George Hirst netted his second goal in two games but the Blues fell to their second friendly defeat of the afternoon as Stevenage ran out 2-1 winners at the Lamex Stadium. Jamie Reid gave the League One side the lead in the fifth minute, then Ben Thompson made it 2-0 four minutes after the restart prior to sub Hirst pulling one back on 68.

Christian Walton was in goal with Dominic Ball again at right-back with Greg Leigh on the left and George Edmundson, back after an ankle problem, and Elkan Baggott the centre-halves.

In central midfield, skipper Sam Morsy was joined by Jack Taylor with Kayden Jackson, Sone Aluko and Kyle Edwards behind Nathan Broadhead, the central striker.

Hirst was among the subs although not listed on the teamsheet, but Wes Burns (calf), Janoi Donacien (tendon) and Harry Clarke (tendon) weren’t involved in either of this afternoon’s matches. Cameron Humphreys missed out having suffered a concussion at Preston on Wednesday.

League One Stevenage included former Town forward Jordan Roberts in their starting line-up.

The game kicked-off in heavy rain on a fast, wet pitch. Due to the conditions, keeper Walton struggled to claim an early high ball following a corner but will have been relieved to have been given a fairly generous free-kick by referee Will Finnie.

Boro had started brightly and in the fifth minute they went in front. The ball was played in from the right by Alex MacDonald and Reid turned and hit a shot through Edmundson and then through the unsighted Walton.

Town gradually began to adjust to the conditions and on 14 Taylor smashed a shot from the edge of the box which deflected wide.

With Stevenage still having had more of the game, Edwards let fly from 25 yards in the 24th minute but saw the ball land well into the empty stand behind the goal.

Three minutes later, Town old boy Roberts robbed Baggott just outside the box to the right and took the ball on before curling a low cross-shot which Walton gathered at a stretch.

As the game moved to the half hour mark, Aluko played a superb ball through for Edwards to chase but home keeper Kristian Hegyi was quickly off his line to block on the edge of the area.

As the half drew to a close, the Blues were seeing more of the ball but still without looking particularly convincing and were still a goal down when the whistle blew.

Town had started slowly and gave away what manager Kieran McKenna will feel was a disappointing early goal.

From there, the Blues never really got going in the sodden conditions with Aluko’s through ball for Edwards the highlight of a not overly enthralling and scruffy half from a Town perspective.

Having shown little threat in the first half, the Blues introduced Hirst for Edwards at the break with Broadhead moving back.

A minute after the restart, the Welshman lost the ball a long way inside the Stevenage half and Roberts was sent away towards goal and was only halted when Morsy tripped him on the edge of the area.

And from the resultant free-kick, Boro doubled their lead. Alex MacDonald’s free-kick flew under the jumping wall, it hit the post and Ben Thompson headed into the net.

On 66, the previously subdued Town support behind the goal made themselves heard after Broadhead had been bodychecked as he burst towards the area but with referee Finnie seeing no foul.

Three minutes later, the Blues pulled a goal back. After Hirst had been fouled, Morsy clipped the free-kick to the far post and eventually the ball fell to the Blues’ half-time sub, who stabbed home his second goal in two games in front of the Town support.

A minute later, the Blues had another free-kick in virtually the same position, but this time Broadhead’s flicked header was too close to Stevenage sub keeper Taye Ashby-Hammond.

In the 82nd minute, Morsy exchanged passes with Aluko on the right before eventually hitting a shot from the edge of the box which left Ben Thompson in a crumpled heap and requiring treatment.

Two minutes later, Reid cut in from the left and curled a shot towards the far top corner which wasn’t too far away.

As Walton prepared to take the goal-kick, Town swapped Walton, Taylor, Aluko and Baggott were replaced by recently signed keeper Cieran Slicker and youngsters Osman Foyo, Nico Valentine and Zak Bradshaw.

Bradshaw almost marked his first appearance for the senior side with an own goal when he passed back to Slicker but with the keeper already well out of his goal and the centre-half, who spent time on loan at Bromley and Braintree last season, was fortunate to see the ball roll just beyond the post.

There were no further opportunities at either end and referee Finnie’s whistle confirmed Town’s second defeat of the afternoon.

The Blues were better in the second half in terms of control but were still under par and created very little aside from Hirst’s predatory finish.

Town struggled to get to grips with the conditions more than the home side and may have been feeling the effects of what’s already been a very busy pre-season schedule.

The Blues are next in action against Premier League opposition on Tuesday when they take on Luton Town at Colchester United’s Jobserve Community Stadium, before they end their pre-season fixtures with two 60-minute games against Bundesliga sides RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen at the Innsbruck Cup in Austria.x

Stevenage: Hegyi (Ashby-Hammond 63), James-Wildin, Butler, N Thompson, Piergianni (Skyers 90), MacDonald (March 74), Roberts (Alexandrou 89), Smith (Freeman 49), Reid, L Thompson, B Thompson (Hicks 86). Unused, Trialist.

