Match report and roundup That, then is us. Thanks all for your company and comments – peace out. “Just to set the East Midlands’ record straight,” writes Jonathan Wood, “Derby’s one and only rivals are Forest and Forest’s one and only rivals are Derby. Leicester’s lonely role is to dream that either of the other two could care as much about them. They don’t.” Lovely stuff. All tonight"s results Barrow 3-2 Port Vale Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Mansfield Town, Bolton win 5-4 on penalties Bristol City 0-1 Coventry City Bromley 1-2 AFC Wimbledon Burton Albion 0-4 Blackpool Cambridge United 1-2 Queens Park Rangers Cardiff City 2-0 Bristol Rovers Carlisle 0-2 Stoke City Charlton Athletic 0-1 Birmingham City Colchester United 2-2 Reading, Colchester win 4-3 on penalties Crawley Town 4-2 Swindon Town Derby County 2-1 Chesterfield Fleetwood Town 2-1 West Bromwich Albion Grimsby Town 1-1 Bradford City, Grimsby win 9-8 on penalties Huddersfield Town 3-0 Morecambe Leyton Orient 4-1 Newport County Lincoln City 1-2 Harrogate Town Northampton Town 0-2 Wycombe Wanderers Norwich City 4-3 Stevenage Oxford United 2-0 Peterborough United Portsmouth 0-1 Millwall Preston North End 2-0 Sunderland Rotherham United 2-1 Crewe Alexandra Salford City 0-2 Doncaster Rovers Sheffield United 4-2 Wrexham Shrewsbury Town 3-3 Notts County, Shrewsbury win 4-3 on penalties Swansea City 3-1 Gillingham Tranmere Rovers 3-0 Accrington Stanley Walsall 1-1 Exeter City, Walsall win 403 on penalties Watford 5-0 Milton Keynes Dons Wigan Athletic 1-1 Barnsley, Barnsley win 4-2 on penalties RESULT: Grimsby Town 1-1 Bradford City, Grimsby win 9-8 on penalties It took a while, but a fine save from Eastwood allowed McEchran to slam the winner into the top corner. FULL TIME: Sheffield United 4-2 Wrexham Wrexham were game, but class told. RESULT: Shrewsbury 3-3 Notts County, Shrewsbury win 4-3 on penalties The Shrews come back from 2-0 down and survive an 89th-minute equaliser to reach round two. RESULT: Colchester 2-2 Reading, Colchester win 4-3 on penalties Colchester tossed a two-goal lead for the second time in a few days, but it didn’t cost them and they move on. RESULT: Walsall 1-1 Exeter City, Walsall win 4-2 on penalties An equaliser in the third minute of added time, and Walsall, who were almost out, are now through. RESULT: Wigan 1-1 Barnsley, Barnsley win 4-2 on penalties The Tykes move on. RESULT: Bolton 1-1 Mansfield, Bolton win 5-4 on penalties Southwood with the crucial save. I’m now watching the Bolton v Mansfield shoot-out; it’s 4-4 after eight. GOAL! Sheffield United 4-1 Wrexham (Ben Slimane 85) Wrexham have tried their best but Sheffield United have had too much for them. FULL TIME: Norwich 4-3 Stevenage It got closer than it should’ve done, but the Canaries are through. So the big story is Charlie Adam’s Fleetwood Town – of League Two – coming from behind to beat West Brom of the Champo. Great stuff. FULL TIME SCORES Oxford United 2-0 Peterborough Leyton Orient 4-1 Newport Watford 5-0 MK Dons Burton 0-4 Blackpool Cambridge 1-2 QPR Cardiff 2-0 Bristol Rovers Bristol City 0-1 Coventry Bromley 1-2 AFC Wimbledon Rotherham 2-1 Crewe Derby 2-1 Chesterfield Crawley 4-2 Swindon Swansea 3-1 Gillingham Northampton 0-2 Wycombe Portsmouth 0-1 Millwall Huddersfield 3-0 Morecambe Preston 2-0 Sunderland Charlton 0-1 Birmingham Walsall 1-1 Exeter – penalties to follow Lincoln 1-2 Harrogate Town 1-2 Tranmere 3-0 Accrington Stanley Salford City 0-2 Doncaster Rovers Fleetwood Town 2-1 West Brom Shrewsbury 3-3 Notts County – penalties to follow