Freddie Sears’ 57th-minute penalty at Stadium MK earned Town a third consecutive 1-0 win in their most convincing performance of pre-season to date. This looked far closer to the ferocious pressing and bright, positive approach Paul Hurst has been preaching and perhaps the only complaint will be that they did not create more clear chances to add to the winning goal, which came about after the impressive Grant Ward had been fouled by George Williams early in the second half.

Hurst’s starting line-up included a fresh face in the form of Ellis Harrison, whose signing from Bristol Rovers was confirmed on Monday.

Harrison started in the centre-forward position, flanked by Grant Ward on the right and Gwion Edwards, making his first start for Town, opposite.

Freddie Sears began in an unfamiliar number 10 role, Flynn Downes and Cole Skuse assuming deeper midfield duties. Jonas Knudsen, making his first appearance since representing Denmark at the World Cup, joined Luke Chambers, Luke Woolfenden and Jordan Spence in a back four underpinned by Bartosz Bialkowski.

Somewhat inevitably, Hurst’s decision to start Martyn Waghorn — the subject of sustained interest from Sheffield United — on the bench was a source of considerable pre-match conjecture.

Harrison was quickly in on the action, seeing a shot blocked inside the area after Ward had reached the ball ahead of a home defender and made ground down the right. The forward, who led an energetic Town press in the early stages, had a second bite of the cherry but curled over from the edge of the box.

The hosts, playing at home for the first time under Paul Tisdale, threatened in the sixth minute when Conor McGrandles found space on the right of the Town box. Edwards, covering adeptly, managed to avert the danger with referee Scott Duncan uninterested in muted appeals for a penalty.

Edwards showed a glimpse of his quality at the other end with a sharp piece of control and turn, rather spoiling it with a wayward final cross.

He was then denied a clear chance at the far post by a timely interception from Callum Brittain after a flowing Town move had ended with a chipped Sears cross.

Town were looking much the sharper and Sears, teed up by the lively Harrison after a well-weighted Woolfenden ball over the top, blazed wide of the near post in the 19th minute.

Dean Lewington was then on his toes to stop Downes concerting Knudsen’s low cross after another bright move involving Sears.

Ward, who had by now swapped flanks with Edwards, flashed a cross-shot wide after a neat Knudsen backheel. At this stage Town were passing and moving with an urgency largely missing in recent seasons although their next glimpse came from a set-piece, Chambers following up his own wayward header with a volley into a defender’s shins.

Skuse was next to threaten in the 33rd minute, seeing a daisycutter blocked by George Williams after Town’s forwards had pressed home keeper Lee Nicholls into a weak clearance.

Three minutes later MK Dons had their first chance and perhaps the best of the half, Alex Gilbey dragging across goal from an angle after a clever run across the Town backline.

But Town quickly regained control and Harrison headed a yard wide of the near post after an accurate cross by Ward before, moments later, seeing another effort blocked after good work by Chambers.

A wayward Ward effort was the last notable action of a half that, in method if not end product, looked far more closer to the kind of intensity Hurst has been seeking.

Town, with Andre Dozzell replacing Skuse at the interval, picked up where they left off and within two minutes Harrison forced Nicholls to parry a firm, curling effort wide after Sears had fed him in the inside-left position. Spence rose highest from the resulting corner but headed over.

Tisdale’s side had noticeably stepped up a yard or two higher since the break but Nicholls was soon called into action again, fielding a deflected Downes drive after some delightful build-up play through the middle from Town.

The hosts’ extra intent came close to paying off when a quick freekick bemused Town and Chambers had to divert Williams’s dangerous header away from goal.

The flag-kick that followed was not properly cleared and resulted in Bialkowski dropping to claim Ryan Harley’s placed effort at his near post.

Town finally gained the lead they deserved in the 57th minute. There seemed little danger when right-back Brittain, positioned under a relatively harmless high ball, looked to steer it back to Nicholls but his bearings went awry and the goalkeeper, positioned to the left of his posts, was stranded as the backpass threatened to spin between them.

Ward was quick to see the chance and looked certain to tap into the empty net before Williams bundled him over.

The MK Dons defender would have received a card of some colour in a competitive game; he was duly punished, though, as Sears sent Nicholls the wrong way in converting confidently from the spot.

Hurst immediately introduced Myles Kenlock for Knudsen, who will have given him food for thought with a composed and constructive attacking full-back’s display.

Shortly afterwards Harrison, an impressive debutant whose all-action style appears to fit Hurst’s strategy perfectly, was replaced by Jordan Roberts. Harrison deserved the applause he received from the 350 Town fans behind Nicholls’ goal.

