A fine first-half strike from Danny Rowe and a late goal from Kai Brown helped Town's U23s to a 2-0 victory over Birmingham City at Portman Road on Monday evening.

The Blues started with Barry Cotter and Myles Kenlock on the right and left side of defence respectively, Rowe was ahead of Cotter with Flynn Downes and Andre Dozzell in the middle of the park. Jordan Roberts took the number nine shirt and played up front.

Roberts's glancing near-post header from an early Dozzell corner flew over before Shane McLoughlin curled an effort well over from the edge of the box after he was teed-up by Jack Lankester.

Roberts scuffed a shot straight at visiting keeper Michael Luyambula on the quarter hour mark but the stopper could do nothing to prevent Rowe opening the scoring 10 minutes later.

Following a long spell of Blues possession, a dangerous ball into the box from McLoughlin on the right was nicked away from Lankester's head but was then met with a ferocious left foot, first time volley from Rowe which found the far top corner of the net.

On 29 Kenlock drove into the box and could have taken on the shot himself, but instead he cut the ball back to Lankester who saw his first effort blocked by Josh Martin, and the rebound gathered by Luyambula.

Five minutes before the break Downes limped off with what appeared to be some sort of muscle injury, and was replaced by Brett McGavin.

Birmingham came close to levelling the scores three minutes later but Odin Bailey curled his freekick from the edge of the box inches wide of the top corner.

There was still time for Town to come even closer to increasing their lead - Lankester's fine flick over the visitors' backline released Roberts who chipped the ball over the advancing Luyambula, but off the crossbar.

Rowe saw an early second-half effort deflected wide of the near post before Harry Wright did well to parry Olly McCoy's fierce strike away at his near post.

On 63 Wright again denied the visitors by parrying Bailey's initial effort from the edge of the box and then claiming Kyle McFarlane's close range follow up too.

Moments later, Tommy Anderson saw his appeals for a penalty waved away following a last ditch challenge from Cotter and Bailey hit the loose ball wide of the target.

On 73 Wright was beaten by a flicked header from skipper Martin following a long throw from the right, but the ball rebounded off the bar and was hacked away from immediate danger by Cotter.

Anderson again forced Wright into a good near post stop with five minutes remaining, before the Blues countered from the resultant corner and sealed all three points.

Roberts played the ball out to Rowe on the left and his low ball across the six-yard box was tapped into the net by sub Kai Brown, who was signed from non-league Grays Athletic in January, at the back post.

Rowe impressed with a number of neat touches and strong bursts forward, while Lankester also caught the eye and Corrie Ndaba did well at the back.

Roberts should have scored on a night when very little seemed to go the former Crawley man's way.

U23s: Wright, Cotter, Kenlock, Downes (McGavin 40), Marshall, Ndaba, Rowe, Dozzell, Roberts, Lankester (K Brown 78), McLoughlin. Unused: Ware, Z Brown, Clements.

Photo: TWTD

jocasaja added 21:07 - Sep 3 looked good
2

bluelady added 21:09 - Sep 3 Any idea why Huws didn't play? No reaction I hope?
0

PositivelyPortman added 21:15 - Sep 3 Rowe was very impressive I thought. He showed great control of the ball and has some real pace.
6

kozmik added 21:18 - Sep 3 Rowe, Kenlock and Wright for me!
0

BlueandTruesince82 added 21:20 - Sep 3 I like Rowe, I don't know why Mick signed him..... he searched and searched, found one and didn't play him. Always looked like he couldmake the step up to me. Edwards in his way now, if we could switch to the left he could cement a place...
6

SamWhiteUK added 21:23 - Sep 3 If we moved the ball around like that in the first team, which we have done, but didn't score, people would moan about us not going anywhere and that it wasn't good enough and we looked poor. Good goal, Danny
5

