Danny Cowley hailed a “brilliant night” for Colchester after they knocked League One Reading out of the Carabao Cup.The U’s won 4-3 on penalties with goalkeeper Matt Macey saving two spot-kicks after the first-round tie had finished 2-2 after 90 minutes.Tom Hopper and Jack Payne had put Colchester ahead in the first half before second-half goals from Charlie Savage and Lewis Wing

Tranmere manager Nigel Adkins was quick to praise his squad players following Rovers’ 3-0 Carabao Cup first-round win over Accrington at Prenton Park.Harvey Saunders was put through by Omari Patrick to fire the home side ahead in the third minute before Josh Williams made it two just before the break courtesy of a wicked deflection.Brad Walker had a 67th-minute penalty well saved by Michael

David Artell was delighted with the character shown by injury-hit Grimsby as they progressed into the Carabao Cup second round with a dramatic 9-8 penalty shoot-out win over Bradford at Blundell Park.The first-round decider went deep with 10 players stepping up for either side after they played out a 1-1 draw in normal time.Grimsby striker Donovan Wilson and Bradford substitute Andy Cook – r

Wycombe boss Matt Bloomfield hailed a job well done after his side coasted through to the second round of the Carabao Cup with a 2-0 victory over Northampton.Dan Udoh struck after just eight minutes before an own goal from Luke Mbete secured Wycombe’s victory.“I’m delighted,” said Bloomfield. “Two goals and a clean sheet, we have to be pleased with that.“We held

Philippe Clement claimed Jefte’s dismissal in Rangers 2-0 Champions League qualifying defeat by Dynamo Kyiv was “the worst decision I have seen in more than 30 years in football”.Gers’ new Brazilian signing Jefte, making his first start for the Light Blues and booked in the first half, was sent off by Italian referee Marco Guida in the 51st minute after picking up a second

Watford boss Tom Cleverley hailed “problem solver” Tom Ince after his hat-trick heroics helped the Hornets finally smash their League Cup hoodoo and believes the experienced midfielder will be a key player this season.The 32-year-old Ince led the way with his first hat-trick for nine years, netting in first-half stoppage time and again in the 67th and 74th minutes as his Championship t

AFC Wimbledon manager Johnnie Jackson believes Joe Pigott could play a key part in his side’s season after he scored the winner in their Carabao Cup first-round tie at Bromley.Pigott is in his second spell at the Dons after arriving on loan from Leyton Orient during the summer, having scored 54 goals in 157 appearances during three-and-a-half years up to the end of 2020/21.Jackson said: &ldq

Garry Monk was delighted with how his Cambridge side performed despite losing to QPR in the first round of the Carabao Cup.The U’s bowed out 2-1 after a thrilling tie, with Michael Frey and Paul Smyth decisively netting before half-time for the Championship side.“It’s one of those nights where you’re disappointed with the result obviously, but I could not have been any prou

Manager Chris Davies praised Brandon Khela as his 10-man Birmingham side beat Charlton 1-0 at the Valley to reach the second round of the Carabao Cup.A wonder strike by the 19-year-old was a fine way to win a game that saw Dion Sanderson sent off after 78 minutes for a second bookable offence.Davies put the youngster in at left-back and felt the trust put in him paid off.He said: “It was a h

Huddersfield boss Michael Duff lauded West Ham loanee Callum Marshall after the teenager claimed a goal and an assist on his debut in a 3-0 Carabao Cup victory over fourth-tier Morecambe.After a disappointing loan spell at West Brom last season, the 19-year-old dropped another level to join League One Huddersfield on Friday and made a strong first impression.Duff said: “I thought he showed w