Bradford saw off League Two rivals Accrington 4-1 on penalties following a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes.

The Bantams scored all of their spot kicks, with Jack Nolan and Korede Adedoyin unable to convert theirs for Stanley.

The first 45 minutes were cagey in terms of goalmouth action.

The game burst to life in the first minute of added time when a Harry Lewis goal kick was flicked on to send Alex Pattison clean through and he finished beyond Toby Savin for the first Bradford goal of the campaign.

Stanley, relegated last season, almost replied immediately but Lewis did well to keep out Adedoyin’s fierce drive.

The game opened up after the break.

Stanley captain Shaun Whalley tricked his way into the area but was denied by Lewis while last season’s top League Two scorer Andy Cook headed over and had an effort saved for the Bantams.

Whalley had another effort saved before Stanley equalised on 66 minutes.

From a short corner, substitute Nolan crossed for fellow substitute Josh Andrews, on loan from Birmingham, who headed home his first Accrington goal – both had only been on the pitch two minutes.

Both sides went on the hunt for the winner without a clear-cut chance, including 14 minutes of added time, before the shoot-out.

Peterborough reached the second round of the Carabao Cup after a 4-1 penalty shoot-out win against League Two Swindon.

Joel Randall scored his first Peterborough goal since joining two summers ago to put the League One side ahead before Rushian Hepburn-Murphy levelled as the game ended 1-1 after 90 minutes.

And in the shoot-out, Frazer Blake-Tracey and Jake Young missed for the visitors while Jonson Clarke-Harris, Ronnie Edwards, Joseph Tomlinson and Harrison Burrows all scored to send Peterborough through.

Posh boss Darren Ferguson made just two changes from the side that beat Reading on the opening day of the season.

Ricky-Jade Jones came into the side and it was he who was the architect of Peterborough’s opener, sliding in Randall down the left. The former Exeter man did the rest, cutting inside on his right foot and curling into the far corner to notch his first goal since March 2021.

Swindon responded well to going a goal behind as they racked up 12 efforts on Nicholas Bilokapic’s goal, including Tom Brewitt’s downward header which was parried away.

Minutes after Murphy Mahoney had saved one-on-one from Jones, former Cambridge loanee Hepburn-Murphy latched on to Blake-Tracey’s ball forward to fire the visitors level at the near post.

But with neither side able to find a winner, Peterborough prevailed on penalties.

Andre Vidigal’s winner saw Stoke progress to round two of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 win over fellow Championship side West Brom.

The summer signing – who also bagged a brace at the weekend – stepped off the bench to net the decisive goal with 25 minutes remaining.

The hosts went ahead after 27 minutes as Wesley’s shot came back off the post before hitting goalkeeper Josh Griffiths and crossing the line.

Albion levelled just after the hour-mark through substitute Brandon Thomas-Asante’s clever near-post flick.

But their joy was short-lived, as Stoke restored their advantage almost immediately after the restart.

The visitors had started on the front foot, as both John Swift and Conor Townsend forced early saves from Mark Travers.

Stoke soon fashioned a chance of their own from the left, as Ki-Jana Hoever’s goal-bound volley deflected wide.

Chances were few and far between following the opener, as City took a narrow lead into the break.

Stoke started the second half brightly, with Chiquinho twisting and turning inside the area before seeing a close-range effort saved.

At the other end, Albion almost levelled twice in quick succession, first through Swift and then former Stoke man Erik Pieters.

Two goals in as many minutes sparked both sets of fans into life, and Stoke saw out the win, despite missing late chances to put the game to bed.

Kelvin Ehibhatiomhan’s double helped rifle Reading to a shock 4-0 Carabao Cup win over Millwall at The Den.

The Nigerian striker netted early in both halves before substitute Charlie Savage’s free-kick and Mamadi Camara’s late strike fired Ruben Selles’ League One visitors to an impressive first-round triumph over their Championship opponents.

The Royals grabbed the lead in the very first minute when Ehibhatiomhan pounced on Caylan Vickers’ prodded pass to poke home over goalkeeper Bartosz Bialkowski.

They should have scored a second just 10 minutes later when Vickers blasted wide with only Bialkowski to beat after being put clean through by Camara.

Gary Rowett’s hosts grew into the increasingly fiery contest and rallied for a first-half leveller but were unable to properly test Royals shot-stopper Coniah Boyce-Clarke as they remained a goal behind at the break.

Selles’ side came close to doubling their lead just after the interval when half-time substitute Femi Azeez shot wide from distance.

But they seized the crucial second just moments later when Bialkowski could only parry Vickers’ shot straight into the path of Ehibhatiomhan, who slammed home from close-range.

