Last season’s Carabao Cup semi-finalists Southampton were stunned in the opening round of this year’s competition with a 3-1 defeat at Gillingham.

Ashley Nadesan’s early strike and Robbie McKenzie’s double helped Neil Harris’ League Two side spring a shock against their Championship opponents, with Carlos Alcaraz’s strike proving nothing more than a consolation at Priestfield.

Saints boss Russell Martin made 11 changes to the team that beat Sheffield Wednesday in their Championship opener on Friday night.

And Gillingham went ahead after just 12 minutes when summer signing Nadesan slid in to poke Ethan Coleman’s cross past Alex McCarthy.

Martin almost saw his recently-relegated side’s night get worse when Coleman rose to meet Max Clark’s corner but the Gills midfielder headed narrowly off-target.

The visitors improved as the first half progressed, with Sekou Mara firing an effort against the bar and Moussa Djenepo testing Glenn Morris with a curling shot.

Gillingham beat Brentford en route to the last 16 last season and all-but sealed victory when midfielder McKenzie poked home from close range six minutes after the break.

McKenzie scored his second of the night in the 67th minute, capitalising on more lacklustre Southampton defending to shoot low past the helpless McCarthy.

Substitute Alcaraz curled home a fine consolation goal for the visitors with a minute of normal time remaining on an otherwise dismal night for the south coast side in Kent.

Carlisle’s hoodoo against Harrogate continued on Tuesday evening as Paul Simpson’s team were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the first-round stage.

The newly-promoted Sky Bet League One outfit had failed to beat the League Two Sulphurites in seven previous attempts and saw that run extended by a 1-0 defeat in North Yorkshire.

Jack Armer should have given the visitors an 18th-minute lead, but he cleared the crossbar from just a couple of yards out.

And Carlisle were punished for that miss soon afterwards, former Middlesbrough forward Sam Folarin stroking a precise 25-yard finish into the bottom corner.

Harrogate remained in the ascendancy until half-time, though both Luke Plange and Jon Mellish could have levelled matters, but neither man could beat Mark Oxley in one-on-one situations.

Simpson made four changes at the break, though it was the hosts who threatened first after the resumption when George Thomson curled a free-kick just over the bar.

Town began to drop deeper and deeper as the half progressed and, although they appeared relatively untroubled, Oxley’s foul on Taylor Charters saw Carlisle awarded a 76th-minute penalty.

Harrogate-born Ryan Edmondson would, however, fluff his lines from the spot and the Sulphurites were able to see the game out.

Stevenage progressed to the EFL Cup second round with a 4-3 penalty shootout upset of Watford following a 1-1 draw.

Neither side was able to gain control early on but Watford took full advantage of the first big chance on six minutes as Tom Dele-Bashiru’s whipped free-kick bounced across the six-yard box and was tapped in by Vakoun Bayo.

Stevenage grew into the contest, started to apply pressure and levelled just before half-time when Forster-Caskey’s corner was flicked on by Aaron Pressley and Josh March reacted first to volley past Ben Hamer.

Both sides had early opportunities to lead after the break as Watford’s Ryan Porteous headed wide from Imran Louza’s corner before Stevenage midfielder Forster-Caskey’s deflected shot whistled past the post.

With 20 minutes remaining, a Watford counter-attack ended with Louza firing towards goal from six yards but his effort was tipped over the crossbar from point-blank range by Krisztian Hegyi.

Hegyi was called into action again in the 90th minute as the Boro goalkeeper was at full stretch to tip Rhys Healey’s towering header past the post.

Few chances came in the closing stages and the match was decided on penalties, with Stevenage sealing a 4-3 win after Porteous and Healey both missed and Nathan Thompson fired in the decisive spot-kick.

Exeter progressed to the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-1 come-from-behind win over Sky Bet League Two club Crawley at St James Park.

Exeter started well, but when they went down to 10 men Crawley took the lead in the 15th minute.

Pierce Sweeney had already walked down the tunnel injured when the away side won a corner, but despite the Grecians desperately trying to make a substitution, referee Christopher Pollard allowed play to continue.

