EFL Cup First Round…14/08/2018

The first round in the EFL Cup has been drawn on a North/South divide and commenced on Tuesday evening. The early rounds are frequently used to provide game time for fringe players and we will keep a keen eye on Irish players who fall into that category. In the Northern Section the Preston North End v Morecambe contest saw Graham Burke start and score for the hosts in their three one victory while veteran goalkeeper Barry Roche started for the opposition. Callum Robinson was unused on the bench for the ‘Lilywhites’ alongside teenage midfielder Adam O’Reilly. Rumoured Ireland target Patrick Bamford scored for Leeds United in their two one victory over Bolton Wanderers who had Marc Wilson in midfield. The televised meeting of Yeovil Town and Aston Villa in the Southern Section saw the midfield trio of Conor Hourihane, Glenn Whelan and Jake Doyle-Hayes all start for the Championship visitors with Hourihane scoring the only goal on seventy seven minutes. Callum O’Dowda started for Bristol City who lost to the only goal from visitors Plymouth Argyle who included former U21 internationals Graham Carey and Niall Canavan in their starting eleven.