Skipper Sam Morsy’s first-half goal saw the Blues to a 1-0 victory over Ukrainian champions Shakhtar Donesk 1-0 in their first public friendly of pre-season at Sportzentrum Landskron in Villach, Austria.

The match was a single game played over 90 minutes rather than the previously advertised two 60-minute matches.

Ben Johnson was the only new signing starting, at right-back, with Leif Davis on the left and Luke Woolfenden and Cameron Burgess the centre-halves. Christian Walton was in goal.

Skipper Sam Morsy was partnered by Jack Taylor in the centre of midfield with Wes Burns, Conor Chaplin and Marcus Harness behind main striker George Hirst.

Jacob Greaves and Liam Delap were on the bench, but fellow summer signings Omari Hutchinson and Aro Muric were absent from the matchday squad but at the ground having been with the party for this week’s Carinithian training camp.

Hutchinson was left out as his workload is being managed and Muric joined up too late to be included.

Youngsters Ryan Carr, Leon Ayinde, Finley Barbrook, Osman Foyo and Jesse Nwabueze were among the subs.

The Ukrainian champions, playing their sixth friendly of pre-season and keeping hold of the ball confidently in the early stages, had the ball in the net in the third minute, Lassina Traore turning home a low cross from the left but having strayed offside.

Town began to take the game to Shakhtar as rain began to fall very heavily and on 16 they created their first chance.

Hirst cut from the left of the area to Chaplin on the penalty spot but the forward’s low strike was diverted behind by a defender.

Three minutes later, Burns curled over a trademark trivela cross from the right but a defender got in ahead of Harness.

Shakhtar got back on top and in the 25th minute should have gone in front. Former Brazil U20 international Kevin seized on Davis’s poor header back to Walton from a long ball and as the keeper slipped lifted it towards goal but saw it bounce agonisingly off the bar and to safety.

Four minutes later, the Blues went in front. Tobias Vinicius took a free-kick for Shakhtar on their right and inexplicably played it aerially across his own area where Burns stole it before, while grounded, laying it back to Morsy just outside the area from where the Egypt international smashed a low shot past Dmytro Riznyk to his right and into the net.

On 34, Taylor played a ball over the top for Burns, who almost got onto it while being closely marked by a defender.

In the 40th minute, Blues captain Morsy and Shakhtar’s former Brazil U23 international Marlon were booked after a minor dust-up on the right, Kevin also playing a part before order was restored.

A minute before the scheduled end of the half, Davis sent over a cross from the left which was just too high for Chaplin at the far post.

Moments before the whistle, Artem Bondarenko curled a strike not too far wide of Walton’s right post.

Town went in a goal up via Morsy’s impressive strike, the Blues making the most of Shakhtar’s error.

The Ukrainian side had looked a team further into pre-season than Town at times but without causing the Blues’ backline too many problems. Chances were similarly few and far between at the other end but Town will be pleased with their first 45 minutes of public pre-season match action.

Ahead of the second half, the Blues made four changes with Cieran Slicker, George Edmundson, Jacob Greaves and Massimo Luongo replacing Walton, Woolfenden, Burgess and Taylor.

Half-time Shakhtar sub Marian Shved struck the first effort of the second half on 49, picking up a loose Greaves pass before taking the ball on to the edge of the box and hitting a shot which Slicker batted away.

The new signing from Hull made amends a minute later, forcing Vinicius away from goal after he had been played in on the left of the box. On 54, Hirst hit a bouncing ball over from the edge of the area for Town.

The Blues made more substitutions as the game reached the hour mark with Elkan Baggott, Freddie Ladapo, Delap, Ayinde and Carr replacing Davis, Harness, Hirst, Burns and Johnson, who looked far from out of place alongside his new teammates.

Almost immediately Delap was booked for a clash with Shakhtar sub Yehor Nazaryna, which the new Blues striker and teammate Chaplin clearly felt the midfielder had made an awful lot of. There appeared to have been little if any contact and certainly no need for the scream.

