EFL Cup REVIEW 6 Aug 2026: Walsall stun Bristol City 1-0 in Carabao Cup upset at Ashton Gate

Walsall began their season with a shock, beating Championship hosts Bristol City 1-0 in the Carabao Cup first round at Ashton Gate. Aaron Pressley scored the only goal seven minutes into the second half, side-footing home after summer signing Reece Smith squared the ball to him unmarked in the box.

It was a chastening evening for Michael Skubala in his first competitive match as Bristol City manager. Five of the club's summer signings were given full debuts, with goalkeeper Sam Tickle, defender Lisav Eissat, Jed Wallace, Sam Greenwood and Lorent Tolaj all starting, while new arrival Dom Ballard made his first appearance off the bench. City pushed hard for an equaliser late on, forcing a string of corners, but could not find a way through as Lee Grant's Walsall, in his first game as head coach, held out for the win.

The result sends Walsall through to the second round and is a striking reversal of pre-season form: the League Two side had gone into the tie having lost heavily in warm-up games, including 5-0 defeats to Aston Villa and Luton Town. For Bristol City, attention now turns to the Championship season opener at home to Millwall on Saturday, while Walsall's league campaign begins away at Gillingham the same day.