Cardiff boss Erol Bulut hailed Rubin Colwill as a great player but said the 22-year-old Wales international could be “much, much better” with some changes to his game.Colwill helped his side to a 2-0 Carabao Cup first-round win over League One Bristol Rovers after slotting home a late second to add to Mark McGuinness’ 68th-minute opener.Bulut said of the midfielder: “Rubi...Full Story »

Ian Evatt backed Bolton’s penalty shootout hero Luke Southwood to push for a more regular starting place after his side’s Carabao Cup victory over Mansfield.The Trotters debutant keeper saved one penalty during the first five regulation kicks before stopping the vital sudden-death effort from Will Swan to send Bolton through 5-4 on penalties, after the match had finished 1-1.“L...Full Story »

Ryan Ledson admitted it was a shock to see Ryan Lowe leave his position at Preston manager.The 26-year-old helped Preston to a 2-0 EFL Cup victory over Sunderland, opening the scoring via a deflection in the 37th minute, and Mads Frokjaer sealed the victory with an excellent 70th-minute solo strike.But the real talking point was Lowe’s exit by “mutual consent”, which was confir...Full Story »

Barnsley assistant coach Martin Devaney hailed debutant goalkeeper Gabriel Slonina for his heroics as his two saves in Tuesday night’s penalty shoot-out against Wigan saw them progress to the second round of the Carabao Cup.The summer signing saved spot-kicks from Josh Stones and Thelo Aasgaard to see the visitors progress 4-2 in an all-League One encounter following a 1-1 draw after 90 mi...Full Story »

Derby assistant head coach Richie Barker praised his team’s response to adversity after they came from behind to beat Chesterfield 2-1 in the Carabao Cup first round.Armando Dobra put Chesterfield ahead against the run of play in the 29th minute but Derby hit back to equalise through Liam Thompson’s shot from the edge of the box in the 38th minute.Derby spurned chances in the second ...Full Story »

Luke Williams urged his Swansea side to use their convincing 3-1 victory over 10-man Gillingham in the first round of the Carabao Cup as the benchmark for their forthcoming league performances.Ronald’s solo effort gave the dominant Swans the advantage at half-time. Liam Cullen then struck a second after the Gills were reduced to 10 men in the 51st minute, Euan Williams given his marching o...Full Story »

Sheffield United manager Chris Wilder felt his younger players took their chances in the 4-2 win over Wrexham in the Carabao Cup.Will Boyle put the visitors ahead at Bramall Lane before Auston Trusty equalised.Lewis Brunt’s own goal and strikes from Louie Marsh and Anis Slimane sealed the win, with Seb Revan netting a late consolation for Wrexham.Wilder said: “I enjoyed it. I thought...Full Story »

Fleetwood manager Charlie Adam highlighted the importance of “a solid base, a good foundation to work from and players who can hurt the opposition” after his League Two side’s shock 2-1 Carabao Cup comeback win over Championship West Brom.Well-worked goals from Ryan Graydon and Ronan Coughlan cancelled out an early Modou Faal opener from the Baggies.Adam, who has been in charge...Full Story »

Doncaster manager Grant McCann was pleased with the battling qualities his side showed in their 2-0 Carabao Cup win at Salford.A clinical strike from veteran Billy Sharp and a late goal from substitute Luke Molyneux secured Rovers’ progress into round two.McCann said: “It’s never easy here in Salford on a wet Tuesday night but it was a good performance from us.“We had to ...Full Story »

Oxford boss Des Buckingham was delighted with his squad players after making eight changes yet still seeing plenty of quality in their 2-0 Carabao Cup win over League One Peterborough.First-half goals from Tyler Goodrham and debutant Matt Phillips gave Championship new boys Oxford a comfortable victory, as Posh rued missing good early chances.Buckingham said: “We spoke about the importance...Full Story »

Walsall boss Mat Sadler hailed Josh Gordon’s bottle after the striker rebounded from missing a penalty in normal time to hit the winning spot-kick in a 4-3 shoot-out win over Exeter to reach the second round of the Carabao Cup.Gordon has netted just once in his past 50 games and, with League Two side Walsall behind with nine minutes to go, he was foiled from the spot by Exeter goalkeeper J...Full Story »

Crawley boss Scott Lindsey felt his young team were thoroughly good value for their Carabao Cup win over Swindon – but felt they made hard work of the 4-2 home victory.Swindon, trailing to goals from Ade Adeyemo and Jack Roles, fought back midway through the second half to score twice and also miss a penalty through Will Wright inside a six-minute period.The Robins pulled level with goals ...Full Story »

Barrow boss Stephen Clemence praised his side’s performance in Tuesday night’s 3-2 Carabao Cup victory over League Two rivals Port Vale.Despite leading within a minute, the hosts found themselves 2-1 down after Tom Sang’s wonder strike but Clemence’s side won it through goals from substitute Emile Acquah and Ben Jackson.Bluebirds boss Clemence was particularly pleased wit...Full Story »

Millwall boss Neil Harris hailed his young cubs as the Lions booked their place in Carabao Cup second round for the first time in three years with a 1-0 win over Portsmouth.Homegrown talent Romain Esse, 19, impeccably slotted the only goal of the game in the 13th minute at Fratton Park.Esse, who grew up in Peckham and Bermondsey, grabbed his third goal for the club, while 18-year-old Alfie Masse...Full Story »

Boss Simon Weaver made a jubilant return to the LNER Stadium as the former Imps defender oversaw Harrogate’s 2-1 EFL Cup upset win over Lincoln.Weaver played around 100 games for City between 2002 and 2004 and was delighted to enjoy that winning feeling once more at ‘the Bank’ as Sam Folarin and James Daly produced the goods, with Jovon Makama replying with a late penalty.&ldqu...Full Story »

Barrow progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup following an impressive 3-2 win over League Two rivals Port Vale at Holker Street.An outstanding curling finish from Ben Jackson in the 77th minute capped off a second-half turnaround to fire Stephen Clemence’s side into the next round where they could face a Premier League side.The Bluebirds started the game brightly and were ahead ...Full Story »

Stoke boss Steven Schumacher was delighted his team successfully negotiated a “difficult test” as they saw off League Two Carlisle 2-0.It was a youthful Potters outfit that made Carabao Cup progress at Brunton Park, thanks to second-half goals from Freddie Anderson and Emre Tezgel.Schumacher, whose team defeated Coventry in their Championship opener at the weekend, said: “It wa...Full Story »

John Eustace hailed Sammie Szmodics after starring in Blackburn’s Carabao Cup first round 6-1 thrashing of Stockport – but is unsure of the striker’s long-term Rovers future.Szmodics’ double, Andreas Weimann’s strike and Yuki Ohashi’s header put Rovers 4-0 up by half-time before Makhtar Gueye and Jack Vale netted afterwards, as Nathan Mapengu scored County&rsq...Full Story »

Huddersfield boss Michael Duff lauded West Ham loanee Callum Marshall after the teenager claimed a goal and an assist on his debut in a 3-0 Carabao Cup victory over fourth-tier Morecambe.After a disappointing loan spell at West Brom last season, the 19-year-old dropped another level to join League One Huddersfield on Friday and made a strong first impression.Duff said: “I thought he showed...Full Story »

Manager Chris Davies praised Brandon Khela as his 10-man Birmingham side beat Charlton 1-0 at the Valley to reach the second round of the Carabao Cup.A wonder strike by the 19-year-old was a fine way to win a game that saw Dion Sanderson sent off after 78 minutes for a second bookable offence.Davies put the youngster in at left-back and felt the trust put in him paid off.He said: “It was a...Full Story »