Goals from Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Brett Pitman and David McGoldrick saw the Blues to a 3-2 friendly victory against Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium. Maitland-Niles put the Blues in front after only two minutes and Pitman made it two before Cambridge hit back via Barry Corr and Luke Berry either side of the break, but sub McGoldrick sealed Town’s win in the 62nd minute.

Blues boss Mick McCarthy named a strong starting line-up with more senior players included from the off than at Shelbourne or against Fortuna Düsseldorf.

Christophe Berra was involved in his first friendly of pre-season with Jay Tabb at left-back with Jonny Parr missing with a thigh problem. Matt Clarke was with Portsmouth for their friendly with Coventry.

The Blues went ahead via the game’s first attack after just two minutes. Freddie Sears cut the ball back from the left beyond strike partner Brett Pitman but to Ainsley Maitland-Niles, the on-loan Arsenal winger finishing confidently from 10 yards.

In front of 1,200 travelling supporters, Town dominated the early stages and in the eighth minute Ryan Fraser crossed right-footed from the left and Pitman looped the ball over Cambridge’s trialist keeper Matt Duke but also the bar.

The two one-time Bournemouth team-mates combined again on 18, Fraser feeding Pitman but this time the striker shot over from the edge of the box.

The lively Fraser teed-up Sears two minutes later but the former West Ham man’s low shot was too close to the keeper.

Cambridge created their first opportunity in the 23rd minute, Robbie Simpson crossing from the right and Harrison Dunk heading back across the area and causing some hesitation amongst the Blues’ backline. Town immediately broke with pace but Sears shot against a defender.

Town added to their lead in the 29th minute when Sears laid the ball to Maitland-Niles, who hit a shot from the edge of the box which deflected over the keeper, hit the bar and fell to the gleeful Pitman, who slid in his fourth goal in three pre-season games.

Four minutes later Maitland-Niles wasn’t far away from his second of the game, reaching a Fraser cross from the left but diverting the ball wide at the far post when under pressure.

Cambridge pulled a goal back in the 38th minute when Jeff Hughes sent over a corner from the left and a completely unmarked Barry Corr powered home a header. Blues boss McCarthy is unlikely to have been impressed to concede so easily from a set piece.

The goal had come against the overall run of play, however, and on 42 the Fraser-Pitman combination again weren’t too far away from a goal, the striker looping the winger’s cross to Duke in the Cambridge goal.

Town were good for their lead at the break and might have been even further ahead having had plenty of chances with Fraser and Maitland-Niles lively on the flanks and Sears and Pitman always a threat.

Town continued with an unchanged XI after the break, despite having 12 players on the bench.

Two minutes after the restart David McGoldrick took over from Brett Pitman, who had just suffered what looked to be a minor knock inside the centre circle. The Irish international immediately hit a low shot from distance straight at the keeper.

In the 54th minute Cambridge got back on terms. After Tommy Smith had bundled sub Jordan Slew over just outside the area, Luke Berry took the kick and slammed a brilliant strike home off the inside of Bartosz Bialkowski’s left post.

Berry wasn't far away from giving his side the lead two minutes later when Danny Carr crossed low from the right and he slid in but diverted the ball well over.

Town were looking far less in control than they had in the first half with the home team having grown in confidence following their goals.

But parity wasn’t to last long. In the 62nd minute Maitland-Niles seized on a loose pass and played McGoldrick in on goal with a superb pass and the striker fired low past Duke.

The goal signalled a mass of changes for the Blues with Josh Emmanuel, Myles Kenlock, third-year scholar Joe Robinson, Adam McDonnell, Josh Yorwerth, Kyle Hammond, Kundai Benyu, Teddy Bishop and Alex Henshall taking over from the senior outfield players.

McDonnell shot over from distance soon after coming on, then on 79 Bishop ran on to McGoldrick’s flick and crossed low for Hammond, who slid wide.

Three minutes later, Cambridge keeper Duke did well to get down to his left to paw McGoldrick’s header from Henshall’s left-sided corner away from goal.

Cambridge-born Bishop should have made it 4-2 with four minutes remaining but headed straight at Duke from Hammond’s excellent right-wing cross.

Town manager McCarthy is likely to be pleased with the overall performance, if not the goals his side conceded, and to have Berra and McGoldrick back in action.

McGoldrick took his goal confidently, while Pitman continued his excellent form in front of goal since his move from Bournemouth and Fraser, Maitland-Niles and Sears also all looked lively.

