Town boss Kieran McKenna admitted it was a disappointing night as the Blues were defeated 1-0 by Colchester United in the Carabao Cup, believing the game was changed by the error which led to the U’s goal.

Luke Hannant’s first ever goal for the Essex side won the tie with the Blues having created plenty of chances in the first half before labouring in the second as the U’s defended resolutely to hang on to their lead.

“It’s obviously a very disappointing night,” McKenna said. “I thought the performance in the first 30 minutes was really good, I felt we settled into the game really good for the number of changes that we made.

“I thought everyone got their flow very quickly and created more than enough chances in the first 30 minutes to have a lead.

“Obviously the complexion of the game changed on one moment and after that it made it a very difficult night. It gave Colchester something to hang on to, enabled to defend their box really deep for the rest of the game and they did that really well, and credit to them for that.

“We didn’t do enough to get the goal back. I thought we tried, I thought the effort levels were really good. We tried everything but we weren’t able to get the goal back.

“So all in all it makes for a really disappointing night, but it’s very early in the season, we have big games ahead, we have other priorities, there’s no doubt about that and it’s about moving on very quickly now towards that.”

Asked whether he was more disappointed by the goal which was conceded, Rekeem Harper passing the ball into his own penalty area too close to Hannant, or the failure to take opportunities at the other end.

“I think we have to take both on the chin,” McKenna reflected. “We should have been ahead, we had chances right through the course of the game but the longer you keep the game at 0-0 it builds more and more pressure on them, but when you given them such a cheap goal, it gives them something to hang on to and changes the mentality of the game.

“It puts more pressure on ourselves and gives them the encouragement to keep throwing their bodies on the line.

“I think we have to accept the responsibility with both and there are some tough lessons in there.

“But it’s early in the season, it was a very changed side, it was a young side, young players are going to make mistakes, we accept that and we stick together as a group and we move on.”

Quizzed on whether there were pluses to be taken from youngster Cameron Humphreys getting into good positions in the area on a number of occasions, although without taking those opportunities, McKenna said: “I don’t think it’s the night to talk about the positives, to be honest, because it’s a disappointing night.

“But I thought that the way that we settled into the game, the way that everyone knew their jobs, how close the identity was what we’re seeing with the players who were playing last Saturday, I thought was really, really clear and I couldn’t have asked for more in terms of how we did in the first 30 minutes.

“Again, the complexion of the game was changed in one moment and that’s a lesson for us, both in terms of our concentration in those moments but also how we respond to that and that wasn’t easy tonight, but we can certainly do better.”

The Northern Irishman added: “We would have liked to progress in the cup, but we have lots of games, I’m no worried about the games, we have lots of lots of games in August.

“There are going to be minutes there for everyone in the squad, it’s going to be important over the course of the season and I’m sure people are going to have minutes and be able to play their part and be needed to play their part when the time comes.

“It would have been nice to go through, certainly for the supporters, it would have been nice to go through and maybe get a couple of good ties but the reality is that it’s not our priority at the moment, we have other big priorities this season and that’s clear from the outset.

“It’s a disappointing night but we need to swallow that disappointment quickly as a group and move on to big games on Saturday on Tuesday.”

Photo: TWTD

SpiritOfJohn added 06:23 - Aug 10 Unfortunately, there is a risk of this type of game being played out repeatedly this season. If we gift the opposition the opening goal we can expect them to sit deep and try to shut up shop, and some teams will simply do this from the first minute and hope for a nil nil draw. This is going to cause a lot of frustration unless we can find a way through packed defences. We need a better goal return from corners and free-kicks. We also need a Plan B striker who can play with his back to goal. Jackson is only effective when he has space to run behind defenders. I feel that Colchester would have received a pre-match boost when they saw 10 changes on our team sheet - at least that won't be happening in the league!

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ITFCRich added 06:27 - Aug 10 Christ alive I've never seen such a load of rubbish from so-called 'supporters.' There're next to no teams that play their first XI in the carabao cup, it's widely known that it's not important whatsoever. Complaining about the cost of living crisis and asking for refunds.... If you're that tight on money don't go to a cup game! Might as well ask for a refund everytime we don't smash a team 5-0! As someone at the game, and I like to think I'm not quite as negative as some, we did not play badly... Colchester had 2 shots, one of which from a silly error which is always going to happen playing our style of football. We dominated the whole 90 minutes, should've scored at least 2 from easy chances, particularly humphries. We are playing the best football I've seen as a town fan (since mid 2000's mind you). Town fans will never stop complaining. Teams are scared of us, hence playing with 11 men pretty much inside their own box. The only thing we could've potentially done was played with a higher tempo, which can't be maintained for 90 minutes and would also result in more turnovers of possession. Another thing I'm sure you would complain about

