Sean Dyche was pleased with how Everton overcame the “noise” around their alarming start to the season to take a “mini step forward” by beating Doncaster in the Carabao Cup.Bottom of the Premier League having conceded seven without reply across their two opening matches, the Toffees desperately needed to lift the mood ahead of Bournemouth’s visit on Saturday.Everton...Full Story »

Richard Keogh said pride was his overriding emotion after League One Blackpool beat Blackburn 2-1 in the Carabao Cup.The Championship outfit turned early dominance into a lead when Makhtar Gueye’s 21st-minute penalty put Rovers ahead.But the Seasiders, winless in League One this season, turned the game on its head with quickfire goals through Jake Beesley’s close-range finish and Hay...Full Story »

Charlie Adam was overjoyed after Fleetwood stunned League One Rotherham 2-1 in the second round of the Carabao Cup.The Cod Army found themselves behind in the opening exchanges after Jamie McCart’s early opener at Highbury.But Ryan Graydon’s impressive brace within 13 first-half minutes sent the hosts through.“I’m really impressed with the performance,” Adam said. &...Full Story »

Manager Richie Wellens was able to enjoy watching from on high as Leyton Orient completely shut down Millwall as the League One side defeated their Championship opponents 1-0 in the second round of the Carabao Cup.Wellens was serving a touchline ban and watched from the stands as Dan Agyei’s first-half goal sent the O’s through to round three with what was the only shot on target in ...Full Story »

Leicester secured a safe passage through to the third round of the Carabao Cup with a dominant 4-0 victory over Tranmere at the King Power Stadium.Leicester made eight changes from their defeat to Fulham at the weekend and took a while to get in their stride but it was Jordan Ayew – on his first start – that gave the Foxes a narrow half-time advantage.An imperious-looking Leicester p...Full Story »

Brighton booked a place in the third round of the Carabao Cup with a 4-0 home victory over League one Crawley in the first competitive game between the sides since 1992.Scott Lindsey’s Red Devils put up a brave fight and gave a fine account of themselves against a much-changed Seagulls side.Goals from Simon Adingra and Jeremy Sarmiento put Brighton in charge, and they scored twice more in ...Full Story »

QPR beat Championship rivals Luton 4-1 on penalties to reach the third round of the Carabao Cup following a tough encounter at Loftus Road.After the game ended level at 1-1 after 90 minutes, Kenneth Paal stepped up to score the winning penalty as Rangers won the shootout, converting all their spot-kicks.Summer signing Hevertton Santos, making his full debut for QPR, put them ahead after 11 minut...Full Story »

Bolton fired themselves into the third round of the EFL Cup for the first time since 2017 with a 2-0 victory at Shrewsbury.Second-half goals from Jordi Osei-Tutu, his first for the club, and Dion Charles did the damage as the Trotters secured safe passage into the next stage.Shrews stopper Toby Savin produced a string of fine saves, but ultimately could not keep the visitors at bay.Kyle Dempsey ...Full Story »

Hearts boss Steven Naismith hopes for a turnaround in fortunes in the return leg at Tynecastle after Daniel Oyegoke’s late own goal gave Viktoria Plzen a 1-0 win at the Doosan Arena.It looked like the Jambos would return from the first leg of their Europa League play-off tie in Czechia with a goalless draw until it all changed in the final minute of six added at the end of t...Full Story »

Luckless Daniel Oyegoke’s own goal deep in second-half stoppage-time gave Viktoria Plzen a narrow 1-0 advantage over Hearts in their Europa League play-off tie in the Doosan Arena.The home side probably had more of the clear-cut chances in the first leg in Czechia but it looked like Steven Naismith’s side would take a goalless draw back to Tynecastle for the return game next week.How...Full Story »

Stuart Kettlewell has urged his Motherwell players to embark on a special Premier Sports Cup run after beating 10-man Kilmarnock 1-0 to move into the quarter-finals.Moses Ebiye scored an extra-time winner with a brilliant header for Well, who dominated after Stuart Findlay was dismissed for the visitors in the 50th minute.Motherwell were rewarded with a kind last-eight draw against Dundee United...Full Story »

Stand-in striker Daizen Maeda scored an early double as Celtic moved into the Premier Sports Cup quarter-finals with a 3-1 victory over Hibernian.Mykola Kuharevich pulled a goal back for Hibs before half-time, but the visitors paid the price for a poor attempt to play the ball out from the back as Nicolas Kuhn restored Celtic’s two-goal lead.Maeda started up front after Japan team-mate Kyo...Full Story »

Dundee United boss Jim Goodwin admitted he would have been “lambasted” if his team selection had backfired against St Mirren.The Terrors edged through to the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup as a solitary Ross Graham goal secured a 1-0 win.Kevin Holt also played a key role, with the central defender employed in midfield, and Goodwin confessed he was relieved that the move pai...Full Story »

Dundee United edged into the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup after a narrow 1-0 win over St Mirren at Tannadice.A first-half goal from defender Ross Graham was all that separated the sides although the woodwork twice came to the Buddies’ rescue.The visitors had the first opportunity of the game in the second minute with Alex Iacovitti hitting a shot that home goalkeeper Jack Walto...Full Story »

A confusing Cyriel Dessers goal helped Rangers overcome St Johnstone 2-0 in their Premier Sports Cup last-16 game at Hampden Park as the Light Blues fans voted with their feet.The holders went into the game on the back of their costly Champions League qualifying exit to Dynamo Kyiv on Tuesday night at the national stadium, used as a temporary home by the Govan club due to the delayed recons...Full Story »

Dundee stormed into the quarter-finals of the Premier Sports Cup with an emphatic 6-1 win over 10-man Airdrie at Dens Park.The Dark Blues netted twice before the break through Seb Palmer-Houlden and Jordan McGhee before adding four more goal in the second half from Scott Tiffoney, Antonio Portales, Curtis Main and Lyall Cameron.Adam Frizzell pulled one back for the Diamonds who had Dylan MacDona...Full Story »

Hearts slumped to a shock 2-0 Premier Sports Cup defeat at Championship Falkirk as second-half goals from Ethan Ross and Dylan Tait sent their side into the quarter-finals.Steven Naismith’s side dominated much of the first half but were wasteful with their chances, Kenneth Vargas striking the crossbar from close range with one of the most glaring misses.That profligacy came back to haunt t...Full Story »

Stephen Robinson targeted another tilt at Europe after two goals in three minutes by Brann sunk St Mirren’s Europa Conference League hopes in Norway.A last-gasp equaliser from Toyosi Olusanya in the first leg of their third qualifying round tie in Paisley last week meant the Buddies – playing European football this season for the first time in 37 years – travelled to Brann Stad...Full Story »

St Mirren’s long-awaited return to European football ended after they conceded two late Brann goals in a 3-1 defeat in Bergen.A last-gasp equaliser from Toyosi Olusanya in the first leg of their Europa Conference League third qualifying round tie in Paisley last week gave Stephen Robinson’s side hope for the return game in Norway.In the return game at the rain-lashed Brann Stadion, h...Full Story »

Michael Carrick backed his Middlesbrough squad for success after they raced into the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-0 win over Leeds at Elland Road.The Boro boss made seven changes from the weekend win over Swansea and watched as second-half goals from Anfernee Dijksteel, Delano Burgzorg and Josh Coburn earned them a meeting with Stoke in the next round.Carrick, whose side reached the ...Full Story »