For the first time in the evening Town then seemed to switch off. First Peter Pawlett, momentarily getting behind Chambers, drilled at Bialkowski from an angle and then one part of a quadruple MK Dons substitution, Aidan Nesbitt, missed an even better chance with 19 minutes left.

Nesbitt only had Bialkowski to beat after making space in the area but was denied by a characteristically fine reaction save, the Town keeper plunging low to parry one-handed.

Town were by now far less of a threat although the game had now predictably been broken up by the number of changes, a fivefold MK Dons switch 14 minutes from time meaning the hosts had swapped their entire XI.

In the 82nd minute Town made only their third substitution with Jack Lankester replacing Sears, who had done his cause no harm with an intelligent performance in his withdrawn role and a clinically-taken penalty. It meant Waghorn, perhaps surprisingly, remained on the bench throughout.

Ward, perhaps Town’s most impressive player over the 90 minutes, saw a late shot deflected narrowly wide and a dangerous Kenlock cross was deflected away as the Blues finished on top.

Hurst will regard this performance as a positive step before West Ham provide opposition a few notches up in quality this Saturday.

MK Dons: Nicholls (Sietsma 76); Brittain (Hancox 76), Williams (Jackson 76), Moore-Taylor (Tapp 76), Lewington (Kasumu 76); Pawlett (Nesbitt 68), McGrandles (Sole 68), Gilbey (Cisse 45), Houghton (Watson 68), Harley (Muirhead 59); Agard (Nombe 68, Asonganyi 84).

Town: Bialkowski; Spence, Woolfenden, Chambers, Knudsen (Kenlock 58); Downes, Skuse (Dozzell 46); Ward, Sears (Lankester 82), Edwards; Harrison (Roberts 63). Subs: Gerken, Emmanuel, Waghorn, Ndaba. Ref: Scott Duncan.

Photo: TWTD

jas0999 added 21:47 - Jul 24 Good result. Pleasing performance, but still much to do. Defence clearly needs strengthening. We know that, as does Hurst. But for me that creative midfielder is still missing. Sounds like Waghorn May be off to Derby. Providing funds are reinvested into four key players then so be it. Reinforcements still needed but sounds much better tonight.
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WaffleMan added 21:47 - Jul 24 First half I thought was good, second half slightly disappointing. Really impressed with Ellis Harrison I think he'll be a terrific addition. Really not sure about Freddie sears this season, constantly breaking down play in the final third and lots of sloppy first touches. Good to see us playing football anyway definitely a lot more entertaining. However, no minutes for waggy is worrying 😰

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OwainG1992 added 21:48 - Jul 24 What a really positive few weeks this has been so far. Enjoying being a town fan at the moment the most since Joe royle era.
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jas0999 added 21:50 - Jul 24 Waffle - Waghorn is off to Derby.
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toxtethblue added 21:54 - Jul 24 If Waghorn is off to Derby the lack of ambition and intent from this club is staggering. Harrison should have been a replacement for Mcgoldrick but deep down we all had concerns he was a replacement for Waghorn. How much of the 8m will Hurst see? Doubt it will be anywhere near 8m. 'Paying for wages' is just guff. How long does ME have to stifle the club for for people to start seeing things for what they are?!!!

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StokeHigh97 added 21:57 - Jul 24 The team shape & style of football encouraging: Harrison sounded like he played well considering he has only had 1 training session: it's disappointing Waghorn looks like heading too Derby 8M! 7.8 profit in 22 months is great business he now needs to be replaced with a quality signing & maybe the extra cash might help get 1/2 more decent additions especially defence: plus I'd like to see a playmaker signed: like Webster I hope all the money will be given to Hurst & he had the final say on Wags leaving: it's not doom & gloom Bristol City lost Flint & Reid but they av replaced them now that's Evans job to support Hurst:

