Former Blues midfielder Lee Martin struck the decisive penalty as Town were beaten 4-2 in a shoot-out by League Two Exeter City following a 1-1 draw to crash out of the Carabao Cup at the first round stage. Kayden Jackson put the Blues ahead in the first half but another ex-Town player Troy Brown equalised in the second to leave the scores level at full-time. Teddy Bishop and Trevoh Chalobah missed their spot-kicks for the Blues before Martin won the tie for the Grecians.

Boss Paul Hurst made three changes with striker Jackson and midfielder Tayo Edun making their full Town debuts, and Freddie Sears returning to the XI.

Cole Skuse and Ellis Harrison dropped to the bench, while Gwion Edwards missed out with a minor quad problem.

Bishop, who last played on Boxing Day, and Danny Rowe were among the subs for the first time this season.

Exeter included two ex-Blues, winger Martin, who was making his full debut for the Grecians, and central defender Brown.

Town started positively and as on Saturday passed the ball around confidently. On six, after good work from Edun, Jonas Knudsen crossed deep from the left but Craig Woodman nodded away ahead of Jon Nolan.

Having struggled to get hold of the ball in the early stages, Exeter began to get on top and in the 15th minute ex-Blue Martin struck a curling effort from 25 yards which Toto Nsiala blocked, although it looked to be going wide in any case.

Town quickly regained the upper hand and on 17 a Knudsen cross was cleared out to Chalobah, whose volley wasn’t too far wide of Grecians’ keeper Christy Pym’s right post.

Chances were rare occurrences but on 26 Janoi Donacien broke into the right of the box and flicked the ball over Pym across the six-yard box but no Town player was on hand to add the final touch and Aaron Martin cleared.

Exeter should have taken the lead on the half hour when Lee Martin was sent away behind the Blues’ backline and crossed to Matt Jay at the far post but the sliding striker somehow scuffed the ball wide when it seemed easier to score.

With eight minutes of the half remaining, Town went in front. Edun skipped past a couple of Exeter players then as he reached halfway sent Jackson away down the left.

The £1.6 million signing from Accrington cut in virtually along the touchline and looked set to cut back to any one of a number of team-mates but instead smashed a shot into the net off Pym at his near post with the keeper covering the cross.

Whether Jackson was shooting or crossing was the subject of debate, however, the 24-year-old appeared to have noticed Pym straying away from his post and had tried something similar from the other flank earlier in the game.

The Blues were a more confident outfit having gone in front and might have doubled their lead just before half-time when a cross ran out to Nolan 12 yards out from where he hit a shot on the turn which was deflected wide off Jake Taylor.

Soon after, the half-time whistle went with the Blues having been in control for the most part, although with Exeter having had the game’s best chance up to Town’s goal through Jay, who really ought to have put his team in front.

As in their previous two games, Town had been more comfortable on the ball than was the case in previous seaosn and played it around slickly at times, with Edun catching the eye, however, without creating too many clear-cut opportunities.

Jordan Spence replaced Donacien ahead of the start of the second half, the right-back presumably having picked up an injury.

The home side went close to an equaliser in the 55th minute when sub Archie Collins broke into the area and hit a shot which deflected into the side-netting off Knudsen. From the corner, Aaron Martin flicked a header wide.

Exeter weren’t too far away again on 59 when Hiram Boateng sent in a dangerous low ball from the left but sub Tristan Abrahams was unable to get a touch at the near post.

Town threatened for the first time since the break in the 62nd minute when Spence sent Jackson away on the right but the goalscorer’s low ball flew behind Edun.

But two minutes later, the Grecians equalised and via one of their former Blues. Jack Sparkes’s low freekick from the right somehow made it into the six-yard box where Bartosz Bialkowski desperately stuck out a toe. However, the keeper was only able to send it straight up in the air and Brown nodded into the net from an inch or so out.

Two minutes after the goal Bishop replaced Sears, then Grecians skipper Jake Taylor was booked for a foul on Nolan.

As the game moved into its final quarter of an hour, Jackson was sent away by Spence and cut the ball back to Nolan, who shot not too far over the bar from the edge of the box. On 78 Rowe took over from Ward.

Edun then shot well over from 20 yards, prior to Blues fitness coach Nathan Winder being shown a yellow card - with coaching staff receiving cautions for the first time this season - for dissent, referee Brett Huxtable having given a freekick to Town when the Blues were still in possession and breaking forward.

