Follow live coverage as Cardiff City face Cheltenham Town 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.
Cardiff City FC 3 - 0 Cheltenham Town FC
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:58Lee Angol (Cheltenham Town) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:52Second Half begins Cardiff City 2, Cheltenham Town 0.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:56Substitution, Cardiff City. Rubin Colwill replaces Isaak Davies.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:53Substitution, Cardiff City. Chris Willock replaces Callum Robinson.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:39First Half ends, Cardiff City 2, Cheltenham Town 0.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:39Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:39Delay in match because of an injury Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City).
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:39Lee Angol (Cheltenham Town) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:36Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:38Fourth official has announced 2 minutes of added time.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:38Dakarai Mafico (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:38Yousef Salech (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:36Yousef Salech (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:37Attempt saved. Lee Angol (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Matthew Turner (Cardiff City). Assisted by Jacob Mazionis.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:37Tanatswa Nyakuhwa (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:37Foul by Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:36Attempt missed. Lee Angol (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from the centre of the box is close, but misses to the right following a set piece situation.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:36Penalty saved. Lee Angol (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot saved in the bottom right corner by Matthew Turner (Cardiff City).
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:36Penalty conceded by Calum Chambers (Cardiff City) after a foul in the penalty area.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:36Foul by Perry Ng (Cardiff City).
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:36Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:36Attempt missed. Arkell Jude-Boyd (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is too high. Assisted by Ryan Broom.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:36Attempt missed. Arkell Jude-Boyd (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Darragh Power.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:36Foul by Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:30Goal! Cardiff City 2, Cheltenham Town 0. Calum Chambers (Cardiff City) header from the left side of the six yard box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Isaak Davies with a cross following a corner.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:29Corner, Cardiff City. Conceded by Darragh Power.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:29Attempt blocked. Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Perry Ng.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:29Callum Robinson (Cardiff City) is shown the yellow card.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:26Foul by Isaak Davies (Cardiff City).
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:24Foul by Yousef Salech (Cardiff City).
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:18Attempt saved. Tanatswa Nyakuhwa (Cardiff City) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Joe Day (Cheltenham Town). Assisted by Callum Robinson.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:16Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:36Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Joel Bagan.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:14Attempt blocked. Arkell Jude-Boyd (Cheltenham Town) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked. Assisted by Harrison Sohna.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:14Offside, Cheltenham Town. Ryan Broom is caught offside.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:10Attempt missed. Isaak Davies (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the left side of the box is high and wide to the right. Assisted by Yousef Salech.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:08Dakarai Mafico (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:08Foul by Tanatswa Nyakuhwa (Cardiff City).
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:08Attempt saved. Yousef Salech (Cardiff City) right footed shot from outside the box is saved in the bottom right corner by Joe Day (Cheltenham Town).
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:07Yousef Salech (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:04Attempt saved. George Harmon (Cheltenham Town) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Matthew Turner (Cardiff City). Assisted by Josh Martin.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:02Foul by Dylan Lawlor (Cardiff City).
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:02Perry Ng (Cardiff City) wins a free kick on the right wing.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
20:00Goal! Cardiff City 1, Cheltenham Town 0. Isaak Davies (Cardiff City) right footed shot from the left side of the box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by Dakarai Mafico following a fast break.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
19:56Corner, Cheltenham Town. Conceded by Joel Bagan.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
19:56Foul by Yousef Salech (Cardiff City).
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
19:56Joel Colwill (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
19:56Foul by Joel Colwill (Cardiff City).
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
19:56Yousef Salech (Cardiff City) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
19:55Attempt missed. Isaak Davies (Cardiff City) header from very close range is close, but misses to the left.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
19:52Yousef Salech (Cardiff City) hits the bar with a right footed shot from very close range. Assisted by Tanatswa Nyakuhwa with a cross.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
19:51Attempt saved. Joel Colwill (Cardiff City) left footed shot from the centre of the box is saved in the centre of the goal by Joe Day (Cheltenham Town). Assisted by Calum Chambers.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
19:46First Half begins.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
19:15Lineups are announced and players are warming up.
Cardiff City vs Cheltenham Town
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.
