LUKE Hannant was the hero as Colchester United stunned their neighbours Ipswich Town by dumping out of the Carabao Cup at Portman Road tonight.

Hannant's first-ever U's goal was enough to help the U's claim a memorable 1-0 victory over their League One hosts and register a first win at Portman Road since 1951.

It was a magnificent performance by Wayne Brown's men, who went ahead against the run of play in the first half and battled superbly to claim victory, against their Suffolk neighbours.

Colchester made four changes to their starting line-up, handing first competitive starts to Marley Marshall Miranda, Al-Amin Kazeem and Ossama Ashley along with Frank Nouble.

Ryan Clampin and Alex Newby dropped to the bench, while Alan Judge and Freddie Sears were not included in the squad.

Colchester started on the defensive and were forced back by their hosts from the off.

Town almost took an eighth-minute lead when Greg Leigh cut dangerously past Junior Tchamadeu in the area before firing in a shot which Colchester goalkeeper Sam Hornby did well to save from close range.

Town continued to press the U’s back and the hosts squandered a golden opportunity to take the lead, in the 26th minute.

Cameron Humphreys wastefully blasted over with the goal gaping, after Kyle Edwards' pass had picked him out in the area.

But against the run of play, Colchester stunned most of Portman Road when they took a 29th-minute lead.

Hannant gleefully slotted home from the centre of the area to score his first ever Colchester goal, after Ipswich’s Rekeem Harper had inexplicably given the ball away in his own box.

It sent the U’s fans into raptures and left the hosts reeling.

But Ipswich really should have been back on level terms, five minutes before the break.

Humphreys blasted another chance wastefully over from inside the area for Town, following a delivery from former Colchester defender Kane Vincent-Young.

But Colchester went in at the break ahead and set about protecting their slender lead, in the second half.

Ipswich were almost level five minutes after half-time when Harper blasted over the bar wastefully from close range, after Hornby had only partially been able to clear Sone Aluko's corner.

Kayden Jackson's weak effort was saved by Hornby just before the hour.

And Hornby was called into action again a few minutes later, diving low to his right to push away Sone Aluko's long-range free-kick.

Substitute Conor Chaplin's acrobatic effort flashed just wide of the U's post with 12 minutes remaining, as Ipswich chased an equaliser.

But Colchester defended superbly to claim a memorable derby win, against their near neighbours.

MATCH STATS: COLCHESTER UNITED: Hornby, Tchamadeu, Chambers, Eastman, Kazeem (sub Tovide, 85), Skuse (sub Coxe, 67), Miranda, Ashley (sub Clampin, 56), Hannant, Chilvers, Nouble (sub Akinde, 85).

Subs (not used): Dallison, Newby, Collins.

Ipswich Town: Hladky, Vincent-Young (sub Burns, 72), Woolfenden, Burgess, Edwards, Humphreys, Harper (sub Chaplin, 72), Leigh, Aluko (sub Harness, 72), John-Jules, Jackson (sub Evans, 72).

Subs (not used): Hayes, Edmundson, Donacien, Penney, El Mizouni.

Referee: Sam Purkiss.

Bookings: Colchester: Skuse (foul, 38), Ashley (unsporting behaviour, 57), Hannant (foul, 77), Tchamadeu (unsporting behaviour, 77). Ipswich: Woolfenden (foul, 90).

Sending off: None.

Goals: Colchester: Hannant (29).

Attendance: 11,654 (1,447 U's fans).