Jackson was crowded out as he broke into the area on 81, then Knudsen and Nsiala were both yellow-carded, the Dane for dissent having conceded a freekick and the former Shrewsbury defender for a foul on the edge of the box. From the resultant freekick, Sparkes shot straight at Bialkowski.

Town came close to winning it in the 85th minute when Jackson laid the ball back to Edun, who hit a powerful strike which Pym did well to bat away.

The game was becoming ever more open with penalties looming and two minutes later Abrahams struck a shot across Bialkowski from an angle on the left which the keeper saved low and Chalobah cleared.

In the final minute of scheduled time, Spence appeared to aim a stamp towards Woodman after being rather unnecessarily clattered from behind on the touchline but fortunately appeared not to make contact and little was made of the incident.

Moments after the board was raised signalling four additional minutes, the Blues went close again. Nolan hit a cross-shot from the left and Woodman did well to force the ball out ahead of Bishop inside the six-yard box.

Neither side was able to find a winner in the remaining minutes of an evenly-balanced scrappier second half and the game went to a penalty shoot-out in the traditional format rather than the ABBA system used in the competition last year.

Town got off to the perfect start with Bialkowski saving Taylor’s kick down to his left, but Bishop saw his penalty saved by Pym having hit the ball too close to the Exeter keeper.

Bialkowski almost saved from Pierce Sweeney, pushing his penalty on to the inside of the post but the ball eventually found the net.

Skipper Chambers made it 1-1 with a confidently struck kick, then on-loan Norwich striker Tristan Abrahams put the Grecians back into the lead with a spot-kick into the roof of the net.

Jackson sent Pym the wrong way to make it 2-2 before Collins smashed his penalty home to make it 3-2 to the League Two side.

Chalobah blasted his spot-kick well wide to leave ex-Blue Lee Martin with the chance to put his old club out of the Carabao Cup, which he duly did, beating Bialkowski with a well-struck penalty.

Having just about shaded the first half, Town faded after the break, as they have done in all their games so far this season, and allowed Exeter back into the game with Brown’s goal which was a very poor one to concede from a Blues' perspective.

Another Town cup campaign comes to an early end with the Blues still looking for their first win of the season ahead of Aston Villa’s visit to Portman Road on Saturday and then a similarly tough-looking trip to Derby next Tuesday.

Exeter City: Pym, Sweeney, Brown, A Martin, Woodman, Boateng (Sparkes 62), Tillson, Taylor (c), L Martin, Jay (Collins 52), Stockley (Abrahams 52). Unused: Hamon, Forte, Oates, Croll.

Town: Bialkowski, Donacien (Spence 46), Nsiala, Chambers (c), Knudsen, Chalobah, Edun, Sears (Bishop 66), Nolan, Ward (Rowe 78), Jackson. Unused: Gerken, Skuse, Harrison, Kenlock. Referee: Brett Huxtable (Devon). Att: 3,675 (Town: 351).

Photo: Action Images

blueboy1981 added 22:41 - Aug 14 ....... no apologies for posting it three times either.
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BraveDave added 22:41 - Aug 14 Can't believe this has started already. After the toxic arguments on here last season, whatever your views, I at least thought we would all get behind this manager. Yet, only 3 games in and fans seem to think laying into Hurst is the right thing to do. Stop pretending that anyone isn't disappointed with tonight's result. We all are. But we all agreed that this would be a tough season, but that we would eventually turn the corner. We have played 2 league matches. Drew one which we could have won, and lost one which we absolutely should have won. We have not been hammered by anyone and our team has not looked out of its depth (even though they have only just met each other and are new to the Championship). There's a difference between being worried about how things will pan out and deciding to call for Hurst's head after 3 matches. I suspect we are all worried, but only a few are stupid enough to jump ship at this stage. In the big scheme of things, tonight really doesn't matter. Let's get behind the team on Saturday - when this clicks, it's going to be a fantastic ride!

