Jason Scotland shrugged off speculation about his future to help Ipswich Town sign off their pre-season tour of Holland with a 3-1 victory over FC Den Bosch.
Manager Paul Jewell decided to field a stronger starting lineup at De Vliert than that which kicked off the 2-0 win over FC Eindhoven. Strikers Michael Chopra and Jason Scotland, who had been paired together in the second half on Tuesday, were started up front whilst Lee Bowyer joined Grant Leadbitter in midfield. Marton Fulop replaced Arran Lee-Barrett in goal whilst Carlos Edwards returned to the lineup after missing the opening fixture with injury.
Den Bosch looked a more imposing side than FC Eindhoven and the Eerste Divisie side created the first chance of the match, Benjamin van der Broek striking over the bar. Lee Martin was denied by goalkeeper Kevin Begois at the other end, who then had to save from Scotland. The Trinidadian striker then had another effort deflected away for a corner.
From the set-piece, the Blues took the lead. Captain Leadbitter swung in the corner from the right for defender Tommy Smith, who rose unmarked to head home with 22 minutes played.
Fulop was called into action again on the hour mark but it was his opposite number who was being kept the busier of the two, saving from Scotland and Leadbitter. Begois was however beaten again on 42 minutes, new man Bowyer playing a perfect pass for Jason Scotland. The 32-year-old, whom Swansea City have reportedly denied their interest in re-signing, had enjoyed an impressive first half performance and struck low to put the Blues 2-0 up at the break.
Jewell swapped things around in the second half, bringing on Nathan Ellington, Colin Healy and Jack Ainsley at the interval in place of Scotland, Bowyer and Edwards. Priskin, Aaron Cresswell and Andy Drury came on soon after in place of Chopra, Mark Kennedy and Lee Martin as the hosts began to test Fulop with a number of attempts.
Goalscorer Smith had a lucky escape when his rogue pass back to Fulop played in Jeffrey Vlug, but the Den Bosch midfielder took too long over his shot allowing the Blues keeper to make the block. The hosts did soon get a goal back however, Daan van Dinter capitalising on Fulop’s failure to deal with a corner on 75 minutes.
Town had struggled in the second half but managed to seal the win on 87 minutes, substitute Tamas Priskin striking past Begois from the edge of the box as the Blues saw out the remainder of the match to claim the second win of their pre-season tour.
Despite a poor second half performance, Ipswich will travel home from Holland with a 100% record in their pre-season campaign so far, and with Jewell having a better idea about how his new team will shape up in competition. However, he will also know that there is a great deal of work still to be done once the Blues return to England. Further signings are likely though it remains to be seen whether there will be any new arrivals ahead of Town’s next friendly match away to Cambridge United on 19 July (KO 19:45).
Ipswich: Fulop, Edwards (Ainsley 46), Delaney, Smith, Kennedy (Cresswell 63), Carson, Bowyer (Healy 46), Leadbitter, Martin (Drury 63), Chopra (Priskin 63), Scotland (Ellington 46) – Not used: Lee-Barrett, Hyam, Peters, Civelli, Hourihane.
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