Ipswich Town showed encouraging signs in their 1-1 draw against Premier League side Luton Town on Tuesday evening. Alex Jones reflects on the action from the Colchester Community Stadium.
A team performance
Town showed a marked improvement in their draw against Luton. While their performances against Cambridge United and Stevenage were lacklustre and lethargic, this showing had energy, intensity and quality.
They weren’t quite as slick as they were in their win against Preston North End at Deepdale, but they dominated the flow of the game and created the better chances. Their defending was, apart from a few sloppy mistakes, incredibly solid, and their pace on the counter caused their top-flight opponents a lot of issues.
Interestingly, there was no real standout performer across the 90 minutes. It felt like a cohesive team performance where everyone worked together to secure a positive result. Omari Hutchinson certainly offered a unique level of skill and agility, but his teammates managed to match his level in the latter stages of the match.
It was a really encouraging outing from the Blues.
Whose goal was it?
Ipswich’s goal against the Hatters caused some confusion at the Colchester Community Stadium as nobody could figure out who got the final touch.
Wes Burns’ cross was clearly aimed towards Nathan Broadhead in the centre of the box, but whether he actually made any contact with the ball remains to be seen. The stadium announcer declared Broadhead as the scorer, leaving Burns feeling visibly confused in the immediate aftermath.
READ MORE: Kieran McKenna's reaction to Luton draw
Ultimately, the goal won’t matter in the grand scheme of Town’s season. Broadhead will be hoping that his injury isn’t serious, meaning that he can carry his pre-season momentum into the new Championship campaign. Burns, on the other hand, will be hoping to play an important part in the second tier, having last played at that level in 2016.
You wouldn’t bet against either being in the starting line-up to face Sunderland at the Stadium of Light.
Fans flock to Colchester
Town fans were disappointed to learn that no pre-season games would be hosted at Portman Road due to the ongoing work taking place on the pitch, but the Colchester Community Stadium provided a fantastic alternative.
With Ipswich stepping in as the hosts, fans packed out the 10,000-seater stadium, making significant noise throughout the game. The atmosphere felt like that of a competitive game and Kieran McKenna appreciated the backing his side had.
"It was nice to be back in front of the supporters," he said after the match. "It made me excited, to be honest, to get back to Portman Road, to that atmosphere. I could feel that in the players tonight, we really enjoyed having the home support.
"It gives us that excitement to start the season next week and get back to Portman Road the week after."
Injuries pile up
Ipswich were able to welcome back Burns and Janoi Donacien to their team on Tuesday night, with both players featuring in the first half. However, McKenna is now facing fresh concerns elsewhere, with Broadhead pulling up shortly before half-time.
The Wales international was substituted for Marcus Harness and was seen with an ice pack taped to his right thigh, leaving many fans concerned that he could be sidelined ahead of the start of the Championship season. McKenna was quick to label the decision to bring him off as a precaution, but admitted that they will need to wait to see whether or not any damage has been done.
WATCH: Alex Jones and Ross Halls react to Town's draw against Luton
If the knock is worse than first feared, he will be one of four players to miss the Innsbruck Cup on Friday through injury. Cameron Humphreys will not travel to Austria following his concussion against Preston North End, while Massimo Luongo will also remain in Suffolk after injuring his adductor in Saturday’s defeat to Cambridge United.
Perhaps the biggest worry is Harry Clarke, who has had a long-term issue with his Achilles. McKenna confirmed that the treatment he received over the summer didn’t clear the injury, meaning that the club will have to re-evaluate the situation and decide how best to proceed with his recovery.
The beginning of the end of pre-season
Tuesday’s game was Town’s last pre-season clash on English soil, with the double-header in Innsbruck marking the end of their preparations for the new campaign.
The fixture list has been brutal, with McKenna packing in intense training sessions with difficult games and a lot of travel. It will, however, mean that his players are fully prepared for the rigours of the Championship.
Some fans argued that the team that started against Luton should be the same side that plays Sunderland at the Stadium of Light on the opening day of the season, which is certainly a valid opinion. There will be some question marks hanging over certain individuals, especially with the current injury situation, but the core of the group will likely be the same on Wearside.
Competitive matches against RB Leipzig and Werder Bremen will certainly put Ipswich in a good position to take on the Black Cats on August 6th.
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