In the opening round of the Carabao Cup, a series of closely contested matches produced several notable outcomes and debut performances across the English football leagues.

Burnley advanced past League One side Notts County after a tense penalty shootout, prevailing 4-3 following a 1-1 draw in regulation time. At Burton, Blackburn Rovers secured a 2-1 victory courtesy of second-half substitutes Andri Gudjohnsen and Jayden Fevrier, both making significant impacts after coming off the bench.

Derby County experienced an early exit from the competition, falling 2-1 at home to Championship newcomers Lincoln City. Watford claimed a late 1-0 win against Crawley Town, with Marc Bola netting a dramatic goal in the 99th minute. This marked the first competitive match under new Watford manager Alessio Dionisi.

West Bromwich Albion delivered a commanding 4-1 win over Rotherham United. Jimmy-Jay Morgan, making his debut for the club, opened the scoring with two goals. Meanwhile, Norwich City recorded a 4-1 victory against MK Dons, with Mohamed Toure and Andre Brooks both marking their club debuts with goals.

Several other matches were decided via penalty shootouts, including AFC Wimbledon’s win over Newport County, Barnsley’s victory against Wigan Athletic, and Reading’s triumph over Bromley. These results underscored the competitive nature of early-round fixtures, often involving teams from different tiers of English football.

The round also witnessed a record-setting attendance for a Carabao Cup first-round match, as 53,369 spectators gathered to see West Ham United defeat Portsmouth 3-1 at the London Stadium. This figure marked the highest crowd ever recorded for a fixture at this stage of the competition.

Overall, the first round of the Carabao Cup showcased a mix of unexpected outcomes, individual breakthroughs, and strong performances from both Championship and lower league clubs as the tournament set the tone for the season ahead.