Huddersfield Town and Rotherham United suffered the biggest upsets in the northern section of the EFL Cup first round, with the Championship sides knocked out by Rochdale and Salford City respectively.
Carlos Corberan led the Terriers for the first time after his summer appointment and chose to watch his new side from the stands, but he witnessed a work-in-progress as they struggled to break down League One opposition, with Rochdale skipper Eoghan O’Connell heading in a Matt Done free-kick, the visitors’ only shot on target, for victory.
Rotherham were dominant at League Two side Salford, though looked to be out of the competition when Ian Henderson’s penalty squeezed under Jamal Blackman. The Millers somehow scrambled in an equaliser in the sixth minute of added time, with Matt Crooks getting the final touch, but Kyle Vassell hit the post and Joe Mattock was denied by Vaclav Hladky to put Salford through on penalties.
It was Salford’s first-ever win in the EFL Cup and Harrogate Town also tasted their first success in the competition, in their case at the first time of asking. They impressed at Tranmere Rovers but needed a Lloyd Kelly goal to take it to penalties after Ryan Fallowfield’s short back-pass allowed James Vaughan to open the scoring. At 7-7 after nine penalties in the shoot-out, defender Emmanuel Monthe skied his effort to allow Harrogate captain Josh Falkingham to win it.
Championship sides squeeze through
Derby County and Sheffield Wednesday both required penalties to secure their places in the second round after failing to find their stride in goalless draws.
Barrow, making their first appearance in the competition since 1971, did well to hold the Rams in David Dunn’s first game in charge, but Kelle Roos was the hero in the shoot-out with three saves which allowed Morgan Whittaker to stroke in the winning spot-kick.
Wednesday were also held by Walsall, but Izzy Brown won them the shoot-out after Cameron Dawson made a save and Alfie Bates hit the bar.
In an all-Championship tie, Barnsley edged a poor game with four-time winners Nottingham Forest as Cauley Woodrow reacted first after a shot hit the post to secure a 1-0 victory.
Latics misery continues
Crisis-stricken Wigan Athletic could forget about their troubles for half an hour at least, but Fleetwood Town fought back from 2-0 down to pile more misery on their fellow League One side.
Wigan, with Leam Richardson in caretaker charge, made a blistering start as Joe Garner smashed in an opener inside two minutes and then doubled the lead with a penalty. Ched Evans brought Joey Barton’s side back into the game and, after a Josh Morris leveller, the Welshman’s towering header sent the Cod Army through.
Hull City came through on penalties at Sunderland, a dire match decided by Will Grigg missing the first spot-kick as the Tigers were faultless with all five of theirs.
Lincoln City won the other all-League One affair, beating promoted Crewe Alexandra 2-1. Billy Sass-Davies had cancelled out Tom Hopper’s opener, but Crewe found no response after Lewis Montsma put the Imps back in front.
Bantams beat Bolton
In a clash between two of League Two’s promotion candidates, Bradford City came out on top 2-1 at Bolton Wanderers. Bolton have made 17 signings and one of the biggest, Antoni Sarcevic, scored on debut for Ian Evatt’s side after Lee Novak had swept in Tyler French’s cross for the opener, but Harry Pritchard guided in a header with 15 minutes remaining to send the Bantams through.
Neil Cox suffered a losing start as Scunthorpe United manager thanks to two injury-time goals for Port Vale in a 2-1. Zak Mills put them ahead after five minutes of added time in the first half and, after Ryan Loft’s equaliser, Theo Robinson headed the winner in the 93rd minute.
Morecambe won 4-3 on penalties at Grimsby Town in the final all-League Two match-up, after the Mariners’ Matthew Green had cancelled out an Adam Phillips opener in a 1-1 draw.
Middlesbrough and Burton Albion secured their places in the second round on Friday night. Neil Warnock’s side hung on for a 4-3 home win over Shrewsbury Town while Jake Buxton, making his managerial debut, saw his Brewers side edge a penalty shoot-out against Accrington Stanley after a 1-1 draw.