Tractor-Boys.com

Town boss Mick McCarthy has named a team which is a mix of first-team regulars and fringe players for the first half of this afternoon’s opening pre-season friendly against Shelbourne at Tolka Park (KO 3pm). The Blues manager will play a different XI in the second half.

Striker Daryl Murphy doesn't return for pre-season until Tuesday having been at the European Championships, while Myles Kenlock missed the trip due to injury.

New signing Adam Webster travelled but won't be involved as he recovers from his ankle injury, while Giles Coke stayed in Suffolk having undergone knee surgery at the end of last season.

First-half team: Gerken, Chambers, Robinson, Digby, Berra, Bishop, Skuse, Bru, McDonnell, Pitman, McLoughlin.

Brett Pitman and Freddie Sears netted a goal in each half for the Blues as Town began their pre-season programme with a 2-1 victory over Dublin side Shelbourne at Tolka Park. Pitman smashed home a 25-yard screamer in the 28th minute, Sears added the second on 62 before Dylan Grimes pulled one back for the home side from the penalty spot with 13 minutes remaining.


Boss Mick McCarthy named a different XI for each half, both a mix of first-team and fringe players.

The Blues dominated the game from the off but without creating an early opportunity. On nine Teddy Bishop made a mazy run across the area but was unable to get a shot in on goal.

Two minutes later, Bishop played a clever one-two with Irish U18 international Shane McLoughlin inside the area and stabbed goalwards but the ball caught a defender and deflected wide.

From the resultant corner, the ball was cleared to the edge of the box from where Bishop headed back just past Shelbourne keeper Greg Murray’s right post.

On 21 Kevin Bru sent a high ball into the area from deep which Pitman nodded over the keeper but wide.

Town continued to have the upper hand and in the 28th minute they went in front. Bishop fed Pitman 25 yards out just to the right and last season’s 11-goal top scorer smashed a superb strike beyond keeper Murray’s right hand and into the net.

Three minutes later the former AFC Bournemouth man turned a low Bishop freekick in from the right over the bar from the edge of the box.

There were no further chances before the end of a half which the Blues had unsurprisingly dominated. Town had created one or two chances in addition to Pitman’s excellent strike with Bishop creating most of the danger.

The Blues will switch their entire XI for the second half but with David McGoldrick not involved, presumably having suffered a knock during training at Carton House during the week.

Nine minutes after the restart Freddie Sears played in Ben Morris on the left of the area following a quickly-taken Town freekick but the 17-year-old striker’s shot was blocked.

A minute later, Andre Dozzell deftly threaded in Sears but the former Colchester man stood on the ball.

Town doubled their lead with their first real chance of the second half in the 62nd minute. Shelbourne failed to deal with a cross in from the right, Morris tried to find space to shoot but instead fed Sears to his right, who hit a low shot into the net.

Five minutes Cameron Stewart sent Sears clear in space on the right but Shels keeper Greg Murray quickly came off his line to block. From the resultant corner, Jonathan Douglas’s header was blocked.

In the 73rd minute, Stewart went close from distance but his shot flew just over the bar.

Four minutes later, the home side pulled a goal back from the penalty spot when Tommy Smith was somewhat harshly adjudged to have handled Nial O’Neill’s cross. Dylan Grimes sent Bartosz Bialkowski the wrong way to register the home side’s first goal in Town’s four visits to Tolka Park.

As the game moved into its final minutes Monty Paterson, on as a late sub, smashed a shot against a defender.

The Blues were more dominant than the scoreline would suggest, having several other decent opportunities, while Shelbourne’s penalty was their only shot on target.

However, results and scorelines are far from the primary concern during pre-season and manager McCarthy will be pleased to see his players get 45 minutes under their belts. Town are next in action at Barnet at Wednesday.

First-half team: Gerken, Chambers, Robinson, Digby, Berra, Bishop, Skuse, Bru, McDonnell, Pitman, McLoughlin.