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algarvefan added 22:41 - Aug 14 I think the manager has some tough choices to make, he knows he's in charge of a squad of players, a number of whom have hardly been here a week. It will take time for players to achieve peak fitness, there was obviously a fitness problem for some under MM. Players will take time to get used to each other, we haven't been hammered (yet) & there are positive signs. I was worried tonight by Knudsen and Chambers who both had off nights and yet again by the isolation of the 'loan striker', both new strikers have been left isolated and looked poor on it. We need more creativity in midfield and a player who can score, we have that Paul, they are not too young, play them, or own youngsters.

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Miles added 22:45 - Aug 14 Awful game of football and anyone there will agree with that. All that being said, I can at least try and see what Hurst is trying to do. Whether that works or not is yet to be seen. Players need to gel and we need to improve quickly. Frustrated at what I've just witnessed but trying to think positively. Hurst said he'd take it seriously. His line up suggests he did. We were just very poor. Interesting thought. Had we won the penalty shootout would the majority of fans who weren't even there be panicking like they are now? It was bloody awful though I have to say

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runaround added 22:46 - Aug 14 Embarrassing result. Club desperately needs a win but hard to see where that's coming from
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Langdon_Blue added 22:47 - Aug 14 Just watched Hurst's post match interview. Although he gave an honest opinion that the players did not give him 100% and described how embarrassed he is about the display, he seems completely at a loss with what to do about it after just 3 games which is alarming. Desperately want him to succeed not only as an Ipswich supporter but because he seems a genuine person who wants to please and entertain the fans. Let's hope he can get the players to rally for the Villa game, but as he said himself a repeat performance and we will get battered. He has handed a lot of lower league players a chance to play at a higher level, the least they can do to rest him is give it everything on Saturday.

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Langdon_Blue added 22:49 - Aug 14 *Repay him rather than rest.
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GTRKing added 22:50 - Aug 14 Town fans are a bloody joke.. It's only been 3 games... Give it till Nov/Dec then you can all be worried Lets fully Support the team on sat and get Portman Road Rocking We Gave Mick 5 years and he did a good Job... I know at the end things got Sour and a change was needed so hopefully things go well
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dirtydingusmagee added 22:52 - Aug 14 it is worrying when you think of the teams we have played so far ,they should have been confidence boosters think next few games could really expose us, praying im wrong, but it dosnt look good.
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Dog added 22:56 - Aug 14 At least we spent more than spurs in the transfer window!!!
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WirralBlue added 22:56 - Aug 14 We all wanted rid of MM. We all wanted something young and up coming who wasn't on the managerial merry go round. We all wanted hungry lower league signings. And this is what we have. I am not happy with our start. I wish we had won our first three gsmez. But we haven't. I am old enough to remember Ipswich under Bobby Robson. We used to start virtually every season slowly. Let's get behind the team and look forwards

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WirralBlue added 22:57 - Aug 14 We all wanted rid of MM. We all wanted something young and up coming who wasn't on the managerial merry go round. We all wanted hungry lower league signings. And this is what we have. I am not happy with our start. I wish we had won our first three gsmez. But we haven't. I am old enough to remember Ipswich under Bobby Robson. We used to start virtually every season slowly. Let's get behind the team and look forwards

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blueboy1981 added 23:05 - Aug 14 Elto and Gcon - prove yet again that they haven't a clue what a REAL ITFC SUPPORTER is - and never will be one themselves. Stop the pretence - you only embarrass yourselves - no one else.
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Dog added 23:06 - Aug 14 I wanted george burley at 40/1. Not this eejit. I am not waiting until november to see the results improve. If i run an under 11 football team and recruit under 9s then we can all see what happens. OYSTON OUT.
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EssexTractor added 23:06 - Aug 14 Very disappointing as I was no longer an MM fan and willing PH TO " do well" , and even if only as a supporter his choice of all 9 recruits had some question marks Too early to be a prophet of gloom as some already have. But .is there something seriously wrong between management and players?? A suggested first team chosen tonight The inspirational manager, particularly given last two results should have provided for the 340 travelling fans, words to ensure that there was fight, resilience, determination His after match talk suggested the players did not provide that. As early as 15 August we are entitled to ask, why?