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UffordBlue added 06:51 - Aug 10 Christ, what a meltdown. Is anyone really surprised we lost last night? People need to get a grip and understand the need to focus on getting out of this drivel league we find ourselves in. Roll on Saturday and a big 3 points! COYB
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blues1 added 07:28 - Aug 10 Robsonwark. What an idiot you are? Get a grip man. Of course it's disappointing to go out. And so frustrating we didn't score when so dominant in the game. Anyone should know this cup was not a priority for us. Or do you think we should have concentrated on this instead of the league? As if we were ever gonna win it? And thats all Mckenna is saying. He wanted to win but its not the priority. Why do fans like you read that as meaning he didn't care about it? If he didn't, why did he put out a team of all 1st team squad players, rather than u21s and u18s as previous managers have done. It's hardly his fault we failed to score. Wasn't him who blasted the only 2 clear cut chances over the bar, was it. No, that was humphries. Wasn't him who passed the ball across the penalty area for their goal, was it? No thst was harper. A player, for me, who should never play for us again after that showing from him. Fact is, had we put the chances,away and won the game no1 would be questioning his team selection whatsoever. Some fans are so fickle. As for the should give us our money back. . There's nothing in the buying of tickets that says if we don't win u get ur money back. Anymore than if u go to the cinema and the film u see is rubbish, ud get ur money back.

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Dissboyitfc added 07:29 - Aug 10 I have a good mate, a Norwich fan who is always talking about the Norwich fans and how fickle and pathetic they are! I think some of our supporters are equally as bad! Am i disappointed? you bet i am! I can see some starting to call for his head should the unthinkable happen and we lose the next game or two. Thankfully in lowestoft today so no embarrassment( hopefully). We move on!

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blues1 added 07:41 - Aug 10 Portman terrorist. Whilst the gist of ur post is right, how have the fans been cheated? He said quite clearly last week that he would be making changes to the lineup. That players who didn't start on Saturday would start this match. So fans knew what he was going to do. And, unlike previous managers, he didn't put out a team of u21s/u18s, but a team of all 1st team squad players. If u look at the game, we actually played well other than that final, and obviously the most important part of the game, scoring goals. And unfortunately the clear cut chances we did create, fell to the wrong player. And thats no criticism of humphries, just the way it was. And the only issue with what mckenna said after the game, is that we have fans who want to twist what he said to their own agenda. So, "it's disappointing to go out but it's not our priority", turns into, he didn't care about the competition,which is clearly not what he said. But unfortunately we have that faction of fans, mainly on social media, who simply can't wait to be negative.

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Len_Brennan added 07:45 - Aug 10 McKenna got it wrong last night, by playing a completely 'reserve' team from the start (Burgess was in for Woolfenden on Saturday), with less game time under their belts or experience of playing together. Colchester were ready with a plan, whereas we went out with our set formation, confidence/arrogance in how good we were even as a second XI, and assumption that it would be enough. Rakeem Harper has been a very disappointing signing; talented footballer no doubt, and a lot of us thought he might have moved on this summer, with Bakinson signed instead, but obviously KMcK has seen something in him. While his decision making & then execution of the pass was dreadful, its not him that is concerning me that much; we had an hour+ after the goal to score a goal against a bottom half side from Division 2 & couldn't get it. Is it any different to when we played now non-league Oldham last year? We wanted to progress, we needed to progress in this competition in order to keep our all our squad playing & happy. You just don't need to change the whole starting XI to do so, as if it's the season half of an early pre-season friendly, of no consequence. Where is the much vaunted 'being able to switch to a completely different tactical formation' when we need to change it up quickly to get back in a game or grab a winner against 'inferior' sides that have parked the bus or are blocking our creative threats? Oh, and we badly need a goalscorer; & I'm not even talking about someone who can make something out of nothing, we just need a center forward who can finish something out of something.

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Umros added 07:51 - Aug 10 Made my stand on this by not entertaining it. Not travelling and paying, still with ridiculous booking fees on top, to watch 2nd rate reserves amble around the pitch without a care and lose to a bunch of Ipswich old men and unknowns. Supported KM all The way and still will but a few cracks in the sensible approach appearing and not addressing the obvious goal scoring issue. My confidence down after announcing a 35 year old defender joining, never rated or likes this player. All I can remember is error prone hoofing ! Hopefully he's a calmer influence now

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FarnboroBlue added 07:56 - Aug 10 To coin a phrase - He's not the Messiah, he's a very naughty boy !
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stormypetrel added 08:16 - Aug 10 Which ever way it is cut it is disappointing when one sees other teams in our league beating championship teams…it is naive to think large numbers of first team staters would be risked especially after the manager made clear his starting 11 for the game…nevertheless I did hope the team was good enough to win…Portsmouth will have momentum and encouragement after their win last night…so it is disappointing that we have not progressed and I would have hoped the manager reflect that…but as others have said win Saturday and it will pass….

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JewellintheTown added 08:26 - Aug 10 Pretty obvious we weren't going to win this game considering our first team can't score, so not much chance of our second string team doing any better. Without a decent strike force we aren't going to win games and that's painfully obvious we don't. Fed up of players getting massive pay cheques who have one job not doing it. Insult to hard working fans who have sky high bills to pay to watch dross like this. Fans all know this, but the staff and players don't seem that bothered. Needs to change fast or fans will walk.

