Jordan Roberts and Kayden Jackson were on target, the latter from the penalty spot, but the Blues were beaten 3-2 by new Bundesliga side SC Paderborn in their first pre-season friendly at the Stadion Laumeskamp in Delbrück.

New keeper Tomas Holy was among those to start, playing his first game for the Blues since his summer switch from Gillingham, with manager Paul Lambert fielding a different team in the two halves, each a mix of youth and experience.

Kick-off was delayed by 15 minutes as Town arrived at around 2.20pm following a three-hour trip from their training base close to the Dutch border.

James Norwood, Alan Judge, Jon Nolan and Gwion Edwards were all in the stands with the injured Freddie Sears with none of them in action in today’s game.

Among the inexperienced players in the XI before the break was attacking midfielder Armando Dobra. The 18-year-old Albanian U19 international was getting his first taste of senior football.

Roberts, starting as the lone striker with Teddy Bishop behind him with Dobra on the left and Jack Lankester on the right, won an early freekick but Andre Dozzell’s ball looped beyond the far post.

Paderborn, also fielding a mix and match side rather than a full-strength line-up, had their first opporunity on three, a loose ball falling to Felix Drinkuth, but his shot flew well over Holy’s goal.

The game began in a more competitive manner than most early season friendlies with the Blues winning two more freekicks with a German defender blocking a low Dobra strike from one. A corner followed the second with a Jack Lankester shot looping into the arms of home keeper Michael Ratajczak.

From Ratajczak Paderborn broke very quickly, passing the ball slickly and Kai Pröger eventually smashed a shot to Holy’s right from the edge of the box and into the net before the Czech keeper could move.

Despite going behind the Blues continued to find openings, Dozzell and Bishop feeding in left-back Myles Kenlock, who scuffed well wide, then Dobra, who rounded the keeper before being dispossessed by a retreating defender.

On 16 after good work from Dozzell, playing in a deeper midfield role alongside skipper Cole Skuse, Bishop played in Roberts but the former Crawley man dallied when he should have taken the chance early and the opportunity was cut out.

Two minutes later, Paderborn doubled their lead. The Blues played themselves into trouble midway inside their half, Babacar Gueye profited and fed Tobias Schwede to his left, from where he shot across Holy.

Christian Strohdiek was booked for a foul on Roberts on 20 and picked up the game’s first yellow card. Dozzell’s shot from the freekick was headed out by a defender.

Myles Kenlock picked up Town’s first booking for a foul on lightning striker Streli Mamba as Paderborn threatened to score again but Schwede on this occasion scraped wide from an angle on the left.

Just after the half hour, Holy made his first save for Town, blocking from Mamba after Toto Nsiala had given the ball away on the edge of his own box.

The home side made it 3-0 in controversial circumstances in the 34th minute when Gueye escaped beyond the Blues’ backline - according to the linesman at least, however, he looked well offside - and slipped the ball past the advancing Holy. Town boss Lambert and assistant Stuart Taylor complained bitterly to the referee.

Two minutes later, Town pulled a goal back. Paderborn skipper and ex-Brighton man Uwe Hünemeier played a pass back to Ratajczak, who delayed his clearance from inside his six-yard box allowing Roberts to block it over the line to make the scoreline 3-1.

Klaus Gjasula shot well over for Paderborn, who having established such a commanding lead were well in control, although with the Blues battling away gamely and seeking to carve out openings when in the final third.

A minute before the scheduled end of the half the Blues again played themselves into trouble but Holy saved Sebastian Vasiliadis’s low shot. Just before the break Dobra was shown a yellow card for a high boot.

Town had started the game brightly, making the early running and might well have scored, until the home side netted their first goal on the break.

The second followed soon afterwards with the Bundesliga team capitalising on the Blues trying to play football in their own half and giving the ball away, something they did on more than one occasion.

When in the final third Town look capable of creating chances but not taking them, with new frontman Norwood in the stands. Roberts’s goal was down to the striker’s persistence and the keeper’s complacency.

The Blues’ second half XI warmed up on the pitch at the break with Paderborn also changing their entire team.

Emyr Huws, playing his first game for the senior side since December 2017, was in midfield with Flynn Downes and Idris El Mizouni, behind lone striker Kayden Jackson, with Danny Rowe on the right and Bailey Clements on the left.

Tristan Nydam was at left-back with Janoi Donacien right-back with skipper Luke Chambers and Corrie Ndaba the centre-halves.

Christopher Antwi-Adjei hit an early effort wide for Paderborn before Jackson saw an effort from the left of the area blocked. Huws was just prevented from getting to the rebound by a defender and the ball rebounded behind.

On 65 Jackson and Rowe interchanged passes and the ex-Lincoln loanee was just thwarted by the last defender as he darted on to a return ball.

Two minutes later, the pair almost combined again after Huws had sent Jackson away down the right but Rowe had strayed offside as the pass came in from the former Accrington striker.

After a mid-half drinks break, Town were awarded a penalty when Jackson was felled by Luca Killian having beaten him down the left. The frontman took the kick himself and rolled the ball to Jannik Huth’s left as the keeper dived to his right.

