Dave Gooderham

While many Town fans were hoping for a new signing at the other end of the field, new keeper Marton Fulop will certainly put pressure on Brian Murphy in the fight to become Ipswich’s number one. After Sunderland boss Steve Bruce revealed Fulop had left the club to play regular football, Roy Keane’s first name in his first line-up of the new season will make interesting reading.

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Lee Martin, Pablo Counago and Jon Stead failed to stamp their mark as both Ipswich Town and a Tottenham XI largely consisted of young players. The 1-0 win for Spurs was deserved although impressive performances by the likes of Troy Brown and Conor Hourihane would have done them no harm at all. In fact, it might just have sealed their places in the squad of 18 against Middlesbrough on Saturday.

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There will be mixed views over the sale of Owen Garvan to rivals Crystal Palace today, but it is clear the 22-year-old was not part of Roy Keane’s plans this season. If his departure paves the way for one or two new faces – including a striker – most fans will probably accept the transfer. Garvan, himself, admitted he just wants to start more games after a disappointing season last time out.

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While Town fans will be disappointed with the news that Giovani dos Santos is unlikely to appear in tonight’s friendly, they will be interested to see how the likes of Lee Martin and Pablo Counago get on before Saturday’s season opener at Middlesbrough. The pair, as well as Jon Stead, will need to pull out all the stops to convince Roy Keane they deserve another chance.

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Ipswich Town were joined by Premiership giants Liverpool and Everton in sending their best wishes to Gary Ablett who was taken ill at the Playford Road training ground just weeks after signing for the Suffolk side as a coach. With reports that Ablett is suffering from a form of blood cancer, a Town spokesman said: “We would ask for the family to be given the privacy they require at this difficult time.”

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Carlton Cole’s 30th minute goal proved the difference as West Ham narrowly beat Ipswich 1-0 in Town’s penultimate pre-season friendly. It was Cole’s fifth strike of the summer – and how Ipswich would love to have someone as prolific in their ranks. Once again the home fans went away wondering how their side didn’t score with Tamas Priskin and Tommy Smith the biggest culprits in an otherwise encouraging display.

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Newmarket, Histon and Leiston helped with match fitness, but today’s pre-season friendly against West Ham is the real deal. Just seven days before the Championship starts with a tricky visit to Middlesbrough, an overall performance is surely more important than a win, lose or draw. Roy Keane said: “We will be looking to move up a level in terms of preparation for what really counts and that’s Middlesbrough next weekend.”

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Roy Keane has made it clear that he bought Cardiff’s Mark Kennedy in to add experience to his youthful squad, including current left-back Shane O’Connor who may now lose his place to the 34-year-old. Another intriguing option is O’Connor moving more into a midfield role. While Town fans will hope Kennedy’s support of Michael Chopra could lead to something special.

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Ipswich Town fans will be heartened by the news that Luca Civelli should recover from his latest setback within the next two weeks after jarring his knee in the friendly win at Leiston. Elsewhere, Roy Keane predicted another busy few days but warned supporters to expect players leaving, rather than new faces on the horizon. Messrs Bruce, Garvan and Stead could all be waving goodbye to Portman Road in the very near future with only personal negotiations apparently standing in the way of the trio exiting IP1.

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Ipswich’s final match of a tour of East Anglia’s non-league sides failed to raise too many hopes for the season ahead with the Championship side having just Gareth McAuley’s 63rd minute goal to show for their efforts. Good chances were spurned by the likes of Tamas Priskin and Jon Walters, chances that cannot afford to go begging either against West Ham in Saturday’s friendly or, more importantly, at Middlesbrough in the season opener in just ten days.

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