Roundup of the first round of 2025-26 Carabao Cup which saw plenty of surprises.
This opening round saw the EFL take centre stage with a potential meeting against Premier League opposition on offer for the winners, as Bromley headlined those who looked to create a giant killing in the stand-out tie of the round against Ipswich.
Southern Section
Marcus Ifill’s winning spot-kick saw League Two’s Bromley stun Ipswich 5-4 on penalties after Deji Elerewe’s headed opener was cancelled out by Ben Johnson’s rebound strike in a 1-1 draw at the Copperjax Community Stadium.
First-half goals from Andre Garcia and Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan saw Reading clinch a surprise 2-1 victory at Portsmouth, despite Olutayo Singerr’s consolatory effort.
Brendan Wiredu’s goal and Owen Oseni’s brace saw Plymouth come from 2-0 down at home to eliminate QPR 3-2, after the Hoops led through first-half goals from Daniel Bennie and Rayan Kolli.
Ellis Simms struck a 57th-minute winner as Coventry saw off Luton in a fiercely-close contest at the CBS Arena.
Josh Sargent and Marcelino Nunez netted first-half goals to fire Norwich to an eventual 2-1 win at Championship rivals, Watford despite Kwadwo Baah’s second-half goal.
Miles Leaburn, Ibrahim Fullah and Luke Berry fired Charlton past Stevenage in a 3-1 win at The Valley, despite Lewis Freestone having denied the Addicks a clean sheet with his late consolatory effort.
Jason Knight and Yu Hirakawa found the net as Bristol City cruised to a 2-0 victory at home to MK Dons.
Tyler Goodrham netted a ninth-minute winner as Oxford United cruised past Colchester at the Kassam Stadium.
Mateus Fernandes’ strike saw Southampton scrape past Northampton at Sixfields to avoid a cupset.
Ryan Leonard smashed in a 60th-minute winner from Aidomo Emakhu’s cutback pass as Millwall battled to a tough away win at Newport, with the Exiles having initially saw off Barnet on penalties in the preliminary round to set up their home tie.
Ronald, Bobby Wales and Ethan Galbraith all scored for Swansea in a clinical 3-1 home win against Crawley, although the visitors did briefly reduce their deficit through Kabongo Tshimanga.
First-half goals from Cian Ashford and Rubin Colwill saw Cardiff avoid a cupset at home to Swindon, as Princewill Ehibhatiomhan struck a consolatory strike to reduce the visitors’ deficit.
James Wilson and Ryan Broom found the net as Cheltenham clinically upset Exeter City at Whaddon Road.
Jack Simpson’s 94th-minute own-goal saw Wycombe sneak past Leyton Orient in a closely-fought contest in East London.
Antwoine Hackman’s opener was cancelled out by Ethan Coleman as Gillingham came from behind to hold AFC Wimbledon to a 1-1 draw, although the Dons eventually won 4-2 on penalties after they converted their four spot-kicks.
Louis Appere and Ryan Loft fired Cambridge United past Bristol Rovers in a battle of the League Two clubs at the Memorial Ground.
Northern Section
Ben Close, Damola Ajayi, Robbie Gotts and Tom Nixon found the net in a shock dominant cupset for Doncaster Rovers in a 4-0 victory at Middlesbrough.
Ibou Toray and Will Swan found the net in the opening four minutes as Bradford stunned Blackburn in a 2-1 win at Ewood Park, amidst an injury-time consolatory goal for Dion de Neve.
Charles Raglan’s own-goal saw Preston edge past League Two’s Barrow at Holker Street.
Kyle Wootton, Nathan Lowe and Lewis Fiorini all scored for Stockport County in a 3-1 win at home against Crewe Alexandra, despite Emre Tezgel’s consolatory effort for the visitors.
First-half goals from Alex Henderson and Kelsey Mooney saw League Two’s Accrington Stanley see off Peterborough 2-1 at home, after they had initially dispatched Oldham in a preliminary round tie.
Mo Faal headed in a 75th-minute winner for Port Vale away at Blackpool in a closely-contested tie.
Rhys Oates and Will Evans fired Mansfield past Chesterfield in a clinical display at the SMH Group Stadium.
Jaze Kabia’s injury-time penalty saw Grimsby secure their passage to the second round with a 3-1 home win over Shrewsbury, having led through Justin Amaluzor and Cameron Gardner before Tom Sang halved the Shrews’ deficit.
Jack Moylan, Freddie Draper and Rob Street’s goals saw Lincoln City cruise to a 3-1 victory at Harrogate, despite Ellis Taylor’s injury-time consolatory effort.
Jay Stansfield netted a 87th-minute winner as Birmingham saw off Sheffield United 2-1 in an all-Championship tie, having seen Kyogo Furuhashi’s opener cancelled out by Gustavo Hamer.
Paul Mullin’s 10th-minute penalty proved enough for Wigan to scrape past Notts County.
Derby edged past West Brom 3-2 on penalties after the Midlands rivals played out a 1-1 draw at The Hawthorns, with Aune Heggebo’s opening effort having been cancelled out by Joe Ward’s free-kick.
Ollie Palmer’s injury-time brace rescued Wrexham a 3-3 draw at home to Hull after Oli McBurnie, Joel Ndala and Matt Crooks put the Tigers ahead from behind following Elliot Lee’s opener, but Ndala’s missed penalty ultimately saw the Tigers lose 5-3 on penalties.
Misses from Jonny Stuttle and Albert Adomah saw Walsall lose 4-3 on penalties at Stoke after a goalless draw.
Tom Edwards, Jorge Grant and Kelly N’Mai missed their penalties as Salford lost 3-2 on penalties at home to Rotherham after the pair played out a goalless draw.
Barnsley beat Fleetwood 5-4 on penalties after Jonathan Russell’s opener and Tobias Mullarkey’s own-goal twice put the Tykes in front either side of goals from Liam Roberts and Owen Devonport in a 2-2 draw at Oakwell.
Sheffield Wednesday avoided a cupset at Bolton with a 4-2 win on penalties after the pair played out a 3-3 draw, as Gui Siqueira, Ike Ugbo and Reece Johnson put the Owls in front either side of goals from Jordi Osei-Tutu and Thierry Gale before Amario Cozier-Duberry forced spot-kicks for the hosts despite Sam Inwood’s red card.
Huddersfield fought back through goals from Daniel Vost and Cameron Ashia to force a 2-2 draw after Leicester twice led through Hamza Choudhury and Harry Winks, before the Terriers prevailed 3-2 on penalties following misses for the Foxes’ Jordan Ayew, Bilal El Khannouss and Kasey McAteer
Burton survived a scare at Tranmere to win 5-4 on penalties after Ben Whitfield’s opener was cancelled out by Charlie Whitaker, after the tie was delayed a week due to a power cut shortly before kick-off on the original date.
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