Barrow 3-2 Port Vale Colchester 2-2 Reading – penalties to follow GOAL! Swansea City 3-1 Gillingham (Abdulai 90+6) I reckon this one is over. GOALS! Shrewsbury Town 3-2 Notts County (Shipley 84) Lincoln City 1-2 Harrogate Town (Makama 85) Bolton Wanderers 1-1 Mansfield Town (Keillor-Dunn 83) Rotherham 2-1 Crewe (Odoffin 86) Crawley Town 4-2 Swindon (Roles 88, Khallel 89) Swansea City 2-1 Gillingham (Hawkins 87) Salford City 0-2 Doncaster (Molyneux 90+1) Burton Albion 0-4 Blackpool (Evans 90+1) Norwich City 4-3 Stevenage (Hills 88) Walsall 1-1 Exeter City (Jellis 90+3) Cardiff City 2-0 Bristol Rovers Colwill 90+1) FULL TIME: Stockport County 1-6 Blackburn Rovers look good – but can they hang on to Sammie Szmodics? Rangers have conceded twice in two minutes, so now trail Kyiv 1-3 on aggregate with six minutes to go, down to 10. They’re going into the Europa League, failing a miracle. GOAL! Sheffield United 3-1 Wrexham (Marsh 69) The keeper saves Brewster’s effort – man that man needs a goal – but Marsh follows up. At Bramall Lane, Sheffield Unied have a penalty, Brewster with it… FULL TIME: Carlisle United 0-2 Stoke City No shock at Brunton Park, Stoke moving through to round two. GOAL! Burton Albion 0-3 Blackpool (Pennington 81) Burton have played with 10 since the 11th minute, and it’s telling. GOAL! Grimsby Town 1-1 Bradford City (Cook 76) Penalties loom! GOAL! Barrow 3-2 Port Vale (Jackson 76) A topsy-turvy game at Holker Street and the home side now lead again! GOALS! Preston 2-0 Sunderland (Frokjaer-Jensen 70) Colchester United 2-2 Reading (Wing 73) Tranmere 3-0 Accrington Stanley (Patrick 71) Barrow 2-2 Port Vale (Acquah 70) Watford 5-0 MK Dons (Ince 74, hat-trick) Stockport 1-6 Blackburn (Vale 88) Burton 0-2 Blackpool (Penington 76) GOAL! Sheffield United 2-1 Wrexham (Brunt own goal 57) A square ball across the box from Brewster and Brunt extends a leg to knock home before the man behind him can finish. GOALS! Leyton Orient 4-1 Newport County (Kelman 74) Shrewsbury Town 2-2 Notts County (Kayode 68, Shipley 71) Derby County 2-1 Chesterfield Burton Albion 0-1 Blackpool (Finnigan 69) Swansea City 2-0 Gillingham (Cullen 70) Barrow 1-2 Port Vale (Sang 66) Bolton 1-0 Mansfield (Thomason 68) Cardiff City 1-0 Bristol Rovers (McGuiness 68) GOAL! Watford 4-0 MK Dons (Ince 67) Another for Ince, the keeper diving over a shot he had business letting in. GOAL! Bristol City 0-1 Coventry City (Simms 65) Ninety seconds after coming on, Simms lifts a tasty finish over the diving keeper. GOALS! Crawley Town 2-2 Swindon (Smith 66) Colchester United 2-1 Reading (Savage 65) Carlisle United 0-2 Stoke City (Tezgel 79) GOAL! Watford 3-0 MK Dons (Baah 64) Baah gets away down the left and though he has options in the middle, he instead opens his body to punch a fine finish into the far corner. GOAL! Bromley 1-2 AFC Wimbledon (Pigott 61) The newbies led, but they’re in trouble now. GOAL! Norwich 4-2 Stevenage (Hernandez) Previously 18 months without a goal, Hernandez now has two in one night, and Norwich look sorted. GOAL! Lincoln City 0-2 Harrogate Town (Daly 61) The Sulphurites look good for round two, the League Two outfit leading their League One hosts. GOAL! Stockport County 1-5 Blackburn (Gueye 72) Stockport woke Blackburn up, a downward header enough to restore their four-goal lead “Any rivalry between Derby County and Chesterfield?” wonders Tim Smith. “Same county, close proximity, although I doubt they’ve played each other much in the past. Probably a bigger deal to Chesterfield than the home club although I have no idea.” Not as