Leasing.com (EFL) Trophy 2019/20
     Portman Road, Ipswich, Suffolk
         Group A South, Round 1

    Tuesday 3rd September 2019, 7.45pm

    IPSWICH TOWN     V     SPURS U-21
    (Blue/White)          (White/Blue)
      4-4-1-1                4-1-4-1

        2(0)                   1(1)

Ipswich:- Norris; Donacien, Wilson, Edwards, Nolan(C), Roberts(Simpson 67), El Mizouni, Woolfenden, Kenlock, Dobra, Huws.

Unused Subs:– Wright, Rowe, Downes, Vincent-Young, Ndaba, Clements

Scorer:– Roberts 46, 66

Manager:– Paul Lambert

Spurs:– Whiteman; Eyoma(C), Oakley-Boothe(Patterson 69), Tracey, White(Asante 86), Hinds, Lyons-Foster, Markanday, Shashoua, Richards, Okedina

Unused Subs:– De Bie; Dinzeyi, Clarke, Thorpe

Scorer:– Shashoua 8

Booked:– Okedina 76 (Pull)

Coach:- Wayne Burnett

Attendance:– 537

Referee:– Craig Hicks
Assistants:– Gareth Viccars & Paul Lister
Fourth Official:– Gregory Read

It was a warm overcast evening in East Anglia for the opening match in the group for the EFL Trophy which was formerly known as the Checkatrade but is now sponsored by Leasing.com. This has not been a good tournament for Spurs as they had only won one of seven games so far.

Spurs lined up with Whiteman in goal behind Eyoma and Lyons-Foster with Okedina at right back and Hinds on the left. White anchored the midfield with Oakley-Boothe and Shashoua ahead of him. They were flanked by Markanday on the right and Tracey on the left in support of Richards up front. Only Maghoma was missing from the U-23 game against Chelsea on Friday which maybe due to the knock he received in the game. Ipswich, sitting top of their Division, introduced some players for their first starts alongside regular starters. Substitute Vincent-Young was a former Spurs youth player.

Spurs defended the South end in the first half and began with their open passing style of play. The home side were also open and pressed high to more than match the visitors. Spurs struck first when Markanday picked up a clearance and played in Tracey on the left. He gave the ball to Oakley-Boothe who played in Shashoua to shoot through Norris for the lead.

Roberts fired over before Oakley-Boothe played in Tracey to draw a save. Wilson had a free header from a free kick that was wide of the far post before an effort by El Mizouni went over the bar. Whiteman saved from Dobra for a corner and Edwards fired over. Oakley-Boothe drew a save when played in by Shashoua before Richards intercepted a back pass and went round the keeper but hit over from a tight angle. The last chance fell to Roberts who fired over from Edwards' pass.

There were no changes for the start of the second half which saw Ipswich step up their high press. When Lyons-Foster failed to clear, Dobra got round the back on the right and hit a low cross that was put away by Roberts for the equaliser.

Spurs were forced onto the back foot as Dobra fired wide of the near post and Woolfenden was wide of the other post but got a corner. El Mizouni had a header saved before Oakley-Boothe fired wide. In a repeat of the first goal Dobra got behind on the right and pulled the ball back for Roberts to finish. Roberts was replaced with new signing Simpson while Patterson came on for Oakley-Boothe in midfield.

Edwards fired wide before Okedina picked up the only booking of the match when he pulled back Huws. Huws hit a free kick over before Simpson drew a save when played in by Dobra. Tracey was played through by White but he was not able to beat Norris. As time slipped away, Asante replaced White as Spurs looked for a second goal and that chance came as the game entered added time. Markanday's ball came off two defenders before dropping for Asante who hit it on the turn, only to see it go wide of the far post. Man of the match Dobra had another effort saved by Whiteman before the final whistle.

Spurs' youngsters held their own in an open first half but got caught out in the second half and failed to raise their game as the home side stepped up their pressure. Colchester United are our next opponents, and they beat Gillingham 3-2 to top the group. The visit to Colchester will be two weeks after the first team play them in the Carabao Cup.

Ray

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