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toxtethblue added 23:06 - Aug 14 "Town fans are a bloody joke.. " The biggest joke is Town fans just sitting there letting ME do his worst for so long unchallenged. That's the biggest shame imo.
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Elto added 23:09 - Aug 14 Downvoted for hypocrisy Blueboy. That's all.
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Taricco_Fan added 23:12 - Aug 14 Get a grip please. While I'm as disappointed as the next man, Hurst deserves time and support. Some of the overreactions are embarrassing. A new manager, a new style, a wealth of new players. Give it more time. Yes, we've sold most of our goals from last season but, when it comes down to it, Waghorn, Garner and McGoldrick didn't want to be here and Celina wasn't our player. Post-McCarthy rebuilding was always on the cards. And in case it had escaped some fans notice; quality, proven Championship players often cost £5-10m. When has our club ever spent that sort of money? We have to shop in the lower leagues. That was why Hurst was bought in. Reality check.

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TonyHumesIpswich added 23:18 - Aug 14 In my wildest dreams I wouldn't have thought we'd have this poor a start to the season, thought the first three games would be a shoe-in. Saying that, I also thought we'd get beat the next three games so hope I was wrong on that and we put 4 past Villa. Shouldn't judge on 3 games. 7 or 8 games in & it'll be possible to judge, see how we feel after the Nodge game.

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blueboy1981 added 23:19 - Aug 14 Paul Hurst is certainly down in the dumps - he needs help from wherever it can come from. This guy desperately needs Portman Road to show we are all behind him - otherwise I can see him walking away from this. Let him have all the support everyone can muster at the next home game, that's the least we can give him. Marcus Evans needs to come out in full support vocally, and in terms of money - still unknown how restricted the purse strings have been in Hurst being able to 'buy in' some experience so far. He was not at all happy with the attitude, and commitment of his players tonight - certain players have to start setting examples of expectancy, too many limp wrists will achieve nothing. Step up those I refer too - you know who you are. And so does Paul Hurst ... !!! - or the alternative should be to go and be a pundit with McCarthy !

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Pencilpete added 23:20 - Aug 14 My god ... I can't believe the amount of whinging and moaning I am reading. Will you all get a grip this isn't Football manager 2017 !! We have a new manager with 9 new players 3 coming back from long term injuries and another dozen who have had any footballing ability beaten out of them by Big Mick over a long period anyone who seriously thought we were just going to start winning games from day 1 needs a good, hard kick up the backside. I fully expect us to be bottom 3 if not bottom after 10 games, these lads need time to gel and time on the training pitch to learn what PH wants out of them. Can we have a reality check here guys ? Just because we haven't won our first 3 games playing like Barcelona it's not time to jump up and down 2 footed on the panic button. Hurst is proven at Conference, League 2 and League 1 but every time his first year has been distinctly average - Shrewsbury stayed up by 2 points in his first season there, after that ... well we know what happened last season. Grimsby finished 11th in his first season there .... then got in the play offs and won promotion. I always take alot of pride on the fact that our club and our fans have always had common sense and give managers time - we arnt Leeds or QPR or one of these club's who change managers every 15 minutes so let's not turn into them please !! Hurst WILL get it right let's get behind him and the team and stop all this pathetic bickering

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itfckenty added 23:21 - Aug 14 Reality check, Hurst isn't the problem.. he is new to this league, the problem is Evans. It has been for many years, I can remember when Evans took over the club, my old man was a coach at the academy back then and I can remember him saying how Evans just didn't have a clue and how the club was doomed.. ironically his half right... Nothing will change while his still in charge, we need someone with a love for town who was this club to succeed and develop into what it used to be.

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Taricco_Fan added 23:30 - Aug 14 Sounded like Knudsen was one of the poorest players tonight. #justsaying
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algarvefan added 23:35 - Aug 14 Pencilpete well said!!! The players attitude and fitness is obviously a big concern, I really felt for PH in his interview tonight, it is obvious that he believes some didn't try. If that's the case, no matter who they are, they shouldn't play in the next game. The culture has been wrong at Town for years, we must get behind PH to get it changed, Evans might be less than perfect but it is the players who should give their all for the club and the fans. Shame on those who let him down tonight and in me Mr Hurst I support and admire what you are trying to do, please don't give in!!!

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jjhbruno added 23:36 - Aug 14 Just a disagreement pinstripeblue, lee Martin was useless for town that's all I can judge him on and if he is now playing for Exeter he can't of improved too much and yes I also disagree on leadbitter, who wasn't too brilliant for town either. He did well at Middlesbrough for a year or two but haven't heard from him since.
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