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Spanishblueblood added 21:58 - Jul 24 Personally feel that 8 mil for Waghorn is good business, maybe then bring in a new cb, a creative cm...someone like Jon Nolan and obv another striker. Its far from the end of the world like some are saying....it could be a real positive transfer for itfc, as long as funds are reinvested, which i think they will.
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rfretwell added 21:59 - Jul 24 Really OwainG! Have a re-think of our playoff season under MM with Murphy scoring all those fabulous goals.
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rfretwell added 22:04 - Jul 24 Hurst and ME have both said they don't want Waggers to go. He is happy at Ipswich. End of. Besides if you keep selling your best players you'll eventually drop through the relegation trap door. Look at Swansea.
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rfretwell added 22:04 - Jul 24 Hurst and ME have both said they don't want Waggers to go. He is happy at Ipswich. End of. Besides if you keep selling your best players you'll eventually drop through the relegation trap door. Look at Swansea.
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1RWR added 22:07 - Jul 24 toxtethblue: sorry old pal but clearly you know nothing about what's going on.
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Reuserscurtains added 22:37 - Jul 24 OwainG1992 - we lose to Braintree, we scrape 1-0 wins against poor lower league sides, we release and sell the majority of our senior or better players. We replace them with nobodies and now you think it's the most exciting time since Royle? I'm going to have glass of water and then a bath. Goodnight
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Fat_Boy_Tim added 22:41 - Jul 24 You do all understand that it's not actually £8m for Waghorn? That's the total figure including possible payments for appearances, goals, promotions etc and probably less 20% of the profit (so basically 20%!) to Gers. It's most likely 4-5 mill up front payment. That's what we will have to spend and that's if ME releases it.
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BlueandTruesince82 added 22:48 - Jul 24 How is pausing waged Guff? What are the players being paid in? Left over paint from the turnstiles, must be. That said, plenty should still be in the budget for additions ESPECIALLY if Waghorn goes, whether we have time to spend it all I don't know and I suspect some will be held back for Jan as Hurst will still be assessing the squad and playes. Waghorn clearly wants to go which is sad given we the platform we gave him and the season he had here. You'd hope he would want to carry that on but seems not...... The club is clearly working on deals, you can't refute that so let's hope we see more deals come off At least 1 ideally 2 CBS needed

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OwainG1992 added 22:54 - Jul 24 Sorry for feeling positive guys. I mean most I've felt positive due to the style of play and feel good factor. I obviously loved getting to the play offs. No sooner than I wrote that I read about Waggy so not quite so positive now.
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Lathers added 00:16 - Jul 25 OwainG1992 nothing to apologise for, it's good to feel positive mate, so good for you! Those Joe Royle days of ‘score more than we concede' were great fun. I'd like to feel more positive right now, but the loss of senior players and the lack of replacements, and now little time to bring in players and gel them, is getting concerning. I like what Hurst is trying to do, but I fear he's not got enough time to transform us into the team he wants before the harsh reality of Championship football begins.

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rollercoastertown added 08:53 - Jul 25 The difference between last season and last nights performance was unmeasurable, ok, we still need that final edge with the finish/delivery to be ironed out, but Hurst has made it clear he knows this. Soused/Downes/Dozzell all play the deeper midfield role superbly, and you can clearly see that their first intent when play has been broken up is to turn the play in to attack. Ward was playing with so much freedom in the attacking 3 as was Edwards and Roberts. Theses players simply looked like they were enjoying their football, and it was enjoyable to watch, yes, I said that, we were enjoyable to watch! We may well need another Center back but Wolfenden is not doing his chances any harm after last night. Always available to take the ball at his feet and begin the attack himself, as was Chambers, yes, I sad that aswell! Harrison looked a nightmare to play against, looking for everything that came into the box, always on the shoulder of a last man that is terrified of his pace. Yes, it was lower league opponents, yes, we do need to deliver the end product more, but, it was refreshing, entertaining and it was Ipswich.

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tractorboybig added 08:54 - Jul 25 Keep cool...pre season, weak opposition and the only goal from a penalty….Alarm bells???
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cheddyblue67 added 09:16 - Jul 25 I thought we were good last night for where we are in progression in terms of style of play. I am happier watching us play that style and possibly drawing a match than grinding out a 1-0 hoofing win... I agree with an earlier post though that we need a forward passing midfielder, I saw Sears making great runs and even pointing to where he wanted the ball only to have to pull up because the pass went sideways. New boys looked good and Ward revitalised. My only worry was , and it may be because it was a friendly, we didn't get stuck in. In fact it wasn't until Roberts came on that I saw some solid tackling. This didn't matter to much against a lower league football playing side but we will need to challenge a lot lot harder against championship teams. But all said, thoroughly enjoyed the game and looking forward to the season ahead. Hold tight - could be a rollercoaster.....

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Lightningboy added 11:04 - Jul 25 Good set of results ans sounds like things are improving dramatically on the playing front. Only thing that worries me (apart from Waghorn) is the continued absence of Huws,Bishop & Adeyemi..not going to be much use to anyone unless they can get themselves fit. Still need 2 or 3 players added to the squad before the season starts.
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