Conor Chaplin believes Leicester City's 3-1 Carabao Cup defeat at Ipswich Town has given Russell Martin's side a clear picture of what they are capable of, even as pressure mounts following a difficult opening to their League One campaign.

Debut to build on

Chaplin, who joined Leicester during the summer after winning promotion three times in five seasons with Ipswich, made his debut at his old club on Tuesday evening at Portman Road. The midfielder found himself on familiar ground against a Premier League side, and came away encouraged rather than deflated.

"We definitely don't want to be a football club, a team or a group of staff that is happy with any defeat," Chaplin told BBC Radio Leicester, "but I think we can really be proud and take huge, huge steps from the way we played."

The numbers backed him up. Leicester had 57 per cent of possession and registered 22 shots against top-flight opposition, only to come away with nothing on the scoreboard.

"We've come to a Premier League side with amazing players and controlled a lot of the game," Chaplin added. "The learnings will be the final pass. We need to be more ruthless, but it's the hardest part of the game."

League One reality

The Carabao Cup showing stands in sharp contrast to Leicester's third-tier results so far. Martin's men took just one point from their first two League One fixtures, a start that has already drawn scrutiny from outside the club.

Chaplin was candid about the gap between cup performance and league form. "I don't think we've been at where we want to be at for the first two league games," he said. "That's been evident."

He pointed to the Ipswich display as a reference point the squad can now hold itself to. "That's something to come back on and say 'this is the level'. But that will take time with different players learning each other. I know it's hard to say that, but it's a brutal honest truth."

The former Ipswich man was not making excuses. He was clear that the onus falls on the players and staff to close that gap quickly. "It's our job on the training pitch to make that time as short as possible," he said.

MK Dons next in third tier

Leicester now travel to MK Dons on Saturday looking to claim their first League One win of the season. It is a fixture that carries real weight: three points would ease the early-season anxiety and give Martin's project some breathing room.

MK Dons are also in the division this term, making Saturday's trip a straight League One contest with points that matter far more than any cup exit. For Chaplin, the Ipswich cup performance has drawn a line in the sand.

"The bravery we showed, coming away to a place like this, it was top and something to build on," he said. "We've set the stall there now."

Whether Leicester can reproduce that quality in the third tier starts this weekend. The squad that outpossessed a Premier League side needs to convert ambition into points against fellow League One clubs, and the journey to Buckinghamshire offers the first real chance to do exactly that.

Frequently asked

When do Leicester City play MK Dons in League One?
Leicester travel to MK Dons on Saturday, 30 August 2026, looking for their first League One win of the season.
Who is Conor Chaplin and why did he join Leicester?
Conor Chaplin is a midfielder who joined Leicester City as a summer signing after spending time at Ipswich Town, where he won promotion three times in five seasons.
How have Leicester City started the League One season?
Leicester took just one point from their first two League One fixtures, prompting scrutiny of manager Russell Martin and the squad's readiness for the third tier.