far as I know – Derby’s rivals are Leicester and Forest. GOAL! Crawley Town 2-1 Swindon Town (Oforborh 60) The Swindon lot refuse to go away. GOAL! Cambridge United 1-2 QPR (Digby 57) A livener at the Abbey, Walsh trying to play out and passing straight to Digby, who takes his time to compose before slotting into the net. GOAL! Stockport County 1-4 Blackburn Rovers (Buckley 67) Blackburn have taken their foot off the gas and when a Stockport corner comes in, it hits Buckley at the back post and goes in. GOALS! Rotherham United 1-1 Crewe Alexandra (Nombe 55) Leyton Orient 3-1 Newport County (Clarke 61) Crawley Town 2-0 Swindon Town (Roles 56) Colchester United 2-0 Reading (Payne 55) GOAL! Norwich City 3-2 Stevenage (Sainz 48) Stevenage must now come from behind a third time, Sainz collecting a loose ball inside the box with his teammates shouting for a penalty, whipping a fine finish into the far side-netting. TWO RED CARDS! Gillingham, 1-0 down against Swansea, have had Williams dismissed, while Jefte of Rangers has also gone – unfairly, say Kris Boyd and Merse. GOAL! Wigan Athletic 1-1 Barnsley (Pines 48) It’s Don Pines, it’s Don Pines. GOAL! Rotherham United 0-1 Crewe Alexandra (Holicek 50) And there’s more. GOAL! Lincoln City 0-1 Harrogate Town (Folarin 49) Harrogate lost at the weekend, but they’re ahead tonight. Half-time: Sheffield United 1-1 Wrexham The home side are better, but Wrexham look capable in attack. GOAL! Leyton Orient 3-0 Newport County (Cooper 51) The Os look set for round two. We’re back under way in our 7.45 kick-offs. I missed it, but as per JR, James McClean did indeed get booked for a first-half reducer. His Wrexham side, though, are struggling a bit … but as I type, a long hoof sees Reven get in front of the defender, the keeper doesn’t come … and he shoots just wide. Back to the EFL Cup, just a reminder that there’s no extra time until the second leg of the semis; all-square tonight and it’s penalties; I assume we’ll get a few. Oh and it’s Rangers (1) 0-0 (1) Dynamo Kyiv at half-time. Meanwhile, on SSN, Merse and Tiger tim are talking about Matthijs de Ligt, announced as a nw Man United player, like they’ve been watcj]hing him play for Bayern. GOAL! Carlisle United 0-1 Stoke City (Anderson 48) The Championship side take the lead at the start of the second half. Half-time in the 7.45 kick-offs Barrow 1-1 Port Vale Bolton Wanderers 0-0 Mansfield Town Bristol City 0-0 Coventry City Bromley 1-1 AFC Wimbledon Burton Albion 0-0 Blackpool Cambridge United 0-2 Queens Park Rangers Cardiff City 0-0 Bristol Rovers Charlton Athletic 0-1 Birmingham City Colchester United 1-0 Reading Crawley Town 1-0 Swindon Town Derby County 1-1 Chesterfield Fleetwood Town 2-1 West Bromwich Albion Grimsby Town 1-0 Bradford City Huddersfield Town 3-0 Morecambe Lincoln City 0-0 Harrogate Town Northampton Town 0-2 Wycombe Wanderers Norwich City 2-2 Stevenage Oxford United 2-0 Peterborough United Portsmouth 0-1 Millwall Preston North End 1-0 Sunderland Rotherham United 0-0 Crewe Alexandra Salford City 0-1 Doncaster Rovers Shrewsbury Town 0-2 Notts County Swansea City 1-0 Gillingham Tranmere Rovers 2-0 Accrington Stanley Walsall 0-1 Exeter City Watford 2-0 Milton Keynes Dons Wigan Athletic 1-0 Barnsley GOAL! Sheffield United 1-1 Wrexham (Trusty) A header from a corner that the defender on the line thinks he’s blocked, but the ball was fully over. Blades, by the way, have lost Seriki to injury. GOAL! Norwich City 2-2 Stevenage (Appere 45+1) A decent, flat corner that no defender manages to attack, and I’m not sure anyone else