Former Braintree Town defender Dean Wells insists League Two Stevenage will have nothing to lose as they aim to embarrass Ipswich Town for the second time in three seasons in the Capital One Cup.

The draw was made yesterday for the competition’s first round and saw the Blues paired at home to the Hertfordshire side, who defeated Mick McCarthy’s men 2-0 at Broadhall Way, at the same stage of the competition in 2013.

Colchester United, meanwhile, will entertain Championship outfit Reading in the first round at the Weston Homes Community Stadium.

Stevenage, who lost in the semi-finals of the League Two play-offs in May, will be under new management in the form of former Tottenham, Manchester United and England striker Teddy Sheringham.

He is being assisted by former Colchester midfielder Kevin Watson, who managed Maldon & Tiptree for a very short spell earlier this pre-season.

“It’s a good draw for us, a big draw,” said Wells, who signed for the club last summer, after nearly three years at Braintree.

“Ipswich are a big club and hopefully there will be a large crowd there.

“We will go there with nothing to lose, we will have no fear.

“I have been in these situations before and you don’t think about the occasion and crowd. If anything, it can help you produce a better performance.”

Town, who reached the semi-final of the competition in 2011, eventually losing over two legs to Arsenal, will be attempting to get past the first round stage of the competition for the first time since 2012, having lost to an extra-time Izale McLeod strike at Crawley Town last season.

Stevenage, meanwhile, were knocked out by Premier League new-boys Watford at the same stage and went on to have a successful season, finishing sixth in the Football League’s fourth tier.

However, the end of the season saw the departure of former Preston North End manager Graham Westley who closed the chapter on his third spell at the club.

“There has been a big change at the club with a new management team coming in, but the boys who remain from last season make up a very good squad,” added Wells.

“We had a very good season last season, getting to the play-offs, despite having a lot of injuries.

“All the boys pulled together but it just wasn’t to be.”

He added: “From a personal point-of-view, it was not that big a jump to make, from Conference to League Two, although some of the players are a bit fitter and stronger and possess more guile.”

First round games will be played the week beginning August 10.

Scunthorpe v Barnsley; Doncaster Rovers v Leeds; Sheffield Wednesday v Mansfield; Rotherham v Cambridge United; Morecambe v Sheffield United; Carlisle v Chesterfield; Nottingham Forest v Walsall; Fleetwood v Hartlepool; Bolton v Burton; Accrington v Hull; Rochdale v Coventry; Oldham Athletic v Middlesbrough; Huddersfield v Notts County; Blackburn v Shrewsbury; Wigan v Bury; Northampton v Blackpool; Crewe v Preston; York v Bradford; Port Vale v Burnley; Peterborough v Crawley; Yeovil v QPR; Plymouth v Gillingham; Swindon v Exeter; Bristol Rovers v Birmingham; Ipswich Town v Stevenage; Luton v Bristol City; Charlton v Dagenham & Redbridge; Wolves v Newport County; Brentford v Oxford; Portsmouth v Derby; Southend v Brighton; Milton Keynes Dons v Leyton Orient; Cardiff v AFC Wimbledon; Millwall v Barnet; Wycombe v Fulham; Colchester United v Reading.