Town boss Mick McCarthy was pleased with his team’s first-half display, despite the Blues falling to a 2-1 pre-season friendly defeat at Gillingham, and again had praise for youngster Flynn Downes who, with a number of senior midfielders injured or ill, could well be involved in the season opener at home to Birmingham City in a fortnight.

McCarthy felt the result wasn’t a fair reflection of the performance, certainly not in the first half: “Not really, that’s the beauty of pre-season friendlies, I can be slightly less bothered.

“If we’d played like that in the first half and lost that game, I’d be chewing. I’m still not happy, I’d have preferred to have got something from it.

“We’re trying to play more and certainly on the floor and I thought we did that in the first half, I thought we were excellent.

“There were some good blocks, some good saves, maybe a couple of misses that we shouldn’t have had. I was really pleased with the first half performances.

“The second half was going nowhere, we were gave a penalty away and it just changes it. Maybe we start to get tired, we don’t move the ball as quickly, we didn’t get many chances.

“They, from being 1-0 up, sat back in their half, we’re trying to pass it and they just try to nick us on the break. But the second goal was a wonder goal, good enough to win any game, in any league in any country.

"I was delighted Danny Rowe scored because he needs that just for his own confidence.”

Downes, 18, again caught the eye in midfield having signed a new three-year deal earlier in the week.

“You don’t have to be a rocket scientist or anybody clever or smart [to see why],” McCarthy enthused.

“He came back to pre-season and he was as fit as anybody and I said to [owner] Marcus [Evans], ‘Sign him up, get him on a long-term deal’. He’ll play in the first team, no question.”

In the early stages of the season? “We’ll see, I’ve got injured and sick midfield players. If he gets in the team, there’ll be a few worrying, because he’ll be hard to dislodge.”

While Downes may not be well-known to fans, McCarthy says he’s been around the first-team squad for a while.

“He’s not come from left field, he trained with us last year, as did Tristan Nydam,” he added. “Tristan’s not really had the run yet but I think he’ll impress everybody as well. He’s played on the left and he’s played at left-back and every time he comes in and he does well.

“Downesy, we knew what a good player he was, but he’s come back and he’s just even more so than he was. Every time he joined in training with us he was great, he just went in and nailed people and looked like one of the squad.

“He passes it forward, he’s not negative, he’s not just going backwards and square. He nicks it, he tackles people, he’s an all-round central midfield player for me, and he’s only going to get better.

“There’s been nobody better than him in pre-season. But it’s not Birmingham on Saturday 5th. But if I had to or wanted to play him, I’d have no worries about it and he would perform just the same for me.”

Downes’s chances of making his senior debut are increased by the number of other central midfielders who are currently sidelined due to illness or injury, including Emyr Huws.

“Calf/achilles and I don’t want to risk him to any sort of an injury,” the Blues boss continued. “Tom Adeyemi’s been poorly for about 10 days, Skusey’s just got that as well. Luke Hyam with his knee and Bish with his groin.”

Is he concerned the likes of Huws and Adeyemi in particular might not be ready for the start of the season? “Yes I am, Tom not having played, we’re only two weeks to the start, and Emyr is probably struggling. But I’d have no worries at all playing Flynn Downes. Skusey will be all right, Skusey’s poorly.

Andre Dozzell was also among those not to make the trip to Gillingham but the 18-year-old, who helped the England U19s to win the European Championships last week, could play at Colchester on Tuesday.

“He’s had a summer of success with the England team, but he’s had a hip injury,” McCarthy said. “But he’ll be all right, he might be available for Tuesday night.”

McCarthy says there have been no developments regarding new players coming in: “No news at all, not just yet.”

Similarly he had nothing to add on any interest in his players from other clubs: “I don’t know, I genuinely don’t know because I haven’t had any calls from anyone.”

At Drogheda McCarthy confirmed that Kevin Bru would be allowed to move on if another club came in for him but says the Mauritius international is currently required at Portman Road.

“He was up until I had five midfield players injured!” he laughed. “It’s just as well he’s come back, and fair play to Kevin he’s come back in good shape and he’s everything he’s done he’s played well.”

He says he’ll talk to Aldershot manager Gary Waddock regarding 18-year-old Pat Webber, who came on as a 63rd minute sub as the Shots drew 2-2 at home to Wycombe Wanderers this afternoon, his third game for the Vanarama National League side.