Greaves headed over from a Morsy corner in the 67th minute, then within a minute, the Blues worked an opportunity down the left, Ladapo doing well before Baggott cut in along the byline and cut back for Delap, who turned an effort into the side-netting.

Following the resultant goal-kick, Luongo seized on some loose passing and stole it on the edge of the area but his shot into an empty goal was blocked on the line by Bartol Franjic.

Town had been the better side in the second half, Shakhtar having noticeably become scruffier and less composed after making numerous subs. With 15 minutes left, skipper and goalscorer Morsy made way for Finley Barbrook.

Shakhtar should have levelled in the 77th minute when Newertton was sent away in acres of space on the left and cut back to the edge of the area but Eguinaldo blazed over the bar.

Three minutes later, Edmundson was booked for a foul on Newertton on the left and from the free-kick Eguinaldo headed straight at Slicker.

On 85, Shved headed wide at the far post as the Ukrainians began to get a few late chances against the Blues, by now with a number of youngsters and with several players out of position.

Town made their final changes a minute later with Foyo and Nwabueze taking over from Chaplin and Ayinde.

Nwabueze almost immediately almost found himself with a chance to score, Barbrook’s low shot deflecting to him on the edge of the six-yard box but a defender got across to take the opportunity away. That was the last action of the game before the referee blew his whistle right on time.

Town will be pleased to have got off to a winning start against such notable opposition well ahead of them in terms of pre-season, although with results in friendlies far from the main concern.

The Ukrainians, with Champions League credentials over many seasons, looked classy but largely unthreatening in the first half with the Blues having spells on top and taking their only real chance when it came.

In the second, Town were largely in charge as both teams made the usual litany of substitutions and might well have gone further in front with Luongo unfortunate with his shot cleared off the line and Delap’s sharp effort not too far away.

Shakhtar went close a couple of times towards the end but overall Town deserved the win which ends their pre-season camp in Austria with the squad flying back this evening.

The Blues are next in action when they host Fortuna Düsseldorf at Portman Road next Saturday.

Town: Walton (Slicker 46), Johnson (Carr 60), Davis (Baggott 60), Woolfenden (Edmundson 46), Burgess (Greaves 46), Morsy (c) (F Barbrook 75), Burns (Ayinde 60 (Nwabueze 86)), Chaplin (Foyo 86), Harness (Ladapo 60), Taylor (Luongo 46), Hirst (Delap 60).

Shakhtar: Riznyk (Tvardovskyi 46), Vinicius (Latsabidze 71), Bondarenko (Ghram 46), Matviienko (c)(Franjic 46), Azarov (Pedro 46), Bondarenko (Nazaryna 46), Marlon (Stepanenko 46), Sudakov (Glushchenko 46),Zubkov (Shved 46), Kevin (Newertton 46), Traore (Eginaldu 46). Unused: Bahlai, Eguinaldo, Hlushchenko, Faryna, Kozik, Savchenko, Pedrinho.

Photos: ITFC

orfordbuoy added 15:42 - Jul 20 we could be seeing more of Barbrook and Carr in the first team. Barbrook looked composed and on the front foot with Carr looking as indestructible as Fridge and Delap - who looked hungry. Apart from the first 10, Town looked in control.
2

Vancouver_Blue added 15:47 - Jul 20 I'd forgotten Freddie Ladapo was still a Town player
3

Flight_of_Shefki added 16:27 - Jul 20 A positive start to the pre-season campaign. You know, I'm really looking forward to next season: enjoying the dizzy heights of the PL, seeing us play against world class players at Portman Road and - for me at least - I don't think there's any real pressure on us other than just to win the points we need to survive. Finally, we can sit back, relax and enjoy the entertainment that we know the boys (and girls in their respective league) will provide. Great times ahead for our club.

