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Ipswich Town 1-2 West Ham United - Match Report
Tuesday, 12th Jul 2022 21:01

Kane Vincent-Young netted a late header but a goal in each half from Kurt Zouma and Daniel Chester saw Premier League West Ham United to a 2-1 friendly victory over the Blues at Portman Road.

New signings Dominic Ball and Freddie Ladapo were in Town’s first-half XI with the former QPR man lining up in the centre of midfield alongside skipper Sam Morsy in front of a back three of Janoi Donacien, Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess with Wes Burns and Matt Penney the wing-backs. Christian Walton was in goal.

Sone Aluko and Conor Chaplin were behind lone out-and-out striker Ladapo, who joined after leaving Rotherham earlier in the summer.

Among the 11 Town subs were George Edmundson, Kayden Jackson and Arsenal loanee Tyreece John-Jules, all involved in their first pre-season fixture following injuries at the end of last season.

Absent were Joe Pigott, who is understood to be closing in on a loan move to Portsmouth, and Kyle Edwards.

For West Ham, Flynn Downes made his first appearance in a Hammers shirt, while their other former Blue Aaron Cresswell skippered.

Downes was on the end of some early boos from his old fans after clipping Aluko’s heels after the Nigerian international had turned him and was skipping away on halfway.

Town had an early spell in charge but the Premier League side soon took over, keeping the ball competently but without threatening.

On 12, Aluko inspired a spell of Town possession which ended with Chaplin curling a deflected shot wide.

The Blues should have gone in front in the 16th minute. After a poor Downes touch on the edge of the Town box, Morsy dispossessed him and sent Ladapo away on goal in the clear from halfway.

The striker looked to have dallied too long as defenders closed in but beat keeper Lukasz Fabianski with his low effort but saw the ball strike the outside of the Pole’s left post.

However, it was West Ham seeing most of the ball but still without threatening until the 26th minute when Michail Antonio was found on the right of the box and hit a shot from a tight angle which struck the outside of Walton’s left post.

Before Town could take the goal-kick, referee Keith Stroud signalled a drinks break in front of the new dugouts.

It didn’t take too long for the Hammers to take the lead following the restart. Following a 31st-minute corner, Antonio crossed from the left to Zouma, who had lost his marker. Walton saved the defender’s first effort but the French international smashed the rebound into the roof of the net with the keeper grounded.


Neither side threatened again before the half-time whistle. Unsurprisingly the Premier League side had seen most of the ball with the Blues back in their own half for the most part but with few threats on Walton’s goal.

The Blues did have spells on the ball, however, with Aluko showing his cleverness in possession, while Ball showed what he’ll add to the Town side, putting a foot in when required, keeping it simple and having a presence in the middle of the park.

Town’s only real chance was Ladapo’s one-on-one which he will know he should have taken and the Rotherham man showed his pace on a couple of other occasions.

Aside from their goal, West Ham’s only other opportunity in a not overly-enthralling half was Antonio’s shot off the outside of the post.

Town made three changes ahead of the second half with Lee Evans, Greg Leigh and Corrie Ndaba replacing Ball, Penney and Burgess.

Following an early corner the result of a deflected shot from distance, Evans failed to deal with a ball in from the left, but Ajibola Alese hit his first-time effort wide.

Almost immediately, Town broke up the other end and Chaplin headed Donacien’s right-wing cross straight at Fabianski.

On 50, Evans shot over from distance with the second half starting in a rather livelier manner than much of the first.

Four minutes later, Antonio was sent away on goal in almost identical circumstances to Ladapo in the first half. Again the striker was guilty of taking too much time and Ndaba got back to take the ball off his foot as he was about to take it past the advancing Walton.

Three minutes later, Morsy was found in some space five yards outside the box and hit a shot straight at Fabianski.

As the game passed the hour mark, Cresswell curled a 30-yard free-kick wide of Walton’s left post.

Town made the expected hour-mark substitutions with Jackson, Edmundson, John-Jules, Idris El Mizouni, Rekeem Harper, Cameron Humphreys and Kane Vincent-Young taking over from Ladapo, Woolfenden, Chaplin, Aluko, Donacien, Morsy and Chaplin in the 61st minute.

Two minutes after the changes, West Ham doubled their lead. Ndaba got caught in possession on the left, then Vincent-Young gave it away on the right as Town sought to clear their lines.

Harrison Ashby hit a low shot which hit the post and the ball fell loose to Chesters, who stroked into the empty net.

Town had the ball in the net in the 67th minute through Jackson but the striker had fouled Zouma prior to lifting the ball over Fabianski.

