Walsall manager Michael Flynn claimed it was a case of if, not when, Walsall would score against 10-man Swindon.The Saddlers took 79 minutes to get their noses in front through a Danny Johnson penalty after Harrison Minturn saw red on his professional debut for the visitors, before Timmy Abraham wrapped things up with his first Walsall goal two minutes later.“It was just a matter of if not...Full Story »

Fleetwood boss Scott Brown was delighted that his side backed up Saturday’s win at home against Plymouth with another home success on Tuesday night after knocking Wigan out of the Carabao Cup.With those two wins, with the Wigan success secured by Ged Garner’s goal, Brown put to bed a statistic he was unaware of before joining the Cods.“I only found out after the game on Saturda...Full Story »

Charlton manager Ben Garner praised youngster Aaron Henry after Charlton claimed a 5-3 penalty shootout victory over QPR.The 18-year old academy midfielder equalised late on to send the tie to penalties.Henry’s strike cancelled out a Tyler Roberts screamer with 10 minutes remaining.Addicks goalkeeper Joe Wollacott made the crucial save against Stefan Johansen – the first spot-kick of...Full Story »

Norwich manager Dean Smith was delighted with the performance of his much-changed side as they beat Birmingham 4-2 on penalties after a 2-2 draw at Carrow Road to make progress in the Carabao Cup.With only Jacob Sorensen playing from the side which drew 1-1 with Wigan in the Championship on Saturday, the Canaries shrugged off the shock of losing a two-goal lead to book their place in the second ...Full Story »

Rochdale manager Robbie Stockdale refused to go overboard with the Carabao Cup victory against Burton.James Ball’s penalty and Devante Rodney’s stoppage-time clincher finally saw off the League One side.“It was a really positive night for us – but it is just the start,” explained Stockdale, who was mindful his side had lost its first two league matches.Stockdale was...Full Story »

Mansfield Town boss Nigel Clough said his battling Sky Bet League Two side did not deserve to exit the Carabao Cup at the first hurdle after losing a thriller 2-1 to League One neighbours Derby County.Oli Hawkins levelled for the Stags on 56 minutes after Elliott Hewitt had put through his own net on 30 minutes before Tom Barkhuizen headed Derby a 69th minute winner and the home side had Jordan ...Full Story »

Luton boss Nathan Jones brandished his side as “naïve” after they went out of the Carabao Cup at the first-round stage with a 3-2 defeat to League Two Newport.Despite leading twice through Carlos Mendes Gomes and Tom Lockyer, Luton looked on as the Exiles hit back thanks to goals from Lewis Collins and Chanka Zimba, before James Waite struck the winner with 15 minute left.Jones ...Full Story »

Sky Bet League Two side Mansfield pushed visiting neighbours Derby all the way before losing 2-1 and having Jordan Bowery dismissed near the end of a Carabao Cup thriller.An exciting first half saw the Rams go in ahead after Lewis Dobbin had turned a low cross from the left at goal which went in off defender Elliott Hewitt from close range on the half hour.Home keeper Christy Pym had already had...Full Story »

League One Oxford shocked Championship outfit Swansea 5-3 on penalties after storming back from two goals down at half-time to force a 2-2 draw.Penalties were earned thanks to Cameron Brannagan’s stoppage-time equaliser, but Swansea should have been out of sight after a dominant first half.Jay Fulton fired the Swans ahead in the eighth minute, curling a 20-yard free-kick around the wall af...Full Story »

Three second-half goals enabled Portsmouth to avenge their defeat to Cardiff at the same stage five years ago as they progressed to the Carabao Cup second round with a 3-0 win at Cardiff City Stadium.After a goalless first half, Joe Pigott, Ronan Curtis from the penalty spot and substitute Colby Bishop scored to send the League One side through.Cardiff nearly got a nasty shock inside two minutes...Full Story »

Joe Wollacott made the crucial save in a penalty shootout to send Charlton through 5-3 against QPR following a 1-1 draw.The goalkeeper kept out the first spot-kick by Stefan Johansen.Miles Leaburn created the first chance for the hosts after 10 minutes when he headed over a Sean Clare cross, while Niko Hamalainen blasted over the crossbar for QPR a minute later.Charlton were on the front foot mo...Full Story »

Conor Grant’s first goal for MK Dons earned a 1-0 victory against Sutton of League Two in the first round of the Carabao Cup.It was also a first win of the season for the Dons, who had lost their first two games in League One but controlled the tie despite making seven changes from last weekend.After a pedestrian start, MK Dons midfielder Darragh Burns tried to liven up proceedings but cou...Full Story »

James Waite scored the late winner as League Two Newport upset Championship side Luton in the Carabao Cup first round, winning 3-2 at Kenilworth Road.The Hatters went close twice inside the opening 20 minutes, Louie Watson’s curler missing the bottom corner, while Luke Berry’s blast parried away by Exiles keeper Joe Day.Admiral Muskwe was unable to beat Day, before Town were ahead on...Full Story »

Ged Garner led Scott Brown’s Fleetwood into the next round of the Carabao Cup with a first-half header in front of the large Wigan travelling support.The Latics, unbeaten in two games after their return to the Sky Bet Championship, had the edge over League One Fleetwood in the early stages.Jay Lynch produced a fine save, racing out to smother Stephen Humphrys’ close-range effort.Flee...Full Story »

Dramatic late goals from substitutes Mikael Mandron and Jordan Green powered Gillingham to a 2-0 win over AFC Wimbledon and into the second round of the Carabao Cup.The visitors should have taken the lead after just five minutes when Lewis Walker latched onto a defence-splitting pass from fellow summer signing Shaun Williams, only to stab the ball well wide of Nathan Broome’s goal.The Dons...Full Story »

Norwich beat Birmingham 4-2 on penalties to make progress in the Carabao Cup after throwing away a two-goal lead in the second half to draw 2-2 after 90 minutes at Carrow Road.Josh Sargent converted the decisive spot-kick after Sam Cosgrove and Jonathan Leko had their efforts saved by Angus Gunn in an entertaining all-Championship encounter.A cagey first half of few clear-cut chances came to lif...Full Story »

Mark Hughes was celebrating a Carabao Cup scalp as Bradford knocked out Championship visitors Hull 2-1 at Valley Parade.Andy Cook scored twice for the League Two side, who came from behind to record their first home win in the competition for eight years.Hull manager Shota Arveladze made seven changes to his side but they still went in front on 24 minutes.Randell Williams set up Ozan Tufan for a...Full Story »

Sky Bet League Two side Barrow produced a heroic performance to knock Championship club Blackpool out of the Carabao Cup, winning 4-3 on penalties after a goalless draw.Paul Farman denied Callum Connolly from the spot, before Lewis Fiorini blazed over the decisive penalty to give the Cumbrians their first win over the Lancashire side.Farman had earlier denied Shayne Lavery to seemingly end the s...Full Story »

Tom Nichols scored the only goal of the game against his former club as Crawley gave boss Kevin Betsy his first win in three attempts with a 1-0 Carabao Cup victory over League One Bristol Rovers.Betsy made six changes after two successive 1-0 league defeats and the Reds responded with an energetic performance.Striker Nichols settled the tie 16 minutes from time as Rovers went out of the competi...Full Story »

Danny Rose struck a late winner as an inexperienced Reading side slid out of the Carabao Cup first round after a 2-1 home defeat by Stevenage.The League Two outfit dominated a scrappy first half, going ahead early on when 19-year-old loanee Saxon Earley scored from inside the home area.Reading levelled in the 63rd minute through Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan’s first goal for the club but Danny Rose...Full Story »