2

PinstripeBlue added 08:43 - Aug 10 Winning breeds winning. Losing just means losing. It goes on Towen.
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bedsitfc added 08:58 - Aug 10 Another shocking Harper moment! Bloke is a non league player
0

inghamspur added 09:09 - Aug 10 Positives (not many!!) from last night :- No first team picks got injured McK gets a chance to assess how strong his squad is Negatives (plenty) :- Our squad clearly still isn't good enough to cope with injuries and suspensions Jackson, Edwards, Harper are still around, simply not good enough and should have been moved on. Worrying that McK still sees something in these players Another exit at the first hurdle in a cup competition, and again at home and again to lower league opposition. We should still be capable of beating teams lower in rank than us with our "squad" Saturday can't come soon enough

2

bobble added 09:23 - Aug 10 jackson delivers nowt
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Blueballs83 added 09:24 - Aug 10 The league is our priority and it would have been nice to go through in the cup, but McK put the correct team out and it on paper it was more than good enough to win the game. The important thing is our squad players got good minutes and no starters for Saturday got injuries. I think most fans would prefer a defeat tonight and a win on Saturday! By Col U getting the early goal they were able to put 11 behind the ball which we all know can be tough to breakdown. Let's learn from it and move on.

1

dirtydingusmagee added 09:39 - Aug 10 now KM is coming out with same old crap as previous managers, that is as worrying as the result. Colchester have been a poor struggling club for a long time, we are vaunted as being a ''huge '' club, having a strong squad, and all the other hype, KM said he wants to have cup run, and yet with an ''alternative first team'' of ''good '' players ,we get rolled over again .Then that is followed up with same old failure scripts, its taking the P. Jackson coming out with all the prematch waffle about it being good time for him bla bla bla, did sweet FA, AGAIN , He should have been playing for Colchester imo he is not up to the job if we are serious about promotion . KM will soon be aware of how quickly things can change if he cant get some good results strung together. Honeymoon ended last night .

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Razor added 10:07 - Aug 10 One word missing from the managers waffle after the game---UNNACCEPTABLE---which last night surely was ----why can he not just say it and stop being like the rest, trying to baffle us with fancy talk and words----it was truly UNNACCEPTABLE!!
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KernewekBlue added 10:26 - Aug 10 This gets more and more boring and predictable year after year. Shock news... Town exit cup to lower league minnows. When will this ever end?
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Cheshire_Blue added 10:44 - Aug 10 Humiliation ! Just not good enough. If you play a second string team you don't deserve to win. The supporters of ITFC deserve to be treated with a little more respect. This has been going on for years. Any decent manager would make sure he was not humiliated by a local team from a lower league. Where is the self respect ? Pride of Anglia ? No. Well down the list.

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DaGremloid added 11:19 - Aug 10 Who the hell do we think we are, making 10 changes for a cup game anyway???? That's what minted premier league teams do, not mid-table 'Division 3' ones. Oh of course, after 2 league games, the first teamers needed a rest...
2

LonE17Blue added 12:27 - Aug 10 Under Hurst, Lambert, Cook and now McKenna, all have insited of playing one up front. So far none have been successful using this method. We need goals, and the main goal should be to score goals. Try something different- "Two up Front"
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irishtim added 12:52 - Aug 10 My fear is after last night we are sussed. Very easy to see our game plan.
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Trojan added 13:33 - Aug 10 I have never read such a load of garbage in all my life and wow you really should manage you expectations better after only two league games of the season. I agree totally with ITFCRich some of the best football we have seen for some time and lots of plus points to concentrate on rather than every single potential negative. I do really wonder at the level of football intelligence on this website and would strongly urge you all to have a large does of reality and focus on so many positive moves within the club after so many horrible years. If we are mid table ands not entertaining at Christmas then some of your commnets might be justified to a greater extent, in the meantime keep the faith!!

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featherhead added 14:11 - Aug 10 Ipswich 80-81 season Ipswich play 66 games that season. They played in the old first division, league cup, the FA cup and UEFA cup. They finished second in the league, reached the semi final of the FA cup and won the UEFA cup. They played a total of 66 competitive games. Paul Cooper, Terry Butcher, Russel Osman, Arnold Muhren, John Wark, Alan Brazil, Eric Gates and Paul Mariner played in over 58 games each, that season. Mick Mills and Frans Thijssen over 50 games each. Russel Osman played in all 66 games !!! So 8 out of 11 players featuring in over 88% of games. In addition, some factors worked against the players back then. Whilst the football was no heavier at kick off compared to todays ball, if it was damp/ wet weather , the football then became significantly heavier during the game. The state of some pitches looked like ploughed fields. It was hard going. Not the powder puff state of todays game. Explain to me why we can not have at least 8 of our first team squad, playing most competitive games ? that includes the EFL and FA cups. Our current team might then stand some chance of playing with the telepathic , mesmerising manner that Sir Bobbys teams did. They played a very similar backbone to the team , week after week after week, regardless of the importance of the match. It's not rocket science, oh and please buy an actual goal scoring forward.

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