Both managers praised 16-year-old Town striker Connor Wickham after the Blues progressed to round two of the Carling Cup by beating Shrewsbury on penalties after a 3-3 draw. Wickham netted two of the Town goals and was impressive throughout.

Town boss Roy Keane picked out his three top performers: "Quinner was outstanding for us, especially in the first half. Colin Healy did well and Connor showed his potential again. He worked hard, showed a good attitude and put in a mature performance for a 16-year-old.

"We have to remember he's only 16 and we have to manage him properly. It might sound silly but the boy is still growing and we have to be mindful of that and not put too much workload on him.

"I don't know how far this boy can go. It's up to him but he has great potential. He works hard, but we will look after him. It's not good for him or the club to play him every week.

“For a 16-year-old boy to play against Shrewsbury, whose centre-halves were outstanding, it was very mature.

“We have to manage him carefully. It is a big ask, which is why I have brought in another striker.”

Keane, who dismissed reports linking Town with a move for Dundee United midfielder Morgaro Gomis, felt the Blues should have put the match beyond doubt in the second half: “It was a good game for the neutral, perhaps not so much for the manager in terms of the goals we gave away.

“We should have won the game when we were 3-2 up and we should have killed the game off. That's what you get when you work with young players.

“It was a big ask for them going into extra-time, particularly for someone like Alex Bruce who had played a full game on Sunday.”

The Town manager felt that overall the game will have done his young players good: "It was a great experience for the youngsters. "The youngsters came through with flying colours and I was pleased with them. They showed a lot of determination and character to come through and we would have been bitterly disappointed to have lost out in the end."

Shrews boss Paul Simpson wasn’t too disappointed to lose: "After Saturday's performance we were even better, but we also learnt that if you give players from a higher league room, you'll get punished.

"There are so many positives that we can take out of the game and the positive for me is the way that the players stuck to their tasks. Ipswich are a very good side and we were disciplined, stuck to our jobs and worked really hard throughout.

"Our fitness levels were really good throughout and you saw a few of their players going down with cramp late on and we were still going strong.

"We've come up against a team of very good footballers. Regardless of the fact that they might not be their first choice, they have shown that they can play football.

"The likes of Healy, Garvan and the young striker Wickham, and what a talent he looks, are some very good players.

"Wickham looks like an outstanding prospect. I'd like to check on his passport - I can't believe he's only 16!"

Elsewhere, it was mixed night for ex-Town strikers. Jordan Rhodes netted twice on his first start for Huddersfield as they defeated Stockport 3-1, while Danny Haynes was sent off after receiving two yellow cards as Bristol City won 1-0 at Brentford.

Photo: Action Images

Havit_Blue added 08:58 - Aug 12 Still think we should have kept Rhodes!!!
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moomoosereni added 09:00 - Aug 12 Whilst I'm disappointed that we let Rhodes go, at least we have another young lad here who appears easily as talented, if not more so! Encouraging words from RK too, won't overplay the youngsters, but clearly wants to give them their chance to show what their made off. Looking forward to Saturday!
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newburyblue added 09:02 - Aug 12 I'll climb down off the fence and say well done Keano and the youngsters. Could have back-fired but he put his faith in them and this game will give them valuable experience. Hopefully this will also mean that the 1st choice lads will be fresh and raring to go against Leicester. Fair play to Quinn for fighting hard for a 1st team place and as for Wickham... this guy looks like he could go all the way - need to look after him this season though.

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emergencylime added 09:06 - Aug 12 Still sinking in that we won a penalty shoot-out!
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Back_The_Boss added 09:28 - Aug 12 He is definatley a star for the future. He is scoring goals for fun at the moment.
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FriskinPriskin1 added 09:32 - Aug 12 We need to keep quiet about Connor, or Charlton may come a sniffing. OH!
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el_nino added 09:58 - Aug 12 Phil, what's the situation with Connor? Has he signed a pro contract, as I was under the impression that you could only do that at 17? Could bigger clubs start sniffing around, and sign him for a pittance, just like Spurs and John Bostock?
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motch2009 added 10:06 - Aug 12 i think he will stay and be a big hit this season, still shame to see Rhodes go as we could have accomodated both but great to see such a mature performance from a 16 year old!!! Lets just hope he continues to get chances, we dont want another Bowditch situation, i remember him scoring a couple a few seasons back and then being linked to Liverpool!!!
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BlueFinn added 10:33 - Aug 12 "I don't know how far this boy can go" ..hopefully he want grow much taller now, present height is almost ideal I think
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BurleyForever added 10:41 - Aug 12 If we get the World Cup in 2018 this lad will be at the centre of it & hopefully still at Portman Road.
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bostonusablue added 10:55 - Aug 12 Wickham is the exact reason why Keane let Rhodes go. Those of you who were slagging off RK should retract those statements. I just hope that we can hold onto Wickham before one of the big boys come in with a big offer that we cannot refuse. I cannot believe how big he is; I bet no one took his dinner money at school.
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blue_em_away added 11:19 - Aug 12 HEAR HEAR bostonusablue
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Country_Boy added 11:22 - Aug 12 I went to school with Connor Wickham - he was a couple of years below me, but as big as anyone in my year!! I remember when I was a prefect, I had to tell the lad to do up his top button once - he did, but had he said no, I don't think I'd have argued with him!!!!! He's gonna be a top player though. I'd be confident we can hold onto him, because his dad is an army major, who also is a big time Ipswich Town fan. In fact it was his dad who told him to concentrate on Ipswich a few years back, when Manchester United were sniffing around.

