Ilias Chair gets in behind on the left for QPR and tries to pull it back across goal but his attempted delivery is cut out in the six-yard box.

It's all QPR in terms of territory but Millwall have done well to limit the number of clear chances.

And the home side were only level for five minutes because Isaac Heath has put them ahead for the first time.

It's raining goals in the sunshine, that's three in eight minutes.

Elsewhere on this bumper day of EFL Cup action, recently promoted Bromley host Reading as they attempt to get to grips with playing against League One opponents this season while, across South London, AFC Wimbledon play host to Newport County.

Blackburn Rovers go to Burton Albion in a tricky looking test, Cardiff host Swindon and Oldham head down the M6 to Stoke City.

Norwich host MK Dons, while Stockport take on Doncaster, Barnsley play Wigan and Oxford go to Leyton Orient in three all-League One affairs.

Salford City, tipped for promotion in League Two this year host Shrewsbury, while Rochdale, who knocked out Tranmere in the preliminary round via a penalty shootout, travel to Bradford City.

Femi Azeez gets his first chance to try and impact the game for Millwall on the right flank but he can't do anything more than run it out of play under pressure from QPR's new left-back signing Boy Kemper.

Good defending by the Dutchman to usher it out of play for a goal-kick.

Dan George
BBC Sport at the London Stadium

Image source, BBC Sport

A very good afternoon from the delightful sunshine at the London Stadium.

Today (kind of) marks the start of the new season and the Portsmouth players have just arrived and are out on the pitch to take in their surroundings.

Pompey are expecting north of 9,000 supporters to be here today and sold out their allocation for this match quite a while ago now.

West Ham come up against a side that they will face twice later on in the Championship season and will be hoping to kick-off the new campaign with a win at home against a solid second-tier side.

It's been a fast start to the second half at the Cledara Abbey Stadium.

Kabongo Tshimanga powered Barnet ahead, but three minutes later and Ben Knight has equalised for the League One team.

There's been a lot going on at West Ham this summer following their relegation from the Premier League in regards to their owners, but today's EFL Cup tie will offer the first sighting of the effect it's had on the pitch.

The Hammers have lost a few of their key players since the transfer window opened and so far have only brought in one addition, defender Joel Veltman on a free transfer.

Opposition Portsmouth, though, also feel they need to do more business to fill in the gaps and while some may feel this competition is just a stepping stone to the start of the season, boss John Mousinho sees it as a time to test his best squad against a side many have tipped for the Championship title.

"They're [West Ham] a massive club, with massive expectation," Mousinho told BBC Radio Solent. "A huge amount in terms of resource and a side that have only very recently won a European trophy.

"We want to try and progress in the cup. We'll be at full strength to try and win it, but we're probably not quite there with the squad at the moment. It will be our starting eleven at this stage of the season."

Ryan Leonard commits another foul for Millwall, this time midway inside his own half, but escapes further punishment. He's probably one more away from a yellow card.

Ilias Chair sends it into the box once more, but again the Lions stand firm.

Approaching the 15-minute mark in this EFL Cup first-round tie and it's safe to say QPR have been the better side.

Much of the game being played in the Millwall half and the Hoops are knocking it about nicely.

That being said, not a huge number of chances for the home side so far.

Birmingham City took a good win over a young Barcelona side in pre-season and will be looking to keep their momentum rolling as they go into their EFL Cup tie over Swansea.

Blues ended their last Championship season in 10th, perhaps a little below where many thought they would be after such a storming League One campaign the year prior, but today's encounter with the Swans will offer another chance for them to show if they are ready to step it up and challenge for promotion.

Swansea won't be willing to just let their competition slide by without any hard effort though. Boss Vitor Matos has already stated he's willing to put out his best side in order to progress and especially in a game against a team that already seems to be flowing.

"Birmingham are a really good team, had really good results in pre-season if we look to the games they played against really good oppositions," Matos said.

"They are really aggressive, probably one of the most aggressive teams I've seen in recent times in terms of pressing, direct as well, set-piece is quite important, so it will be a really good challenge."

Not much to shout about so far for the side who came within a point of winning automatic promotion to the Premier League last season.

Millwall are yet to have a shot and QPR are enjoying decent spells of possession.

