John McGreal’s U21 outfit were narrowly beaten 1-0 at home by Anderlecht in their opening match a week ago, which saw them field senior players Cedric Kipre and Marcelino Nunez.

But the young Blues opted not to include any senior players in their side for this match, and were also without skipper Jacob Mazionis and fellow defender Oliver Wilkinson, who suffered injuries against the Belgian side.

PSV celebrate one of their goals. (Image: Ross Halls)

Their Dutch counterparts featured players who have made appearances in the Eredivisie this season for the first-team. For context, Jong PSV also play their football in the second tier of Dutch football, currently sitting 12th in a 20-team table.

They were ruthless in the first half, taking the lead after just two minutes when Ayoni Santos hit a powerful shot past Town goalkeeper Alex Noonan from a tight angle.

Santos, who has won four full caps with Cape Verde, doubled his side's lead in the eighth minute when he received the ball just outside the area before sending in a curling cross that somehow found the corner of the goal.

Josh Pitts in action for Ipswich Town U21s. (Image: Ross Halls)

PSV added a third in the 18th minute when Mikkel Bro Hansen intercepted a loose pass and put in a through ball to Shuryjano Cornecion, who dinked the ball into the back of the net. 

The visitors weren't done there as Cornecion, who is a Curacao U20 international, got himself on the scoresheet with a curling shot from 20 yards out when he was picked out by Bro Hansen, who joined PSV from Bodø/Glimt last month after making first-team appearances for the Norwegian side.

Town conceded their fifth in the 43rd minute through left-back Rivas Manuhutu, who found the bottom right corner, before shipping their sixth goal of the game on the stroke of half-time. Souleymane Sidibe, who is an England U20 international and formerly of Championship sie Stoke City, was adjudged to have been brought down inside the penalty area by Corbin Mthunzi.

Walker Shabazz-Edwards battles for the ball. (Image: Ross Halls)

Bro Hansen, who made his Champions League debut for PSV against RB Leipzig earlier this month, stepped up to take the spot kick and make it 6-0 at the interval.

The young Blues had good opportunities in the first period but didn't capitalise on their chances, with Luca Fletcher and Josh Pitts seeing their shots being saved by experienced 31-year-old goalkeeper Nick Olij, who is PSV's first-team back-up.

Town defended more resolutely in the second half but had a big mountain to climb, having been out-classed by PSV, who still dominated the ball without creating many chances.

The visitors did find their seventh of the game just after the hour-mark through Cornecion, whose effort found the far corner of the goal for his second of the match.

John McGreal speaking to his players. (Image: Ross Halls)

It was a tough test for the young Blues, who came up against an experienced PSV side. They were ruthless in their approach.

Also in their starting XI were right-back Kiliann Sildillia, who has featured twice in the Dutch top-flight this season, and Belgium U21 international midfielder Noah Fernandez, who has scored once in six games for PSV in Eredivisie, including ten times last season as they won the league title.

With hindsight, Town may feel that they should have included some senior players in this match up, with the likes of Anis Mehmeti, Kasey McAteer and Sindre Walle Egeli not getting minutes in the Premier League at the moment.

Town return to action in this competition when they host Portuguese side FC Porto at Portman Road on Friday 20th November.

They now switch their focus to the Premier League Cup as they travel to Coventry City this Friday night.

Town U21 XI: Noonan, Elliott (C) (Boakye-King 23’), Lewis, Mthunzi, Shabazz-Edwards, Doherty, Pitts (Nicolaou 70’), Compton, Mauge (Eldred 70’), Runham, Fletcher.