Gary O'Neil has won his first two competitive games in charge of Ipswich Town. (Image: Steve Waller)
Gary O'Neil has won his first two competitive games in charge of Ipswich Town. (Image: Steve Waller)
Ipswich Town manager Gary O'Neil says he wants his team to go far in the Carabao Cup this season following tonight's 3-1 second round home win against Leicester City.
Sindre Walle Egeli's cool opener was cancelled out Olabade Aluko's close-range header in the second half before Marcelino Nunez netted two fine strikes - the stoppage-time clincher a lob from inside the centre circle - to secure victory against League One opposition and a place in the last 32.
"To make that many changes (nine) and to survive a tricky tie three days after a big day with a lot of emotion - I'm pleased," said O'Neil, referring to Saturday's 2-1 Premier League win against Sunderland.
"I expected there were going to be tough moments because of how Leicester and Russell Martin go about it. It feels tough because they're sort of obsessive in what they do and how they try and keep the ball. You have to suffer those moments.
"I think we'll have games where we have a bit more control than that probably, but it was a real humble, honest, hard-working performance. We accepted what Leicester do, were patient and picked our moments. The only negatives, I suppose, are it's a really bad goal to concede - rubbish - and we should have scored more with some of the wide-open chances that we had.
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"But I'm pleased with the group. I trust them all and they didn't let me down tonight. To have won back-to-back matches this early in the season is a real good start while we're still building and still learning.
"Now some bigger tests are coming fairly quickly around the corner in Manchester United (away on Sunday) and then Liverpool (home a week on Friday)."
The draw for round three of the Carabao Cup takes place tomorrow night, with the eight teams that in the Champions League and Europa League all seeded.
"We'll try to go as far as we can," said O'Neil. "I had a great cup run last year in France (with Strasbourg) and loved every minute of it. At the start, we were drawn away against a Ligue 3 or 4 team. It was like, okay, do we take this serious? But we just kept trying to win every game and then, before you know it, we were in the semi-finals. So, that will be the approach here.
"It doesn't mean we'll always pick the same team from the weekend. Like I said, I trust them all. They all need minutes, they all need to be ready, they all need to understand the roles.
"But we will constantly keep trying to be as competitive as we can in every game. Let's see how far we can go. Another home draw would be great."
He added: "I love that I've been able to make so many changes and the team still looks like a team that's together and ready to go and fight.
"We'll face some challenges this year - of course we will - but if we can keep producing a performance like Saturday and a performance like tonight, no matter who's out there, then it's going to give us a real good chance.
"There's a little reset now. There'll be a recovery day at the training ground tomorrow and then the boys will get a day off. Then we need to come back on Friday and be sharp because the level is about to go up a bit at Old Trafford and then Liverpool."