Luke Southwood made himself an instant hit on his Bolton Wanderers’ debut with two superb penalty saves to help the Whites come back from the dead and go through to the second round of the Carabao Cup
After a superb strike from George Thomason had been cancelled out late on by Mansfield substitute Davis Keillor-Dunn to set up a penalty shoot-out, the Whites looked to be heading out.
Thomason’s fortunes changed when his spot-kick was saved and Randell Williams blasted his effort over the bar to leave the visitors on the brink of victory.
But after two wins on penalties in last season’s run to the fourth round, the Stags failed to take either of their chances to complete a hat-trick as Hiram Boateng shot over the top and Aaron Lewis saw his attempt superbly saved by Southwood.
With Dion Charles’ successful effort therefore enough to set up sudden death – after Victor Adeboyejo and Aaron Collins had also scored – Jay Matete and Josh Dacres-Cogley kept their cool to tip the balance back Wanderers’ way.
And even though Callum MacDonald slotted home to prolong the drama, the save of the night from Southwood to claw away the 14th penalty of the shoot-out taken by Will Swann proved the clincher as Ian Evatt’s men dramatically booked their place in round two for the fourth successive year to continue their upbeat start to the season.
Wigan Athletic were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the first round stage after losing 4-2 on penalties to Barnsley following a 1-1 draw after 90 minutes.
Latics took the lead from the penalty spot as Thelo Aasgaard converted after Calvin Ramsay was fouled inside the box. Aasgaard had a wonderful chance to double his and Latics tally early in the second half, but fired straight at the goalkeeper, before Barnsley went up the other end and Donovan Pines leaped highest to nod in a corner at the far post. Both teams had chances to win it, but the game headed to penalities.
Barnsley converted four of their five penalties, with Latics converting just the two through substitutes Jordan Jones and Harry McHugh meaning it was the visitors who progressed.
Saford City were also knocked out after a 2-0 defeat at home to Doncaster Rovers.Billy Sharp opened the scoring for te visitors after 21 minutes and in stoppage time as the Ammies committed numbers and bodies forward, a ball over the top was seized upon by Luke Molyneux to challenge Matty Young one-on-one, and squeeze in a second
A Stockport County team ravaged by injuries were hammered 6-1 by Championship side Blackburn Rovers.Rovers had the game won by half-time against a Stockport side who made 10 changes from their victory over Cambridge on Saturday, including handing debuts to four youngsters.
