Chelsea boss Thomas Tuchel revealed the decision to bring goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga on for the Super Cup penalty shoot-out win over Villarreal stemmed from extensive statistical research.There were eyebrows raised as Kepa replaced Edouard Mendy towards the end of the 1-1 draw at Belfast’s Windsor Park on Wednesday night.The two sides could not be settled over 120 minutes after Hakim Ziy...Full Story »

Kepa Arrizabalaga came off the bench to save two penalties and earn Chelsea Super League success in a shoot-out victory over Villarreal.Thomas Tuchel made the call to replace Edouard Mendy in the closing stages of the 1-1 draw – with Kepa then providing the heroics.Kai Havertz missed the first spot-kick but after that Chelsea were perfect while both Aissa Mandi and Raul Albiol both saw the...Full Story »

Callum Connolly scored his first Blackpool goal as the Tangerines beat Middlesbrough 3-0 to progress in the Carabao Cup.The defender rifled home a powerful shot after 31 minutes before late goals from Shayne Lavery and Keshi Anderson wrapped up the tie.Blackpool should have won even more comfortably after seeing a host of chances go begging in the all-Sky Bet Championship clash.James Husband, Jo...Full Story »

Forest Green head coach Rob Edwards praised goalkeeper Lewis Thomas after his vital penalty save steered the League Two side into the next round of the Carabao Cup at the expense of Championship side Bristol City.The former Wales Under-19s international kept out Kasey Palmer’s spot-kick and then denied Cameron Pring to secure a 6-5 win on penalties after the sides had drawn 2-2.Edwards sai...Full Story »

Newport boss Michael Flynn hailed his team after an “outstanding” Carabao Cup first-round win against Ipswich at Portman Road.Timmy Abraham’s clever finish from close range after four minutes saw the League Two side – who made 11 changes from Saturday – through to the next round.The League One Tractor Boys, who made 10 changes themselves, dominated large parts of th...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 »

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 »

Derby survived a Carabao Cup scare before beating Salford 5-3 in a penalty shoot-out at Pride Park.The Rams trailed 2-0 and 3-2 before Ravel Morrison made it 3-3 and goalkeeper Ryan Allsop saved Luke Burgess’ spot-kick to put the Sky Bet Championship side through.Derby made eight changes and were behind after eight minutes when Jordan Turnbull headed in after Ashley Eastham flicked on a co...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 »

Timmy Abraham’s early goal sent Newport through to the second round of the Carabao Cup after a hard-fought 1-0 win against Ipswich at Portman Road.The League One Tractor Boys were dominant for much of the match but failed to find the net as Abraham’s fourth-minute goal was enough to see the fourth-tier Exiles through.The cup tie enjoyed a lively start and Ipswich went close to openin...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 »

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 »

Blackpool striker Shayne Lavery will be pushing for a place in the starting XI for his side’s Carabao Cup tie against Middlesbrough.The 22-year-old joined the Seasiders in the summer and came off the bench to score an equaliser in the their Championship opener against Bristol City.Kenny Dougall and Kevin Stewart are making progress from their respective knee and ankle injuries and there is...Full Story »

Peterborough will again be without Jack Marriott, Siriki Dembele and Jack Taylor for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup first-round clash with Plymouth at the Weston Homes Stadium.Forwards Marriott (groin) and Dembele (Achilles) and midfielder Taylor (hamstring) were all absent when Posh began their Championship campaign with a 3-0 loss at Luton on Saturday.Boss Darren Ferguson has said he expects the ...Full Story »

Oldham are hoping to have more players available for their Carabao Cup clash against Tranmere.Due to Covid-19 protocols and self-isolation, the Latics were without some of their first-team players in their League Two opening-day fixture against Newport, which they lost 1-0.Oldham made several signings on Saturday, including goalkeeper Danny Rogers, midfielders Ousseynou Cisse and Jamie Bowden pl...Full Story »

Millwall defender Jake Cooper is a doubt for Tuesday’s Carabao Cup first-round clash with Portsmouth at the Den.Cooper missed the 1-1 Championship draw at QPR on Saturday due to a back problem and was set to undergo a late fitness test ahead of the cup tie.Forward Mason Bennett remains sidelined by the ankle injury he sustained in the pre-season match at Ipswich on July 31.Otherwise, boss ...Full Story »

Ipswich centre-back Toto Nsiala is unlikely to feature in the Carabao Cup clash with Newport after being forced off with what appeared to be a hamstring injury at the weekend.That means either Janoi Donacien, who replaced him on Saturday, or Corrie Ndaba are likely to start.Former West Brom winger Kyle Edwards joined on Monday but is not eligible to play as he was not signed in time, while defen...Full Story »

Lys Mousset is an injury concern for Sheffield United as they prepare to host Carlisle in the EFL Cup.The Frenchman was forced off early in the second half as the Blades began their Championship campaign with a home defeat to Birmingham.Fellow strikers Billy Sharp and Oli McBurnie both featured in Saturday’s 1-0 loss at Bramall Lane, having been doubts beforehand. Both were introduced from...Full Story »

Birmingham boss Lee Bowyer is likely to make a number of changes to his side for the Carabao Cup first-round visit of Colchester.Blues opened their Sky Bet Championship campaign with a 1-0 win at recently-relegated Sheffield United but many of the side are likely to be rotated.Chelsea loanee Juan Castillo could make his full debut after coming off the bench on Saturday, while fellow new arrival ...Full Story »