SWINDON Town’s miserable League Cup record continued on Tuesday night after losing 3-1 on penalties to Cambridge United at the Abbey Stadium.

A turgid 90 minutes preceded the shoot-out, with neither side looking likely to break the deadlock in normal time.

Town’s exit means they have not progressed to the second round of the League Cup since 2014 – coincidentally the same year they last failed to win their opening league match.

Town made six changes to the side that came from behind to beat Scunthorpe United 3-1 on Saturday in League Two.

Lewis Ward was handed his debut in goal, while Akin Odimayo returned to the fold having signed a new deal recently. Romoney Crichlow also started for the first time alongside fellow debutants Louis Reed and Ryan East. And Harry Parsons was upgraded from having to make do with a spot on the bench as he was included in the starting XI.

A cagey first 15 minutes was a signal of how the first half was to play out, with very few positive moments for either side and Swindon seeing the majority of the ball. The first chance came in the 16th minute as Cambridge’s Sam Smith sliced a left-footed shot well wide after breaking into the box.

Town showed promise midway through the first half and almost created a golden opportunity through Jack Payne.

Payne broke down the left and reached the box before cutting the ball across the penalty area behind Tyreece Simpson. If a number 10 had been arriving, it would have been a relatively simple chance.

Town continued to probe and almost repeated the previous move with slightly more success. Iandolo skipped down the left and worked a bit of space before finding Simpson with a low cross. The striker held his run slightly this time and trapped the ball giving him an opportunity to shoot. But around eight yards out, Simpson somehow skied the ball over.

Parsons shot well off target while Iandolo whipped in a lovely low cross in without success as the first half rolled on.

A low point for the visitors in the first half was the loss of Mathieu Baudry. The Frenchman’s hamstring issues arose once again, and he was forced off to be replaced by Rob Hunt.

The final good chance of the opening 45 once again fell to Swindon. And as it had done several times previously, the move started down the left.

Simpson was teed up smartly by Iandolo after the latter had broken into the box, but instead of hitting it right footed first time with no one in the way, Simpson tried pulling it back onto his left and the chance fizzled out.

The second half began with a touch more intensity and two minutes in, Town had an excellent chance to score.

A wayward pass across the pitch was intercepted by McKirdy who raced onto it and at former Town man Lloyd Jones. He continued at pace and shifted the ball onto his left - it looked for all the world like he would score - but McKirdy was denied as Dimitar Mitov remained big to turn it away.

While there was promise of a bit more drive to score from both sides, it did not last long as another lull appeared until the 65th minute. At which time Cambridge really should have taken the lead.

George Williams' cross from the right found the head of Harvey Knibbs, who was unmarked on the edge of the six-yard box. Somehow, he headed it wide of Ward's goal when it really was easier to score.

The final 25 minutes should have been the time where both teams were going hell for leather and trying to win the game, but the cup tie continued to be low on genuine chances.

Only the first sighting of new signing Ricky Aguiar peaked the interest of the 300 or so travelling fans that had journeyed up from Wiltshire.

Aside from a wayward Louis Reed long-range effort late on, action was absent in normal time before penalties ensued.

Town took first in front of the home fans, and got off to the worst possible start as Payne saw his penalty saved by Mitov when blasting straight down the middle.

Joe Ironside and Sam Smith both scored for Cambridge while McKirdy’s miserable night continued as his spot-kick was also saved.

Louis Reed scored Swindon’s only penalty before George Williams struck a wonderful penalty into the top left.

And after Rob Hunt skied Town’s fourth penalty, Cambridge celebrated following their progression through to the second round.

Starting XI: Mitov, Williams, Iredale, Jones, Smith, Dunk, Okedina, Weir, May, Knibbs, Worman SUBS: Digby, Taylor, Brophy, O’Neil, Ironside, Mannion (GK), Bennett Starting XI: Ward, Odimayo, Iandolo, Crichlow, Baudry, Simpson, Payne (c), McKirdy, Reed, East, Parsons.

SUBS: Wollacott, Hunt, Aguiar, Dabre, Gordon, Cowmeadow, Grant.