Skipper Sam Morsy admitted that the players feel they’ve let the fans down after the Blues’ shock FA Cup defeat to sixth-tier Maidstone United at Portman Road.

Town were beaten 2-1 after third-round hero Sam Corne slotted the ball home with composure in the second half, to send the Vanarama National League South outfit through to the last 16 of the competition for the first time.

The visitors from Kent had sent their 4,472 travelling fans into raptures in the first half as Lamar Reynolds gave George Elokobi’s side the lead with an audacious dink over Christian Walton.

The Blues came out with intent in the second 45 and equalised with a well-taken finish from Jeremy Sarmiento, who netted his second goal of the week.

But soon after, the Stones broke and found the winner in the 66th minute and as much as they pushed, the Blues could not find a leveller to spoil Maidstone’s party.

“I don’t think you can ever be angry because we had 98 minutes to give everything. It’s more that you feel deflated after and you feel disappointed. You feel like you’ve let the fans down and there’s just a real disappointment, to be honest,” said Morsy.

“It’s definitely not the result we wanted today. I think on the game, we got a lot of things right, we had a lot of shots, the keeper’s made some great saves, we’ve hit the woodwork a couple of times and there were lots of good things to like about us today.

“Unfortunately, on the breaks we didn’t manage it quite good enough. I don’t remember them breaking too many times but it seemed like they scored two goals from it. That’s something we have to get better with.

“If you have 38 shots, the woodwork hit a couple of times and if you can only score one goal from it, then you probably put the game in the balance, and that’s what we did. We should have scored more today.

“I think we had five or six really clear-cut chances which we should have done better with. But, fair play to the keeper, he’s made some brilliant saves. It’s bitterly disappointing, it’s a great day for them but it hurts, we have to bounce back and be better.”

While he admitted the fans might not like to hear it, Morsy admitted that there were positives to take from the defeat and was proud of his side’s application throughout the contest.

“It’s a disaster of a day but you can never question the desire and the application of the players, which for me is the biggest positive. I’d rather lose how we lost today than lose not fancying the game,” he said.

“We haven’t had many bad moments here and the losses teach you so much more than the wins will ever teach you. So, we have to bounce back, we have to be better individually and collectively.

“We have to look at why we couldn’t score and maybe you look back and just go ‘it was a freak game’ because we had enough chances to score six or seven goals.

“The day belongs to them, it’s an incredible achievement for them. I’ve been on the other side where you’ve knocked out Premier League teams and it’s an amazing feeling. They’ll always remember it so fair play to them.”

Town will have to put the shock result behind them ahead of their return to Sky Bet Championship action when they travel to Preston North End next Saturday (3pm).

Morsy said: “We understand the importance of every league game. We’ll prepare for it again, on Monday everyone will come in fresh and raring to go and raring to get better.

“Like I said, every setback is an opportunity to get better and that’s what we’ve always done.”

Photo: TWTD

carlo88 added 18:08 - Jan 27 ^^ ITFCson best post of the day
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atty added 18:09 - Jan 27 McKenna own it.You should have played our strongest side. It’s fourth round of the FA Cup, and we don’t play again until next weekend. You play a team that have barely played together in any meaningful way against a well drilled on form non league side on a roll with nothing. Truly woeful.
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Karlosfandangal added 18:12 - Jan 27 Shows how much we miss Burgess need him back. Sell Edmundson and buy two CB Yet again Posh have made money by selling their rubbish to us……..Taylor has been poor for many a game now. Ladapo should still be with Town until a replacement was set up
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algarvefan added 18:31 - Jan 27 Of course it hurts, 10 changes was just too much if we were serious about progressing in the cup. We played well at times especially in the first half, but as they nicked a goal just before half time it was always going to be difficult. I say well done to Maidstone and lets get back to the business end of the season. Today was a blip and the magic of the FA cup combined, we have been great all season, this was a fluke, they happen.

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pablo123 added 18:35 - Jan 27 ITFCSON , I understand football better than you pal !!! I'm no bed wetter , that was awful today , the worst result in the clubs history in front of a national audience !! Seems you don't understand that
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dirtydingusmagee added 18:51 - Jan 27 i wouldnt point out a player who was poor today , i think they all could have and should have done a lot better. Unless things get back on track quickly now i can see us fading away league too now .We have a long way to go but recent form is not promising we were 12 points clear once. I'd like to block this result out of my mind , but it wont be easy .
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dirtydingusmagee added 18:53 - Jan 27 the only positive thing from today is that i WONT be going in my local for a while after that so will save a few quid .
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RobsonWark added 19:29 - Jan 27 I'm not even upset about the result today. I think it's funny. I just feel sorry for the ITFC fans who spent there money to support our team today when we made 10 changes to our team. I'm just glad I wasn't there today. Today is a prime example of why I will never buy a ticket for a cup match at Portman Road. 10 changes. 10 individuals on the pitch who have never played with each other week in week out will never be a team.

