Ipswich Town boss Paul Hurst fears the Carabao Cup upset at Exeter means he will need to bring in more new players than he expected.

The new Blues’ boss was scathing in his assessment of his team’s display and effort at their League Two foes on Tuesday night, a showing which saw them dumped out of the cup at the first hurdle again, this time on penalties after a 1-1 draw.

Hurst, who’s already brought nine new players to Portman Road as he launches his revolution, is thought to be targeting a centre back and attacking player before the loan window closes at the end of August.

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But, asked whether the tepid cup display had changed his views on further recruitment, he said: “I think every time you set foot on the pitch and you witness things unfolding in front of you, naturally you’re always assessing.

“I’ve got to do that and got some time before Saturday to think about that and what’s the best way forward for us.

“But, yes, it certainly throws up some questions I’ve got to try and answer. Obviously we’re in a position where there’s only so much business we can do and we’ve got to try and get that right.”

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Of business in the pipeline, he added: “Not as we speak now. Like I said, things can happen very quickly but on tonight’s evidence we need more in than we will do, I’m sure.

“But I’m sure I’m expecting some of those players to step up and show they’re much better players than they did tonight.”

Town now face a tough run in the league, starting with Aston Villa at home on Saturday, before trips to Derby and Sheffield Wednesday next week and then the East Anglian derby at Portman Road on September 2.

And two players who may come back into the reckoning for that spell are Teddy Bishop and Danny Rowe, both of whom saw action at Exeter, with Bishop missing a penalty in the shoot-out.

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Hurst said: “Good to get them back out there, they’ve both been missing for some time and in some ways I felt for Teddy in terms of missing the penalty but apart from a natural disappointment he doesn’t need to be too down about that.

“Yes, if it gets to that stage you want to come out on the right side of it, but it should have been over before that. So I’m pleased for them and a step forward in the right direction for them.”