Savage – son of former Wales international Robbie – grabbed his first goal for the club with a fine free-kick into the top corner before Camara’s late tap-in inflicted more misery on Millwall and capped a comfortable night for Selles’ resurgent Royals in the capital.

Derby County crashed to a second home defeat in four days after Jake Beesley grabbed a brace to give Blackpool a 2-0 Carabao Cup win at Pride Park.

Blackpool outplayed Derby in the first half and although the home side were better in the second, there was no way back.

The visitors went ahead in the seventh minute when Derby’s defence failed to deal with a cross from the left by James Husband and Beesley turned to score from 10 yards.

They should have doubled their lead in the 20th minute after Sonny Carey ran clear on the left and picked out the unmarked Owen Dale, but his shot was too close to Josh Vickers.

But Derby gifted Blackpool a second goal in the 32nd minute through Callum Elder’s back header, which beat Vickers and Beesley fired into an empty net.

Blackpool were quicker all over the pitch and the half-time whistle was greeted with a chorus of boos from the home fans.

Derby improved and Conor Washington forced Richard O’Donnell into a save in the 55th minute, while at the other end, Vickers prevented Kyle Joseph making it 3-0 in the 83rd minute.

Although Derby had plenty of possession, Blackpool comfortably saw the game out.

Kusini Yengi made it three goals in four days as he guided Portsmouth to a comeback 3-1 win against Forest Green in the Carabao Cup’s first round.

His brace, coupled with a Zak Swanson strike, saw Pompey overcome their Sky Bet League Two opponents at The Bolt New Lawn.

Tyrese Omotoye scored his first goal for Forest Green to open his account for Rovers.

Rovers stopper Jamie Searle had to react quickly to repel Yengi’s fine downward header from an Anthony Scully header early on.

Rovers took the lead with a fine strike by Omotoye, found by Teddy Jenks before the forward produced a crisp drive past Pompey goalkeeper Ryan Schofield.

Portsmouth’s set-piece link-up play worked the second time around for Pompey as Scully’s deep corner was bundled home by Yengi after Searle failed to collect the cross.

The turnaround was complete as Swanson gave the visitors the lead as he fired past Searle from a tight angle down Pompey’s right side.

Harvey Bunker drilled an effort towards Schofield’s top corner but the Pompey man was up to the task in Rovers’ best moment after the break.

Yengi added a third from the spot after Kamara was upended by Rovers full-back Jamie Robson in the penalty area.

Lincoln progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup with a comfortable 2-0 win at Notts County, who finished with 10 men.

The Imps took the lead in the 23rd minute when Danny Mandroiu’s corner was flicked on by Paudie O’Connor, and defender Sean Roughan was on hand to steer the ball in from close range.

Mark Kennedy’s side continued to dominate proceedings and almost doubled their lead shortly after following miscommunication in the County defence, which allowed Mandroiu to shoot from distance, but his effort sailed over.

Hopes of a comeback from the Magpies in the second half lasted only three minutes. Mandroiu intercepted Richard Brindley’s pass, and after his initial effort was blocked, the ball fell kindly into the path of Lasse Sorensen who slotted home in front of the travelling fans.

Mandroiu continued to dictate the play and almost got himself on the scoresheet, smashing the post with a fierce effort.

In the 56th minute, it went from bad to worse for Luke Williams’ side, who had been beaten 5-1 in their Sky Bet League Two opener at Sutton on Saturday.

Defender Aden Baldwin received a second yellow card for pulling back Tyler Walker just inside his own half as Lincoln went on to close out the match against 10 men.

New Zealand international Ben Waine bagged two first-half goals as Championship newcomers Plymouth eased into the EFL Cup second round 2-0 against League One Leyton Orient at Home Park.

Argyle’s opener came seconds after Orient striker Joe Pigott fired just wide on 25 minutes.

Waine pounced on a back-pass from Os central defender Omar Beckles to calmly slot past advancing keeper Sam Howes, making his first start for Orient, who topped League Two last season.

Argyle surged further ahead through Waine from close range on 38 minutes as the Kiwi forward turned in Freddie Issaka’s pacy pinpoint cross from the left.

Steven Schumacher made wholesale changes to the Plymouth side which opened their Championship campaign with a 3-1 home win over Huddersfield.

Spanish central defender Julio Pleguezuelo – a summer signing from FC Twente – made his competitive Argyle debut along with new season-long loan midfielders Lewis Warrington, from Everton, and Luke Cundle, from Wolves.

