IPSWICH Town have crashed out of the Carling Cup at the first attempt as Northampton Town came from behind to win 2-1 at Portman Road.

Jay Emmanuel-Thomas had given the Blues the lead with a wonder goal but Ben Tozer and Paul Turnbull struck either side of half time to give the Cobblers the victory.

It was sweet revenge for Northampton who lost at Portman Road in the fourth round of the competition last season.

The Carling Cup match was initially lit up by the former Arsenal man who struck his first goal for the Blues after 11 minutes.

Picking up the ball on the angle of the penalty area, Emmanuel-Thomas fired a speculative shot over Sam Walker and into the far corner.

Northampton had their moments before and after the opening goal, and certainly the dangerous Jake Robinson should have done better when he loosely fired over from 15 yards.

But by and large, a Town side – containing nine changes from the side that beat Bristol City and 15-year-old Byron Lawrence on the bench – were controlling proceedings.

A second goal looked in the offing when Emmanuel-Thomas drilled a low shot just wide and then Colin Healy ended a smart move by heading over Andy Drury’s cross.

But the whole nature of the cup tie was changed in the 39th minute when Northampton midfielder Ben Tozer ghosted through the heart of the Town defence and fired into the empty net after Arran Lee-Barrett had saved the initial shot.

And it got worse for the Blues when Turnbull tapped home after Tommy Smith had blocked Arron Davies’ shot.

Town huffed and puffed but rarely created clear-cut chances. Lee Martin came on and instantly made a difference, firing wide from 25 yards out while Emmanuel-Thomas headed wide before having a fantastic long-range shot tipped round the post by Walker.

Starting teams

Ipswich: Lee-Barrett; Peters, Ainsley, Smith, Cresswell; Drury, Healy, Hyam, Emmanuel-Thomas; Ellington, Scotland. Subs - Cropper, Leadbitter, Martin, O’Connor, Murray, Whight, Lawrence.

Northampton: Walker, Corker, Tozer, Webster, Davies, Robinson, Savage, Turnbull, Nana, Jacobs, Westwood.

Subs - Hall, Young, Thornton, Purcell, McKoy, Langmead.