EFL Cup REVIEW 1 Aug 2026: Rochdale edge past Tranmere on penalties in Carabao Cup thriller

Tranmere Rovers and Rochdale could not be separated at Prenton Park, with the EFL Cup preliminary round tie finishing 2-2 after 90 minutes before Rochdale won through on penalties.

Tranmere made the ideal start: Joel Senior won the ball high up the pitch and found Kieron Conlon, who slipped a pass through to Charlie Whitaker, and the forward took a touch before curling a composed finish into the net inside five minutes. Rochdale hit back through Ryan East, who fired home a rebound after Luke Male had saved Emmanuel Dieseruvwe's header, and the sides went in level at half-time. Jordan Davies restored Tranmere's lead early in the second half, controlling the ball, turning his man and slotting past Nils Ramming to make it 2-1, but Rochdale would not go quietly. Zain Silcott-Duberry forced a shootout with a late equaliser from inside the box after a corner, and with the tie level after 90 minutes it went straight to penalties, which Rochdale won 2-1 to progress.

It was the first competitive outing of the season for both clubs under new management. Darrell Clarke, appointed at Tranmere after leaving Bristol Rovers, used substitute Tom Ince, the club's marquee summer signing, in the closing stages, while Ian Watson took charge of a Rochdale side just promoted back to the Football League through the National League play-offs after Jimmy McNulty left the post for Stockport County.