Plymouth summer signing Frank Nouble scored a brilliant volleyed winner as Ryan Lowe’s Argyle rallied to upset Championship side QPR 3-2 in the Carabao Cup first round.
Rangers took just 68 seconds to score as Ryan Manning headed home from a pinpoint Ilias Chair cross. The hosts replied when on-loan Blackpool striker Ryan Hardie set up midfielder Joe Edwards to sweep home past Joe Lumley after 32 minutes.
The League One side went 2-1 up in the 55th minute when Danny Mayor beat his marker and smashed home from inside the box. But the visitors’ response was immediate with a thumping Osman Kakay drive beating Michael Cooper. Then, with 12 minutes remaining, the former Colchester striker Nouble met Conor Grant’s pacy cross with a first-time volley to secure the win.
“We’re newly promoted to League One and a lot of people have forgotten about it,” said Lowe. “We certainly haven’t and will thrive on it and use it as a motivation to kick on again.”
Elsewhere, Newport produced another big knock-out shock as they beat Swansea 2-0. Mike Flynn’s League Two side have beaten Leicester, Leeds and Middlesbrough, drawn with Tottenham, and faced Manchester City in the last two seasons, and came out on top in the all-Welsh derby clash thanks to two goals from Tristan Abrahams. Newport fully deserved their win against Championship Swansea, who were poor from start to finish.
Eoghan O’Connell headed a second-half winner as Rochdale shocked Huddersfield 1-0. O’Connell got on the end of Matty Done’s inswinging free-kick after 51 minutes to nod home from close range – and then performed heroics at the other end when he cleared Harry Toffolo’s header off the line on the stroke of full-time.
Aitor Karanka’s first game in charge of Birmingham ended in a gruelling 1-0 home defeat to League Two Cambridge United, thanks to a goal from on-loan defender Robbie Cundy. Northampton eased into round two with a fine 3-0 victory over Cardiff. The League One newcomers easily overcame their Championship visitors as Harry Smith converted a first-half penalty before Matty Warburton and Ryan Watson struck in the space of nine second-half minutes.
Meanwhile, Barrow’s return to Football League action after 48 years ended in heartbreak when they were knocked out by Derby on penalties. After a goalless 90 minutes, Dior Angus tucked away the opening spot-kick but Kelle Roos then saved three penalties. Although Joel Dixon denied Jack Marriott and Max Bird, Morgan Whittaker made no mistake to take Derby through to the next round 3-2.
Millwall brushed aside Crawley 3-1 with a free-flowing display as the League Two side suffered their first home defeat since November. And Dean Holden’s first game since being appointed Bristol City manager ended with a 2-0 win over Exeter at Ashton Gate.