Cressy and Marriott go close in entertaining game at Portman Road

A crowd of close on 9000 watched Town and West Ham contest an entertaining 90 minutes at Portman Road.



Aaron Cresswell was back at the home of Blues just two weeks after leaving the Club for West Ham and was immediately in the action, sending over a cross that was arrowed for Carlton Cole until Tyrone Mings’ intervention.



Cheikhou Kouyate headed over, then Stewart Downing failed to trouble Dean Gerken with a strike from distance.



It was Town who had the best chance of the first-half though, Jack Marriott showing a good turn of pace to leave the Hammers’ defence in his wake, the striker dragging his shot wide of Jussi Jaaskelainen but inches past the far post, with Frank Nouble just short of diverting the ball in.



Cresswell was always prominent for the visitors and his cross was deflected on to the Town bar, Cole then denied from close range by a combination of Elliott Hewitt and Teddy Bishop.



Former Town loanee Mark Noble sent a right foot curler just wide before Hammers had their best chance of the half, Matt Jarvis’ shot lacking power though when he was through on the left.



Both sides fielded different teams for the second-half, Town fans getting a first look at new recruit, Bartosz Bialkowski. The Polish ‘keeper was soon called into action with a smart save from Seb Lletget.



Bialkowski saved well again from Lletget’s left foot, the ‘keeper showing a strong left arm to beat away the strike from 15 yards.



Ricardo Vaz Te should have put the Premier League side in front eight minutes from time but sidefooted wide after good play down the left





Town first-half XI: Gerken, Hewitt, Berra, Clarke, Mings, Stewart, Skuse, Bishop, Henshall, Marriott, Nouble.





Town second-half X1: Bialkowski, Parr, Chambers, Smith, Wyatt, Anderson, Hyam, Veseli, Tabb, Murphy, Taylor. Subs: McQueen, Lawrence, Crowe.

Att: 8976







