Paul Simpson said his Carlisle players let themselves down during Tuesday night’s Carabao Cup first-round defeat at Harrogate.Sam Folarin scored the only goal of the game from long range in the 23rd minute to leave the Sky Bet League One Cumbrians winless in eighth attempts against Simon Weaver’s Sulphurites.And Simpson, who made no fewer than four substitutions at half-time, was far...Full Story »

Chris Rigg became Sunderland’s youngest ever goal scorer but his efforts proved in vain as they crashed out the Carabao Cup with a 5-3 penalty shoot-out defeat at the hands of Crewe.At the age of 16 years and 51 days, Rigg also became the youngest player to net in the competition’s history as his second-half strike cancelled out a first-half header from Crewe defender Luke Offord.How...Full Story »

Tranmere progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup after defeating League One Barnsley 7-6 on penalties following a 2-2 draw at Oakwell.Luke Norris and Sam Taylor gave the visitors the lead either side of the break, with Herbie Kane and Aiden Marsh twice equalising for the Tykes.Rovers’ early persistence paid off in the 24th minute, breaking the deadlock through a well-worked free-...Full Story »

Sutton reached the second round of the Carabao Cup for the first time after beating League One Cambridge on penalties after the game had finished 2-2.Both sides came close in the space of a minute early on, as Cambridge goalkeeper Will Mannion kept out Aiden O’Brien’s header with Sutton unable to force the rebound in. Down the other end Elias Kachunga was denied by Steve Arnold.The v...Full Story »

English Football League new boys Wrexham dumped out Wigan on penalties as they reached the second round of the Carabao Cup for the first time in 16 years.The hosts dominated but were held to a goalless draw in normal time before winning the shoot-out 4-2.Charlie Hughes and Thelo Aasgaard both hit their spot-kicks high over the crossbar as the Latics crashed out.Jake Bickerstaff squandered a big ...Full Story »

A youthful Blackburn survived a Carabao Cup first-round scare before overcoming Sky Bet League Two Walsall in a 4-3 victory.The Championship outfit twice came from behind with goals from Oisin McEntee and Ross Tierney cancelled out by Zak Gilsenan and Niall Ennis before half-time.Strikes from Jake Garrett and John Buckley gave Blackburn breathing space but Ronan Maher’s late strike ensured...Full Story »

Sky Bet League Two Salford dumped Championship side Preston out of the Carabao Cup after a penalty shoot-out win at Deepdale.Preston had fought back from 2-0 down to draw 2-2 after 90 minutes, only for substitutes Ryan Ledson and Mads Frokjaer-Jensen to miss from the spot and send the Ammies through with a 4-2 win.The home fans had earlier been left stunned as Preston took the lead after only fi...Full Story »

Mansfield turned on the style to see off Grimsby 2-0 in the Carabao Cup first round and delighted Stags boss Nigel Clough believes a team could be in for a real hiding if they can reproduce that form.Lucas Akins netted a 27th-minute penalty in a one-sided first half and Rhys Oates added a crucial second on 55 minutes.But it could have been many more and Clough said: “I think you can see al...Full Story »

Michael Carrick praised his Middlesbrough side’s control as they ran out 3-2 winners over 10-man Huddersfield in the Carabao Cup first round.Kian Harratt gave Huddersfield an early lead but they had Jaheim Headley sent off in the 13th minute.And Boro took full advantage with goals from Samuel Silvera, Isiah Jones and Riley McGree before Kyle Hudlin’s late consolation.Carrick said: &l...Full Story »

New Swansea boss Michael Duff revealed the club are talking to star striker Joel Piroe to try to entice him to extend his stay at the club.The Dutchman is out of contract next summer and gave Duff a first-hand look at what he can do by scoring two of his side’s goals in a 3-0 demolition of League One side Northampton in the first round of the Carabao Cup.“We haven’t received a ...Full Story »

Newport boss Graham Coughlan hailed a morale-boosting victory for his side as they fought back from a goal down to beat League One Charlton 3-1 in the Carabao Cup first round.Daniel Kanu put the visitors ahead just before half-time, but second-half strikes from Aaron Wildig, Will Evans and Seb Palmer-Houlden sealed a second-round spot for the Exiles for the seventh successive season.“I&rsq...Full Story »

Exeter manager Gary Caldwell was delighted with the second-half response from his side as they reached the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 win over Sky Bet League Two club Crawley.After falling behind in controversial circumstances – former Plymouth and Torquay striker Klaidi Lolos headed in from a corner when Exeter were down to 10 men and trying to make a substitution – ...Full Story »

Bradford manager Mark Hughes hopes a good cup run can boost their league form after a 4-1 penalty shoot-out win over Accrington in the Carabao Cup first round.The Bantams reached the League Two play-offs last season but lost their league opener on Saturday.Summer signing Alex Pattison got them off their mark in the first minute of first-half stoppage time at the Wham Stadium, racing one-on-one w...Full Story »

Stoke boss Alex Neil reserved special praise for 16-year-old debutant Sol Sidibe following their 2-1 win over West Brom in the Carabao Cup.A first-half own goal from Josh Griffiths and calm finish from Andre Vidigal – either side of Brandon Thomas-Asante’s second-half leveller – saw the Potters progress to round two.Sidibe, son of club icon Mamady, was deservedly named man of t...Full Story »

Ethan Chislett struck twice as Port Vale came from behind to beat Fleetwood 3-2 and reach the second round of the Carabao Cup.Cian Hayes had given the visitors an early lead in the fifth minute when he curled home a fine effort off the far post.South African Chislett, a summer signing on a free transfer after leaving AFC Wimbledon, equalised in style with a stunning strike from the edge of the b...Full Story »

Rotherham boss Matt Taylor was pleased to see his side shake off their weekend hammering at Stoke with a 4-2 Carabao Cup penalty shootout victory over Morecambe.The Millers were thumped 4-1 in their Championship opener and boss Taylor said his side were “shell-shocked” in an opening 25 minutes against the League Two side where they fell behind to Michael Mellon’s clinical finis...Full Story »

Wycombe manager Matt Bloomfield praised the impact of his substitutes after they helped see off MK Dons in the first round of the Carabao Cup.Brandon Hanlan struck the opener for the League One Chairboys deep into the second half before setting up the second for Chris Forino after the visitors had to endure an uncomfortable first 45 minutes at Stadium MK.Bloomfield said: “We had to abandon...Full Story »

New Zealand international Ben Waine bagged two first-half goals as Championship newcomers Plymouth eased into the EFL Cup second round 2-0 against League One Leyton Orient at Home Park.Argyle’s opener came seconds after Orient striker Joe Pigott fired just wide on 25 minutes.Waine pounced on a back-pass from Os central defender Omar Beckles to calmly slot past advancing keeper Sam Howes, m...Full Story »

Juninho Bacuna scored twice as Birmingham cruised into the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 win at Cheltenham.The Curacao international’s first goal was a heavily deflected shot in the 24th minute which flew past goalkeeper Luke Southwood off defender Liam Smith after efforts from Keshi Anderson and Koji Miyoshi were blocked.Miyoshi was tripped by former Birmingham defender ...Full Story »

Andre Vidigal’s winner saw Stoke progress to round two of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 win over fellow Championship side West Brom.The summer signing – who also bagged a brace at the weekend – stepped off the bench to net the decisive goal with 25 minutes remaining.The hosts went ahead after 27 minutes as Wesley’s shot came back off the post before hitting goalkeeper Josh G...Full Story »