Second-half team: Bialkowski, Emmanuel, Malarczyk, T Smith, Knudsen, Dozzell (Blanchfield 81), Hyam, Douglas, Stewart, Sears, Morris (Paterson 81).

hallamblue wrote:No Didsy then.......injured??

The Blues will switch their entire XI for the second half but with David McGoldrick not involved, presumably having suffered a knock during training at Carton House during the week.

marko69 wrote:

The Blues will switch their entire XI for the second half but with David McGoldrick not involved, presumably having suffered a knock during training at Carton House during the week.

FFS! Someone send the tea laddie to the chemists and get all the f**king cotton wool available. Jaysus H!

bluemike wrote:

Brett Pitman and Freddie Sears netted a goal in each half for the Blues as Town began their pre-season programme with a 2-1 victory over Dublin side Shelbourne at Tolka Park. Pitman smashed home a 25-yard screamer in the 28th minute, Sears added the second on 62 before Dylan Grimes pulled one back for the home side from the penalty spot with 13 minutes remaining.


Boss Mick McCarthy named a different XI for each half, both a mix of first-team and fringe players.

The Blues dominated the game from the off but without creating an early opportunity. On nine Teddy Bishop made a mazy run across the area but was unable to get a shot in on goal.

Two minutes later, Bishop played a clever one-two with Irish U18 international Shane McLoughlin inside the area and stabbed goalwards but the ball caught a defender and deflected wide.

From the resultant corner, the ball was cleared to the edge of the box from where Bishop headed back just past Shelbourne keeper Greg Murray’s right post.

On 21 Kevin Bru sent a high ball into the area from deep which Pitman nodded over the keeper but wide.

Town continued to have the upper hand and in the 28th minute they went in front. Bishop fed Pitman 25 yards out just to the right and last season’s 11-goal top scorer smashed a superb strike beyond keeper Murray’s right hand and into the net.

Three minutes later the former AFC Bournemouth man turned a low Bishop freekick in from the right over the bar from the edge of the box.

There were no further chances before the end of a half which the Blues had unsurprisingly dominated. Town had created one or two chances in addition to Pitman’s excellent strike with Bishop creating most of the danger.

The Blues will switch their entire XI for the second half but with David McGoldrick not involved, presumably having suffered a knock during training at Carton House during the week.

Nine minutes after the restart Freddie Sears played in Ben Morris on the left of the area following a quickly-taken Town freekick but the 17-year-old striker’s shot was blocked.

A minute later, Andre Dozzell deftly threaded in Sears but the former Colchester man stood on the ball.

Town doubled their lead with their first real chance of the second half in the 62nd minute. Shelbourne failed to deal with a cross in from the right, Morris tried to find space to shoot but instead fed Sears to his right, who hit a low shot into the net.

Five minutes Cameron Stewart sent Sears clear in space on the right but Shels keeper Greg Murray quickly came off his line to block. From the resultant corner, Jonathan Douglas’s header was blocked.

In the 73rd minute, Stewart went close from distance but his shot flew just over the bar.

Four minutes later, the home side pulled a goal back from the penalty spot when Tommy Smith was somewhat harshly adjudged to have handled Nial O’Neill’s cross. Dylan Grimes sent Bartosz Bialkowski the wrong way to register the home side’s first goal in Town’s four visits to Tolka Park.

As the game moved into its final minutes Monty Paterson, on as a late sub, smashed a shot against a defender.

The Blues were more dominant than the scoreline would suggest, having several other decent opportunities, while Shelbourne’s penalty was their only shot on target.

However, results and scorelines are far from the primary concern during pre-season and manager McCarthy will be pleased to see his players get 45 minutes under their belts. Town are next in action at Barnet at Wednesday.

First-half team: Gerken, Chambers, Robinson, Digby, Berra, Bishop, Skuse, Bru, McDonnell, Pitman, McLoughlin.

