Town fell to an embarrassing 2-1 defeat to Belgian second division side Royale Union Saint-Gilloise in their final pre-season friendly at Portman Road. The Blues had dominated but only went in front in the 61st minute through Daryl Murphy, but the Belgians hit back with two goals in three minutes on 72 and 75 via Mathias Fixelles and Nicolas Rajsel.

Trialist Roland Lamah made his second start for the Blues, having previously impressed in Tuesday’s 0-0 draw at Charlton Athletic.

Also starting was summer addition Adam Webster at centre-half alongside Christophe Berra, while Daryl Murphy was partnered by Freddie Sears up front.

David McGoldrick was on the bench, while Brett Pitman (toe) and Luke Hyam (knee) missed out but are expected to be fit for next week. Dean Gerken was again not included, due to his hamstring injury.

Town dominated the early stages against the Belgian second tier side - who had brought an 122-strong but noisy following - and Sears forced visiting keeper Anthony Sadin into a save in the fifth minute, the Royale Union captain blocking from the striker at a tight angle on the left following a corner, however, the linesman’s flag had been raised.

Two minutes later a subsequent corner, also on the left, led to another chance. Trialist Lamah cleverly played in Berra on the left of the box but Murphy couldn’t reach the Scotland international’s cross.

As the game moved past the 10-minute mark Lamah unleashed a powerful strike from distance which flew just over Sadin’s bar.

The visitors’ first chance came in the 14th minute when a cross from the right reached Rajsel deep on the left but skipper Luke Chambers got across to block.

Kevin Bru curled a 19th-minute freekick just past Sadin’s left post with the Blues continuing to have most of the game but so far without providing a test for Royale Union keeper Sadin.

The Blues twice went close to going in front in the 23rd minute when Murphy flicked a near-post header from Sears’s left-wing cross against the bar. The loose bouncing ball fell to Bishop on the edge of the six-yard box but Royale Union keeper Sadin somehow kept out his header at point-blank.

The Belgians’ rare forays forward had largely been snuffed out by the Town defence with Bartosz Bialkowski untroubled. On the half hour Charles Morren struck a low shot from 20 yards but well wide of Bialkowski’s post.

Three minutes later, Murphy saw a shot blocked, then Bru looped a dipping effort from distance which went over.

On 36 Jonas Knudsen crossed from the left and Murphy headed straight at the Belgian keeper.

Two minutes later, the Blues went closer, Chambers flicking on a Berra header from a Bru corner but Tracy Mpati Bibuangu cleared off the line.

Lamah shot wide from 25 years in the 42nd minute with the Blues continuing to have chances but so far without taking any of them.

And that was the way the game remained at the break. A largely one-sided game in which the Blues had created a number of opportunities but without converting any of them.

Tommy Smith replaced Berra - who had required treatment during the first half - ahead of the start of the second period.

Four minutes after the restart Lamah made a powerful run from deep and looked to feed Sears but the striker had strayed offside. The break prompted shouts of ‘Sign him up!’ from the Sir Bobby Robson Stand.

The second half substitutions began in the 53rd minute when David McGoldrick replaced Bishop.

On 57 Jordan Massengo was yellow-carded for pulling back McGoldrick and while the Blues prepared to take the freekick Andre Dozzell took over from Lamah, who was warmly applauded off again having made an impression.

Freddy Mombongo Dues looped an overhead kick to Bialkowski, before the Blues finally went in front in the 61st minute. Bru sent over a corner from the left and Murphy rose highest to head home his first goal of pre-season.

Two minutes later, Bru stabbed wide after a loose ball fell to him just inside the penalty area.

As Town looked to add to their lead McGoldrick headed against a defender from a Knudsen cross from the left.

But on 72 the visitors equalised. From a Blues corner, Rajsel brought the ball forward at pace with Cole Skuse the only Town man back. He fed Fixelles breaking to his left, who beat the advancing Bialkowski.

And three minutes later, the Belgians were in front. Skipper Chambers was caught in possession by Rajsel, who took the ball inside before smashing a shot past Bialkowski.

As the game moved into its final 10 minutes McGoldrick hit a freekick into the Royale Union wall, then Dozzell volleyed through to the keeper. Moments later, McGoldrick skipped into the area on the left but stabbed wide.

In the closing stages, their goals having given them confidence, the visitors began to pass the ball around more confidently with the Blues rarely threatening to get back on terms.

