutes later and the visitors were level. Town, unable to clear their lines from a corner, allowed Harry Lennon to score from virtually the goalline with it looking as though Lee-Barrett may have done better.

The Addicks started the second half strongly and Joe Pigott came close to scoring with a good shot from the edge of the area forcing Arran Lee-Barrett into a good save, low to his left. Pigott had another opportunity minutes later with the striker scuffing his shot at the back post.

Town had one of their few chances of the game when Tyrone Mings played the ball to Byron Lawrence in the box, who saw his shot blocked.

Lawrence had another chance in the 56th minute with a volley from outside of the area that went just wide of the left post.

The visitors came within inches of scoring just after the hour mark. Skipper Jordan ran to the each of the area and struck a shot which was deflected onto the bar.

Town had a couple of half chances approaching the last 10 minutes with Emmanuel-Thomas heading wide from a corner and then having a shot blocked inside the box.

The Blues scored what looked to be the winner with four minutes remaining when Elliott Hewitt's cross was deflected to Marriott in the box. The striker turned and fired the ball across the keeper into the bottom left corner.

Two minutes later and with two minutes remaining the score was level. A cross to the back post found unmarked Pigott who headed in.

The visitors got a 90th minute winner with Pigott again on target. This time he latched on to a through ball before slotting his shot into the left corner of the goal.

In front of the watching Mick McCarthy, Anthony Wordsworth played the full game on his comeback from injury and looked bright in the middle of the park with some good deliveries from freekicks.

Trialist Thomas Gardiner, an 18-year-old defender from Tottenham, put in a quiet display in a not overly inspiring U21s performance in which few individuals stood out.

U21s: Lee-Barrett: Hewitt, Mings, Clarke (Berkane 51), Kisnorbo, Gardiner, Emannuel-Thomas, Wordsworth, Marriott, Lawrence (C), Timlin (Galvin 70).

Charlton: Button, Osborne, Fox, Feeley, Lennon (Powell 45), Cousins, Gower, Hollins, Jordan (C), Azeez, Pigott.

Report: Blair Ferguson

Photo: Action Images

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wkj added 22:58 - Apr 8 theres that lad Marriott again... can't Help but get excited for him again
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TonythePony added 23:08 - Apr 8 It's great that Wordsworth came through the whole 90 mins. Maybe he will be a sub at home to Hull. We need the creatvity in midfield. That's for sure
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itfcjoe added 10:44 - Apr 9

Here are my thoughts.....

Our squad is till way too thin and imbalanced, when you see the relative experience of the teams we put out compared to others we will always really struggle. Also with the squad we have we don't really replicate the first team because there are no real wingers so I sometimes wonder how much value is in the game to prepare them for the first team.

It's important we pick up a couple of young defenders for next season, as our only centre halfs at the club are Smith, Chambers and Kisnorbo - in the U18s we play Omar Sowunmi (1st year scholar and too raw for U21s) and George Fowler (14 years old). We need a couple of regular U21 centre backs of 18-20 to be the 4th and 5th choice for the club and develop in the U21s....

Here's how I feel each player did....

ALB - looks relatively solid, and is vocal and leads well - but should have done mcuh better for their first goal and will be disappointed.

Hewitt - I really like him, a very good footballer and uses the ball very well. Looks a player every time I see him and I hope that this hip issue doesn't hinder what will be an excellent career

Mings - Improving each time I watch him, a couple of mistakes but is athletic enough to recover from them and gets up and down well and looks to get decent crosses in. Seems a really good buy.

Kisnorbo - Seems a little sluggish but is a decent backup, no more. I wouldn't ant him having a long run in team as think he's past it.

Gardiner - trialist from Spurs - did OK, not much more but made a few decent challenges against what was a very good front 2 for Charlton. I think he's worth another look due to the reasons stated above re lack of centre backs.

Timlin - unusually quiet, didn't really get involved and needed to do more defensively. He's had injuries for a while and didn't look anywhere near back to his best.

Lawrence - fairly non-descript performance and looks a long way from the first team. Struggled against Danny Hollands in every 50-50 ball and worry that his rise to first team squad at back end of last year has pushed him backwards.

Clarke - Worst I've seen him, passing was poor but still did the hard yards which is encouraging as head didn't drop. But he's still a schoolboy so can't be too critical as he's a real prospect.

Wordsworth - impressive. Used the ball well, got stuck in when required and got up and down well. Set pieces looked ok, but think Mick would've been impressed with the 90 minutes he put in.

JET - Not great, he loses his team ethic that he's been getting lately when playing for U21s, wants to do everything and kept dropping far too deep trying to get involved when he should have been playing closer to the lively Marriott. Trying too hard in my eyes but took goal very well.

Marriott - Busy, but starved of service, when he got the ball he used it well and was fouled cynically a couple of times after a good turn, but they don't really book players in U21s footy! Took his goal brilliantly, really great strike on the half turn. He comes alive when ball near him but works really hard too without it, harrying defenders and hassling them. Would like to see him get a run out if we have guaranteed safety - think he deserves it with his goals.

Subs:
Berkane - When he came on we began to get more of a stranglehold in midfield as her used the ball well.

Galvin - looked lively, worked hard and has that little spark that creates things, a promising little cameo

DanLyles added 11:33 - Apr 9

Great insight itfcjoe, good to hear some analysis on the under 21's. The first team is crying out for a midfielder who can use the ball well in the middle of the park (will MM play Wordsworth in the last few games?). Would love to see Marriott get some first team action towards the end of games too. I've heard about George Fowler before, but playing for the under 18's at 14!!! And at centre back where players normally mature later. Sounds like he could be quite a player one day.

AlexanderFields added 17:26 - Apr 9 Many thanks for the very readable comments, itfcjoe. I can't get to many games and do appreciate posts like yours.
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