Orient’s best opportunity came from a Tom James corner from the left on 19 minutes, the ball deflected off a defender on to the far post and from the rebound Beckles smashed a rising drive off the bar. Dan Happe’s thundering follow-up flew over.

Juninho Bacuna scored twice as Birmingham cruised into the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 win at Cheltenham.

The Curacao international’s first goal was a heavily deflected shot in the 24th minute which flew past goalkeeper Luke Southwood off defender Liam Smith after efforts from Keshi Anderson and Koji Miyoshi were blocked.

Miyoshi was tripped by former Birmingham defender Curtis Davies on the edge of the box seven minutes later, earning the experienced debutant a yellow card.

And Bacuna curled the resulting free-kick into the top left corner for his second of the night.

Birmingham had threatened earlier, with Lukas Jutkiewicz nodding Emmanuel Longelo’s cross wide in the 17th minute.

It was nearly 3-0 before half-time, with Miyoshi threading a ball through for Jutkiewicz, but Southwood advanced to save well.

Jordan James played Anderson through on goal in the 61st minute, but Southwood was equal to it.

Southwood denied Anderson again in the 74th minute with another one-on-one block.

The overworked keeper beat away James’ powerful drive five minutes later, but the Sky Bet Championship side had done enough and League One outfit Cheltenham failed to trouble visiting stopper Neil Etheridge throughout the 90 minutes.

League Two Newport County fought back from a goal down to beat League One Charlton 3-1 in the Carabao Cup first round at Rodney Parade.

An Addicks side showing 10 changes from their weekend win over Leyton Orient took the lead through Daniel Kanu just before half-time.

But second-half goals from Aaron Wildig, Will Evans and Seb Palmer-Houlden sent County through to the second round for the seventh season in succession.

Charlton had the better of the first half, with Kanu seeing an early effort saved by Nick Townsend before Panutche Camara and Jack Payne both wasted decent opportunities.

Debutant Josh Seberry had Newport’s best chance of the first half, but his header from a corner was straight at Harry Isted.

The visitors went ahead after 43 minutes when Kanu turned in a wayward shot from substitute Tyreece Campbell.

Harry Charsley hit a post as the home side started the second half on the front foot.

And Wildig equalised in the 63rd minute with a cool finish from the right of the six-yard box.

Evans converted a cross from substitute Matty Bondswell to complete the turnaround after 76 minutes.

And Palmer-Houlden made certain of the victory as he slotted in 10 minutes from time after being teed up by Charsley.

Mansfield powered into the Carabao Cup second round for the first time in five years with a convincing 2-0 home win over Grimsby.

Mansfield dominated the first half and led through a Lucas Akins penalty on 27 minutes, sending keeper Harvey Cartwright the wrong way after Cartwright had brought him down following a loose touch on a back pass.

Early on, Abo Eisa made a brilliant block to deny Stephen Quinn while Luke Waterfall cleared an Aden Flint header off the line.

Davis Keillor-Dunn then sent Rhys Oates clear down the centre on 18 minutes but he blazed horribly over.

Akins could have had a first-half hat-trick, firing over on 19 minutes and forcing a save from Cartwright on 31 minutes.

Ex-Stag Danny Rose almost levelled against the run of play, but Christy Pym pushed away his header from a 38th-minute corner.

Aaron Lewis and Keillor-Dunn then both wasted great Mansfield chances late in the half, Cartwright saving from Lewis at the far post and Keillor-Dunn firing over a gaping goal from Akins’ square ball.

Constant early second-half pressure saw the Stags seal the win on 55 minutes as Keillor-Dunn’s square pass saw Oates wriggle into the box and dispatch a low finish from 12 yards off the outside of his boot.

Swansea’s top scorer of the past two seasons, Joel Piroe, struck twice to give his new boss Michael Duff his first win as the Championship side went safely into the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-0 home win over Northampton.

The subject of much transfer speculation this summer, Piroe struck in the 10th minute when Wales international Ollie Cooper drove into the Cobblers’ box and passed across goal for a simple tap-in.

His second came 10 minutes into the second half and was equally simple. This time Liam Cullen took up the running on the right and his cross ricocheted off a defender and went in off Piroe’s chest.

The first strike took him to 50 goals in his professional career and his second made it 46 in 94 games for the Swans.

Swansea dominated the opening exchanges, but their League One visitors created a couple of good chances, both of which were pushed just past the post by Kieron Bowie.

Swansea came out hard and fast at the start of the second half and skipper Matt Grimes set Cooper free, but he stumbled as he tried to beat Max Thompson in the Northampton goal and saw his scrambled effort go inches wide.

