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Trialist Best on Target But U23s Defeated By Birmingham
Monday, 22nd Aug 2016 15:56 by James Ager

A goal from trialist striker Leon Best wasn't enough as Town's U23 side fell to a 3-2 defeat to Birmingham City at Playford Road on Monday afternoon.

Free agent former Ireland international Best started in the centre of a front three, with Luke Varney on the left and youngster Shane McLoughlin on the right.

Tommy Smith and Paul Digby started at centre-back with Andre Dozzell ahead of them in a central midfield role.

The Blues began the game well and came close to netting inside the first couple of minutes. Dozzell's effort was blocked but the rebound was then deflected towards goal by Best, who saw the ball gathered on the line by Jake Weaver. The keeper wasn't to know that an assistant had flagged Best offside seconds earlier.

However, with their first attack of the game in only the fourth minute the visitors took the lead. Viv Solomon-Otabor's straight cross from the left was met by the on-rushing Wes McDonald and he side-footed the ball into the net from six yards out.

Birmingham left Town shell-shocked as they doubled their advantage within a minute. A simple ball over the top of Town's backline, who appealed in vain for offside, was lobbed over the advancing Michael Crowe by Kyle McFarlane.

Dozzell's freekick was clawed away from the top corner by Weaver soon after, before Town pulled a deserved goal back on 13.

Trialist Best collected the ball on the halfway line and showed great strength and pace to get away from Luke Maxwell, before producing an impressive low finish across Weaver and into the far corner.

Varney headed Josh Emmanuel's cross from the right just wide, but Birmingham were clinical at the other end and they scored a third shortly after the half-hour mark.

McLoughlin was dispossessed in a dangerous area and Reece Brown's neat flick released McFarlane, who slid the ball under Crowe.

Two minutes before the interval Town were awarded a penalty. Referee Elliott Kaye ruled that a Town shirt had been pulled in the box following a corner from the right. Dozzell stepped up to take the spotkick but saw his low effort pushed away from the bottom corner by Weaver.

McFarlane twice came close to extending the visitors' lead in the opening 10 minutes of the second half, before Ben Morris replaced Best on the hour mark.

It looked to be a pre-planned substitution but the former Rotherham striker will have impressed the watching Mick McCarthy and Terry Connor with a combative and lively display, particularly during the first 45.

Moments after Morris's introduction, Adam McDonnell reduced the arrears with a right-foot shot from the edge of the box which Weaver and one of his defenders failed to prevent crossing the line.

Midway through the half Morris produced a good run and released Varney, but his powerful attempt was well kept out by Weaver.

Morris then had Town's best chance to get back level when he met Emmanuel's cross from the right, but the England U17 international could only direct his header back across goal and wide of the target.

The final action of the match saw Crowe produce a fantastic one-handed stop to keep McFarlane's effort from six yards out. The dangerous striker had turned in the box and struck a powerful volley which looked destined to hit the net before Town's keeper somehow blocked it.

Overall it was an entertaining game and a draw would probably have been a fair result.

Best will be hoping to be offered some sort of deal by Blues boss McCarthy, while Smith impressed with an assured and confident display on the left side of the central defensive pairing.

Town: Crowe, Emmanuel, Kenlock, Blanchfield, Digby, T Smith, Varney, McDonnell, Best (Morris 60), Dozzell, McLoughlin (Patterson 41). Unused: Robinson, Marsden, C Smith.


Photo: Action Images



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TCisdynamite added 15:57 - Aug 22
You're simply the best.......
1

Ferguson added 16:01 - Aug 22
Signing Best...WHY NOT.
Selling Smith...HOPE NOT
1

warwickblue added 16:05 - Aug 22
"Strength" "Pace" "Impressive" SCORED A GOAL????
Sign him up!
6

Currie10 added 16:09 - Aug 22
" while Smith impressed with an assured and confident display on the left side of the central defensive pairing. " We conceded three!!!
4