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Cloddyseedbed added 19:30 - Jan 27 You did.
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Bazza8564 added 20:05 - Jan 27 Sadly, a few today from the reserves might find themselves away in the week, or gone in June anyway. Simply not good enough and it might just well be the catalyst that gets KM to show a bit of ruthlessness around a few "squad" players and have a bit of a clear out . We've done wonders but the quality of the depth of the squad against 6th tier opposition, thats embarrassing. Ive heard enough about sending Eb and CH on loan, keep that quality and let's get rid of the passengers and get this season back on track

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KatManDoo added 20:22 - Jan 27 Forget the fans for a minute. Home v Maidstone was a 'golden ticket' draw. Some hard graft and determination, would have seen a place in the 5th round. As it turned out, it's a shocking result.
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del45 added 21:17 - Jan 27 We still talk about Williams he will not be back and many know why?
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Dozzells_Bobblehat added 21:31 - Jan 27 Really do despair at some of our so called supporters. Today was exactly why we all love the FA Cup, it just happened to be us this time . I guarantee all the moaners talking rubbish about disrespecting the Cup would be the same ones moaning if we played the first team and got a serious injury.
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Bergholtblue added 21:53 - Jan 27 It doesn't FEEL like you let the fans down. You DID let the fans down. No go and get automatic promotion and make up for it.
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Europablue added 22:10 - Jan 27 I'll take a loss in the cup all day if it keeps us fresh for the rest of the season. It's typical being wise after the fact. We made a lot of changes against Wolves too in the League Cup. If we want to do our best in the league we have to rotate for cup games. It really doesn't matter who we put out, we would win this one 99 times out of 100. They played very well and had the rub of the green. So we got knocked out one round earlier than we would have done. Better that than getting a mid-week replay. Good luck to Maidstone. There was no way to make our players care about the match more than the opposition. Their desire got them over the line.

2

JewellintheTown added 22:10 - Jan 27 If you all show us how much you're sorry by all giving your all for the remainder of the season, & hopefully getting us promoted, I'm sure we'll all forgive you, Sam.
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Europablue added 22:16 - Jan 27 It's embarrassing to hear people talking about a clear out of players who have performed all season way past their potential and have one poor result and people turn against them. I'd much rather have a poor performance in the cup than when it matters in the league. Get something else in your life so that a football result doesn't turn you into an emotional wreck.
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Bert added 23:22 - Jan 27 A lot of posts on TWTD today from posters who either don’t go to many home games or have a selective memory. Emotions are running high because we lost to a non league club. It’s the FA Cup and it will happen to another high flying team next year but I doubt they will have stats to suggest that they have been unfortunate for the most part ……..with some naivety thrown in. Move on.

1

bobble added 01:18 - Jan 28 these cup games are nonsense , the risk of injury is my only concern not whether our b team can beat another team.. the only game in town is the division you are in
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ITFCson added 03:49 - Jan 28 Yes Pablo it may of been the worst result in the clubs history but it wasn’t the worst performance in the clubs history, not even close. You seem to be letting emotion mask the actual situation here. We’ve gone out of the cup due to a 1 in a 100 result, that is all.
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Bazza8564 added 09:04 - Jan 28 Yes emotions are running high and yes we probably all say things in the heat of it that aren't balanced, but with respect to Euroblue's comments about a clear out, what do you think Man City would do to that back four. I think our midfield tens and forwards have been outstanding this season, and im not going to name players, ill do the opposite. Hladky Clarke Davis Wolfenden and Burgess have done wonders this season, not the rear guard we fielded yesterday, Cam H is a midfielder and quality, but stick Haarland and Foden in against that defence yesterday? Come on. It was Maidstone and they looked like they had no idea how we pass and move let alone have the pace and decisiveness to defend against one. Im expecting a very interesting week, don't forget to bring 3 in we have to move 3 out

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bluesman added 09:41 - Jan 28 Can’t believe what some people have been posting. This is an amazing team with an amazing manager. So we had a bad day. Get over it.
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Cheshire_Blue added 11:32 - Jan 28 This just emphasises the need for a decent striker or two. Even so, we had enough of the game to have won comfortably. Was Broadhead on the pitch ?
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Nomore4 added 12:31 - Jan 28 Possibly the most important week ahead for ITFC. Certainly since the last week of January 2015.
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Tenchytom added 18:40 - Jan 28 Yes a bad day in the office and yes some under par performances by one or two players. But just remember where we are now and where we were 18 months ago. Get a grip. A great club, a great team and a super manager and hopefully the Premiership this or next year.
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