Marcus Harness scored twice as Ipswich Town thrashed Northampton Town 6-0 in the EFL Trophy at Portman Road.

Ipswich were dominant throughout on a night that saw defenders Greg Leigh, Cameron Burgess and George Edmundson all on the scoresheet.

The result is manager Kieran McKenna’s first cup win as Blues boss.

Pre-match

As was expected, both sides opted to make wholesale changes.

Ipswich boss McKenna switched his entire XI from the weekend draw with Barnsley. Dominic Ball, who had been nursing an ankle injury in the early stages of this season, and veteran defender Richard Keogh made their debuts for the club.

Northampton opted to make six changes of their own. Young defender Max Dyche made his first appearance of the season while Akin Odimayo came in for his first start.

Story of the match

The visitors, donning a vibrant pink strip, gifted Ipswich the first chance of the game. Dyche’s misplaced pass was pounced upon by Kyle Edwards, but his through ball to Kayden Jackson caught the latter offside. His effort was saved regardless.

The Blues took the lead on 11 minutes in a move that started and ended with Harness. The former Portsmouth man fed a lovely ball to Sone Aluko, whose eventual cross was headed in my Harness at the back post.

Edwards was looking a threat down the Ipswich right and soon had a chance of his own. A mazy run into the penalty area ended in a powerful effort being parried behind for a corner by Jonny Maxted.

And it was from the resulting set piece that Ipswich doubled their lead. After being taken short, Aluko’s low cross was poked in by Harness at the second attempt. Ball may have had a strong case for a penalty in amongst the scramble.

Kieron Bowie drilled wide from the edge of the box in what was about the only Cobblers attack of the half.

But it was 3-0 before the half-hour mark and it came in similar fashion to the first. Edwards’ looping cross was headed in by Leigh at the back-post with Harvey Lintott out-lept for the second time. Ipswich were in cruise control.

The hosts were hit with a dampener not long after, though, when Aluko was forced off injured on 40 minutes. 19-year-old Zanda Siziba, who was a late replacement on the bench, came on in his place and Ipswich saw the remainder of the half through.

Ipswich’s half-time substitutes were into the thick of things straight away. Tyreece John-Jules was inches away from getting on the end of a sublime Edwards cross before the Arsenal loanee played in Freddie Ladapo, only to see his strike saved by the feet of Maxted.

Then the host’s grabbed a fourth goal on 58 minutes. Cameron Humphreys played a delightful diagonal ball into Burgess, who headed in expertly into the bottom corner for his first goal in Ipswich colours.

Ladapo, still chasing a first goal of his own, then drilled wide after doing well to get past Marc Leonard.

Odimayo was withdrawn with 11 minutes to go after picking up a knock. 16-year-old Josh Tomlinson, the club’s youngest ever player, came on for his second senior appearance.

And just a few minutes later the hosts introduced a debutant of their own as midfielder Fraser Alexander entered the action.

The one-way traffic continued when the Blues scored a fifth on 83 minutes. After a scramble from a corner, Edmundson headed in at the far post. Maxted appeared to make a good save, but the assistant referee signalled the ball had crossed the line.

The Cobblers biggest chance of the game came late on after Ipswich were caught overplaying. Louis Appere’s strike from inside the box was put behind thanks to an excellent block on the line from Edmundson.

Ladapo eventually got his first Ipswich goal in stoppage time when he swept home following good work from Leigh and Edwards to make it six.

The hosts record their biggest ever win in the competition on a positive night in front of over 5,000 supporters.

Ipswich return to league action on Saturday when they travel to Accrington Stanley while Northampton host Barrow.

Player of the match

There were many different possibilities for player of the match on a night where all 16 Ipswich players were so dominant.

Burgess and Keogh were calm and unhindered at the back, Humphreys was excellent in midfield alongside Ball, and Harness grabbed two first-half goals before being replaced at the break.

But the player of the match is Kyle Edwards.

While he didn't grab a goal, he looked a threat throughout the evening and ended up with three assists to his name.

He could well have had a few goals himself after having some powerful efforts denied, but you feel performances like that will see him grab his first Blues goal pretty soon.

Match information

Ipswich Town (4-2-3-1): Hladky; Leigh, Burgess, Keogh (Edmundson 67), Vincent-Young; Humphreys (Alexander 81), Ball; Harness (John-Jules 46), Aluko (c) (Siziba 40), Edwards; Jackson (Ladapo 46). Subs: Hayes, Morsy.

Booked: Ball.

Northampton Town (4-2-3-1): Maxted; Haynes, Odimayo (Tomlinson 79), Dyche, Lintott (Koiki 46); McWilliams (c), Fox (Abimbola 75); Appere, Pinnock, Bowie (Leonard 46); Hylton (Cross 65). Subs: Dadge, Ngwa.

Referee: Tom Reeves (Warwickshire).

Attendance: 5,432 (613 away)