New signing Josh Ginnelly marked his debut with a 93rd-minute scorcher to put the final seal on a good night’s work.

Middlesbrough marched into the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-2 victory at 10-man Huddersfield.

Kian Harratt gave the hosts an early lead but Jaheim Headley’s 13th-minute red card handed Boro the initiative.

And goals from Samuel Silvera, Isiah Jones and Riley McGree wrapped up victory for Michael Carrick’s visitors before Kyle Hudlin’s late consolation.

Huddersfield led inside four minutes a Harratt pounced on a Boro defensive error and fired home his first senior goal.

But Town’s hopes were hit when last man Headley bundled Isiah Jones over and was given his marching orders.

Carrick’s side drew level in the 20th minute when Silvera’s shot struck both posts on its way in.

After the break, Martin Payero came close to poking Boro in front after some uncertain Town defending.

And the visitors took the lead in the 63rd minute as an inspired threaded pass from Dan Barlaser found Jones, who flicked the ball past onrushing goalkeeper Chris Maxwell.

Substitute McGree added a third with eight minutes left when he cut on to his right foot and fired low past Maxwell.

Hudlin headed home in the fourth minute of added time but Boro held on to progress into the second round.

Wrexham will host former finalists Wigan on their return to the Carabao Cup.

The Welsh side, who will be participating in the competition for the first time since 2007-08 following their promotion to League Two, were paired with the 2006 runners-up in Thursday’s first-round draw.

Notts County, who came up from the National League along with Wrexham, were handed a home tie against Lincoln.

Leicester, Leeds and Southampton must play in the first round following their relegation from the Premier League.

Leeds will host Shrewsbury, the Foxes will head across the midlands to Burton and Southampton will travel to Gillingham.

The ties will be played in the week beginning August 7. The first-round draw, featuring sides from the Championship, League One and League Two, was split into northern and southern sections.

The majority of top-flight sides will enter in the second round with those involved in European competitions going straight through to the third round.

Liverpool defender Trent Alexander-Arnold could not bear to watch Manchester United lift the EFL Cup trophy last weekend as seeing them enjoy success "burns".

United won their first title in nearly six years a week ago, beating Newcastle United 2-0 at Wembley to cap Erik ten Hag's encouraging start to life at Old Trafford.

Their triumph officially ended Liverpool's reign in that competition. For United, it was another highlight in a largely positive season and came just three days after knocking Barcelona out of the Europa League.

Liverpool were watching themselves be deposed amid a challenging and turbulent campaign, and Alexander-Arnold had to look away when it came to United getting hands on the trophy.

"I watched the game, but as soon as they were getting ready for the trophy lift, I turned off," he told The Telegraph ahead of Sunday's Anfield clash with bitter rivals United.

"I thought, 'There is no way I am watching that'. Knowing they lifted that trophy, it burns. Oh yeah, it definitely burns."

But looking past his distaste for United, their triumph helped him realise there can be light at the end of the tunnel, with Alexander-Arnold convinced Liverpool's woes this season are only temporary.

"It shows you how football changes very quickly," he added.

"Look at Arsenal. At the end of last season everyone was talking about failure for not making the top four. All of a sudden, they are leading in the title race. In football terms, these changes really do happen overnight.

"It's the same with Manchester United when you look at the difference now to last year. Even the start of this season when they lost to Brentford. How many people were saying, 'Here we go again?'

"Now they're flying. It happens, that's why I'm not going to allow myself to get over consumed with what has happened to us right now because I know in a few months, or possibly even weeks, it will change. I am determined to keep level-headed and balanced about what has gone on."

Nevertheless, it does not change the reality of how disappointing Liverpool have been this term.

They are six points adrift of the top four, out of the FA Cup, and 5-2 down to Real Madrid in the Champions League last 16 ahead of their second leg at the Santiago Bernabeu.

Failing to finish in the top four is unthinkable for Alexander-Arnold, and he accepts only divine intervention will help them win a trophy before the end of the season.

"At the start of this season, if you had asked us what we expected in March, it would have been to be coming towards the climax of the title race," he continued.

"That's the best feeling in football, going into every game knowing you need to win and most likely watching Manchester City's games thinking if they lose or drop two points, we're going to pounce.

"Now it is going to be difficult to win a trophy this season. It looks impossible. We will need a miracle. So, there is a different type of motivation and it is difficult to adjust.

"We've drawn a line and know the top four is everything now. I can't imagine not being in the Champions League. That is what is motivating all of us.

"As a club, we need to be playing Champions League football. We have not made it easy for ourselves, but the level we are and the quality we have as players, means we expect it."