Carabao Cup: Nottingham Forest and Middlesbrough survive penalty shootout scare as Blackburn thrash Carlisle

Bristol City were knocked out by lower-league opponents Plymouth Argyle while Aston Villa edged past Yeovil Town and West Brom beat Luton

Nottingham Forest's Luke Steele celebrates with Ben Osborn after their victory over Bury (PA)

Championship sides Middlesbrough and Nottingham Forest both survived scares among a host of Carabao Cup first-round ties to be settled on penalties.

Middlesbrough were held 3-3 over 90 minutes by League Two Notts County in an eventful game at the Riverside Stadium but prevailed 4-3 on spot-kicks.

Boro trailed three times in normal time but two goals from Ashley Fletcher and another from Enes Mahmutovic cancelled out a Jon Stead double and Tom Crawford strike. With extra time no longer played at this stage of the competition, Andy Lonergan then made two saves in the shoot-out.

Forest, reduced to 10 men after the first-half sending off of goalkeeper Jordan Smith, looked to be heading out at the City Ground until Matty Cash made it 1-1 against Bury with a stoppage-time equaliser. The Shakers had led since Eoghan O'Connell's second-minute strike. Forest won 10-9 on penalties.

Bristol City did go out to lower division opposition, falling 1-0 to League One Plymouth at Ashton Gate. Yann Songo'o claimed the only goal.

Blackburn had no such worries as they thrashed Carlisle 5-1. Adam Armstrong and Bradley Dack both got on the scoresheet twice for Rovers with Kasey Palmer also on target.

Ashley Smith-Brown of Plymouth Argyle celebrates the win over Bristol City (Getty)

Aston Villa were made to work hard for their 1-0 victory over League Two Yeovil at Huish Park. Alex Fisher missed a penalty for the Glovers before Conor Hourihane claimed Villa's 77th-minute winner.

West Brom also found things far from straightforward against League One Luton but eventually came through at The Hawthorns with a 62nd-minute goal from Oliver Burke.

Luton Town manager Nathan Jones consoles his players after the Carabao Cup defeat by West Brom (PA)

Leeds prevailed 2-1 in their all-Championship clash with Bolton at Elland Road. Patrick Bamford and Saiz Samuel struck before Erhun Otzumer replied.

Reading saw off Birmingham 2-0 in another Championship meeting, Yakou Meite and John Swift netting their goals.

PA