Defender Tommy Smith believes Ipswich are capable of enjoying a Capital One Cup run alongside their challenge for promotion to the Premier League.
Smith could be rested by boss Mick McCarthy for tonight’s first round visit to League One outfit Stevenage, although with both Aaron Cresswell and Tyrone Mings injured he could also be asked to fill in at left-back.
Regardless of whether he is involved or not, however, Smith believes Town could progress in a competition in which League Two outfit Bradford City reached Wembley last season.
Smith, 23, said: "It can be done and a couple of years ago we were in the semi-finals so there’s no reason why we can’t do that again. The goal is to win every game you play, so hopefully we can get on a little run.”
But Smith admitted he had not been practicing penalties in readiness for a possible spot-kick decider should 90 minutes of normal time and a further period of half an hour fail to provide an outcome.
He added: "No, I haven’t been doing that — hopefully it won’t get to that stage — but I’m always up for taking one if required. Why not? You’re 12 yards out and you’re favourite to score.”
Town, of course, were eliminated at the semi-final stage of the 2010/11 competition by Arsenal but Smith went on: "The league is the most important thing but if you can have a cup run as well it gets the fans in a buoyant mood as they look forward to the next scalp.
"We had a fantastic following at Reading on Saturday and it would be great if we could have the fans behind us all the way this season.”
But Smith has also suffered in the competition, as recently as last season when Town were eliminated in the second round after an extra-time defeat at Carlisle.
He recalled: "That was a bad day all round. It came just after the 6-0 defeat at Blackpool as well so it wasn’t a good couple of games for us.
"But we’re sharp at the moment and hopefully we can go to Stevenage and get a good result.”