Middlesbrough opened their season on a high note in the Carabao Cup first round, edging Wrexham 1-0 thanks to a debut strike from new signing Lakshear. The 21‑year‑old, who arrived from Tottenham for a reported £10 million in the summer window, waited just 61 minutes before delivering the match‑winning volley. His first‑time effort, a deft hook from a Leo Castledine header, curled into the far corner and secured the Boro's early progress in the competition. The encounter began with Middlesbrough nearly taking the lead within the opening minutes.
Adilson Malanda nudged a Sebastian Berhalter cross toward goal, only for Danny Ward to produce a spectacular point‑blank save, keeping the scores level. Wrexham responded through Danny Imray, who failed to connect cleanly with Callum Doyle’s cross, and later Sam Smith struck a low drive that forced Sol Brynn into a reflexive block after Nathan Broadhead’s well‑timed run. The second half saw Lakshear miss a curling effort that sailed just over the bar, but his persistence paid off shortly after. Castledine’s cross found Lakshear in space; the striker turned and volleyed with precision, sending the ball into the top corner and leaving the home fans in jubilation.
Middlesbrough pressed for a second, with Morgan Whittaker’s low shot rattling the post in the dying minutes, but the result remained 1-0. In the other Carabao Cup tie, Wolves demonstrated their depth with a comfortable 3-0 victory over League Two side Port Vale.
All three goals arrived before halftime, courtesy of Adam Armstrong, Andre and Fer Lopez, who each put the visitors firmly in control. The win also marked Cesar Peixoto’s first game as Wolves manager, a promising start to his tenure.
Port Vale had moments of danger. Jordan Lawrence‑Gabriel produced a spectacular chance that slipped away, and later Mo Faal’s penalty was saved by the legs of Dan Bentley, denying the travelling supporters a consolation goal. Wolves’ supporters, numbering over 21,000 at Molineux, were equally focused on the return of club hero Raúl Jiménez.
The former Premier League top scorer, who re‑joined 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 defence. Stevenage’s journey continued after a dramatic 2-1 win over Wycombe, secured by a last‑minute header from new signing Josh Magennis. The ex‑Exeter striker, brought in during the summer, rose above the defense to meet a corner from Phoenix Patterson and head home in stoppage time, sending the Boro’s 50th anniversary season off with a flourish. Wycombe had taken an early lead in the 27th minute when midfielder Dan Kemp capitalised on a momentary lapse in the home side’s defence, racing forward and firing a low shot past the keeper.
Stevenage replied before the break when Ewan Henderson, playing on the wing, cut inside and slotted a right‑footed finish from just outside the six‑yard box after a precise cross from Silko Thomas. The visitors threatened again just before halftime, with Kemp rattling the bar from the edge of the area. The second half saw Wycombe dominate possession but struggle to break through. Substitute Emre Tezgel, replacing Cauley Woodrow, found himself blocked by Boro captain Carl Piergianni when attempting to finish a Thomas cross in the 77th minute.
The deadlock was finally broken when Magennis rose to meet Patterson’s corner, heading the ball home and sealing Stevenage’s place in the next round. The Carabao Cup returns for the 2026/27 season with every first‑round fixture broadcast live on Sky Sports, offering fans across the Championship, League One and League Two a chance to watch the drama unfold.
Upcoming matches feature clubs such as West Ham, Burnley and Leicester, all vying for progression in the knockout format. Viewers can follow the action on Soccer Saturday, where goals from all 29 ties are updated in real time. In addition to the football, Sky Sports promotes its interactive Super 6 competition, giving fans the opportunity to win a share of a £250,000 prize pool at no cost. The tournament promises excitement both on and off the pitch as clubs chase glory and supporters chase fortunes.