In the one minute of injury time McGoldrick saw a shot blocked and then from the resultant corner a number of players, including Chambers and Webster, had efforts cleared off the line by the keeper or his defenders. That was the last action with the visitors celebrating their victory at the final whistle.

It was a win which should never have been theirs with Town having had the chances to have had the game sealed before their quick-fire second-half goals, prior to which they had presented little if any threat.

Having been angered by the defending which had led to Cambridge’s equaliser last week, manager Mick McCarthy is likely to have been even less impressed with the way his side conceded the two Royale Union goals and fell to a defeat to such comparatively lowly opposition.

Town: Bialkowski, Chambers (c), Webster, Berra (T Smith 46), Knudsen, Skuse, Bru, Bishop (McGoldrick 53), Lamah (Dozzell 58), Sears, Murphy. Unused: Crowe, Emmanuel, Kenlock, Douglas, Digby, Malarczyk, McDonnell, Stewart, McLoughlin.

RUSG: Sadin (c), Morren, Mpati Bibuangu, Cabeke, Vandiepenbeeck, Wallaert (Fixelles 67), Aguemon (Zitte 83), Martens, Mombongo Dues, Rajsel, Massengo. Unused: Salah, Kaminiaris, Neels, Palmeri, Saussez. Referee: Nicholas Kingsley. Att: 3,713 (RUSG: 122).

Photo: Action Images

tractorboyjim added 17:17 - Jul 30 The only thing more embarrassing than that defeat were our two 5-year-olds being ordered back by stewards at the end of the game to try and get an autograph at the front of Sir Alf Ramsey Stand. That was shocking all round
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rinkydinkpanther added 17:18 - Jul 30 Lovely stuff.
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TractorCam added 17:18 - Jul 30 Well Mick's pre match comments got me there, i'm now very excited for the season..... A hardcore week of shooting practice me thinks
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Bluetone added 17:20 - Jul 30 Time for a McCexit.
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Kesgraveblue57 added 17:21 - Jul 30 Surprise surprise we are still crap
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surgery added 17:21 - Jul 30 "Skipper Chambers was caught in possession....." Surely not!
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Mark added 17:22 - Jul 30 A one off defeat in a friendly match in itself is nothing to worry about, but we also lost to Barnet, and we failed to beat Cambridge and Charlton. Most worrying of all is scoring just 5 goals in 6 matches against lowly opposition. We all know we need more goalscorers. Come on Marcus Evans, let's invest in a quality player or two before we start to the season! No emergency loans allowed this time to get us out of a hole...

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Knightsy added 17:23 - Jul 30 Exciting Football then ? Shock horror Chambers to be blamed for 2nd Goal.
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jas0999 added 17:24 - Jul 30 It may be a pre season friendly, but in addition to the woeful decision to play such lowly opposition at home in the first place, this result is very poor and inexcusable. But whether people want to believe it or not, other than strengthening our central defence, we have a weaker squad than last season. A squad which wasn't good enough then. The midfield hasn't been addressed sufficiently, and will need further work even if the trialist signs. Our strikers haven't been prolific and miss chances. But Evans clearly has no interest nor wants to strengthen the team. Other than Barnsley first up, our fixtures up to October look very challenging, and with the current squad we may sadly struggle. Underwhelming pre season, which like the clubs transfer strategy lacks imagination and ambition. Shame.

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MicksZzzTactics added 17:26 - Jul 30 HaHaHaHa Game over. Exciting Hoofers 1 Royale Union Saint-Gilloise 2 The Epitome of Embarrassment .... especially also for "In Mick we (blindly) trust Brigade, who have been out in numbers today, including here on the news pages of TWTD as evident of their Zzzilly & childish down-voting of anyone daring to say any remotely critical. Never been so "EXCITED" about a so called a Show Performance ... or a result!, in my life! And thus I simply can't wait for The Dinosaur's MENSA worthy (as always!) post-game analysis of this one!