Second-half team: Bialkowski, Emmanuel, Malarczyk, T Smith, Knudsen, Dozzell (Blanchfield 81), Hyam, Douglas, Stewart, Sears, Morris (Paterson 81).

derick_ipsw wrote:

bluemike wrote:

Brett Pitman and Freddie Sears netted a goal in each half for the Blues as Town began their pre-season programme with a 2-1 victory over Dublin side Shelbourne at Tolka Park. Pitman smashed home a 25-yard screamer in the 28th minute, Sears added the second on 62 before Dylan Grimes pulled one back for the home side from the penalty spot with 13 minutes remaining.


Boss Mick McCarthy named a different XI for each half, both a mix of first-team and fringe players.

The Blues dominated the game from the off but without creating an early opportunity. On nine Teddy Bishop made a mazy run across the area but was unable to get a shot in on goal.

Two minutes later, Bishop played a clever one-two with Irish U18 international Shane McLoughlin inside the area and stabbed goalwards but the ball caught a defender and deflected wide.

From the resultant corner, the ball was cleared to the edge of the box from where Bishop headed back just past Shelbourne keeper Greg Murray’s right post.

On 21 Kevin Bru sent a high ball into the area from deep which Pitman nodded over the keeper but wide.

Town continued to have the upper hand and in the 28th minute they went in front. Bishop fed Pitman 25 yards out just to the right and last season’s 11-goal top scorer smashed a superb strike beyond keeper Murray’s right hand and into the net.

Three minutes later the former AFC Bournemouth man turned a low Bishop freekick in from the right over the bar from the edge of the box.

There were no further chances before the end of a half which the Blues had unsurprisingly dominated. Town had created one or two chances in addition to Pitman’s excellent strike with Bishop creating most of the danger.

The Blues will switch their entire XI for the second half but with David McGoldrick not involved, presumably having suffered a knock during training at Carton House during the week.

Nine minutes after the restart Freddie Sears played in Ben Morris on the left of the area following a quickly-taken Town freekick but the 17-year-old striker’s shot was blocked.

A minute later, Andre Dozzell deftly threaded in Sears but the former Colchester man stood on the ball.

Town doubled their lead with their first real chance of the second half in the 62nd minute. Shelbourne failed to deal with a cross in from the right, Morris tried to find space to shoot but instead fed Sears to his right, who hit a low shot into the net.

Five minutes Cameron Stewart sent Sears clear in space on the right but Shels keeper Greg Murray quickly came off his line to block. From the resultant corner, Jonathan Douglas’s header was blocked.

In the 73rd minute, Stewart went close from distance but his shot flew just over the bar.

Four minutes later, the home side pulled a goal back from the penalty spot when Tommy Smith was somewhat harshly adjudged to have handled Nial O’Neill’s cross. Dylan Grimes sent Bartosz Bialkowski the wrong way to register the home side’s first goal in Town’s four visits to Tolka Park.

As the game moved into its final minutes Monty Paterson, on as a late sub, smashed a shot against a defender.

The Blues were more dominant than the scoreline would suggest, having several other decent opportunities, while Shelbourne’s penalty was their only shot on target.

However, results and scorelines are far from the primary concern during pre-season and manager McCarthy will be pleased to see his players get 45 minutes under their belts. Town are next in action at Barnet at Wednesday.

First-half team: Gerken, Chambers, Robinson, Digby, Berra, Bishop, Skuse, Bru, McDonnell, Pitman, McLoughlin.

Second-half team: Bialkowski, Emmanuel, Malarczyk, T Smith, Knudsen, Dozzell (Blanchfield 81), Hyam, Douglas, Stewart, Sears, Morris (Paterson 81).

I thought he had gone to Southend? (see above)

bluemike wrote:He will never play for us again.

Shed on tour wrote:

bluemike wrote:He will never play for us again.

Thank feck for that!
What game was it last season where he was like a rabbit caught in headlights?

bluemike wrote:

Shed on tour wrote:

bluemike wrote:He will never play for us again.

Thank feck for that!
What game was it last season where he was like a rabbit caught in headlights?

I think it was a behind closed doors friendly against the Dagenham Girl Pipers.