“He’s had two games, he’s having his third today, we’ll see,” McCarthy added. “I’ll be speaking to Gary Waddock, he’s not sure [whether he wants to take him on loan] yet. We all want more experience and players who have played in that league.

“He’s having a look at him and it’s good experience for Pat whether he ends up there or not.”

Looking ahead to Tuesday at Colchester (KO 7.30pm), McCarthy says many of the senior players who didn’t start today will be in the XI which begins the game at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

“That’s the idea, pretty much,” he said. “I’ll have a look at it, it might not be exactly that, that they start, but certainly Webbo [Adam Webster] will, Dominic [Iorfa] will at centre-half, not at right-back.

“Didzy will start. Having played 60 minutes on Tuesday night, having only just come back, it wasn’t prudent to start him today. Most of them will be starting on Tuesday night.”

Photo: TWTD

Edmundo added 19:10 - Jul 22 Concerned about the injury list. Pretty season is to get fit and battle-hardened which leads to some injuries but how many of these are avoidable
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howdonblue added 19:25 - Jul 22 After getting slated on here the other day would anyone like to talk about the new centre forward we need ? Just saying
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Mark added 19:48 - Jul 22 “There's been nobody better than him in pre-season." If Downes has been the best player in pre-season then surely he deserves to start the season in the first team, regardless of the fitness of other players. It's great to read about Mick talking him up, and it would be fantastic if he could get his chance and take it. As for the injury list, we can be glad that is in midfield rather than attack. Imagine if McGoldrick, Sears and Garner were out, where would that leave us?! They are not going to stay fit all season, so a new striker is essential. We bought David Johnson for £1.1M, so maybe 20 years later our budget should be a little bit higher?!

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jas0999 added 20:36 - Jul 22 So: lost to Gillingham. Shortfall of twelve players. Blaming injuries in pre season. Remarkable stuff!! BUY SOME PLAYERS.
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midastouch added 20:47 - Jul 22 Half time score 0-0. No wonder Mick was creaming so much about the first half then!
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midastouch added 21:12 - Jul 22 Good points Mark. And to echo your sentiments on the last point, I recall we brought Steve Sedgley for 1 million way back in 1994 so surely we can do better than that all these years later!
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iaintaylorx added 22:42 - Jul 22 midsatouch.. hahahaah!!!!
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Seasider added 22:56 - Jul 22 Even with all the players who were out, surely we should have gotten something out of this game, against a lowly 1st Division team? Note McCarthy's remarks about Flynn Downes but in the next breath saying Skuse will be ok for Tuesday;so does this mean that he only started with this young man as his favourite was ill. I fear that if he sticks with the old guard regardless then the odds on promotion will be long, and Ipswich will remain short odds for relegation Despite his slating.of fans.last season for demanding more attractive play calling it 'tippy tappy football, he is trying to play the ball on the ground He has tried this before in pre-season 2015 but it was abandoned in early September after a 5-1 defeat to Reading. As usual we all start hopefully at this time of the year only for this optimism to dim as the season progresses Will McCarthy get a target man and replacement which are still needed? Will Evans cough up to enable Manager to buy decent players? Will it be any different this year? Will MM stick with his new style? Is he and TC capable of coaching pass and move? Has Mick still got what it takes to get a team promoted If Town struggle again will Mr Evans get rid of him? So many questions, that is what makes the coming season interesting and why once again I have renewed Let's hope others follow suit, and then the season ticket target will be reached lol

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harlingblue added 03:12 - Jul 23 Pre season games are about learning, sorting out the best formation of players and style of football that suits the squad, at this stage results don't matter. If a certain type of player is required to push the team forward and is missing, then the Manager must demand money is available to acquire the missing link? The players brought in so far suggest a far better style of play, but we are still missing that 'target, hold up goalscorer'...who could that be?

