Roundup of the First Round action in 2024-25 Carabao Cup.
As traditional, this opening round saw the majority of the EFL in action as last season’s semi-finalists, Middlesbrough looked to start another cup run.
Bromley meanwhile made their debut in this competition with a London derby in their first EFL match at Hayes Lane.
Championship vs League One
Sammie Szmodics scored twice as Blackburn thrashed Stockport County 6-1 at Edgeley Park, with Andreas Weimann, Yuki Ohashi, Makhtar Gueye and Jack Vale also on the scoresheet for the Rovers.
Auston Trusty, Louie Marsh and Anis Ben Slimane all found the net as Sheffield United fought back to beat Wrexham 4-2 at home, with their second goal coming from Lewis Brunt’s own-goal.
First-half goals from Michael Frey and Paul Smyth saw QPR avoid a cupset with a 2-1 win at Cambridge United, despite Paul Digby’s consolatory second-half goal for the hosts.
A brace from Onel Hernandez plus Borja Sainz’s 48th minute strike ultimately saw Norwich snatch a 4-3 home victory over Stevenage, after they had twice been pegged back before half-time.
Mark McGuiness and Rubin Colwill netted for Cardiff in a clinical 2-0 home win over Bristol Rovers.
Tyler Goodrham and Matt Phillips fired Oxford United to a 2-0 triumph over Peterborough United.
Championship vs League Two
Ronan Coughlan netted a 33rd minute winner as Fleetwood Town came from behind to beat West Brom, after Ryan Graydon cancelled out Modou Faal’s eighth-minute opening goal.
Liam Thompson and Kayden Jackson fired Derby to a comeback 2-1 win at home over Chesterfield, after Armando Dobra had put the Spireites ahead in the 29th minute.
Tom Ince’s hat-trick plus goals from Mattie Pollock and Kwadwo Baah saw Watford comfortably thrash MK Dons 5-0 at Vicarage Road.
Ronald, Liam Cullen and Azeem Abdulai fired Swansea to a 3-1 victory over Gillingham at home.
Freddie Anderson and Emre Tezgel’s second-half goals saw Stoke ease past Carlisle United at Brunton Park.
Second-half goals from Ben Waine, Ryan Hardie and Mustapha Bundu saw Plymouth thrash Cheltenham 3-0 at Home Park.
Championship vs Championship
Anfernee Dijksteel, Delano Burgzorg and Josh Coburn all netted in a dominant 3-0 away victory for Middlesbrough at Leeds.
Charlie McNeill’s brace saw Sheffield Wednesday prevail 2-1 at Hull despite Marvin Mehlem’s ninth minute equaliser, as all three goals came in the opening ten minutes at the MKM Stadium.
Goals from Ryan Ledson and Mads Frokjaer-Jensen saw Preston eliminate Sunderland, in what was the Lilywhites’ first match since Ryan Lowe quit as manager.
Romain Esse’s clinical 13th minute finish saw Millwall scrape past Portsmouth to advance to the Second Round, which in-turn ended their First Round hoodoo of recent seasons.
Ellis Simms’ 65th minute strike saw Coventry edge past Bristol City in a close encounter at Ashton Gate.
League One vs League Two
Charlie Savage and Lewis Wing rescued a 2-2 draw for Reading away at Colchester – who had led through Tom Hopper and Jack Payne, but the hosts ultimately won 4-3 on penalties.
Jack Roles’ eventual brace plus Rafiq Khaleel’s 89th minute goal saw Crawley beat Swindon 4-2, having initially blown a 2-0 lead through Nathan Ofoborh and Harry Smith’s equalisers.
Walsall eliminated Exeter City 4-3 on penalties after Jamie Jellis’ injury-time effort salvaged a 1-1 draw to cancel out Millenic Alli’s opener.
Daniel Agyei, Diallang Jaiyesimi, Brandon Cooper and Charlie Kelman all scored in a comfortable 4-1 win for Leyton Orient at home to Newport County.
Joshua Kayode’s effort and Jordan Shipley’s brace almost saw Shrewsbury complete a comeback win in an eventual 3-3 draw against Notts County, yet the Shrews prevailed 4-3 on penalties as David McGoldrick and Curtis Edwards missed for County.
Samuel Nombe and Hakeem Odoffin dragged Rotherham to a comeback 2-1 home win over Crewe Alexandra, with the visitors having led through Matus Holicek’s opening goal.
Goals from Samuel Folarin and James Daly saw Harrogate stun Lincoln City at Sincil Bank, despite Jovon Makama’s consolatory penalty for the Imps.
Callum Marshall scored and provided assists for Jaheim Headley and Danny Ward as Huddersfield thrashed Morecambe 3-0 at the John’s Smith Stadium.
League One vs League One
Bolton saw off Mansfield 5-4 on penalties after George Thomason’s effort was cancelled out by Davis Keillor-Dunn in a 1-1 draw.
Matthew Pennington’s brace saw Blackpool thrash Burton Albion 4-0 at Pirelli Stadium, with Ryan Finnigan and Lee Evans also on the scoresheet.
Jonathan Russell netted the winning penalty as Barnsley saw off Wigan 4-2 on penalties following a 1-1 draw, in which Thelo Aasgaard’s opening goal for the Latics was cancelled out by Donovan Pines’ equaliser.
Brandon Khela’s strike saw ten-men Birmingham City win 1-0 away at Charlton despite Dion Sanderson’s red card.
Dominic Udoh fired Wycombe to a 2-0 win at Northampton which was completed by Luke Mbete’s own-goal on debut.
League Two vs League Two
Joe Pigott rifled in a 61st minute winner as AFC Wimbledon came from behind to beat debutants, Bromley, after Levi Amantchi had put the Ravens in front only for Josh Kelly to equalise for the Dons.
Late goals from Emile Acquah and Ben Jackson saw Barrow beat Port Vale 3-2 after Gerard Garner put them ahead in the opening minute, only for Ruari Paton and Tom Sang to put Vale in front.
Penalty misses from Bradley Halliday and Neill Byrne ultimately saw Bradford lose 9-8 on penalties to Grimsby, after Andy Cook had pulled the Bantams level to cancel out Donovan Wilson’s opening goal in a 1-1 draw.
Harvey Saunders, Joshua Williams and Omari Patrick fired Tranmere Rovers to a 3-0 home win over Accrington Stanley.
Billy Sharp and Luke Molyneux netted for Doncaster Rovers in a clinical win at Salford City.
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