Town: Walton (Slicker 84), Ball, Edmundson, Baggott (Bradshaw 84), Leigh, Morsy (c), Taylor (Foyo 84), Aluko (Valentine 84), Edwards (Hirst 46), Broadhead, Jackson. Unused: Slicker, Bradshaw, Foyo, Valentine. Referee: Will Finnie (Luton). Att: 1,826 (Town: 788).

Photo: Matchday Images

Nobbysnuts added 19:27 - Jul 22 Cadiar....do your parents know your calling people names???? Still I suppose you've got extra time on the laptop as its the school holidays....
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Nobbysnuts added 20:06 - Jul 22 Cadiar...the last time I checked this site is a forum...of which I'm entitled to my view. Just because it doesn't agree with yours does not give you the right to insult me and just shows your level of maturity. I for one do not accept losing to Cambridge and stevenage but if you do then that is your opinion. I have reported you to the site administrator.
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Drifter3012 added 20:10 - Jul 22 Went to the Stevenage match. Lots of misplaced passes, poor touches & not much going forward, especially in the first half. But in reality, only Walton, Morsy, Broadhead & Hirst will start against Sunderland I expect and Morsy, Broadhead & Hirst were our stand out players. It was a very disappointing performance & I never thought I would say I went to Stevenage and watched Ipswich lose but I am not too bothered about what happened. Plus to be fair Stevenage played very well and showed some quality at times and forced errors especially from Edmundson & Baggot. Tuesday will be a real test and perhaps show where we are if McKenna plays his first 11, bar those injured.

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algarvefan added 20:37 - Jul 22 Calm down dears, listen to the manager, it's all about getting time into legs at the moment, Luton will be a test and so will the Austria trip, but the real test, when you can moan properly will be after the Sunderland game, so cheer up, it's summer!!!
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Lightningboy added 22:54 - Jul 22 Maybe we should concentrate on playing one friendly per day from here onwards.
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WonTheCupin78 added 23:28 - Jul 22 It could be argued that we were at half strength in both games, hence the defeats to Cambridge and Stevenage. Sounds like the two Stevenage forwards had great games and really caused problems to our defence from start to finish. Not bothered with result, it's only a friendly. But am bothered by some of the defending that's happened in most of the preseason friendlies. We have gotten away with it most of the time (opposition forwards blazing over etc) but we need to defend much, much better.

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barrystedmunds added 01:09 - Jul 23 Luton will be the pivotal test and I’m sure KMcKs team selection will reflect that as we move towards Sunderland. Everything that has happened thus far is building towards 6 August; the clock starts ticking at 1700hrs 6 August then all the would be managers can start their critiques!!!
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PhuketPete added 04:54 - Jul 23 Imo it’s all positive so far as KM gets the minutes in, experiments with new patterns and player partnerships and as we blood some of the younger guys (incl Omari who lets remember is only just starting senior mens football). Given the circumstances errors shouldn’t overly concern (yet). That said I’d like to see a clean sheet! Luton maybe where I’m sure we’ll experiment a bit less

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ArnieM added 07:35 - Jul 23 Barrystedmunds: it’s a forum! It’s where people share their views, opinions, suggestions, and can play at being the manager. It’s what forums are about. Everyone has an opinion, even you!
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:12 - Jul 23 its obvious by some of the reactions,that if we are not in top 2 after 3 games some will be in meltdown , we have languished in lge 1 for far too long ,i for one will be happy this season if we have a decent return to the championship, Im not demanding or expecting promotion this season. Suppose that will make me Narridge supporter .
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Nomore4 added 11:03 - Jul 23 As Phuketpete. Putting IMO either at start or after expressing your opinion….. should stop your opinion being attacked by the snowflakes of TWTD.
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Orraman added 11:04 - Jul 23 Before yesterday it was a long, long time since Town lost a game. These two defeats will have reminded our promotion heroes what losing feels like and it will have done them no harm at all to be reminded as such. Was going to say that I can’t believe all the ngativity already but then again it is still the usual suspects. Much better to get that losing feeling now rather than in ‘competitive’ games and while I do not expect a long unbeaten run like the tail end of last season I am still looking forward to really competitive displays from Town

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Nomore4 added 11:26 - Jul 23 Very much IMO. Gamechanger/3 Lions aren’t at the club to mess around. A hell of a lot of money has been invested so far, and will continue to be. Again IMO, the minimum expectations from the investors will be a push to within a top 6 finish this coming season. And promotion next. That will be a minimum of expectation. However I expect we will make a right go of it this season, and have the luxury of extra funding mid season if needed. I also expect at least 2 new faces through the door before the end of the window.

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dirtydingusmagee added 18:48 - Jul 23 ive been looking forward to start since last season ended, but others are already getting in to the we are doomed mode jeeeeeeeeeeez get a grip.
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