Ipswich Town U21s suffered their first defeat of the season as they were beaten 1-0 by Sheffield United at Playford Road this afternoon.
The young Blues went into this game with a unbeaten start to their Professional Development League campaign after a 6-1 opening day win over Birmingham City and a 3-3 draw with Burnley.
John McGreal's side were looking likely to opening the scoring with Matty Roberts testing the keeper with a free-kick and Jacob Mazionis hitting the cross bar with a header from a corner.
However, despite Town being the side on top, it was the visitors who took the lead on the stroke of half-time when Billy Blacker arrowed a shot inside the near post.
It was a cagey second half with not many chances as Town were looking for an equaliser, with Tommy Taylor coming closest when his effort deflected just over the bar.
Moments later, the Blades could have made it 2-0 on the counter-attack but Town's keeper Henry Gray did well to deny them when he rushed out to make a brilliant save with his stomach.
Town were pushing to find a leveller but were unable to break the visitors' defence who escaped Suffolk with all three points.
Overall, it was a frustrating afternoon for the young Blues who dominated most of the game but their final ball let them down as they were unable to really test the Blades' keeper.
There were plenty of positives to take from a sunny afternoon as they still played some good football, with Rio Morgan putting in a impressive display on the right.
It was also your writer's first time seeing new left-back Josh Lewis in action, who joined from Brighton this summer and played well throughout the 90 minutes.
The new Town academy director Dmitri Halajko was watching on too. He who was recently appointed after spending the last two seasons working as Sporting Director at Colchester United.
Former Town captain Luke Chambers was in the crowd and among the Blades subs they had Zach Giggs, son of Ryan.
The young Blues will look to return to winning ways when they travel Cheshire to face Crewe at the Mornflake Stadium next Monday.
Town U21s: Gray, Babb, Lewis, Mazionis, Ayoola, Onuchukwu (Turner), Morgan, Okunowo, Boatswain (O Davis), T Taylor, Roberts.
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