The corner was delivered to the back post and headed back across goal, where Klaidi Lolos nodded in from close range.

Exeter responded well – and went on to dominate the game – with Cheick Diabate and Zak Jules both going close from well-flighted Reece Cole corners, while James Scott smashed an effort against the top of the crossbar.

After incessant pressure, Exeter finally pulled level in the 73rd minute when the outstanding Ryan Trevitt found Sonny Cox and his pull-back found fellow substitute Kyle Taylor, who curled a fine shot into the bottom corner.

Scott had a goal ruled out for Exeter, but he was celebrating in the 84th minute when he got on the end of a tremendous cross from Trevitt to head past Ashby-Hammond and send the Grecians through.

Substitute Brandon Hanlan opened the scoring as Wycombe defeated Buckinghamshire rivals MK Dons 2-0 in the first round of the Carabao Cup.

Victory at Stadium MK was just what the Chairboys needed to restore confidence after their opening-day loss against Exeter and they managed to avoid a minor upset against their League Two opponents.

The Dons shaded the first half, however, and almost went ahead when Warren O’Hora’s low 25-yard strike travelled through a crowd before being tipped behind by Wycombe goalkeeper Max Stryjek.

Stryjek was called upon again when he did well to get down to Alex Gilbey’s shot before Mo Eisa’s long-range effort clipped the top of the bar as the match remained goalless at half-time.

A lovely backheel by Sam Vokes opened things up for Wycombe’s Dale Taylor but his eventual shot was cleared off the line by Daniel Harvie.

The deadlock was finally broken by the Chairboys after 73 minutes when Hanlan was on hand to convert after Dons goalkeeper Craig MacGillivray could only push out Freddie Potts’ cross.

The visitors then made the result safe with eight minutes remaining when centre-back Chris Forino headed in after Hanlan had nodded Luke Leahy’s corner back across goal.

Zac Ashworth marked his debut with a first senior goal as knock-out specialists Bolton opened their Carabao Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Sky Bet League Two Barrow.

The West Brom loanee’s 44th-minute curling free-kick was the perfect ending to an opening half dominated by last season’s EFL Trophy champions.

Ian Evatt’s League One outfit could not find a decisive finish against his former club from a succession of chances until Ashworth punished George Ray’s foul on Cameron Jerome from 20 yards.

Pete Wild’s Cumbrians came into only their fifth ever appearance in the competition on the back of an impressive 2-1 opening day win at Tranmere.

But they never threatened to win a first-ever fixture against the Trotters, whose run to Wembley victory against Plymouth included a group-stage win over the Bluebirds.

Barrow resolutely defended their box as Bolton continued to dictate and dominate possession, but could not get the second goal to put their fans at ease.

Ashworth’s breakthrough goal ensured Bolton – denied a second goal late on by Paul Farman’s great save from Victor Adeboyjeo – followed up their own first-day victory against Lincoln.

Sheffield Wednesday beat Stockport County 4-1 on penalties after Tyreeq Bakinson levelled for the home side deep into time added on to make it 1-1 and force a Carabao Cup first-round shoot-out.

Stockport’s Paddy Madden struck in the 16th minute with a fine finish, meeting Akil Wright’s cross with a volley and sending the ball into the roof of the net.

Anthony Musaba looked certain to level for the hosts, with keeper Ben Hinchliffe stranded, but Ethan Pye came to Stockport’s rescue with a vital block.

Ashley Fletcher had a chance to equalise early in the second half after receiving the ball from Musaba but he shot narrowly wide.

Another chance came for Wednesday following a scramble inside the area, with Bambo Diaby seeing his effort deflected wide.

Stockport also had a chance when Kyle Knoyle’s low cross was put wide at the near post by Louie Barry.

Hinchliffe then made a good save down to his right, turning the ball wide from Bakinson’s header, before Barry Bannan fired just over from distance.

Bakinson equalised in the seventh minute of time added on following a scramble inside the area.

Wednesday keeper Devis Vasquez saved from Madden and Barry in the shoot-out.

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.