Kayden Jackson is excited to be playing alongside ‘the best full-back in League Two last season’ after being reunited with Janoi Donacien at Ipswich Town.
Both players were part of the Accrington Stanley side which won the fourth-tier title last season and both could play for the Blues this evening when they take on Exeter in the Carabao Cup first round.
“Last year I think it’s fair to say that JD was the best full-back in League Two – both on the ball and off the ball. I can’t remember many occasions where a winger got by him,” Jackson said.
“He made very few mistakes off the ball and on the ball he offered a lot as well. Last season he played on the left quite a bit and would get around the side and come in on his right foot.
“He’s a very solid defender when a lot of the time these days full-backs concentrate on the attacking.
“Just like me he needs to get up to scratch after not having the most intense pre-season, but I’m sure we’ll be fine.”
Jackson played against tonight’s opponents on two occasions last season and knows the Blues will be in for a tough ride against a Grecians side which lost in last season’s League Two play-off final.
“It’s always a tough place to go, not only because of the distance but the atmosphere they have there,” he said. “I’m not sure if the new stand is quite finished yet, but it looks a bit odd when there’s no backdrop behind the goal.
MORE: ‘I’ve got no reason to make wholesale changes’ – Hurst is up for the cup
“They’re a tough side and, with the gaffer (Paul Tisdale) leaving, I’m not really sure what kind of direction they are going to be going in this season. They are tough physical side, but I am sure we’ve got enough to get past them.
“Cup games are always fun, especially for the fans. Last year we (Accrington) beat Preston at this stage of the League Cup with a 94th minute winner and then we went on to play West Brom at home.
“Accrington showed that upsets are possible. We need to be aware that Exeter are going to be going for it. They will have a chance. Just because it’s League Two versus Championship doesn’t mean they don’t have a chance. We need to concentrate on our game.”
Ipswich in the League Cup
Town have reached the semi-finals of the League Cup on four occasions, losing to Liverpool (81/82), Norwich (84/85), Birmingham (00/01) and Arsenal (10/11).
Since those ties against the Gunners, the Blues have exited the competition to lower league opposition in five of the last seven seasons.
The first exception was a 3-0 third round defeat at Manchester United in 2015. Mick McCarthy controversially changed his entire team for that money-spinning match as the likes of Piotr Malarczyk, Josh Yorwerth, Giles Coke and Tommy Oar lined up against Wayne Rooney, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Juan Mata and David de Gea.
Last year, the youngest Town side in history – average outfield age 19 – put in gallant performance at Crystal Palace, losing 2-1 in the second round, following an entertaining first round win at Luton.
11/12: 1R, L 2-1 Northampton (h)
12/13: 2R, L 2-1 aet Carlisle (a)
13/14: 1R, L 2-0 Stevenage (a)
14/15: 1R, L 1-0 Crawley (a)
15/16: 3R, L 3-0 Man Utd (a)
16/17: 1R, L 1-0 Stevenage (a)
17/18: 2R, L 2-1 Crystal Palace (a)
Exeter lowdown
Last five finishes: 4th, 5th, 14th, 10th, 16th (all League Two)
Manager: Matt Taylor (June 18): P2 W2 D0 L0
Ground: St James Park (capacity: 6,087)
Last weekend: W 2-0 Morecambe (a)
Carabao Cup 17/18: R1 - L 1-0 Charlton
Stat attack
25 - Town shots in first two games of season
106 - Ipswich games played by Exeter’s Lee Martin
Possible line-ups
Exeter City (4-4-2): Pym; Sweeney, Martin, Brown, Moxey; Taylor, Boateng, Law, Holmes; Forte Stockley.
Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1): Gerken; Donacien, Nsiala, Chambers, Kenlock; Skuse, Downes;,Roberts, Nolan, Sears, Jackson.
Last meeting
Exeter City 2 Ipswich Town 3
Date: Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The Blues needed extra-time to force their way through to the second round of the League Cup as a brace from midfielder Ryan Harley cancelled out goals from David Norris and Ronan Murray in normal time. Norris then grabbed the winner in the extra period.
Referee
Brett Huxtable (Devon)
Odds
Exeter City – 34/13
Draw – 13/5
Ipswich Town – 6/5
Stu’s prediction
Exeter City 1 Ipswich Town 2
Don’t underestimate the Grecians, but Town are hungry for that first win.
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