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bluey123 added 17:29 - Jul 30 Bring in Douglas,Coke and Hyam play for a point hope for 3 and of course bring in the mighty Gerks all you McCarthy lovers you deserve this Cr..
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warwickblue added 17:31 - Jul 30 Oh dear. oh dear, oh dear...The wheels look like they're coming off before we've kicked a ball in anger.
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MarcusITFC23 added 17:31 - Jul 30 Remember, pre-season games are used for fitness purposes and to get fit for the new season. So despite our defeat today, i am confident that we will have a good season. Maybe one or two new players is needed to freshen up our squad.
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Mr_Evans added 17:34 - Jul 30 What on earth is going on at our club!? Everyone blaming ME for lack of investment - maybe it's not, maybe it's MM stubbornness.
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blues1 added 17:35 - Jul 30 Jas0999 Agree with much of what you say butvyetvagsin ur blaming Evans? McCarthy has money available to him if he wants it. He's even said so 2 days ago but hasn't spent it (Yet at least). Also neither of the goals we conceded were down to a lack of investment. They were both down to the same mistakes we made many times last season occurring yet again. That is down to poor management, as the management team should have done something in training to prevent, certainly the 1st goal. To concede from our corner yet again is unforgivable. Yes I totally agree with everyone who says we need to buy 2 maybe 3 players butcdont just put performances down to lack of investment. Look at players yet again being played out of position. That's down to the dinosaur, no-one else

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blue86 added 17:36 - Jul 30 Thought this was going to be the game we scored a few goals to give the team some confidence? Oh dear oh dear, at this rate playing Barnsley will feel like playing Barcelona! Lol not good. Coyb!
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onthehoof added 17:36 - Jul 30 Oh dear, oh dear! This morning MM wants to excite the fans! And this PM we got beaten by the Dog and Duck (to quote the great Terry Butcher). Think the type of excitement will not be of the type MM wants and, with one week left before the meaningful matches start, fans can now be justifiable concerned. Hopefully things may change but hoof ball may well return. And if we cannot turn it around, FFS make changes sooner starting with MM.

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MarkFish added 17:38 - Jul 30 What a load of fkin monkeys ha ha ha
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blues1 added 17:40 - Jul 30 Mickszzztactics. Yes it was very poor today but can only assume u weren't there today as we certainly didn't hoof the ball. Justvwasnt enough movement off the ball to really carve out many clear chances. Having said that they did defend very well, throwing themselves in front of shots on several occasions.
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Popeadrian64 added 17:41 - Jul 30 Man of the Match....the Union fans.
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bkitfc added 17:41 - Jul 30 Webster looked very good today. One of today's positives. Lamah did well today. It was good to see a passing game going today but we got caught on the counter attack from a corner for the first goal and then didn't know what to do next. Thankfully, this was only a pre-season game but this can't happen against Barnsley next week.
5

cats_whiskers added 17:43 - Jul 30 I do wonder what the essex57 fan club can argue about this embarrassing result. He argued McCarthy had plans A, B, and C i.e. "Plan A win games Plan B Win Games Plan C win games. Simple dont make it complicated". Simple? yep he is certainly Simple minded... He and his like can't see the Wood for the Trees But what do I know from 50 years of following football except to state the Bleedin Obvious without seeing it through Rose tinted Glasses

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Bluetone added 17:44 - Jul 30 Deff Info McCarthy is arranging another pre-season friendly against a hastly recruited Sproughton Wild Man sunday team.
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unknown100 added 17:44 - Jul 30 I am not a McCarthy fan and felt very pesimistic before today but to be fair everyone except mcgoldrick looked really fit, Webster made a massive difference passing it out of the back, Midfield today- bishop, bru, skuse, trialist (who was very good) dozzeell came on and looked ok, as long as hyam and Douglas don't get a look in -Still need a proper right back- not that chambers isnt ok but...!hes just not a right back, -no go for Douglas and hyam -sign the trialist -striker? Think we need an ace centre forward

3

harmitfc added 17:47 - Jul 30 Our preseason had been pretty dire this year. And last year. And the year before. It means nothing. We finished 7th last year and can someone remind me what happened the previous year? (trying to forget...) We consistently over perform as we are a club without a spending owner (had his fingers burnt with BFJ and the Irish Muppet) and a northern hard man as a manager. I like Mick (better the devil you know) and his ability to grind out a result. I like winning. I like the feeling at 5 o'clock on a Saturday that I can have a drink because Ipswich have won (if the wife let's me). I don't like the fact that we lose when we should win. Too many times we have been beaten by the lesser team after outplaying the favourite in the previous match. My point is this: Pre season doesn't matter. As long as Mick gets it right more times than he gets it wrong during the regular season then I'm a happy Tractor Boy - with hopefully many a blurry Saturday night...

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