The Blues are next in action at Peterborough on Saturday when last season’s top scorer Daryl Murphy could make his return to action.

Cambridge United: Duke, Omozusi (Taylor 46), Roberts (Coulson 46), Legge, Corr, Dunk, Simpson (Trialist 46), Morrissey, L Hughes (Berry 46), J Hughes (Carr 46), Newton (Slew 46).

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c) (Emmanuel 62), Tabb (Kenlock 62), Bru (McDonnell 62), Smith (Robinson 62), Berra (Yorwerth 62), Maitland-Niles (Hammond 62), Skuse (Benyu 62), Pitman (McGoldrick 47), Sears (Bishop 62), Fraser (Henshall 62). Unused: Gerken, Connolly.

Photo: Action Images

blues1 added 09:02 - Jul 22 Lindhi. Pitman took a knock. Not a hamstring injury
1

Bluewelshman added 09:25 - Jul 22 It was quite a good warm up, but I am concerned that our 1st team defence at times looked seriously shaky. I understand that Tabb is not a left back, so you can excuse that performance, but when they came under pressure they seem to struggle to cope. When the reserve defence came on there was a noticeable difference (in a good way), Yowerth looked like a proper CB, making sure the ball was cleared, the LB seemed to no his job and did it very well, altogether they seemed to out shine the defenders they subbed, especially as Cambridge brought on most of their 1st team during the 2nd half. I was impressed by A.M.N. who will do well on a wider pitch, also Henshall looked sharp and capable of beating players, and finally McGoldrick looked like a handful, and hopefully getting back to his best. I know this was just a friendly, but I think after the 2nd half McCarthy may have to re-think the defence a bit, because in my opinion it looked like the youngsters could start to challenge the regulars. COYB

2

westernblue added 09:55 - Jul 22 I was not at the game but it's good to read what cambsman and Bluewelshman say. Yorwerth was rated highly in Wales, especially by his under-21s manager - Geraint Williams no less. He has so far played for their national team at all levels up to under-21, with some experience too as captain. I shouldn't read too much into Cardiff's offloading him - after all they have a squad that has needed urgent (even sometimes short-termist) pruning, and have seen changes in their coaching staff, as well as (to put it kindly) some instability of late. MM above all else knows his centre backs, and it seems reasonable to assume that Yorwerth is ahead of Clarke at the moment. I reckon this may prove a very shrewd signing.

3

IpswichLewis added 10:13 - Jul 22 WANTED!! Does anyone have a spare ticket or know anyone who does for the Brentford Game?? I am willing to pay more than face value!! Thanks
0

parhamblue added 11:00 - Jul 22 Clubs and players agents will have upped the fees as soon as Mings was sold. MM made reference to it about players in general, not only defenders. Interesting to read others assessment of the younger defenders.
1

WhoisJimmyJuan added 11:01 - Jul 22 Western blue - to back up what you say about Yorwerth, I went on a Cardiff fans website and people on there were simply incredulous that Yorwerth had been released. I know that's not scientific proof he is any good in itself but does suggest he had impressed to some extent.
1

Fatboy added 11:19 - Jul 22 Pitman was injured before he went down in the centre circle. Just after the restart he chased a ball forward and then jogged slowly back to halfway, clearly in some discomfort although not actually limping so more likely to have been a knock or a twinge rather than a more serious injury. Hopefully nothing to worry about. I also thought the free-kick that led to their equaliser was given for handball rather than a foul, although the underlying cause was trying to play it around too much in defence. The main positives from the game were the performances of Frazer and Maitland-Niles on the wings and Sears showing his class despite being a bit short of service. Tabb also showed his value to the team, putting in an assured display at left-back and linking well with Frazer and Bru.