gets a touch. GOAL! Northampton Town 0-2 Wycombe Wanderers (Mbete 45+1) Another match that looks did. GOAL! Watford 2-0 MK Dons (Ince) Cleverley’s men continue the good vibes after their weekend win at Millwall. It’s a really good ball out to Andrews down the right and his cross allows Ince to tap into the net. GOAL! Tranmere 2-0 Accrington Stanley (Williams 45) Another tie that’s almost over. GOAL! Sheffield United 0-1 Wrexham (Boyle 29) Now then! Blades have dominated, but a knock-back from a corner allows Boyle to turn home on the volley from close range. GOAL! Huddersfield Town 3-0 Morecambe (Ward 43) Yup, Huddersfield are going through, failing a miracle. GOAL! Oxford United 2-0 Peterborough (Phillips 41) A good run down the right, a cross that every defender somehow misses, and Phillips knocks into the net. GOAL! Walsall 0-1 Exeter City (Alli 40) The League One side lead the League Two side. GOAL! Huddersfield Town 2-0 Morecambe (Marshall 38) This one looks over… GOAL! Derby County 1-1 Chesterfield (Thompson 38) Another banging curler, whipped high into the far corner. GOAL! Preston 1-0 Sunderland (Ledson 37) This is a bit lucky, a weak finish from Ledson, arriving into the box, taking a deflection that takes it in. Half-time scores Carlisle United 0-0 Stoke Stockport 0-4 Blackburn Leyton Orient 2-0 Newport County GOAL! Fleetwood Town 2-1 West Brom (Coughlan 33) Trouble for the Baggies! This is one on which to keep an eye… GOAL! Norwich City 2-1 Stevenage (Hernandez 35) A fine move, a lovely cross from the right, and Hernandez sweeps home high into the net. GOAL! Cambridge United 0-2 QPR (Smyth 36) Cambridge did well after going behind, but this is dreadful, the keeper coming for a ball and tackling weakly, allowing Smyth to dribble along the by-line and tap home. GOAL! Wigan 1-0 Barnsley (Aasgaard pen 35) Again, no pictures of this one. GOAL! Crawley Town 1-0 Swindon Town (Adeyemo) And there’s more elsewhere… In Champions League qualifying, Salzburg have knocked out Twente and will play Rangers or Kyiv next. GOAL! Charlton 0-1 Birmingham (Khela 32) Against the run of play but Kella making his first start, curls an absolute pearler from outside the box into the far corner, two-thirds of the way up. GOAL! Norwich City 1-1 Stevenage (Goode 28) This is a well-directed header but Norwich will wonder why Goode was loitering in their box, unmarked. GOAL! Derby County 0-1 Chesterfield (Dobra 29) A potential shock at Pride Park, lovely feet from a player whose name escapes me and a tidy low finish. GOAL! Barrow 1-1 Port Vale (Paton 26) Back level at Holker Street. GOAL! Norwich City 1-0 Stevenage (Kamara 26) A mis-hit shot hits Kamara, falls nicely, and he tucks home from close range. GOAL! Bromley 1-1 AFC Wimbledon (Kelly 24) This is a lovely finish, Kelly taking the ball outside the box and drilling a low shot into the far corner. GOAL! Watford 1-0 MK Dons (Pollock 24) This header goes in from a header that’s a way out – I daresay the keeper won’t want to see this one again. GOAL! Swansea City 1-0 Gillingham (Ronald 24) This is another goal we’ve not seen, but the Championship outfit lead. GOAL! Shrewsbury Town 0-2 Notts County (Austin 33) A great start for the Magpies! In our main game, Wrexham just came close to taking the lead, Grbic saving well from Boyle. GOAL! Bromley 1-0 AFC Wimbledon (Amantchi 19) Now then! A fine cross to the back post, a composed finish, Amantchi taking care to prioritise connection over power, and the newcomers lead in their first match in this competition! GOAL! Salford City 0-1 Doncaster