Pilgrimblue added 21:31 - Sep 3 I've always liked Rowe, he's lively can beat his man and more importantly knows how to find the net. Hope he finds a place in 1st team squad soon.
8

budgieplucker added 21:52 - Sep 3 Enjoyable first half with some nice slick passing and we looked good. Roberts led the line well but was generally unlucky and few things went for him. Andre has a good solid first half and strolled and controlled nicely. Birmingham however came back strongly in the second half and we got a bit sloppy and failed to find the killing pass in the final third until the second goal right at the end. At times we tried to overplay things but I am not going to be overly critical of that. Kenlock has an excellent game and constantly maurauded down the left and worked well with Danny Rowe. Rowe really looked a class above everyone else on the pitch. Continued to be impressed with Corrie Ndaba. Cotter very quiet and I expected a lot more from him. Final analysis another enjoyable summer evening at Portman Road

8

Brockleyblue added 22:05 - Sep 3 On the evidence of these clips (against very different standard of opposition, admittedly), I'd give Danny Rowe the nod for the left midfield/left winger slot in the first team, over Jordan Graham, who I was underwhelmed by on Sunday. Given that Danny, unlike Jordan, isn't a loanee, his presence in the team would also enable Donacien to come back in in place of Spence. I thought everyone performed pretty well on Sunday aside from Graham and Spence; the former ran around to little effect (and delivered a dire free-kick from a great position in the second minute), whilst the latter was found out repeatedly by Norwich's left-back and left-midfielder, especially in the second-half. This post can be shortened to: Paul, may I suggest that you consider dropping the two Jordans.

7

busterjames1 added 22:07 - Sep 3 Rowe deserves to be on the bench for the first team .A real threat at times .
8

Vanisleblue2 added 22:28 - Sep 3 Another fine game by Adyemi
2

Vanisleblue2 added 22:31 - Sep 3 Sears?
0

algarvefan added 23:17 - Sep 3 Danny Rowe looks a bit special and should at least be given a start off the bench, an impact player who could turn a game for the first team.
7

Popeye added 00:50 - Sep 4 Hopefully Hurst was watching the game. Rowe deserves to be in the squad and at least on the bench. When fit he looks lively, got a goal in him and I'd play him over sears and ward
4

harlingblue added 03:02 - Sep 4 Excellent first half performance by the whole team, and a rasping finish by the excellent Rowe. Other chances were spurned by players playing a pass when the clinical thing was to shoot, a confidence thing for the coaching staff to look at? It was a shame that Downes had to come off injured late in the half as it stopped Dozzell from being the playmaker, and a far more even second half ensued. However a wonderful move late in the game saw Roberts feed Rowe on the left and his driven cross was converted by substitute Brown for a fine win. Great entertainment throughout, style of play a delight, killer instinct a work in progress. Rowe a must for the 1st team squad, and starter ahead of Graham?

5

muccletonjoe added 05:29 - Sep 4 Yes, as everyone else has noticed, Rowe is now fit and should at the very least be given a chance off the bench in the first team against hull.
7

Dissboyitfc added 07:42 - Sep 4 Blueandtrue... Danny Rowe came on and played on the left at Exeter and i thought he done well. I would like to see him given some game time in the first team. Especially as Graham looks awful! Looked a good game, some nice neat football for the goal.
5

Kikapu added 09:36 - Sep 4 Thanks 'budgieplucker' and 'harlingblue'. Great reporting.
2

SamWhiteUK added 10:20 - Sep 4 algarvefan, a start off the bench? haha
0

dirtydingusmagee added 10:29 - Sep 4 SamWhiteUK, Even a budgie mug would understand what Algarvefan meant ,
-1

runningout added 10:33 - Sep 4 Could be worse
0

KiwiBlue2 added 10:48 - Sep 4 Hopefully Danny will get his chance in the first team sooner rather than later. Roberts could improve his fitness with the U23s for a while until he is properly fit and up to speed.......
0

Nazemariner added 12:49 - Sep 4 I don't think I nor many of us have seen Rowe play, but the way he's ripping it I'm in the ressies, he must surely get a chance before too long.
1

Ploarbear1 added 07:05 - Sep 5 Danny Rowe seems to be a real enigma. Didn't seem to be fancied by McCarthy and obviously hasn't broken into Hurst's thinking either. Is U23s really his level? Would have liked to see him get a chance rather than us bringing Jordan Graham in. If not, surely we could have got a small fee for him?
0

Swn98 added 07:29 - Sep 5 Downs limped off seems our new training resume hasn't cut down on injuries like many foolishly thought.
0

Blogs 295 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls