Town suffered their first defeat of the pre-season campaign as Rangers came away from Portman Road with a 2-0 win. Peter Lovenkrands opened the scoring in the 54th minute and Nacho Novo sealed the win two minutes from the end.

After impressing in training earlier in the week, Town named trialists Rui Marques and Edwin Ouon in their line-up. Marques started at right-back and Ouon at centre-half but switched roles after the break.

With Marques at right-back, Fabian Wilnis moved to left-back and Richard Naylor dropped to the bench. The new strike partnership of Sam Parkin and Nicky Forster made its first appearance at Portman Road, with the midfield comprising of, from left to right, Darren Currie, Jim Magilton, Kevin Horlock and Ian Westlake.

Jason De Vos wasn't too far from putting Town in front in the first minute, the central defender heading Jim Magilton's corner to keeper Stefan Klos.

Peter Lovenkrands headed wide, before Rui Marques nodded a Darren Currie corner to Klos.

Just before the half hour, Sam Parkin teed up a chance for Ian Westlake but the midfielder's 20-yard strike was too close to the keeper.

Soon after, Marques made an important and impressive interception before Lewis Price saved at Barry Ferguson's feet with the Scotland international through one-on-one having dispossessed Ouon.

The French trialist picked up a yellow card for a late tackle on Lovenkrands in the 35th minute. From the freekick 30 yards out, Ross McCormack hit a shot which was destined for the top corner until Lewis Price pawed it out for a corner.

Chris Burke blazed over after making a fine run in from the right, just prior to the Blues replacing Kevin Horlock with Owen Garvan, the former Northern Irish international having suffered an injury. Garvan was straight into the action with a fine tackle on the edge of the area.

Town's best chance of the half came right on the stroke of half-time, Darren Currie crossing from the right and Klos saving Parkin's header from virtually point blank range.

It had been a fairly even first half with Klos perhaps the busier of the two keepers but Price having made the more testing saves, the last minute stop from Parkin aside.

Jason De Vos needed treatment early in the second half after a particularly crunching challenge but was OK to continue.

Rangers enjoyed much the better of the opening minutes of the second half and went ahead in the 54th minute. Nacho Novo crossed from the left and Lovenkrands headed in from close range giving Price no chance.

Just before the hour mark Rangers ought to have added to their lead but Ferguson sent the ball over the bar. On 61 Town replaced Jim Magilton and Fabian Wilnis with Dean McDonald and Matt Richards.

A minute later Forster had Town's best chance of the half, running on to Richards's ball over the top but shooting left-footed across the face of goal with Parkin well positioned in the penalty area.

Rangers settled the game with a second goal two minutes from time. Currie, by now playing in central midfield, lost possession, the visitors broke quickly and Novo fired a shot into the net off Price and then the crossbar.

In injury time Westlake went just over the bar with a freekick from the right, McDonald having been fouled on the edge of the area.

Both trialists had decent games and look likely to go on the tour of Hungary over the weekend. Marques in particular did well at right-back, getting forward on several occasions and making one or two clever passes. Ouon was clearly happier at centre-half but also showed promise.

More than anything, Town looked like a side unused to playing together, hardly surprising with two new signings, two trialists, an inexperienced keeper and a number of substitutions as the game progressed.

Parkin and Forster look like they are still finding their feet as a strike pairing, with the former Reading man again the more impressive of the two.

Garvan grew in influence as the game wore on, while McDonald made a couple of sharp runs but failed to deliver the telling crosses which Parkin in particular will have been looking for. Currie became more involved in the latter stages playing more centrally with Richards breaking from left-back outside him.

Rangers deserved the win on the balance of play in the second half but Joe Royle and his staff are likely to have found the game a useful exercise.

Town: Price, Marques, Wilnis (Richards 61), De Vos, Ouon, Westlake, Magilton (McDonald 61), Forster, Parkin, Currie, Horlock (Garvan 41). Att: 17,202.

Photo: Action Images

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