Follow live coverage as AFC Bournemouth face Brentford in the EFL Cup.
Newcastle are the reigning champions of the competition following a stunning win over Liverpool at Wembley last term, with Alexander Isak proving decisive to end the club's 70-year domestic trophy drought.
While all 72 clubs from the football league enter from the first round, Premier League teams enter at the second or third round stage, the latter for clubs competing in Europe this season.
The final is slated for 22 March 2026 this term, at Wembley as usual, marking the first chance for teams to earn both a trophy and a place in next season’s Uefa competitions. Follow updates from today’s game in the live blog below.
AFC Bournemouth 0 - 2 Brentford FC
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
21:08Julio Soler (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
21:09Substitution, Brentford. Igor Thiago replaces Ethan Pinnock.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
21:06Substitution, Brentford. Dango Ouattara replaces Aaron Hickey.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
21:07Substitution, Brentford. Michael Kayode replaces Antoni Milambo.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
21:07Substitution, Brentford. Nathan Collins replaces Kevin Schade.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
21:05Attempt missed. Julio Soler (Bournemouth) left footed shot from the left side of the box is too high. Assisted by James Hill with a headed pass.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
21:05Attempt missed. James Hill (Bournemouth) header from the centre of the box is just a bit too high. Assisted by Ryan Christie with a cross following a set piece situation.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
21:01Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the left wing.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
21:00Attempt missed. Amine Adli (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Justin Kluivert.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
21:00Amine Adli (Bournemouth) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
21:00Foul by Amine Adli (Bournemouth).
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
21:00Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:54Foul by Justin Kluivert (Bournemouth).
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:53Marcos Senesi (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:53Foul by Alex Scott (Bournemouth).
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:53Second Half begins Bournemouth 0, Brentford 1.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:53Substitution, Bournemouth. Antoine Semenyo replaces Ben Gannon-Doak.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:36First Half ends, Bournemouth 0, Brentford 1.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:33Attempt missed. Julio Soler (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box misses to the left following a set piece situation.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:32Julián Araujo (Bournemouth) wins a free kick on the right wing.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:31Fourth official has announced 5 minutes of added time.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:30Corner, Bournemouth. Conceded by Kevin Schade.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:30Foul by Aaron Hickey (Brentford).
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:28James Hill (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:27Foul by Ryan Christie (Bournemouth).
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:26Alex Scott (Bournemouth) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:26Foul by Ryan Christie (Bournemouth).
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:23Foul by Ben Gannon-Doak (Bournemouth).
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:20Goal! Bournemouth 0, Brentford 1. Fábio Carvalho (Brentford) left footed shot from the centre of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Kristoffer Ajer with a headed pass following a set piece situation.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:19Foul by Alex Scott (Bournemouth).
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:19Offside, Bournemouth. Eli Kroupi is caught offside.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:19Delay over. They are ready to continue.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:18Delay in match because of an injury Mathias Jensen (Brentford).
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:12Foul by Julio Soler (Bournemouth).
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:12Delay over. They are ready to continue.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:12Delay in match because of an injury Frank Onyeka (Brentford).
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:07Offside, Bournemouth. Ryan Christie is caught offside.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:07Attempt blocked. Julio Soler (Bournemouth) left footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Alex Scott.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:07Attempt missed. Fábio Carvalho (Brentford) left footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right. Assisted by Kristoffer Ajer.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:04Attempt blocked. Eli Kroupi (Bournemouth) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Amine Adli.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:01Offside, Brentford. Kevin Schade is caught offside.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
20:01Corner, Brentford. Conceded by Julián Araujo.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
19:55Antoni Milambo (Brentford) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
19:54Attempt missed. James Hill (Bournemouth) header from the centre of the box misses to the right following a set piece situation.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
19:50Foul by Aaron Hickey (Brentford).
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
19:49Foul by Frank Onyeka (Brentford).
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
19:47Attempt saved. Eli Kroupi (Bournemouth) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Hákon Valdimarsson (Brentford).
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
19:46First Half begins.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
19:15Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
AFC Bournemouth vs Brentford
17:45Follow live football coverage with The Independent today.
We will have all the latest scores, goals and updates plus analysis and reaction throughout the game here. This season we're bringing you live coverage from every match in the Premier League, WSL, Championship, Carabao Cup and FA Cup from the third round onwards - as well as the best from the Champions League and beyond in Europe.
