Northampton extended their club-record unbeaten run as they stunned West Bromwich Albion in the EFL Cup. The Cobblers have not lost since January now knocked the Premier League side out 4-3 on penalties, following a 2-2 draw at Sixfields.
Rob Page’s side are now unbeaten in 26 games in all competitions after Kenji Gorré netted the key spot-kick as they repeated their 2010 heroics when they dumped Liverpool out on penalties at Anfield.
Bradley Dack struck in extra-time as Gillingham came from behind to shock Watford 2-1. Walter Mazzarri looked set to enjoy his first win as Watford manager when Odion Ighalo came off the bench to fire them ahead before Dack missed a penalty. But Mark Byrne struck eight minutes from the end of normal time to level the scores before Dack found redemption.
Elsewhere Derby County won a dramatic penalty shoot-out 14-13 when debutant Timi Max Elsnik ended Carlisle’s challenge. The 19-year-old calmly converted the 32nd spot-kick to send Derby into the third round after the teams were level at 1-1 after extra-time.
Adama Diomandé claimed a double as Hull came from behind to beat Exeter 3-1 while Peter Crouch bagged a hat-trick, completing his treble with an acrobatic scissor kick, in his first appearance of the season as Stoke defeated Stevenage 4-0.
Swansea, winners of the League Cup in 2013, beat Peterborough 3-1, with Norwich thrashing League One Coventry 6-1. Brighton’s 4-2 victory came on the road at Oxford thanks to three late goals while Championship clubs Leeds, Nottingham Forest, QPR and Wolves were all victors by one-goal margins over Luton, Millwall, Rochdale and Cambridge respectively.
Rafael Benítez’s Newcastle survived embarrassment by Cheltenham with a 2-0 triumph thanks to two goals from Ayoze Pérez, the same scoreline which Preston recorded against Oldham.