Rovers (Sharp 21) Billy Sharp, 98, scores yet again. Oh, here it is – a poor backpass, the keeper doesn’t see Goodrham coming, and so when he does, the challenge is weak and the tap-in doth surely ensue. GOAL! Oxford United 1-0 Peterborough (Goodrham 20) We’ve not been shown this one, but it happened nevertheless. GOAL! Stockport County 0-4 Blackburn (Ohashi 31) A clip to the back post, a header, and County are in all sorts. GOAL! Cambridge United 0-1 QPR (Frey 13) A low drive and the Superhoops lead. GOAL! Fleetwood 1-1 West Brom (Graydon 12) Back on terms at Highbury Stadium! GOAL! Portsmouth 0-1 Millwall (Esse 13) This feels very old skool. When I was a student I clerked at Portsmouth Crown Court, the defendants accused of drug dealing but alleged acquaintances through football violence – and these were the two main clubs. Oh, and I’ve just seen the goal, a very nice finish from Esse who took the ball inside then cut a finish back the other way. RED CARD! Ryan Sweeney has been sent off for Burton Albion; they’re at home to Blackpool. GOAL! Fleetwood Town 0-1 West Brom (Faal 8) Baggies will have been hurt by their failure to get promoted last season but have started this like they mean in, gubbing QPR 3-0 at the weekend and now taking the lead in a potentially difficult encounter. GOAL! Stockport County 0-3 Blackburn Rovers (Szmodics 25) Goodness me, Rovers will be hoping they can hang on to their centre-forward. GOAL! Northampton Town 0-1 Wycombe Wanderers (Udoh 9) Wycombe lost to newly promoted Wrexham at the weekend, so will be hoping to see this one away. There’s not much going on at Deepdale, Sunderland settling under new manager Régis Le Bris. GOAL! Stockport County 0-2 Blackburn Rovers (Weimann 22) Yes, that’s Andreas Weimann of Aston Villa fame. This game looks over already. GOAL! Shrewsbury Town 0-1 Notts County (Grant 4) It’s so good to see the world’s oldest club back in the EFL, and after a solid draw at the weekend, they now lead the League One side. GOAL! Colchester United 1-0 Reading (Hopper 3) The league Two side lead the League One outfit! GOAL! Barrow 1-0 Port Vale (Garner 1) Barrow, who opened their season with a win over Crewe, are straight back at it. I’m now also watching Preston v Sunderland – it’s 0-0 with 90 seconds on the clock. All our 7.45s are now kicking off, so we should soon have a ludicrous flow of goals given our 32 fixtures. Meantime, “Watford head coach Tom Cleverley”, not words I ever supposed to type, is giving his pre-match interview in what I can only describe as a cardigan-jacket. Thoughts and prayers with anyone offended by this behaviour There’s not loads going on at Brunton Park, but Stoke are playing in pink, which feels pleasingly off-brand. Nothing to do with football, but dig this. GOAL! Stockport County 0-1 Blackburn Rovers (Szmodzics 8) Another goal in another game I’m not watching and it’s no great surprise. I’d hoped we’d be shown them as they go in, but apparently not. Bit of retro Carlisle. GOAL! Leyton Orient 1-0 Newport County (Agyei 1) A quick start for the home side at Brisbane Road – and of course I’m watching a different game. We’re away at Brunton Park! Email! “Here in the US they just took all the cup (and Championship) games off of ESPN+, which I have,” says J.R. in Illinois, “and moved them to Paramount+, which I do not have so I guess I’m going to miss James McClean’s inevitable first-minute reducer on some poor unsuspecting Blades player.” Stick with me for full details. And yeah, in general monopolies are bad for consumers, but when it comes to televised