Luke Garbutt has said his new Ipswich Town team mates are “itching to get the season started” after their pre-season campaign ended with a 0-0 draw at Cambridge United.

This afternoon’s friendly ended in anything but after Flynn Downes was shown a straight red card for headbutting Paul Lewis in a late flashpoint that saw Cambridge’s Jabo Ibehre also given his marching orders.

While keen not to discuss the incident, Garbutt said manager Paul Lambert was overall pleased with his side’s second-half showing which saw James Norwood and Downes both denied by smart saves from Callum Burton.

The Everton loanee, who came on at half-time, said: “I thought we started a little bit slow and then second half, we upped it and created a few chances and the gaffer was pleased with how we played in the second half. We need to be a little bit more clinical in front of goal - which will come.”

When asked about Downes’s late red card and the reaction after the match in the dressing room, Garbutt said: “I can’t really comment on the issue to be honest. I’ll leave that to whoever deals with that type of thing.

“From my point of view, I just wanted to focus on the game and that was a little bit of a situation that arose. I think all parties are dealing with it.

“Flynn played well, he’s a good player. His performance was good, he was his usual self, energetic, up and down - that’s all I can comment on.”

Downes appears unlikely to face further action unless the FA investigate the incident.

Garbutt, who is expected to start at Burton Albion in next weekend’s League One curtain-raiser, added: “The team has done five or six weeks of pre-season and they are all just itching to get the season started.”

Photo: TWTD

runningout added 16:49 - Jul 27 got some ointment for that
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TimmyH added 17:35 - Jul 27 Anybody would have thought the way some of the players have been talking that we've had a very successful pre-season, well we're going into the unknown so who knows what awaits. I'm sure other clubs players probably can't wait to get going either...for me it doesn't feel like 5 seconds ago last seasons debacle came to an end...
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PortmanTerrorist added 18:07 - Jul 27 Flynn could have gone at Colchester so have to be glad he got the ref riday and not next week. He and Norwood have been our 2 best players in pre season and we need him in midfield if we are to compete.
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KernewekBlue added 18:23 - Jul 27 I'm always optimistic prior to the season's kick-off, which will remain the same for this coming season. However... I do hope that Evans gets his cheque book out NOW to fund the additions identified by the management as being necessary to compete for promotion. We've seen where his lack of speculation financially has left this club... he must have to concede that his dealings in the past few years, or lack of, has seen us get to where we are now, plummeting through the Championship trapdoor into league one. Unless Evans is using our beloved club merely as a tax write-off, he can't be happy with the way his handling of transfers in and out has left him haemorrhaging money, as the net worth of ITFC falls around his ears. Selling decent playing assets and not reinvesting in talent of a similar standard will obviously harm our prospects... as we and he (surely) must know! It isn't rocket science. The time has definitely arrived to nail your colours to the mast Marcus. You're in the last chance saloon matey... you and your investment policy have got us in this mess so stump up or sell on. I remain hopefully optimistic for the new season though... COYB!

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KernewekBlue added 18:27 - Jul 27 I know it's early doors but hey... 0-0 with Cambridge Utd hardly seems to set the world on fire. Buy some real talent Marcus and give PL the tools to get us back to the Championship!
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Monkey_Blue added 18:27 - Jul 27 A good pre-season doesn't always include Wins: the year we won the last old second division I'm Pretty sure we didn't win a game or one at best.
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jas0999 added 19:56 - Jul 27 Monkey Blue - normally I'd agree, but we haven't won many games for the last year and a half. We needed to start winning again and playing Notts County and Cambridge were excellent opportunities. Winning breeds confidence. We haven't been very good at winning.
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runningout added 21:06 - Jul 27 if no additions (not those on trial) this week we won't create a sausage. I agree it doesn't seem long since last seasons calamity and camera shy weak shows. All of our illustrious team need to grow up and show up.
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dirtydingusmagee added 13:18 - Jul 28 im just glad the post match heading wasnt another player joins injury list .Now the real deal starts ,this is when it counts., COYB .
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dirtydingusmagee added 15:50 - Jul 28 Kernewekblues, even if ME were to splash out ,[and he aint gonna] who is out there wanting to join ITFC in Lge 1 ? not many players chomping at the bit to drop down , i doubt.
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