After another drinks break, Hladky took over in goal from Walton in the 73rd minute with the Hammers still having their original XI on the field.

Two minutes later, Town pulled a goal back. Harper’s cross from the left was hooked into the air towards the far post by Jackson and Vincent-Young nodded across Fabianski and into the corner of the net.

Cresswell hit a low volley following a corner from the right which Hladky saved down to his right, then the Blues broke up the other end and John-Jules wasn’t too far away from Evans’s looped ball from the right towards the far post.

The goal had livened up the Portman Road crowd and with West Ham tiring - they still hadn’t made a substitution - Town were suddenly on top and looking for an equaliser.

On 82 Antonio’s lovely flick wrong-footed Edmundson and sent Oko-Flex through on goal from the left but Ndaba got across to make a perfect saving challenge.

West Ham finally made a substitution in the 89th minute with Oko-Flex replaced by George Earthy. Moments later, a supporter interrupted play by running on the pitch but was quickly led away.

Moments before the whistle, Vincent-Young looped a second header towards goal from another ball in from the left but this time Fabianski.

That was Town’s last chance to find a leveller and over the 90 minutes the Premier League side deserved the victory having been in control for most of the match and having created most of the chances.

The second half was more entertaining than the first with the Blues presenting a greater attacking threat in the final 20 minutes or so with the visitors starting to tire against the fresher Town subs.

It was a very different test for the Blues than the majority of their League One games are likely to be with the higher grade opposition dominating possession and them forced to defend in their own half.

Nevertheless, Town had some good spells and Vincent-Young’s goal and the late flurry gave most of the 13,121 fans something to shout about.

The Blues are next in action at Plough Lane on Saturday when they face AFC Wimbledon in the first game of a double-header with the Tractor Girls taking on their counterparts later in the day.

Town: Walton (Hladky 73), Donacien (El Mizouni 61), Woolfenden (Edmundson 61), Burgess (Ndaba 46), Burns (Vincent-Young 61), Morsy (c) (Harper 61), Ball (Evans 46), Penney (Leigh 46), Chaplin (John-Jules 61), Aluko (Humphreys 61), Ladapo (Jackson 61).

West Ham: Fabianski, Cresswell (c), Zouma, Fornals, Antonio, Downes, Coventry, Oko-Flex (Earthy 89), Alese, Ashby, Chesters. Subs: Hegyi, Casey, Forbes, Woods. Referee: Keith Stroud (Hampshire). Att: 15,129 (West Ham: 1,528).


Photo: Matchday Images



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Bazza8564 added 21:12 - Jul 12
very content with that, we opened them up nicely on occasions and in a month we will be playing far less talented teams. Thought Leigh looked great second half and Ndaba strong too after he settled. We are clearly better equipped with stronger pacier players but the skil levels were there too. Really pleased with the application of those who came off the bench in that mass substitution too. Bring on Bolton!
16

backwaywhen added 21:22 - Jul 12
Agree with above , we certainly look a stronger unit and personality think we are in for a cracking season …. COYBs
9

chanteledatractorgal added 21:25 - Jul 12
Can't wait for the new season to start. Seem to trouble West Ham at times and hopefully Edwards isn't on his way out was expecting him in the squad
6

chepstowblue added 21:31 - Jul 12
'A supporter interrupted play by running onto the pitch' !! What an absolute stroker. If you know the degenerate...have a word.
2

runningout added 21:31 - Jul 12
never content with a loss against anyone no matter who. Pretty sure the players will be miffed. Onwards!
-8

PortmanTerrorist added 21:35 - Jul 12
Never made to look 2 divisions apart. Mistakes were punished and we lacked a bit of sharpness but we have time and no one will want to play us this season.
11

oioihardy added 21:46 - Jul 12
LEIGH is a right player !!
He was so attacking and always wanted the ball !! So refreshing seeing him always wanting to take the defence of westham on!!
The young kid from arsenal looks like he has some class
Ndaba looks very good
If im honest all the town players had a really good game first half man of match was aluko second half i was very impressed with leigh
11

ipswichboi added 21:53 - Jul 12
Good performances all round, apart from a couple of defensive mistakes that can be ironed out. Greg Leigh looked decent to say the least, I would be very happy with him as a starting LWB going into the new season based off of that showing. This simply has to be our year to get out of this league. COYB
6

algarvefan added 22:05 - Jul 12
There aren't many teams that will look forward to coming to PR this season, we must make it a fortress and the fans will have to play a big part in that. Let's hope we hit the ground running this season and cut out last seasons errors, I have great faith in Kieran and the lads, they seem to have signed up for what he wants. COYB.
5

