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Ipswich Town 1-1 West Ham U21s - Half-Time
Tuesday, 14th Sep 2021 20:42

James Norwood gave the Blues an early lead but Keenan Appiah-Forson levelled for West Ham’s U21s to leave the scoreline 1-1 at half-time at Portman Road in Town’s first Papa John’s Trophy tie of the season.

Town boss Paul Cook made 10 changes from the weekend 5-2 loss to Bolton on Saturday with Sam Morsy skippering on his debut and young centre-half Albie Armin handed his senior bow.

Tomas Holy was in goal with Kane Vincent-Young - the only player to have started against the Trotters but who lasted only 21 minutes before being subbed - at right-back and Matt Penney on the left.

Luke Woolfenden and Armin were the centre-halves with Morsy and Tom Carroll - making his first Town start - in the middle of midfield.

Idris El Mizouni made his second start of the season in the number 10 role with Louis Barry on the left and Kayden Jackson the right with Norwood the lone out-and-out striker.

Jon Nolan was among the subs for the first time this season, while youngsters Cameron Humphreys, Zanda Siziba and Elkan Baggott were also on the bench.

After both teams taking the knee had been warmly applauded, the game got under way in steady drizzle.

And Town went in front in only the second minute via the first attack of the game. After good work from El Mizouni on the left, Penney drove towards the area and fed Vincent-Young breaking on the right.


The former Colchester man cut inside to Carroll, who looped into the area. Norwood appeared to get a flick on it causing West Ham keeper Kristian Hegyi to mishandle and the Blues striker stabbed in his first goal of the season.

Town continued their bright start and on seven Vincent-Young crossed for Norwood from the right but the Blues’ number 10 was already through his shot when the ball arrived and it bounced off him for a goalkick.

West Ham threatened for the first time in ninth minute when Daniel Chesters was sent away down the right behind Penney but Woolfenden did well to get across to cut out his low ball into the area.

That attack proved to be a sign of things to come and in the 12th minute the visitors levelled. The ball was neatly worked in from the left with Town failing to put in a serious challenge and Appiah-Forson shot across Tomas Holy and into the net. The Czech keeper got his right hand on it and will feel he probably should have kept it out.

In the 22nd minute Hammers skipper Ajibola Alese was booked for felling Norwood after the goalscorer had successfully chased a long Jackson ball down the right.

The visitors almost created a second in the 24th minute when Armstrong Okoflex sent a dangerous ball across the six-yard area which the shaky Holy allowed beyond him but with no Hammers player there to add the final touch.

The Blues, whose performance had drifted after their bright start, began to show more of a threat and on 28 Jackson crossed low from the right but Norwood was unable to turn towards goal at the near post and it was cleared ahead of Barry behind him.

A minute later, Jackson shot first against Norwood and then over the bar from some distance out.

Just after the half-hour, Kamarai Swyer was played in on the left of the box and hit a shot which Holy was forced to palm behind.

On 35, Norwood took down a long ball forward from Woolfenden and fed Jackson breaking on the right. The former Accrington man sent it low across the six-yard area but too far in front of Norwood and Barry. Five minutes later, Norwood flicked a Carroll free-kick from the left wide, Penney having been fouled.

As half-time approached, the Blues were well in control, passing the ball around confidently with Carroll and Morsy at the centre of things, although without creating another chance.

During two minutes of injury time El Mizouni was booked for a foul on Harrison Ashby, the Tunisia international’s second transgression of the night.

Town had got off to the ideal start via Norwood’s early goal and might well have scored again in the opening minutes, however, once again they quickly allowed the opposition to get back into it, although from a West Ham perspective it was a well worked goal.

Both sides had one or two opportunities to go in front after that - Norwood had looked dangerous throughout - with the Blues finishing the half in a controlled manner with experienced midfield pair Carroll and Morsy increasing in influence.