Kesgraveblue57 added 16:09 - Aug 22
Best is a complete waste of space sign him and another step backwards the Town go
1

planetblue_2011 added 16:18 - Aug 22
Best haven't heard of him for a while but could be a good player.
He has scored a few goals in his time, he could be worth a shot.
I like Sears but not out wide would like Mick to play him up front but sign Best & could see his nose out of joint. Competition for places is what we want though, we do have a thin squad when the injuries creep in.
1

iaintaylorx added 16:31 - Aug 22
Just because he has scored in an under 23 game, he isn't the answer for our strikers to score more goals. As we saw from the weekend, Murph had no support up there on his own until Bishop entered the frame. We need a striker who will gobble up Murph's hold up play and bang it in the net!
3

runningout added 16:38 - Aug 22
Best won't be the same player if signed.. Conceding three says it all. if someone thinks Smith had a good game, then more concerning
1

GerkensBeard added 16:40 - Aug 22
Do think the best way forward is the 4-4-2. But the only way 4-4-2 works these days is if you have flying full backs who provide the width. Take Norwich yesterday. Pinto and Brady provided the width. Hoolahan set up wide left but went wherever he went and Brady was the left winger on the attack.

As much as I love chambers but you can't keep a player in a team who is hampering our chances. Full backs are the wide men these days with the wingers cutting in and we adapted to that we would've had a lot more going forward yesterday.
4

dugoutdave added 16:57 - Aug 22
One of my contacts sons works in Birmingham's ticket office and says that Kyle McFarlane is very highly rated and making a name for himself but is behind the pecking order due to fellow youngster Ronan Hale. He's been out on a couple of times already to gain experience play. Judging from above report perhaps we should be looking at him rather than Best.
0

tractorboyjim added 17:03 - Aug 22
I completely agree Best not good enough BUT I don't think there was a single ITFC fan excited by the arrival of Mr Noel Hunt. He was made to feel valued and apart of a team and MM got the best out of him and he made a valuable contribution!
4

jas0999 added 17:50 - Aug 22
Smith part of team that concedes three. Not good. Leon Best isn't any better than we already have.
2

Knightsy added 17:58 - Aug 22
Leon Best has had nearly more clubs than Marcus Bent.
3

ShropshireBluenago09 added 18:20 - Aug 22
Injuries have blighted his career and had a decent spell at Newcastle in the Prem in 2010. I think he will thrive on Murphy's flick ons and Wards crosses.
1

ArnieM added 19:19 - Aug 22
...or just as likely join his old club mate McGoldrick in.thr treatment room. A bit of risk IMO.
1

Keaneish added 20:36 - Aug 22
Tell me something Best offers over Varney? This is nonsense. Why would we need another 1 in 4, 1 in 5 journey man even if on a short term deal who is riddled with cruciate ligament damage and is in his 30s? What are we actually looking for here?

A poacher in the box to get on the end of crosses? Pitman.
An aerial presence to ruffle up defenders and hold the ball up? Murphy.
Someone with energy to play off a target man and close down defenders? Sears.
A work horse? Varney
Someone good with the ball at their feet able to produce a bit of magic? McGoldrick, Sears, Pitman...

Seems to me what we blatantly lack his lightening pace. We play the ball over the top all game, every game and have no-one with pace other Sears who gets stuck out wide! If we're insistent on playing balls over the top get someone quick. Or, maybe, just change your tactics and play to people's strengths!

3

blues1 added 08:26 - Aug 23
Where does all this stuff about selling Smith come from? He's going nowhere, just signed a new contract so having worked so hard to get him to agree to sign it, why would we now sell him?
0

Millsey added 10:14 - Aug 23
Sorry Blues1 big fingers meant good post
0

brian_a_mul added 13:35 - Aug 23
Best was a very good player in the Premier League with Newcastle but had a terrible time with injuries. If he stays fit and injury free he would be a very able striker for us.

McFarlane sounds good.
2

Vancouver_Blue added 14:35 - Aug 23
The first Best to pull on an Ipswich shirt since 1980,
1

Seasider added 18:09 - Aug 23
Are you referring to George Best who played for us in a friendly Vancouver Blue.Not sure but it might have been in Bobby Robsons testimonial match against an England 11 although that was on Nov 13 1979
0


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