2

Lightningboy added 11:51 - Jul 22 Sounds like Mick's unearthed a couple of gems in Frazer & Maitland Niles and Pitman could end up being the bargain of the summer.
1

JewellintheTown added 12:19 - Jul 22 Can someone remind me what playing position, Mick used to play in? I'm sure he knows what he's doing at the back, so lets let him get on with it.
3

blues1 added 12:40 - Jul 22 oh, phil. can u answer something. why, with the exception of bart, did town have no sponsorship on their shirts again last night?
0

jas0999 added 17:58 - Jul 22 Len - thank you for your reply. Let me clarify. I think our defence is weaker than last season, not the entire team. On the contrary, our strike force is arguably the best in league. Fraser and Niles have surprised me to the extent that even I'm not sure we need another attack minded midfielder. However, I won't change my opinion of the defence. We know Berra is suspended for Brentford. Big loss. Mings has gone. Big loss. The new signing is an unknown. Like you, I like Parr. But he struggles with niggly injuries. He won't play 46 games. That leaves us very very short. Not just for Brentford, but the season. I try to comment based on current events, not on speculation that we may sign someone. As of last night I was and remain very concerned at our lack of numbers at the back, and still feel that with £8M from Mings we should spend some of it on two or three new players. Something Mick has subsequently said he is looking to do. Fat Boy Tim - no, I'm not expecting us to sign 13 players to replace all that have left. Far from it. My point is more to note that the club have saved on wages of 13 players. It often gets lost. When the club state they have spent the Mings money or Cresswell money on wages Etc, it often gets forgotten that we haven't reinvested savings on wages of players leaving. I suspect our new signings haven't come close to spending the savings on players like Taylor, Wordsworth, Williams et al. We may have invested a small amount of the Mings money on loan fees, but there must be plenty in the pot.

3

jas0999 added 18:06 - Jul 22 Len - thank you for your reply. Let me clarify. I think our defence is weaker than last season, not the entire team. On the contrary, our strike force is arguably the best in league. Fraser and Niles have surprised me to the extent that even I'm not sure we need another attack minded midfielder. However, I won't change my opinion of the defence. We know Berra is suspended for Brentford. Big loss. Mings has gone. Big loss. The new signing is an unknown. Like you, I like Parr. But he struggles with niggly injuries. He won't play 46 games. That leaves us very very short. Not just for Brentford, but the season. I try to comment based on current events, not on speculation that we may sign someone. As of last night I was and remain very concerned at our lack of numbers at the back, and still feel that with £8M from Mings we should spend some of it on two or three new players. Something Mick has subsequently said he is looking to do. Fat Boy Tim - no, I'm not expecting us to sign 13 players to replace all that have left. Far from it. My point is more to note that the club have saved on wages of 13 players. It often gets lost. When the club state they have spent the Mings money or Cresswell money on wages Etc, it often gets forgotten that we haven't reinvested savings on wages of players leaving. I suspect our new signings haven't come close to spending the savings on players like Taylor, Wordsworth, Williams et al. We may have invested a small amount of the Mings money on loan fees, but there must be plenty in the pot.

1

blueboy1981 added 18:18 - Jul 22 ........ quite scary really that we see Tabb at full back for a pre season friendly - don't be surprised if MM see's him as a replacement for Parr (when he's injured, because he will be). I hope that will not be the case, but suspect MM has thoughts along those lines. The defence does need strengthening, whatever anyone says, with Clarke now looking out of the equation - otherwise we will ship goals when the competition steps up - we've shipped a few already in the friendlies, and it's foolhardy to say they are nothing games. If they are just that - then why do we have them ?? Midfield options and up front - looking far more promising.

2

blueboy1981 added 18:27 - Jul 22 ...... jas0999 .... you're flogging a 'dead horse' trying to get the point across to some people, because they either don't know, or don't want to know - the truth. I detect your frustration often, and I've been there many times myself - but hey-ho that's the way some people are - we just seem to have more than our far share of them. But I still wouldn't tell them to 'bugger off' - like some would ...... no names mentioned, of course.

1

jas0999 added 19:56 - Jul 22 Blueboy1981 - thanks for your post. Noted! Unfortunately there is much name calling, particularly on the forum primarily towards people who state an opinion which isn't agreeable with some. It's a shame and I know Phil is addressing it. This is after all a great site. Personally I don't think it's unreasonable to expect the club to spend some of the Mings money to strengthen the defence. But stating it on the forums usually meets with sarcastic and often nasty comments back. Shame.

1

neillrumsey added 19:49 - Jul 23 As I said when we signed Maitland Niles on loan he is no ordinary player but a future PL star. I have seen a lot of him and he is real quality and his ability belies one so young. Sounds like MM will play him and Fraser which will be fantastic entertainment for the fans and will provide our wealth of quality strikers with loads of chances. Agree we need full backs asap. Garbutt from Everton on loan would be a massive coup. MM should speak to Big Fat Joe he'll do us a favour. Roll on Brentford.

0

Blogs 298 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls