Kyle Walker stepped up to convert the decisive spot‑kick as Burnley narrowly defeated Notts County 4‑3 on penalties, earning a place in the Carabao Cup second round after a 1‑1 stalemate at Turf Moor. The newly‑promoted County side, fresh from their League Two play‑off triumph over Salford in May, took an early lead through Callum Roberts at the interval.
However, the Clarets responded quickly when Zian Flemming levelled the score early in the second half, setting the stage for a dramatic shootout. During the penalty drama, Burnley keeper Max Weiss proved crucial, denying both Emile Acquah and Jacob Bedeau of Notts County.
With the tension mounting, Walker calmly slotted the final spot‑kick, sealing a hard‑won win for his teammates. The first‑round action featured a host of other notable results.
West Ham United, still reeling from their recent relegation from the Premier League, rallied from a goal down to beat Portsmouth 3‑1 at the London Stadium. Adrian Segecic opened the scoring for the visitors in the first half, but the Hammers turned the tide before the break with goals from Taty Castellanos and Jarrod Bowen. Castellanos added a second‑half strike to complete the comeback. In another match, Sheffield Wednesday’s substitute Jamal Lowe delivered the only goal of the game, guiding the Owls to a 1‑0 victory over a ten‑man Bolton side at Hillsborough.
Lowe’s goal came midway through the second half after Bolton’s Xavier Simons was sent off for punching Leeds loanee Harry Gray in retaliation for a previous challenge. Millwall’s goalkeeper Lukas Jensen produced a flawless performance, saving all four of QPR’s penalties as the Lions triumphed 2‑0 in a shootout at Loftus Road after a 1‑1 draw in regulation time. Luke Cundle had given Millwall a second‑half lead following a goalkeeper error, only for QPR to equalise through a late own‑goal by Mark Sykes.
Norwich City’s debutant Andre Brooks found the net as the Canaries cruised to a 4‑1 win over MK Dons at Carrow Road. Meanwhile, Cardiff City’s substitute Jack Moylan scored on his debut, netting the winner in a 3‑2 triumph over Swindon Town, a match that saw James Debayo receive a red card for two bookings in the final six minutes. August Priske’s first‑half strike secured a 1‑0 victory for Birmingham City at Swansea, while Marc Bola’s spectacular long‑range effort deep in added time gave Watford a 1‑0 win over Crawley Town. Late goals from substitutes Andri Gudjohnsen and Jayden Fevrier ensured Blackburn Rovers edged Burton Albion 2‑1.
Newly‑promoted Lincoln City continued their upward trajectory, beating Derby County 2‑1 thanks to first‑half goals from Ben House and Dom Jefferies, before Sammie Szmodics pulled one back for the Rams. At the bet365 Stadium, Stoke City earned a 2‑0 win over Oldham Athletic, with an own‑goal by Ollie Norburn and a late strike from Robert Bozenik sealing the result. Bradford City’s duo of Will Swan and Aden Baldwin delivered a 2‑0 home victory against Rochdale.
Fleetwood Town captain Ched Evans opened the scoring in the first half, leading his side to a 1‑0 home win over Chesterfield. Cambridge United responded to a defeat by beating Barnet 2‑1, with second‑half goals from Ben Knight and Isaac Heath. AFC Wimbledon, Barnsley and Reading all progressed after prevailing in penalty shootouts against Newport County, Wigan Athletic and Bromley respectively. Similarly, Preston North End, Shrewsbury Town and Doncaster Rovers secured their places by winning shootouts against Huddersfield Town, Salford City and Stockport County.
Luca Moore’s late strike gave Crewe Alexandra a 2‑1 win over Accrington Stanley at Gresty Road, while Demetri Mitchell and Idris El Mizouni scored late to give Leyton Orient a 2‑0 home victory over Oxford United. Peterborough United, Luton Town and Blackpool all claimed away wins, defeating Bristol Rovers, Gillingham and Grimsby Town respectively. Leicester City’s Caleb Okoli headed home the only goal in a 1‑0 triumph over Northampton Town. In the evening fixtures, Southampton secured a 2‑0 win at Colchester United with goals from Cyle Larin and Romeo Akachukwu.
West Bromwich Albion dominated Rotherham United 4‑1, and Charlton Athletic earned a 3‑1 victory over Cheltenham Town. The draw for the second round of the 2026/27 Carabao Cup will be broadcast live on Sky Sports Football on Monday, August 10, during the build‑up to the tie between Plymouth Argyle and Exeter City.
All first‑round winners will be joined by the eleven Premier League clubs not involved in European competition. Fans can also take part in the Super 6 competition for a chance to win £250,000, with free entry available online.