The second half had lacked the intensity of the first but after the goal it became more competitive. On 78 Downes, as feisty as ever in midfield, was booked for pulling back a Paderborn player as they broke.

As the game moved into its final 10 minutes right-back Donacien crowded out Cauly Oliviera Souza after he had been found in space in the box.

The second half XI passed the ball around neatly and for long spells in the closing stages although without creating an opportunity.

In the 88th minute, after Huws had chased back a long way to win the ball after a loss pass had been played behind him, Town again played themselves into problems in their own box forcing Bartosz Bialkowski, on his 32nd birthday, to save from Souza.

Neither side threatened again before the referee’s whistle ended a more than usually entertaining friendly.

There was little between the sides in the second half with Town making the scoreline a more respectable and not unrepresentative 3-2.

Jackson took his penalty well, however, as in the first period it was difficult to see from where Town might score with new striker Norwood likely to make his debut at the Interwetten Cup next Sunday.

SC Paderborn first half: Ratajczak, Hünemeier, Drinkuth, Strohdiek, Gjasula, Pröger, Schwede, Gueye, Mamba, Holtmann, Vasiliadis.

SC Paderborn second half: Huth, Rumpf, Ritter, Souza, Schonlau, Shelton, Kilian, Antwi-Adjei, Tawiah, Kapic, Hilßner.

Town first half: Holy, Emmanuel, Nsiala, Woolfenden, Kenlock, Skuse (c), Dobra, Bishop, Lankester, Dozzell, Roberts.

Town second half: Bialkowski, Donacien, Chambers (c), Ndaba, Nydam, Downes, Huws, Rowe, El Mizouni, Clements, Jackson. Att: 956.

Photo: TWTD

Dolphinblue added 18:40 - Jul 6 Exactly blue81....come Aug 3rd l will be there cheering on the team as l will for each and every game.....but this is a forum where we discuss opinions......and in my view, at this stage with less than a mth to go there are worrying signs... 1. 12 players gone...many very senior. 2. 1 outfield player signed, albeit an exciting one. 3. Major speculation on Judge.....how bad would that be. 4. Very minor youth players involved which leads to believe policy of no money. 5. Money has come in for Harrison as well as 10% sells, must have saved loads on wages yet no signings. 6. Lambert said he wanted squad assembled before pre season....wheres the signings...there isnt even any rumours...nothing... 7. All hoping Huws will be fully fit.......big question mark over that....Sears out 8. Squad today is weak. Evans has washed his hands of it no doubt.....JUDGE WILL LEAVE AND MONEY NOT REINVESTED......SLAP IN THE FACE OF 12,000 SEASON TICKET HOLDERS. BUT come August 3rd l will cheer as loud as you. HEY GUYS...MAYBE IM NOT THE ONE WITH THE PROBLEM...AND DO ME A FAVOUR GIVE ME YR OPINION NOT JUST MORE INSULTS!.,.,

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Bluearmy_81 added 18:43 - Jul 6 I agree Dolphin, I fear Evans has left us wanting again, time will tell. Top 2 is a must next season and imo we aren't setting up as such.
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blues1 added 18:51 - Jul 6 Dolphinblue. And you wonder why people end up insulting you? " and now judge is going"? Really? Lambert says he knows nothing of any interest at all in judge. So you say hes going. Again, opinion over fact. Get a grip man. Sure, criticise when it's truly due. Not just because you dont know how to do else.
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Dolphinblue added 18:54 - Jul 6 Blues1 you have not addressed any of my above points except the Judge one 🤔....is it because you know im right 🤔
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Dolphinblue added 18:56 - Jul 6 And incidentally there is never a reason to insult...as a wise man once said 'You should do the right thing whenever possible.....and it is always possible 🤔
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shouldistayorcounago added 19:05 - Jul 6 Mayve you should heed your own advice rather than dogging out the young players? Certainly agree that Evans could do more but I expect a lot more comings and goings yet. Not prepared to dismiss the team before a competitive ball is kicked. Apologies for saying you sound like a Nodger in disguise but your interpretation of the situation does seem like a massive, elongated troll 🤷🏻‍♂️

