Town boss Paul Cook was left frustrated that his side once again got themselves into pole position and let that situation slip as they were defeated by Arsenal’s U21s on penalties to exit the Papa John's Trophy, citing individual errors.

The Blues were two at half-time in front courtesy of Kayden Jackson’s first goals in almost a year and looked comfortably on their way through to round three. However, two Arsenal goals in four minutes turned the tie on its head and the North Londoners won the penalty shootout 4-3.

Asked whether anyone would have seen the Blues exiting the competition at the break, Cook said: “You’d be a fool to say you’d never [see that if you’d been] following and supporting us.

“A really disappointing night. I thought we worked hard on the game tonight. We know Arsenal have got a lot of quality players, but we got ourselves in the most fantastic position but we end up losing a game we can’t lose, but we did. And that’s the most disappointing thing.

“The reality is, what have we really learnt from a quarter to eight until half-past nine that we didn’t know before the game? Not a lot.

“There are areas where we clearly know we have to improve on and within that personnel around the club that might feel safe sometimes, but that’s not how it works at big clubs.”

What went awry in the second half? “I’m not going to start analysing the goals we’ve given away, there’s no point. I certainly won’t ever get after people, I don’t believe in that.

“Like a lot of games, we’ve got ourselves in a great position and we don’t have the ability to be durable, to be honest, to be workmanlike and just see a game out.

“It was a game that looked like you could not not see out, we were really in control of the game. We had a good reaction after Arsenal equalised, but it was a little bit too much, too late, wasn’t it?”

He added: “For Ipswich Town fans, for clubs that want to be successful, you have to win games. It’s disappointing that we go out on penalties, that’s the margin of games.

“But it was a game we should never have lost and unfortunately for us, and for our fans, that’s where we are at the minute.”

One of the positives was Jackson’s two goals, his first since the start of last December: “Outstanding. I said to the players before the game, ‘Make sure you give me a selection headache for Saturday and certainly there were lads within that starting line-up tonight that 100 per cent have. And there are lads who certainly have just cemented probably what I already knew.

“You can’t speak highly enough of Kayden. Kayden certainly is the big shining light from tonight, he should rightly get the plaudits.”

Could he play in the league this season? “I don’t want to start discussing all the different stuff after games, we’re going from game to game.

“We wanted a three-game winning week, we were desperate for it. Three home games, three different competitions and wanted three wins.

“Unfortunately tonight we haven’t delivered it, it just puts us under that little bit more pressure to make sure we win on Saturday.”

Cook says there were players who gave him something to think about before Saturday’s home FA Cup tie against Barrow.

“Without a shadow of a doubt,” he said. “There are qualities within the team that we’re lacking at the minute and there were qualities out there tonight that would certainly help the first team.

“Tonight, that’s what we’re working [on]. We are a work in progress, I get sometimes the disgruntlement, I get it, 100 per cent, I feel it.

“Everyone wants to finish a race quickly and it’s just not like that. Sometimes it does take time, it does take what we’re trying to do. Within that you’ve got to manage disappointment and I’m well prepared to manage that.”

He continued: “You know yourselves, you know against Crewe when it got nervy, same again tonight. We make games nervy, we give ourselves problems in games we shouldn’t.

“We’re not under great pressure, we’re not getting pinned back and clearing it off the line. We have massive individual errors that keep costing us and until we change the individuals at times, then the individual errors won’t change.”

Is that something a manager can’t do anything about? “I wanted to genuinely say to one of our fans, the minute the Arsenal goal went in, they shouted at me. And I actually shouted ‘What about shouting at one of the players?’, which is natural.

“But I will always take it for the team, I always carry that. I’m sorry, I’m only be a little bit jovial, if I’m being truthful.

“When you want to be good, you’ve got to have a steeliness about you and an edge that you must carry. And unfortunately at the moment, we don’t carry that.”

He added: “Listen guys, we’re in the middle, like a lot of clubs, of wanting to get better and wanting change.

“We’ve made 11 changes tonight. Again we’ve put a team on the pitch that we felt was good enough, no different than a lot of stuff that we see.

“Yes, we’re in the position, we’re in pole position and we give the position up. And it’s something that when you try and create a winning culture and a winning habit [which will happen again]. Will we be in the lead again in games? Yes. Will we have to see them out? Hopefully so.”

He says the narrative of the game illustrates Town as they are at present: “It’s football today for us. It’s where we’re at. I think sometimes the fans and everyone probably thought we’d have one window and it would be magic.