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welshtractorboy added 11:26 - Aug 12 Went to game last night,young lads did fine,Wickam is something special,and can only get better and better if managed. Well done Upson for taking a pen. Walters looked bit knackered,Wright good going forward but once again gives ball away to often. Tommy Smith,played well again will only get better. Lambe drifted in and out of game,he will improve. Healy and O Connor did boss the midfield,but did worry when gaps appeared late on,a good side would have punished us. Well done to the "Salops" for joining in for Sir BR. Question ---Who was the piss head?

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bleedblue added 11:49 - Aug 12 Wickham looks like a Rooney in the making! The hardest thing will be to play him and not get a big team sniffing, but as we will be getting promoted this season, it shouldn't be a problem! Rhides is going to do well, we just need to accept that we hav elet him go, but it was for a good price at his level of development and age, get over it peeps! Other youngsters seemed useful last night too, Lambe being one that sounded like he stood out, another great prospect! So glad Keano is up for playing youngsters, JM's biggest fault!!

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blue_floyd added 12:32 - Aug 12 All hail the boy Wickham. What a prospect! I agree we should have kept Rhodes, But that's water under the bridge now. Let's just hope we can hold on to Connor.
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lphughes added 13:14 - Aug 12 y r u moanin about rhodes still he has gone now nuttin we can do yer it was a shame but good luck to the lad we still have young tallent
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bkd added 13:15 - Aug 12 brilliant player i hope roy plays him against leicester, big name for the future
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jesus added 13:31 - Aug 12 Wickham's being exhibited so it's down to the club and the fans and his own choice. He looks happy enough and I doubt he'll be wanting to go anywhere for at least a couple of years. That's not based on anything other than the fact that Ipswich consistently do one thing well- fostering young players, so I'm not worried about losing him...yet. Thought it was great that Royo selected a team of the youngsters (50% teenagers) and I personally hope he does it throughout the entire cup no matter where we end up. That could make for legendary stuff. Rhodes looked like a star in the making and as the manager said it was a difficult choice. He has a lot of potential. Maybe if we get promoted we can buy him back!

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StavangerBlue added 13:37 - Aug 12 Fans need to remember that Stockport have been through the mill over the last year and their team is very poor. Not a fair rule to measure against IMHO. I'm in favour of giving the youngsters a go. (1) great experience (2) gives them hunger (3) shows them they have a chance whereas under JM it didn't and (4) gives the team a squad feel rather than a first team only. Roy seems to be emphasising the TEAM rather than individuals, a bit like Sir Alex (Man Utd are a different animal though), BUT Roy is right. We will only gain promotion as a TEAM. We need players who will accept to sit on the bench knowing that they will be asked to do their part when it's required.

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Lightningboy added 13:46 - Aug 12 Still baffled as to why we sold Rhodes and didn't just loan him out for the season..this is gonna come back to haunt us,trust me. Well done Connor though.
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ITFCHollywoodGT added 14:25 - Aug 12 Why does it say on Green'un website that he got the match ball... Didn't think you'd get on for scoring two and one in a shoot-out...?
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ITFCHollywoodGT added 14:31 - Aug 12 BTW...StavangerBlue - we didn't play Stockport!!!
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readtheleaguetable added 14:31 - Aug 12 Stavanger: Stockport may be going through the mill, but SHREWSBURY are a good side and expect to be promoted.
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ITFCson added 15:35 - Aug 12 Sorry to also mention it but although maybe wickham is a brighter propect than rhodes i dont think there was any harm in keeping both, that said i dont think we will struggle scoring goals this season and i have a tenner e/w on rhodes to be league 1 top goalscorer :p
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