Middlesbrough opened their Carabao Cup campaign on a high note, thanks to a debut goal from new signing Will Lankshear. The 21‑year‑old, who arrived from Tottenham for a reported £10 million in the summer window, broke the deadlock in the 61st minute with a crisp, first‑time volley that sent the home fans into raptures. The strike proved to be the only one of the match, securing a 1‑0 victory over Wrexham and giving Boro a perfect start to the season.
The early stages of the game were tightly contested. Middlesbrough came close to taking the lead within the first ten minutes when Adilson Malanda nudged a Sebastian Berhalter cross toward goal. Danny Ward, the Wrexham goalkeeper, reacted swiftly and produced a point‑blank save that kept the scores level. Later, Wrexham’s Danny Imray missed a golden opportunity, failing to connect cleanly with Callum Doyle’s cross, while Sam Smith’s low drive hit the legs of Middlesbrough keeper Sol Brynn just before the interval, after a clever run by Nathan Broadhead.
The second half began with Lankshear testing the opposition bar with a curling effort that sailed just over the cross‑bar. However, his moment of glory arrived shortly thereafter. Leo Castledine rose to meet a Jeremy Sarmiento cross, looping the ball into Lankshear’s path.
The striker spun elegantly and struck a superb first‑time volley that flew into the far corner, leaving Ward with no chance. The goal not only gave Boro the lead but also marked Lankshear’s first strike in a Boro shirt. Middlesbrough nearly doubled their advantage in the closing minutes when Morgan Whittaker’s low shot struck the post, but the rebound failed to find a teammate, and the match ended 1‑0. The win was a fitting start to the club’s 50th‑anniversary season and highlighted the immediate impact of Lankshear’s signing.
In the other first‑round fixtures, Wolverhampton Wanderers comfortably progressed with a 3‑0 win over League Two side Port Vale. All three goals came before halftime, with Adam Armstrong, Andre, and Fer Lopez each finding the net.
The victory also marked Cesar Peixoto’s debut as Wolves manager, a match he celebrated with a win. Port Vale had moments of promise – Jordan Lawrence‑Gabriel produced a spectacular chance that went wide, and Mo Faal’s penalty was saved by Dan Bentley’s legs, denying the visitors a consolation goal.
Wolves’ supporters, numbering over 21,000 at Molineux, were especially keen to hear the return of club legend Raúl Jiménez. The Mexican striker, who re‑joined Wolves after three seasons at Fulham, entered as a late substitute and unleashed a powerful shot, though he could not add to the tally against a resilient Port Vale side. Nevertheless, Wolves secured their place in the second round of the competition. Stevenage also advanced after a dramatic 2‑1 victory over Wycombe Wanderers, courtesy of a late winner from new signing Josh Magennis.
The Exeter‑born forward, who joined the club in the summer, headed home from a corner delivered by Phoenix Patterson in the fifth minute of stoppage time, sealing the win. The match had been a seesaw battle: Dan Kemp gave Wycombe the lead in the 27th minute after exploiting a momentary hesitation in the home defence, but Ewan Henderson equalised before half‑time with a right‑footed finish from a Silko Thomas cross. Kemp later rattled the post with a strike from the edge of the box, keeping the tension high. In the second half, Wycombe tried to assert control but struggled to create clear chances.
Substitute Emre Tezgel, replacing Cauley Woodrow, was denied by Boro captain Carl Piergianni when attempting to finish a Thomas cross in the 77th minute. Magennis’s decisive header ultimately settled the contest, sending Stevenage through to the next round. The Carabao Cup’s first round for the 2026/27 season featured a full slate of live broadcasts on Sky Sports, with clubs from the Championship, League One and League Two all taking part.
Upcoming fixtures include matches involving West Ham, Burnley and Leicester, with all 29 ties available to watch on Soccer Saturday. Fans are also encouraged to try the Super 6 competition for a chance to win a £250,000 prize, with free entry available.
Overall, the opening round delivered a mixture of tight defenses, debut goals, and dramatic finishes, setting the tone for what promises to be an exciting cup campaign across the English football pyramid.