“But when you’re trying to build a club and you want to go on and you want to be stronger and stronger, I think it’s clearly obvious that we’re going to need more time.

“But that’s something that supporters mightn’t accept and you feel our fans getting a little bit disgruntled. And I understand it, I’ve got no problem with it. But we haven’t got a magic wand that’s for sure.”

Reflecting on the positives, such as Tom Carroll’s return after just over a month out with a hip flexor problem, Cook said: “We had some good performances tonight, you watched the game. At times we looked good.

“We did what we wanted to do in the game, we created chances, we got in the lead, we got the second goal. And unfortunately the goals we give away, they just beggar belief, but that’s football.”

Photo: TWTD

Dissboyitfc added 08:25 - Dec 2 He needs help in the coaching and assisting department, he couldnt get his old assistant from wigan but has chosen rookie coaches,( does anyone know what Reid is doing) this is the problem! I am more inclined to say fix these issues than say Cook out! But Cook going is the thing that needs to happen if these issues arent addressed! Another thing i find him more honest after games than Lambert, who got us relegated, never achieved anything anywhere after Norwich, never gave us any big scoring victories or performances to smile about, would always quote his playing for big club days and say how well we played after each and every game and that he was proud of his players who gave him everything! So not lets forget just how bad things were under Lambert. Whilst things are better under Cook, they should be, they arent as good as they should be, at the moment Cook is failing to deliver on a consistent basis, 2 outcomes to this fix it or go! If we are out of the running for top 6 by feb/Mar i think we will see a change of manager.

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Nobbysnuts added 09:07 - Dec 2 Complete mumbling idiot......just get lost.
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DMDC added 09:11 - Dec 2 Clueless Cook. I just hope the Americans arnt as clueless.
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ChrisFelix added 09:16 - Dec 2 We should register as a charity, because we continue to give goals & games away. I wondering if Cooks problem is having to many players to pick fron
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Bert added 09:23 - Dec 2 I am yet to be convinced that Cook is the right person for us but I am unconvinced that changing him will result in anything different. Fundamentally, it's the players who simply do not concentrate on their game or give 100%. Too many flair players and not enough physicality on the field when it matters.
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dirtydingusmagee added 09:42 - Dec 2 no new manager bounce, no chance of automatic promotion , no chance of playoff success, no chance of cup success, no hope of anything with Cook in charge . He is a lost cause .
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Michael101 added 09:50 - Dec 2 the people telling cook to foxtrot Oscar is getting bigger by the day. The main problem is who do we Get to replace him? Anybody decent is in a job ,so would they leave said job to save ipswich?. We are getting deeper in The brown stuff every day.
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Michael101 added 09:52 - Dec 2 In many ways cookie reminds me of mad mick, to stubborn to change ,one way that's my way.
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Razor added 10:08 - Dec 2 But you managed to lose it by sitting back and being negative.
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Razor added 10:08 - Dec 2 But you managed to lose it by sitting back and being negative.
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Razor added 10:08 - Dec 2 But you managed to lose it by sitting back and being negative.
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Cheshire_Blue added 10:47 - Dec 2 I said it before the season started and I have seen nothing to change my mind. Cook is not up to the job.
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Marinersnose added 10:48 - Dec 2 I was prepared to give Cook time to prove his worth as he has a good record in lower league football but after a shocking start last season taking us away from the top 6 I had a few concerns. He then publicly slated the players which again is a poor trait for anyone in management as a manager has to motivate and develop as required and discipline where needed.He has spent money and got his squad together but although some individuals are excellent I won't question whether this team is any better than last seasons. I accept the football is marginally better and there have been a few outstanding performances . Morsy was to be our saviour after an underwhelming start to the season and after two matches I thought this guy is what we needed. He like so many others have become comfortable slow in possession and apparently lacking hunger to win. I know Downes let himself down but he would walk into this side and shine. Cook for me is another Jewel who appears a character who wants to be popular with the players. He's surrounded himself with players he knows and trusts but they aren't performing. I think we need a rethink before January as I see another Cook clear out and more of the same. We have everything in place to move forward as a club but the manager and the team are below par.

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TB42 added 11:08 - Dec 2 I said it on a previous thread, the buck stops with the manager, pure and simple. The players are of HIS choosing and they are playing to HIS tactics. Interesting comments on MOTD in relation to Manchester City; all the players give 100% because they know that is expected or they will lose their places if they don't. These are players on a minimum of probably £50k a week and others very, very, much more who could easily free load on the bench but clearly are motivated by their manager not to. Oh and Pep (and the other top clubs in the Premier League) play 4-3-3 …..