DavefromWatford added 22:53 - Jul 12
I couldn`t go to the game but have just watched the highlights & was pleased with what i saw. I agree with the comments on here we will do well this season & i see no reason why we shouldn`t be promoted. Oh by the way the west Ham goal looked offside, their bloke was nearly on our goal line. lol.
1

fifeblue added 22:57 - Jul 12
I hate West Ham.
And Clive Thomas!
6

Radlett_blue added 23:00 - Jul 12
I don't know what was worse - some Town fans booing Flynn Downes or the fact Keith Stroud was the referee. Why not call the drinks break at the same time as Town made a raft of second half substitutions?
-1

PortmanTerrorist added 23:30 - Jul 12
Radlett_blue having a drinks break when it was full on raining was a farce anyway. But it was pre season, so let's all calm down a bit.
1

PavlovsCat added 00:51 - Jul 13
fifeblue

Absolutely: Clive Thomas. 😡
1

grinch added 06:25 - Jul 13
We still need an out and out striker everywhere else fine and we will control games but if you don't have a 20+ striker you will not be in top 6 at end of season hope they are close to bringing that striker in for all our sakes dread to think of consequences if we don't.
4

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 08:15 - Jul 13
Pre-season games never really give much indication of what is to come, but anyway, I thought we did well, and the future looks promising. Midfield and defence were solid and sharp, and there were some nice passing moves in evidence. We lacked a bit of penetration up front, but that was to be expected against a PL defence. I hope it doesn't come back to bite me, but I'd say this performance would be more than adequate against almost any L1 opposition.
1

CityBlue added 08:20 - Jul 13
My dad threw an empty whiskey bottle at Clive Thomas in the FA Cup match at Stamford Bridge...ooops
1

CityBlue added 08:22 - Jul 13
Good shift from everyone and will certainly give KMcK some headaches over the coming days. LB looks strong with both Penney and Leigh. Cam B made a couple of errors and it was great to see George E back in the mix.
Numerous options across the middle too - good depth.
1

Steelmonkey added 08:23 - Jul 13
I thought we looked ok against a West Ham side, I'm not sure how much of their first team were out there. First half we started with what many would probably be most peoples idea of the a starting eleven taking into account of some players coming back from injury. After sorting themselves out after the mass substitutions when we conceded the second goal I thought we looked much the better of the two halves, whether that was do to fresher legs against a side that didn't make a change till the 89th minute. Promising good things for the coming season, but I still feel we look a bit lightweight up front, hopefully that will get sorted before the season starts.
Was great to be back at PR and looking forward to the Wimbledon trip.
1

Linkboy13 added 08:46 - Jul 13
I don't think we will get out muscled this season which has been a problem now for several seasons. Although im disappointed that Celina has not resigned i can see McKenna's strategy for this season you have to be a bit physical to get out of this league. Leigh looks very promising at left wing back and is probably many fans favourite player already. It might mean McKenna's will have second thoughts about signing the lad from Leeds. The biggest priority is another striker and if I was going to spend a million pounds it would be in that position.
1

Razor added 11:15 - Jul 13
Well you do not need to be a rocket scientist to see where the problems lie----I really hope some strikers are lined up and waiting in the wings----we have not actyally spent a penny yet!!
-1

pg888 added 11:36 - Jul 13
I fail to understand how people think we have not spent a penny. Free transfers are not free…signing on fees, wages they all come from the same pot!
2

blues1 added 11:39 - Jul 13
Razor. What are you on about? Ladapo was excellent last night, and will score goals for sure. Maybe should hsve put that chance away last night but he did get a nudge in his back just as he was about to strike the ball. John jules looks good too. And none of the strikers missed glaring chances. Simply there werent a hatful of chances going their way last night against a strong pl defence. We def need 1 more through the door, which I'd say is very likely to happen anyway. And, of course we've spent money. U dont still think free transfers don't cost money do you? Often cost as much as a fransferzwith a fee.
0

blueboy1981 added 12:48 - Jul 13
To those who still say ‘we have spent money' - ‘free transfers aren't free' !!!
Have they conveniently forgotten once again, that we have off loaded the Payroll by quite a few.
In fact we've spent no more than it would cost in a Seaside Resort to have a Pee !!!
Although Felixstowe may still be Free !!
-2

jas0999 added 19:06 - Jul 13
Good workout and thought we did well. But, still concerned that we don't have a consistent goal scorer.
0


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