Ipswich Town’s third successive cup exit on penalties was not a case of them not being properly “prepped and ready” for a shootout, says forward Conor Chaplin.
The Tractor Boys bowed out of the Carabao Cup against League Two club Bromley, beaten 5-4 after the first-round tie finished 1-1.
It followed shootout defeats by AFC Wimbledon in the second round of the same competition in 2024 and Nottingham Forest in round five of last season’s FA Cup.
“When it ends like that, it’s always [down to] chance,” captain-on-the-night Chaplin told BBC Radio Suffolk.
“It’s one thing (taking them) on the training pitch, another thing here and two good penalty takers in Hirsty [George Hirst] and Ali [Al-Hamadi] missed, but it’s a lottery when you go to penalties.
“We were prepped and ready for pens but training is nothing like doing it in a match.”
With Ipswich fan Ed Sheeran watching from the stands, substitute Ben Johnson had brought them level with a 53rd-minute goal but Chaplin said the team lacked urgency at times.
“The attitude, the willingness to run from everyone was there, we could have been more urgent on the ball, just hurrying the game, so it’s everything they [Bromley] didn’t want it to be,” he continued.
“We could have put the game to bed in the first half, we had moments and chances when we weren’t quite [finding] the finishing touch.
“But because we’ve lost a game on penalties, we can’t think we were bad, we weren’t bad at all. Yes, we should be coming here and winning, but it doesn’t mean it’s easy.”
Bromley keeper Sam Long saved from Hirst and Al-Hamadi and Chaplin was quick to put a consolatory arm round the shoulder of the latter, who is still trying to establish himself at Portman Road after arriving from AFC Wimbledon in January 2024.
“Ali was gutted, he feels like he’s let us down but that’s not the case at all,” Chaplin said.
“He’s a brave lad, he’s got such a big character for a young player, people forget the age he is because of the way he carries himself. He’s got a big heart and he’ll be fine, some of the best players in the world miss penalties, it’s not just us.”
Chaplin was also impressed by midfielder Fin Barbrook, who made his first-team debut after spending last season on loan at Sutton United.
“He didn’t look out of place at all, he competes really well, had an incredible time last year at Sutton.
“For a young player he likes to get his foot in and he should be proud of himself,” Chaplin said.
Ipswich return to Championship action on Sunday when they take on Southampton at Portman Road.