Image source, Shutterstock

It’s been a busy summer for both Watford and Crawley as they prepare to take to the grass for their first ever competitive match, at Vicarage Road.

Since new head coach Alessio Dionisi arrived in June, the home side have welcomed six new players, five of whom join from their Italian sister club Udinese.

Just over 60 miles down and round the M25, Crawley have peppered the transfer market, making 15 signings as they look to rebuild after escaping dropping out of the EFL altogether on the final day of the season.

Colin Kazim-Richards’ side had to overcome York on Monday to even reach the first round of the EFL Cup, but if he needs a confidence boost all someone needs to do is remind him of Crawley’s journey to the fourth round back in 2019-20.

There's been a feel-good factor around Sheffield Wednesday after David Storch took over the club towards the end of last season following a time of true despair under former chairman Dejphon Chansiri.

Even Bolton defender Chris Forino is expecting something big from the Owls this season but having to rebuild a squad from scratch is a difficult task.

Today's match at Hillsborough will offer a first glimpse at the new era of Sheffield Wednesday - and they won't be the only club looking for new beginnings.

Bolton boss Steven Schumacher has been stressing the need for further recruitment all summer as the side prepare for their first Championship campaign since 2019 and this could be the match to demonstrate how much is needed to compete at a higher level.

QPR have made the brighter start of the two sides inside the opening eight minutes and now they win a free-kick in a promising position on the left edge of the area.

Paul Smyth is hauled to the ground by the backtracking Ryan Leonard for Millwall.

In it comes from Ilias Chair but the Lions are able to clear.

Image source, Shutterstock

It’s a strange one this afternoon, as neither Preston nor Huddersfield can truly claim to be the home side for this first round tie.

With Deepdale having a new hybrid pitch installed (hopefully) in time for their first home Championship game against Wolves later this month, they get to borrow Goodison Park from the Everton women’s side.

Last season was moderate-ish for both sides, with Preston finishing mid-table once again, and Huddersfield missing out on the play-offs in League One by eight points.

Attempts have been made, however, to put those wrongs right, with North End signing four players, and the Terriers, five.

Image source, Shutterstock

It’s the clash of the relegated sides as Leicester take on Northampton at the King Power Stadium.

The Foxes limped out of the Championship with a whimper last season after a miserable start to 2026, which included just three wins, and a six-point penalty deduction for breaching finance rules.

Northampton haven’t fared much better after they finished rock bottom of League One, and they were relegated with a month to spare.

Russell Martin’s side will come into this fixture confident they can win, especially with the capture of Wes Burns, who signed from Ipswich on Thursday.

First real chance of the game and it falls QPR's way.

Amadou Mbengue bursts down the right and pulls it back to Ilias Chair about 15 yards out but his effort is deflected over.

The corner comes to nothing.

Decent noise inside Loftus Road this afternoon. The Millwall fans have made the short trip across London in large numbers and are making themselves heard.

Image source, Getty Images

This is a historic season for Lincoln City, who will be playing second-tier football for the first time since 1965 after winning the League One title and gaining promotion to the Championship.

But the first job for Chris Cohen and Tom Shaw as a rare head coach double act is to navigate a tricky cup trip to Pride Park, which will perhaps give them a taste of what is to come over the next nine months.

Lincoln fans will no doubt be keen to see how their team gets on under Cohen and Shaw following the departure of promotion-winning boss Michael Skubala to Bristol City in the summer.

In an all-Championship tie, the Imps face Derby County, who enjoyed a solid 2025-26 season and finished eighth - a spot that would secure them a play-off spot this season.

Neither of these clubs have ever made it to the EFL Cup final but the Rams did enjoy a run to the semi-final in 2008-09 and the quarter-final in 2014-15.

Image source, Shutterstock

Last season, these two sides were three divisions apart with Burnley playing in the Premier League and Notts County in League Two.

Now just one division separates them following relegation for the Clarets and promotion for the Magpies in 2025-26.

Nicky Hayen is taking charge of his first competitive game for Burnley, who have had four previous runs to the semi-final in this competition, and the Belgian will be keen to get off to a strong start.

Notts County may well still be riding the wave of their 3-0 League Two play-off final success over Salford City in May and are preparing for life in the third tier for the first time in 11 years.

Martin Paterson's side would certainly build confidence for their league campaign if they can pull off a shock at Turf Moor today.