Boss Mick McCarthy felt his side’s 0-0 draw with West Ham at Portman Road was an entertaining affair despite the lack of goals.

“There was a lot of attacking play from both sides,” he said. “I thought in the first half we had some really good chances and of all the people in the club to take them it would be Jack Marriott I would have thought, but it’s a different ball game.

“It’s not the U21s, he’s not at Woking. He went through with the first one and I could hear the crowd go ‘ooo!’ and he snatched it and it went wide.

“He’s playing in a different atmosphere. He’s got to translate all he’s been doing, that finishing and that quality from the leagues he’s been playing in to this one. And I think he will because I thought he was pretty good in the first half.”

The Town boss also had praise for several more of his younger players: “I thought Teddy Bishop was excellent, he got about the pitch, he made his tackles, he’s a good footballer, Teddy.

“Matt Clarke, is he anywhere near the first team instead of Chambers, Smith and Berra? No. Is he progressing? He’s 17, him and he’s doing all right for himself. I’m pleased with him, so there are a couple out of the academy.

“And I thought the two wingers, Cameron Stewart and Alex Henshall, put in very good shift and also created some good chances for us.”

The Town boss dismissed reports that the Blues paid a fee for new keeper Bartosz Bialkowski when he joined from Notts County earlier in the week: “No, we didn’t. There are clauses in it if we get promoted, there’s a sell-on clause. Let’s cut through all the nonsense and just tell the truth for once.

“We’ve been trying to get him for a long time. He was the keeper we were looking at, we tried to get him. It just ended up getting protracted like some deals do. But I think we’ve all seen why I have tried to get him, he played well tonight.”

The game saw former Blue Aaron Cresswell make a swift return to Portman Road, the left-back almost celebrating with a goal when he hit the cross-bar in the first half, although his former manager says he would have been lucky.

“Deflection!” McCarthy insisted. “He was great. He’s always welcome here. He’s been a fabulous player for us and also a fabulous lad.

“They’ve taken to him straight away and he didn’t look out of place. Him and Jarvis are going to be a handful to everybody in the Premier League.”

Anthony Wordsworth missed the game with a tight glute but is expected to train tomorrow, while Stephen Hunt was again absent due to a minor calf problem.

Photo: Action Images

Sindre94 added 23:20 - Jul 16 I am so positive ahead of the season and I honestly cant wait to see our team in action against Fulham on the 9. of August. This season is huge for us, and I genuinely think we can go all the way to get promoted at the end of the campaign. Really excited to see who the next player we bring in is. A stalemate (even though its a friendly) against a solid Premiership side can't be that bad. COYB!!!

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Sindre94 added 23:21 - Jul 16 Already booked 4 trips (5 games) before the end of October so that reflects how positive I am feeling. The Derby on the 23. will be huge too! Obivously buzzing :D :D
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Fatboy added 23:41 - Jul 16 So Wordsworth didn't play because he's a tight arse?
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BotesdaleBlue added 08:10 - Jul 17 Thank you Mick for telling us some facts over Bialkowski's signing. I have never liked Town's seemingly blanket policy of secrecy over transfer fees, large or small. Whilst I do understand the issues over commercial sensitivities, I do feel that as supporters, we are the true "owners" of the club in the broarder sense and as such should be told the principle sums involved in our transfer dealings - just as we were years ago. Anyway, thanks Mick and TC for all you are doing and I am personally looking forward to the start of the season more than I have done for years. COYB

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Ipswich24 added 23:40 - Jul 17 I thought it was same old we will be hard to beat and work hard but no quality going forwards
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