Midfielder Giles Coke insisted the much-changed Ipswich Town side came away from Old Trafford with their heads held high last night, despite going down 3-0 to Premier League giants Manchester United.

Goals from Wayne Rooney, Andreas Pereira and Anthony Martial saw the Blues exit the Capital One Cup, but the visitors stood up well to a star-studded United side which also included Bastian Schweinsteiger, Juan Mata and Daley Blind.

Manager Mick McCarthy gave a number of fringe and young players a chance and Coke, who himself performed well in a midfield partnership with Kevin Bru, was proud of their display.

“It was always going to be a tough place to come but I thought the boys gave 100 per cent and went about it in the right way, but it wasn’t mean to be,” he said.

“For the young boys and even for myself it was an amazing experience, I’ve never played here before and it was a brilliant trip for us all. We all enjoyed it but it was never meant to be.

“You’re trying to chase them to get the ball back but they keep it so well and they grind you down with their passing and, fair play to them, I thought they were brilliant today.

“He (Schweinsteiger) is a World Cup winner and it was great to play against someone of that calibre, it was a brilliant game and we were unlucky.”

Coke also reserved special praise for the Ipswich fans, who never stopped singing despite the result.

“The fans were great too and turned out in numbers for us, we could hear them throughout the game and they gave us great support,” he said.

“It’s great to have fans behind you like that.”