sport, it’s necessary. But of course the authorities have no interest in looking after supporters so here we are. Wilder says he’s made all those changes out of necessity, players coming in late without time to get fit for three games in a week. But his team aren’t taking this match likely and he’s happy with the rebuild and refresh that’s under way, a couple more players close to arriving but not available in time for tonight. And this is why: But on Blackburn, Sammie Szmodics starts for them – though Ipswich are apparently trying to sign him. Assuming I can make it work, I’ll watch Carlisle v Stoke in case there’s a shock. Three of our matches kick-off at 7.30pm and these are they: Carlisle United v Stoke City Leyton Orient v Newport County AFC Stockport County v Blackburn Rovers Also tonight: Rangers (1) v (1) Dynamo Kyiv in the second leg of their Champions League qualifying tie. We’ll keep you updated. Harry Souttar, on loan from Leicester to Sheffield United, makes his debut tonight, and he should be a decent acquisition. And Blades have plenty on the bench – Chris Wilder one-ups Parkinson by making a full 11 changes. Incidentally, every game tonight can be seen on your phone … er, if you’ve a Sky sub. Phil Parkinson, the Wrexham manager, says there’s a bit of needle between the sides, which is lovely to hear. He also talks about what a big game it is, in front of a big crowd, which makes it slightly odd that he’s made so many changes. I get that his main objective is to stay up, but still: it’s a cuptie against a team a division above, so. It’s all going on at Wrexham. Teams in our main game Tonight"s fixtures Carlisle United v Stoke City (7.30pm) Leyton Orient v Newport County AFC (7.30pm) Stockport County v Blackburn Rovers (7.30pm) Barrow v Port Vale Bolton Wanderers v Mansfield Town Bristol City v Coventry City Bromley v AFC Wimbledon Burton Albion v Blackpool Cambridge United v Queens Park Rangers Cardiff City v Bristol Rovers Charlton Athletic v Birmingham City Colchester United v Reading Crawley Town v Swindon Town Derby County v Chesterfield Fleetwood Town v West Bromwich Albion Grimsby Town v Bradford City Huddersfield Town v Morecambe Lincoln City v Harrogate Town Northampton Town v Wycombe Wanderers Norwich City v Stevenage Oxford United v Peterborough United Portsmouth v Millwall Preston North End v Sunderland Rotherham United v Crewe Alexandra Salford City v Doncaster Rovers Shrewsbury Town v Notts County Swansea City v Gillingham Tranmere Rovers v Accrington Stanley Walsall v Exeter City Watford v Milton Keynes Dons Wigan Athletic v Barnsley Sheffield United v Wrexham (kick off 8pm) Preamble It seems like it was just last week when the 2023-24 men’s season ended – primarily because it was. In theory, this ought to have left us with roughly 10 painful minutes of no football, but luckily Spain and France saw our pain, forcing their exhausted bodies through extra time such that by the time the Olympic final was finished, the Championship had started; disaster averted. In that opening fixture, Sheffield United won 2-0 at Preston and our focus tonight will be with on the Blades, who entertain Wrexham, the Hollywood outfit having won their first match in League One at home to Wycombe. But there’s more – lots more. Bristol City v Coventry looks a decent tussle, likewise Preston v Sunderland, And elsewhere, Bromley, the newest members of the EFL, make their competition debut with a home tie against AFC Wimbledon, while West Brom face a tricky trip to Fleetwood, and its LIVE! Kick-offs: 7.45pm and 8pm BST