Sutton manager Matt Gray is hoping for a money-spinning EFL Cup tie after Aiden O’Brien gave the League Two side a shock 1-0 win at Wycombe.

The Shrewsbury loanee netted his first goal for the Yellows midway through the first half and the visitors held on to reach the third round for the first time in the club’s history.

Following four straight defeats since their dramatic penalty shootout win over Cambridge in the previous round, Sutton were on the back foot early in the first half.

But O’Brien’s cool finish swung the momentum of the game and proved enough to put United in the hat alongside the Premier League’s top eight.

“We’re on a nice little run now, with two League One opposition beaten,” said Gray. “We’re obviously not going to win the competition, but you want a big tie, a big money-maker to help my budget. Simple as that.”

And Gray was delighted with how his side handled higher-league opposition, who came closest when Luke Leahy struck the post in the second half.

Gray said: “We’re really pleased with the first-half performance with our threat on the counter-attack. The second half we really dug in and it was a solid defensive performance.

“We rode our luck at times but we deserved the clean sheet and to go through in the end.”

Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield was left rueing missed opportunities after seeing his team enjoy the majority of possession and territory.

“I think we controlled the game,” said Bloomfield. “We had 18 shots, an xG of 2.58, hit the post, near misses, that pretty much sums up the game.

“Then you give Sutton something to hold on to and they defended for their lives but we’ve created more than enough chances to win the game.”

Aiden O’Brien’s first goal for Sutton handed the League Two side a shock 1-0 win over Wycombe in the second round of the EFL Cup.

The Yellows travelled to Adams Park on the back of four straight defeats and as the second-lowest ranked team left in the competition.

But after weathering an early barrage from their League One hosts, O’Brien struck in the 19th minute to give Sutton a lead they would never relinquish.

The best of Wycombe’s early chances came when a clean-through Garath McCleary fired straight at Sutton goalkeeper Jack Rose.

Rose later launched a long ball upfield which Josh Coley ushered straight into O’Brien’s path with only Max Stryjek to beat.

The Irish international coolly slid his effort under the Wycombe goalkeeper and Harry Smith almost doubled the visitors’ advantage five minutes later with a swipe at the near post.

Sutton finished the half the stronger but the home side pushed hard after the break as substitute Luke Leahy rattled the woodwork from a Sam Vokes flick on.

But, just as in the first half, the early Wycombe pressure fizzled out, with one last opportunity for Kane Vincent-Young spurned high over the bar.