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Dolphinblue added 19:08 - Jul 6 And yet more insults 😫....will they ever end, l fear not
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Dolphinblue added 19:12 - Jul 6 And im not dogging out younger players...just cynical as to their inclusion...yes it could be their fab or......no signings...think l will go with the latter 🤔
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Bluearmy_81 added 19:26 - Jul 6 Amazing how far pr from a scripted interview can go. Most fans up north (or anywhere bar Ipswich probably) wouldn't have just blindingly bought it even on the day, yet alone for years after!!
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BlueandTruesince82 added 19:30 - Jul 6 To address the points. 1. Squad was top heavy, esp for L1. Squad size was always going to trimmed. That was made clear by PL v early. Means some of the youngsters we have been dying to see might get to play. 2. Yes, in an area we need but Champ and PL clubs arnt all back to pre season yet so only so much busisness to be done for now. I would ask does the squad need an overhaul or just tweaking? Forward line particular, already partially addressed. Beat Champ club to said signing. 3. So far Just paper talk. Word is Judge wanted a release clause in his contract and if thats the case then little the club can do if its triggered. QPR have major financial issues and are the only club even linked. Until there is any proof that this is a runner. Why get angry about it..like getting angry about the zombie apocalypse.... when your other half tries to bite you then get p****d off. Don't kick them about because they might become a zombie one day. 4. Minor youth players? Dozzell, Downes, Wolfie, Kenlock, Emanuelle Dobra, Bishop, Lankester, Ndbab, Nydam, El Mizoni. Thats 11. Not minor in number and all highly rated and comming through together, Minor how exactly? Average age of them? To call that minor is v disingenuous and I think you know that. Do you not rate any of our young players? Do say which and why? 5. 2 signings to be clear (noteworthy ones) plus the small matter of a 9 million pound drop in revenue for a club that already loses money (tax write of conspiracy an utter myth for those who subscribe). It was made v clear the youngster would be looked to for this season. Signings may block that. Pre season helps determine who is ready to step up and thus where we need to strengthen. 6. Lambert spoke in ideal terms.... if one has lived life one understands frequently things are not ideal. Thats life and you have to go with it. Again does the squad need an overhaul. 2 loans and 2 perms and we are there. (My opinion). 7. Yes but if fit class. If not Dozzel, Bishop, Downes, Nolan, Judge all able to cover.... good back up options. 8. Just opinion...lets see. For the record I think playoffs at best because its a tough league but that maybe the kids need a season of that for a real tilt.

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runningout added 19:50 - Jul 6 We haven't exactly had world beater players at our club for decades. Maybe these ones and a couple more are going to surprise us
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Dolphinblue added 19:54 - Jul 6 Knew Judge signing was too good to be true, used us to get fitness, sign contract in case, then wait for inenivitable offers to come for such a class player....itfc probs knew this from start..utter betrayal season over before its began 😭
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Bluearmy_81 added 19:56 - Jul 6 (tax write of conspiracy an utter myth for those who subscribe). That's embarrassing. Oh course he offsets some tax from other areas of his group using losses accrued by ITFC!! He can hardly fail to!
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ITFCsince73 added 20:09 - Jul 6 Understand where the Dolphin is coming from....season ticket holder, who believed that we would go into the new season to make top 2. There's another 11,000 plus dolphins who must be seriously thinking there being short changed. After all many signings have been made in L1, by many teams. So clearly players have been available. If we are in the free market.....there's no players left. That would be better than what we have anyway. Weather we are doing things right at the club remains to be seen. Rotherham with at least 6 other clubs seem to be going hammer and tong for promotion this year. Either we are laid back about that, or can't compete.

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Kingfisher49 added 20:27 - Jul 6 Dolphinblue perhaps you should sing a rendition of ‘Silence is golden' and then put it into practice. Think your had enough to say for now and you should come back and say to everyone I told you so if your predictions are right. So if like me who thinks you are wrong we should never hear from you again.
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Dolphinblue added 20:29 - Jul 6 And yet more insults 😫
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Dolphinblue added 20:36 - Jul 6 And yet we still dont know what kingfisher thinks...such is his obsession with the Dolphin 🐬🐬🐬
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Dolphinblue added 20:37 - Jul 6 NOBODY PUTS DOLPHIN IN THE CORNER 🐬
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Kingfisher49 added 20:48 - Jul 6 Dolphinblue what I think I am happy to share with you and everyone else who is interested. Firstly I have full confidence in PL and his management team. Secondly I believe ME is cutting the squad to suit the level we are playing in. Thirdly I do think between now and the start of the season 2 or 3 players will be added to the squad. Maybe one permanent signing and a couple of loans. A striker on loan until Sears is fit makes sense. Also believe Bart and Judge will be with us until at least the January 2020 window. My final belief is that we finish in the top four and if those 2 or 3 signings are made it could be the top two.

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Cloddyseedbed added 20:49 - Jul 6 ITFCsince73 I think we can not or will not compete with Evans as owner is the answer. It seems the club always talk a good game going into season ticket renewals but then going into the season come up short. This is a trend that has been going on for some seasons now and is why we find ourselves where we are. I was hoping for a new direction to be taken but I fear doing things on the cheap will continue for the term of Evans ownership. I hope we can now build a team but unfortunately when we think we are we see the best talent always sold off. We'll all see where we are when the season starts. I hope I'm proved so wrong.

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inghamspur added 20:49 - Jul 6 It's a friendly. Means tap all.
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Dolphinblue added 20:50 - Jul 6 Thankyou 👍
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Leeco84 added 20:56 - Jul 6 A friendly a bundesliga side. Some daft comments on this. Its a run out against a higher rated team
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Dolphinblue added 21:00 - Jul 6 Dont think we are making comments about this friendly?????????? Its the state of the club, Evans policy and the lack of signings and that our stellar signing is leavin.
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PhilTWTD added 21:04 - Jul 6 arc Something like that! Amended.
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