Birmingham head coach Lee Bowyer had mixed emotions after his much-changed team squeezed into the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 1-0 win over League Two Colchester.Marcel Oakley’s 76th-minute debut goal clinched victory for the Sky Bet Championship side after Colchester created the best chances and later hit the bar through Cameron Coxe.Bowyer changed all 11 players from Saturday&r...Full Story »

Slavisa Jokanovic said he was “satisfied” as Rhian Brewster’s first goal for Sheffield United earned the manager his first win in charge.Brewster scored in the 24th minute, his maiden goal since joining from Liverpool last summer, as the Blades beat Carlisle 1-0 in the EFL Cup.The visitors rallied late on with Manasse Mampala failing to hit the target with a shot from inside th...Full Story »

Morecambe boss Stephen Robinson said a change of mentality was responsible for his side’s 2-1 comeback win at Sky Bet Championship Blackburn in the Carabao Cup.The Shrimps were overwhelmed in the first half and Tyrhys Dolan gave the hosts a lead that in truth should have been more.But Morecambe turned the game on its head after the break. Cole Stockton’s assured finish shortly after ...Full Story »

Boss Alex Revell hailed goalkeeper Joseph Anang after the West Ham loanee’s penalty shootout heroics powered League Two Stevenage into the second round of the EFL Cup at the expense of Championship neighbours Luton.Both sides scored within the first five minutes of the game, with Stevenage going ahead through last season’s top scorer Elliott List in the second minute, only for Luton ...Full Story »

Head coach Grant McCann was frustrated by Hull’s first-half performance in their penalty shootout defeat to Wigan in the first round of the Carabao Cup.Manchester United loan signing Di’Shon Bernard missed the key spot-kick for the hosts as they lost 8-7 on penalties after a 1-1 draw.McCann said: “The first half was very poor. We were nowhere near where we can be and should be ...Full Story »

Bolton boss Ian Evatt was full of praise for goalkeeper Joel Dixon after he marked his debut with the vital save to help the Sky Bet League One new-boys to a 5-4 penalty shoot-out win over Championship Barnsley.Dixon, signed from Evatt’s former club Barrow in pre-season, saved Barnsley’s fifth spot-kick from Devante Cole before Josh Sheehan netted the decisive penalty.“Joel was...Full Story »

New Swansea head coach Russell Martin maintains that his side still have much room for improvement despite a comfortable 3-0 victory at Reading in the Carabao Cup first round.Swansea went ahead in the 16th minute against a youthful Reading side – average age 19 – when defender Joel Latibeaudiere nodded in at the far post.With the hosts offering little going forward, City secured thei...Full Story »

Steve Evans felt his much-changed team were worthy winners and deserved to progress in the Carabao Cup after clinching a dramatic 10-9 victory on penalties at Crawley after the thrilling tie had ended 2-2.The Gills went through when French defender Ludwig Francillette became the only player to miss from the spot and Harvey Lintott then stepped up to convert the decisive penalty.Crawley’s S...Full Story »

Doncaster boss Richie Wellens insisted his side’s Carabao Cup penalty shootout victory at Walsall will not pull the wool over his eyes.On-loan keeper Pontus Dahlberg saved three spot-kicks as Rovers triumphed 4-3 in sudden death after a 0-0 draw to hand Wellens his first victory as Doncaster boss.Rovers were second best to their League Two hosts until the final half-hour when Branden Horto...Full Story »

Wigan caused a minor upset at Hull by progressing to the second round of the Carabao Cup following a penalty shootout victory.Manchester United loan signing Di’Shon Bernard missed the key spot-kick when he fired over the crossbar, allowing Jordan Cousins to score the winning penalty to earn League One Wigan a deserved victory.With the game having ended 1-1 after normal time, the Latics pre...Full Story »