6

TimmyH added 16:36 - Jul 20 A good start...seeing our 'Championship' side continues to win :)
3

algarvefan added 16:58 - Jul 20 Where was Omari????
0

backwaywhen added 18:42 - Jul 20 Algarefan…….read the start of the report ?
0

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 19:27 - Jul 20 Very pleasantly surprised by our performance. We looked sharp and very well organised. Everyone stepped up to the plate - old Championship and L1 players, young players from our own ranks, as well as new recruits. And we still have Tuanzebe, Omari and others to come. Bring on the Premier League!
1

gosblue added 19:43 - Jul 20 I’ve been saying for a couple of years now: where are the kids? And here they are. Exciting times.
3

Facefacts added 21:13 - Jul 20 Regarding the Premier League, which is a whole different game.. a few things I learned from watching this back.. We were gifted the goal which let us play or sit back as we chose. Defend the last 20 yards holding arms behind your back. If it hits your arm it's a penalty or free kick on the edge. We're not doing this yet. Why? We will pick up a lot of yellows by just standing there and opposition players buying free kicks off the ref. Tackling has gone from the game. We

-1

Facefacts added 21:43 - Jul 20 Ref in Shakhtars pocket giving free kicks. Prem will be the same. I don't agree we deserved the win. We were lucky. Walton out of position for the goal disallowed for offside, like one of the Maidstone goals. Carr caught out of position for 1 ball over the top which led to a good chance. Morsy looked fit and up for it as usual. A guy with silver streaks in his hair got him booked for what looked like nothing. Ladapo did OK, can see him making the team. Hirst did win 1 free kick but that was about it. Not PL quality,hope I'm wrong but it's his fitness, touch, way short, caught offside too easily. Not a goal threat. Taylor, sorry, won't make the team. Baggott played well. Slicker a couple of good saves but not his fault as their player cleverly left his foot in and went flying in the air, so lucky not to give a pen away when taking ball and player at the same time right at the end. All the academy players way out of depth except Carr.

-1

Facefacts added 21:59 - Jul 20 Burns assisted the goal, intercepted the crazy suicide Hollywood pass and laid it back for Morsy. New players, safe to say none stood out, but need to give them a free pass for this game. It shows how hard it is to buy ready made Premier League players. Whatever we end up spending.
0

James_B added 00:45 - Jul 21 @Facefacts I agree with most of your observations, however, in addition to Carr having a good game, I thought Barbrook showed confidence, covered a lot of ground and passed the ball well. Its great McKenna is integrating a selection of academy players with the first team. Admittedly, Ayinde struggled on the right. Foyo and Nwabueze had very little time to get into the game. I thought Johnson looked very assured at RB. As did Edmundson at Right CB. Slicker seemed more commanding of the box than Walton!? Let's see what the next few friendlies reveal...

2

Steve_ITFC_Sweden added 08:49 - Jul 21 Facefacts: I think you are being a little bit harsh considering this was the players' first proper outing together against a team of players that are certainly no mugs and who were already into their 6th pre-season match. Of course, we were not perfect, but I think the positives definitely outweighed any negatives, and some players who I thought might not get a look-in at PL level actually surprised me (Edmunson, for example). I agree that the S D players seem to have it in their DNA, just like the PL teams, to fall over at every available opportunity and buy a free kick or manufacture a yellow for the opposing player. And this was only a friendly, so the result hardly mattered! But I think that is something we will have to live with, and sadly I doubt whether our own players will be any better in this regard. We can go long way with K McK's organisation and our team spirit, which is why I am perhaps a bit more optimistic than you about our forthcoming season.

1

IpswichT62OldBoy added 11:38 - Jul 21 It says something that our Championship (bar 1)side held them for 45 minutes. It speaks of real depth in the squad and a smooth transition with other signings and real quality in the youth players to be added.
0

ThaiBlue added 15:22 - Jul 21 Like the look of slicker very safe hands
1

blues1 added 08:41 - Jul 22 Face facts Thimk you need to change ur name. Ncse there's very few facts in what you've said there.
1

Linkboy13 added 10:15 - Jul 23 Pre season kick about no reflection on who isn't and who is going to be in the first team squad this season. It's all about getting match fitness. Nice to see some of the young players involved good experience but they are for the future not now.
-1

Blogs 297 bloggers

Ipswich Town Polls