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TBT added 06:52 - Jul 23 £2m for a 34 year old? If Nottingham Forest make it up because Murphy completes their jigsaw then this will have been an inspired gamble. ME sticks to MM because he is solid and no such gambler. Forest, when free of injuries have a strong squad and I don't think they'll be fighting to avoid relegation this time around.
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Pilgrimblue added 08:48 - Jul 23 What is concerning is that Chambers and Smith aren't the answer. Webster needs to step up with either Iorfa or Spence or Smith junior if we're going to solve the defence. Both Chambers and Smith look slow and ponderous which won't do once the season starts. Can't believe the injury list again! What's going on MM ?
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blue75 added 09:28 - Jul 23 Didn't go yesterday so can't comment on the game. I can give an opinion on McCarthy's comments, he sounds like he's just looking to an excuse to go back to good and hope, already saying should've got something from that game we had a good half, a good half doesn't win games on it's own. His tactics I don't think have change at all he has always had good wingers that receive passes to their feet, they cross striker scores defence doesn't cross halfway and the 2 mids sit right in front waiting for the counterattack. Hasn't worked for him at town so he reverts to lumping it. 3rd favourites to go down with paddy power don't think they're far out one beating and the new skulas will be back!!!

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strikalite added 09:55 - Jul 23 “He passes it forward, he's not negative, he's not just going backwards and square. He nicks it, he tackles people, he's an all-round central midfield player for me, and he's only going to get better. Total opposite to Skuse then, do you ever see him run into space with the ball having picked it up? Mr Squarepass pants will now be looking over his shoulder.....or should be.

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1RWR added 10:23 - Jul 23 Did anyone pick up on "perhaps we started to get tired" FFS you've just had your holidays & plenty of rest, don't you give me that sh*te this early on pet!
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martin587 added 10:37 - Jul 23 Why do we have so many injuries pre season.Every season is the same.Yes,I went to the match with my grandson yesterday as we live in Southend and it's an easy journey for us. First half we were ok,but that's about it.There still seems to be little understanding between many of the players as to there roll. Yes I agree Downes had a good game and shows promise,but remember we were playing a team in the lower leagues so theoretically we should shine,or I would hope so. For me the defence is still way from being solid,same old mistakes from the same two players I'm afraid to say. So to sum it up on the match,we learnt very little from the players on the pitch and I just hope we can improve.All in all a wasted journey.!🤔

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ChestnutSe added 11:22 - Jul 23 How can it be a wasted journey to go to a pre season football game to watch your team? What do you expect to see other than a run out / fitness exercise for the squad. That's what pre season is for. It's an entertainment business so you go to be entertained by watching your team play the game you love. They might not win every time but it's still an entertainment. I always think it's like going to see a new play. Your not sure who the cast will be or how the plot will develop and you never know what the ending will be. You might be disappointed with the performance and the ending but it's still entertainment. And it's live as well. I'm going to Colchester on Tuesday and it will be a night out. I won't think it's a wasted trip if we don't win.

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martin587 added 11:37 - Jul 23 ChestnutSe, WOW!who upset you this morning.It was just my opinion.I have been a season ticket holder for over 55 years so I have seen a great deal of pre season friendly matches therefore I think by now I am justified on making an opinion. Yes,we don't expect to see a team go out all guns blazing,but you do expect to see a bit or pashion and commitment which we did not see on Saturday. Did you make the commitment to go to the match.!!

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BlueandTruesince82 added 13:01 - Jul 23 Martin most of those are either hangovers from last season or the bug that's going round
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Dissboyitfc added 15:23 - Jul 23 Chestnut... watching Ipswich is Anti-entertainment. Don't think there is much danger of me going until it becomes entertainment. Win lose or draw we are entitled to see an entertaining game!
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Warkys_Tash added 16:07 - Jul 23 Fair play to you seasider supporting your club. Good on you. We are all sick of it (well most of us anyway) but we all live in hope of a dramatic turnaround. Just to add to another posters comment about Murphy. He is a very fit 34year old, rarely injured & a great signing for Forest. However, their fans are probably seething after a £14M rake in for Assombalomba... and what do their board spend? £2M on a 34year old! We all know he is good & most would have him back for 2 more years but Forest fans are probably spitting feathers!

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tempzzzz added 14:01 - Jul 24 A 3 year deal for a 34 year old striker. He's good but it's risky. All the best to him. As for the comments from Mick, the one that worries me is how he makes a point of "Skusey" being OK for Tuesday! Oh wonderful, I was getting worried then!!! NOT!!! He needs to drop that donkey, and Chambers as well. Unfortunately they're "proper blokes" and will never be dropped from a MM team, any other manger would've got rid. How I got £6m for Skuse from Derby on Fifa 17 is beyond me haha.

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