As the Carabao Cup returns, English football fans are reminded that the competition has a long history of producing some of the most extraordinary results in the domestic game. With clubs often using the early rounds to test young talent or shake off pre-season cobwebs, the tournament has thrown up everything from double-digit thrashings to marathon penalty shootouts.
One of the most jaw-dropping ties came in August 2014 when League Two side Dagenham & Redbridge hosted a recently promoted Championship Brentford at Victoria Road. The match was tied 4-4 after 90 minutes before an extraordinary extra-time period saw the scoreline swell to 6-6. Dagenham led 6-5 deep into added time before Brentford's Harlee Dean forced penalties with a 117th-minute equaliser. Brentford captain Kevin O'Connor eventually converted the winning spot-kick after Dagenham missed twice, sealing a 12-goal classic that stands as one of the joint-highest scoring ties in the competition's history.
A similarly astonishing turnaround occurred in 2005 when Aston Villa trailed League Two outfit Wycombe Wanderers 3-1 at half-time at Adams Park. Villa boss David O'Leary later admitted his side had been on the brink of a major upset. However, second-half goals from Milan Baros, James Milner (two), Gareth Barry (two) and Steven Davis, along with a Craig Easton own goal, turned the tie on its head as Villa scored seven times after the break to win 8-3.
West Ham United still hold the record for the competition's biggest victory, having thrashed Fourth Division Bury 10-0 at the Boleyn Ground in October 1983, having only won the first leg 2-1. Tony Cottee scored four goals, with Alvin Martin, Trevor Brooking, Alan Devonshire and Ray Stewart also finding the net in a ruthless second-half display under manager John Lyall.
Liverpool matched that scoreline three years later, hammering Third Division Fulham 10-0 at Anfield in September 1986. Steve McMahon scored four times despite missing a penalty, while Ian Rush, John Wark and Steve Nicol also got on the scoresheet. Liverpool completed a 13-2 aggregate victory after winning the second leg 3-2.
Arsenal produced one of the great cup comebacks in 2012, recovering from 4-0 down against Reading to win 7-5 after extra time at the Madejski Stadium. Theo Walcott's goal just before half-time sparked the revival, and after Marouane Chamakh's extra-time strike put the Gunners ahead for the first time, Reading's Pavel Pogrebnyak levelled again before Walcott and Chamakh completed the scoring. The match was also notable for Olivier Giroud and Francis Coquelin prematurely throwing their shirts into the crowd, mistakenly believing the game had ended before extra time began.
Manchester City delivered a similarly emphatic result in the 2019 semi-final, beating League One Burton Albion 9-0 in the first leg at the Etihad Stadium, with Gabriel Jesus scoring four. City completed a 10-0 aggregate win after a 1-0 second-leg victory, en route to lifting the trophy. Burton manager Nigel Clough later revealed that Pep Guardiola invited him for a glass of wine after the tie, joking that he hoped it would be