Town: Holy, Vincent-Young, Woolfenden, Armin, Penney, Morsy (c), Carroll, Jackson, El Mizouni, Barry, Norwood. Subs: Hladky, Baggott, Humphreys, Nolan, Siziba, Chaplin, Pigott.

West Ham U21: Hegyi, Okoflex, Alese (c), Ekwah, Ashby, Chesters, Laing, Longelo, Swyer, Appiah-Forson, Baptiste. Subs: Kinnear, Dju, Rosa, Diallo, Perkins, Forbes, Casey. Referee: Charles Breakspear (Surrey). Att: 4,231 (West Ham: 150).



Photo: Matchday Images



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jas0999 added 20:46 - Sep 14
Whatever happens, and you would hope we would go on to beat a under 21 side, being level at half time and conceding is all you need to know. Not good enough.
0

Help added 20:49 - Sep 14
Sadly despite the first half I feel another low with a 2:2 draw, Town on pens. I hope I am proven wrong but don't think even if we win against U21's that it proves anything.
0

DifferentGravy added 20:50 - Sep 14
Play 4-4-2 ffs. Give Norwood a partner
1

Karlosfandangal added 21:01 - Sep 14
Should be playing Walton Edmundon and Burgess so they have more game time together

All these new players and it's the same old Ipswich
4

oldshuck added 21:36 - Sep 14
Oh no...
0

Michael101 added 21:37 - Sep 14
Ipswich 1 West ham 2= taxi for mr cook??
2

Help added 21:39 - Sep 14
We are no better than the last 5 years??
1

herobobby added 21:40 - Sep 14
Sorry
Done
Cook out……he is way out of his depth this isn't Wigan this Ipswich town
The fans the new owners deserve better than this
Quicker he goes the better
3

Kirbmeister added 21:40 - Sep 14
Two things we're good at
1/ giving the ball away cheaply
2/ passing backwards
0

Kilterums added 21:41 - Sep 14
I'm struggling to understand why you'd not play your first team when you're looking to get the team to gel. Anyone enlighten me?

Seems like an opportunity to build up a little confidence and momentum has been missed.
1

Help added 21:41 - Sep 14
Paul Cook change the formation from Saturday onwards
1

19781981twtd added 21:42 - Sep 14
PATHETIC ASHAMED COOK DO ONE AND TAKE YOUR USELESS COACHING TEAM WITH YOU JUST GO MAN YOU ARE OUT OF YOUR DEPTH
2

WalkRules added 21:44 - Sep 14
An absolute joke. Cook out.
2

richardpaul added 21:44 - Sep 14
That's it 1-2 at the end What happened to the strong team 10 changes to Saturdays strong team .if you fall of a horse to get back confidence back in the saddle The strong team from Saturday SHOULD have been in tonight for a confidence booster The Morsy effect did not seem evident
Cook your goose is cooked Without a drastic rethink Town are going nowhere BUT give him till November to see if he does have a cunning plan
0

herobobby added 21:44 - Sep 14
Just seen match stats

Shots on target 1…….hello
2

19781981twtd added 21:44 - Sep 14
If someone cant swim they dont go in the water if you cant manage your hand picked stars dont stay here
0

BobbyBell added 21:47 - Sep 14
Ten changes just didn't make sense and it backfired.
1

6May1978 added 21:51 - Sep 14
I'm all for giving the manager time, but a certain level of results is expected for a team that was meant to be pushing for promotion from the off. If it were only Division 3, but now we lose to West Ham's youngsters after losing to Newport. Even forgetting the underachievements of last season, time must be up for PC.
0

chopra777 added 21:52 - Sep 14
Sorry Cook that was poor. Without an assistant you are clueless. Your system does not work. Why did not you play more of Saturdays side. We heading towards a defeat at Lincoln. Probably Bishop to score. Please just go.
0

herobobby added 22:02 - Sep 14
Bet the Cowley brothers are laughing their heads off
Cook out
0


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