Town's U21 side were thrashed 5-0 by a rampant Cardiff City side at Portman Road on Monday evening. After a fairly even opening period the visitors ran riot and scored four goals in the second half against an inexperienced Town team.
New keeper Jonathan Henly started in goal but Cameron Stewart and Alex Henshall were the only two players involved with first-team experience.
Mark Kennedy's side started well and Stewart crashed a freekick off the bar after 10 minutes, before Henshall curled an effort just wide of Luke O'Reilly's near post.
Macauley Southam flashed a header just over Henly's bar midway through the half, while at the other Stewart cut in from the left and hit a fierce drive which cannoned off the foot of O'Reilly's post.
Despite Town creating the better chances, the Welsh side opened the scoring three minutes before the break. Henly had done well parry Tyler Roche's effort but the ball fell kindly for Southam, who fired home from close range.
The visitors came close to doubling their lead moments later when Tommy O'Sullivan hit a goalbound effort which deflected off Kyle Hammond and landed just wide of the woodwork.
However, within 30 seconds of the restart Southam scored his and Cardiff's second. A low ball into the Town area from the left was miscued by Rhys Healey but the onrushing Southam took full advantage fire home at the back post.
The young Blues had a great opportunity to reduce the arrears within a minute but Shane McLoughlin somehow lifted the ball over the bar from inside the six-yard box after Dylan Connolly's knock down.
O'Sullivan blasted wide after Henly had produced a fine save to keep out Healey's volley but Town's stopper could do nothing to prevent the Bluebirds netting a third goal on 56.
The impressive Southam capitalised on some poor defending and despite pressure from George Fowler as he was bearing down on goal, the ball rolled past Henly and O'Sullivan was left with a simple finish from close range.
Healey headed an unchallenged fourth on 73 following a good cross from Roche on the right, before Town were reduced to 10 men. All three subs had already been used when centre-back Joe Robinson was withdrawn following a clash of heads.
Cardiff added their fifth with two minutes of normal time remaining when James Blanchfield was adjudged to have fouled Healey in the area. Referee Martyn Holmes pointed to the spot and Healey stepped up to send Henly the wrong way from the spot.
Henshall failed to make much of an impression throughout, although Stewart showed glimpses of quality in the first half.
Town's inexperience at this level, particularly following the substitutions in the second half, was exposed by a fluent and impressive Cardiff side that took full advantage of the chances they created.
U21s: Henly, Hammond, Bombalenga (Woolfenden 61), Blanchfield, Fowler, Robinson, Connolly, McLoughlin, Ford (Maynard 61), Stewart, Henshall (Ramadan 74). Unused: Wright, Morris.
Cardiff: O'Reilly, Barnum-Bobb, Abbruzzese, Patten, Watkins, Baker, Southam, Weymans (Burridge 72), Healey, O'Sullivan (Veale 86), Roche (Noor 81). Unused: Blaise, Wakeman. Att: 182.