Leeds United underlined their impressive early-season form by beating Nottingham Forest for the second time in three days, sealing a place in the Carabao Cup third round with a comfortable 2-0 win at the City Ground. Dan James broke the deadlock in the 50th minute before Neco Williams turned the ball into his own net, compounding a miserable few days for Daniel Farke's hosts. The result followed Saturday's 1-0 Premier League victory for Leeds and marked their first win at the venue since 1972.
The defeat piled further pressure on new Forest boss Oliver Glasner, who was quick to temper expectations after such a turbulent week. "Right now, we are far away from where we want to be," Glasner said. "The fact is that this team had a relegation battle for nine months. Very turbulent season and it ended with a huge effort to stay in the league, and this is our starting point." He also pushed back against suggestions he should already be transforming the squad's fortunes, adding: "It's really very important not to blame anybody because sometimes I tell them facts and they say, 'Oh, Glasner is complaining'. No, no, no. But then maybe your best midfielder [Elliot Anderson] leaves the club and now we expect we compete for European places because Oliver Glasner is in. Sorry, this is what I can't deliver within six weeks. I'm no magician, no messiah, just hard work. That is what we have to do."
Elsewhere in the competition, Brentford produced one of the night's standout performances, thrashing Birmingham City 6-1 at St Andrew's. New signing Callum Wilson wasted no time making an impact, scoring just six minutes into his full debut for the Bees. Captain Nathan Collins added two headers to his tally, while Aaron Hickey, Mikkel Damsgaard and Igor Thiago also found the net. Demarai Gray had briefly given Birmingham hope by cancelling out Wilson's opener, but the Championship side had no answer to Brentford's ruthless attacking display.
There was a major upset at Vicarage Road, where League One outfit Peterborough United thumped Championship side Watford 5-1. Hornets head coach Alessio Dionisi made 11 changes to his starting lineup and paid the price as James Clarridge's own goal, a double from Harry Leonard, and further strikes from Bolu Shofowoke and Harrison Jones condemned Watford to a heavy defeat.
Hull City needed penalties to see off second-tier Stoke City, eventually prevailing 5-4 in the shootout after Kieran Dowell's equaliser cancelled out Robert Bozenik's goal in a 1-1 draw.
At St Mary's, West Ham United came from behind to beat Championship rivals Southampton 4-1, with 19-year-old debutant Josh Ayala stealing the headlines by scoring twice to overturn Léo Scienza's opener for the hosts. Taty Castellanos and Jarrod Bowen added further goals to complete the rout. Hammers manager Nuno Espírito Santo praised the teenager afterward, saying: "It is important for Josh. He works hard every day in training to get chances in games. We are delighted he took the opportunity."
Among the other results, Ipswich Town beat Leicester City 3-1, with Marcelino Núñez scoring twice, including a stunning strike from the halfway line. Middlesbrough got revenge on Doncaster for last season's cup exit with a 3-1 win, while Norwich's Ante Crnac marked his return from a long-term knee injury with the winning goal in a 2-1 victory over Cardiff. Wolves, Fleetwood, Sheffield United, Leyton Orient, Lincoln, Millwall, Barnsley and Reading also progressed to the next round.
Based on reporting from Guardian Football.