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Linkboy13 added 11:09 - Dec 2 Team dosent look fit to me which might be the reason we keep giving away leads. Paul Cook's tactics are very Sunday league like most managers at a low level he has to wait until it's too late to make substitutions. The top managers in the Premier league see things that are not working make instant changes. I remember Thomas Tuchels first game for Chelsea he withdrew Hudson Edoy after ten minutes because he wasn't working to instructions this would never happen with Cook in charge. Bearing in mind most of the best managers in this country are foreign it might be a good idea to go down this route. I think too many of the players are luvvie dovvie with Cook and are having it too easy.

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TimmyH added 11:12 - Dec 2 agree with your post Dissboy but I think Lambert deserved to see his last season out to see if he could get us in the play-offs (don't forget the previous season was cut short and went on a points per game finish and we had won 3 on the bounce when the sacking took place) but he rubbed Evans up the wrong way and it was sayonara! Yes agreed his post match interviews left you with a spot of sick in the mouth. New Year the real pressure will start to gather on Cook...time for gelling is over.

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KenHancocksBoot added 11:34 - Dec 2 I agree a defensive coach would improve things. I recall a similar situation in the George Burley days. He hired Stuart Houston and lo and behold we stopped shipping goals and it was 1-0 to the tractor boys. Paul Cook is a Marcus Evans appointment, and the common thread with all his appointments was managers who had had their day in the sun. We really need someone who is yet to have their day, and hopefully have it with us.

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BobbyBell added 12:28 - Dec 2 PC will you please read your players the story of 'The tortoise and the hare". Maybe then they will understand why you can't just go to sleep once you're ahead. Then show them the footage of the England ladies team winning 20-0. Even at 10-0 up they kept on wanting more and we just don't have the desire even to get a third goal. There is something wrong with these players' attitudes.

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PortmanTerrorist added 12:30 - Dec 2 No one mentioning Peter Reid. I would suggest our form and inconsisitency has worsened since we allowed PC to bring in 'his' man. Not going well at all, setting a goal of beating a bottom of the table team at home, an U21 team (albeit Prem) and a League 2 team, shows the limitation of ambition.....AND WE CANNOT EVEN ACHIEVE THAT NOW! Am not a PC out guy, but this is not working and repeating the errors of previous Saturday's is the definition of insanity. We need help and that does not seem to Mr Reid

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Henz10 added 13:45 - Dec 2 I'm actually pleased that we are out of this terrible competition. Feels embarrassing just to be in it. We should now focus on the league and having a good run in the cup starting with this Saturday where I hope he puts out a strong team with Jackson starting. The squad is big enough to deal with two competitions though the league will always be the priority
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tempzzzz added 14:26 - Dec 2 @Henz10 - I agree that the competition is an embarrassment, it would have been okay had it been kept to EFL sides but bringing in under 21's prem teams ruined it. However any cup run should do wonders for boosting confidence and we have a big enough squad to be able to cope with 2 competitions and the league. It's more the method of how we went out for me, yet again leading and throwing it away.

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dirtydingusmagee added 15:45 - Dec 2 i have given it time but i just dont buy into Cook at all now . He cant get anything out of the players he has shipped in . Players admit they are not performing ,its just history repeating itself . For me now its just looking like previous seasons , flat and as good as over and mid table finish is as much as we can hope for ..
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norfolkbluey added 15:53 - Dec 2 Are we ready for a change of management? Yes we are. HIS results are PATHETIC. Klopp played 334 last night and demolished Everton. He picks a team to beat the opposition not telegraph his set up week after week. Beaten by talented boys and coming out with crass comments like players out there have given me something to think about. Cook's win rate is really poor and I honestly do not understand why he is still Town's manager. What on earth do the new owners think is going on with results like we have to put up with! Individual errors on the pitch and more importantly off the pitch! Please just put him out to grass. Promotion, don't make us laugh.

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ldnj added 16:49 - Dec 2 It was interesting on the EFL show the other day the comment was made to the effect of: the sign of a good manager is he's able to come in and get something out of the existing players then augment it a bit. That to my mind is the problem. Cook tacitly admitted early on he wasn't able to do that, so wanted wholesale changes and anyone already there wasn't good enough. His attitude of ignoring his own players last season I don't think was good nor motivating. And there have been some ill advised episodes since.

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braveblue added 17:50 - Dec 2 4231 doesn't work is all I hear. Look around the leagues. Very few play 442. Move on.
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