Josh Sheehan’s penalty shoot-out winner put Sky Bet League One new-boys Bolton into the second round of the Carabao Cup at the expense of Championship side Barnsley, with a helping hand from debutant goalkeeper Joel Dixon.Dixon saved Devante Cole’s spot-kick, leaving midfielder Sheehan to score past Jack Walton and secure a 5-4 shoot-out win following a goalless 90 minutes.It was Bol...Full Story »

Lewis Thomas was Forest Green’s penalty shootout hero as the League Two side stunned Championship Bristol City in the first round of the Carabao Cup.Regan Hendry equalised for the hosts deep into stoppage time as the game went to spot-kicks after a 2-2 draw.And with Rovers leading 6-5, Thomas dived the right way to keep out Cameron Pring’s kick.Two goals from striker Saikou Janneh on...Full Story »

Peterborough manager Darren Ferguson admitted he was “embarrassed” by their 4-0 thrashing by Plymouth and says his side must “toughen up”.League One Argyle eased into the second round for the fourth straight season thanks to a double from Ryan Hardie and goals from fellow strikers Luke Jephcott and Panutche Camara against their Championship opponents.Posh announced the si...Full Story »

Accrington manager John Coleman was pleased both his frontmen netted as his team got by Rotherham 2-1 with a late winner in the EFL Cup.The visitors were the better side throughout the first half and deservedly led when Dion Charles fired into the bottom corner clinically.Rotherham improved after a lacklustre first half and got level thanks to Kieran Sadlier, who picked his spot perfectly with a...Full Story »

Pontus Dahlberg saved three shootout penalties as Doncaster squeezed into the second round of the Carabao Cup 4-3 on penalties after a 0-0 draw at League Two Walsall.Dahlberg denied Emmanuel Osadebe, Jack Earing and Brendan Kiernan while Liam Kinsella blazed over as League One side Rovers triumphed in sudden death.Walsall were the better side for the opening hour but wasted their best chances as...Full Story »

Accrington’s Colby Bishop struck a late winner to see off League One rivals Rotherham United 2-1 in the first round of the EFL Cup.The visitors deservedly led at the break thanks to hitman Dion Charles, but Kieran Sadlier levelled the scores with a long-range free-kick before Bishop’s winner four minutes from time.Cameron Burgess came close to breaking the deadlock for Accrington but...Full Story »

Rhian Brewster finally broke his Sheffield United duck as the Blades advanced to the second round of the Carabao Cup following a 1-0 victory over Carlisle.Brewster’s first goal for the club since his transfer from Liverpool last summer separated the two teams, giving Slavisa Jokanovic his first win as manager.Billy Sharp had an early effort blocked and Kacper Lopata saw his towering header...Full Story »

Youngster Dimitri Sea’s second-half stunner fired Barrow into the second round of the EFL Cup for the first time since 1969 with a 1-0 win over Scunthorpe at Holker Street.And with victory Mark Cooper picked up his first win since taking charge of the Bluebirds following an opening-day defeat at Stevenage in Sky Bet League Two.The hosts squandered numerous first-half chances, with the retu...Full Story »

Ryan Hardie’s double helped Plymouth to a stunning 4-0 win over Championship side Peterborough at the Weston Homes Stadium in the first round of the Carabao Cup.Hardie’s first-half double and second-half Luke Jephcott and Panutche Camara goals made it a comfortable win for the League One side who have now progressed past the first round in the last four seasons.The opener came after ...Full Story »

George Saville scored his first goal back at Millwall as the Championship side came from behind to defeat Portsmouth 2-1 and reach the second round of the Carabao Cup.Saville returned to the Lions from Middlesbrough during the summer and his smartly-taken volley eventually saw off League One Pompey, who had defender Callum Johnson sent off.Reeco Hackett-Fairchild gave Portsmouth the perfect star...Full Story »

Much-changed Birmingham squeezed through to the Carabao Cup second round after debutant Marcel Oakley’s late goal downed a spirited Colchester 1-0 at St Andrew’s.Oakley’s deflected shot in the 76th minute finally saw off the League Two side as crowds returned to St. Andrew’s for the first time since March 7, 2020.But there was little to cheer for the home fans – who...Full Story »

Sunderland scored either side of half-time to book their place in the next round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 win at Port Vale.Josh Hawkes scored with a confident finish before Aiden O’Brien converted from the spot.Jamie Proctor pulled one back but it was not enough to give Darrell Clarke a win in his 500th game as a manager.Vale started well and had a goal chalked off after 14 minutes as...Full Story »

Dimi Mitov saved two penalties as Cambridge beat Swindon 3-1 in a shootout following a 0-0 draw in the EFL Cup.Mitov denied Jack Payne and Harry McKirdy before Rob Hunt fired over after Cambridge had scored all three of their spot kicks.Opportunities were hard to come by but Swindon did create two strong chances in the first half. On 27 minutes Harry Parsons ran to the byline and pulled the ball...Full Story »

Crewe boss David Artell cut a proud figure after his 10-man side secured a 1-0 Carabao Cup win at Hartlepool.While critical of the decision to send off defender Billy Sass-Davies after 13 minutes, Artell was delighted with the composure of his side.A firm volley from close range in the 50th minute by Callum Ainley proved the difference as the visitors stood firm defensively against a busy home s...Full Story »

Second-half goals from Alfie May and Kyle Vassell saw Cheltenham ease into the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 win over Bristol Rovers at the Memorial Stadium.The visitors’ superiority was rewarded on 58 minutes when Callum Wright turned smartly in midfield and sent an inch-perfect ball over the top for May, who controlled and finished the chance with class, lashing past James B...Full Story »

Oldham edged out League Two rivals Tranmere 4-3 on penalties following a thrilling Carabao Cup first-round tie at Boundary Park.The game finished 2-2 after 90 minutes before Oldham keeper Danny Rogers saved penalties from Paul Glatzel and Peter Clarke in the dramatic shoot-out.With boss Keith Curle absent after testing positive for Covid-19 earlier in the day, Oldham started brightly under the g...Full Story »

Marley Watkins struck twice on his Cardiff debut to save the Bluebirds from embarrassment and help them seal a 3-2 win over Sutton in the first round of the Carabao Cup.EFL new boys Sutton struck first through Donovan Wilson and they should have moved further clear as they missed several chances in their first League Cup appearance.It allowed Watkins to turn the tables for an underwhelming Cardi...Full Story »

Jodi Jones could feature for Coventry ahead of their Carabao Cup clash against Northampton.Jones suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury at the start of last season and came off the bench in the second half of his side’s Championship victory over Nottingham Forest at the weekend.Michael Rose and Dominic Hyam could also be in contention for the Sky Blues having both featured in the Fo...Full Story »

Nottingham Forest boss Chris Hughton will be hoping for some positive news on the fitness front as they look to bounce back from their agonising late defeat to Coventry when they take on Bradford in the Carabao Cup.Forest’s final two pre-season fixtures were disrupted by Covid-19 and striker Lewis Grabban was forced to miss Sunday’s Championship opener at Coventry due to self-isolati...Full Story »

Lucas Akins could again get the nod up front for Burton’s Carabao Cup tie against Oxford.Akins started for the Brewers during their League One opener at Shrewsbury, which they won 1-0 on Saturday, with the club’s forward options having been hindered by injuries over the summer.Forward Kane Hemmings is out of action after suffering a hamstring problem during a pre-season game against ...Full Story »