Loan round up: Browne scores on Oxford debut in EFL Cup

Marcus Browne scores for Oxford United

 

Marcus Browne made a sensational start to his loan spell with Oxford United on Tuesday evening.

The borrowed West Ham United attacking midfielder marked his first professional start by scoring the opening goal as the U’s beat Coventry City 2-0 in the EFL Cup first round.

Browne, who will spend the 2018/19 season at the Kassam Stadium, rose high to power home a header from James Henry’s right-wing cross to put Oxford ahead against their fellow EFL League One side seven minutes before half-time.

Henry provided a pass for Gavin Whyte to put Karl Robinson’s team 2-0 up five minutes after the break and secure their passage to a possible second-round meeting with the Hammers.

Elsewhere, Sam Byram also marked his debut for his loan club with an EFL Cup success.

The right-back started for Aitor Karanka’s Nottingham Forest as the Championship side sneaked past League Two outfit Bury 10-9 on penalties, following a 1-1 draw.

Forest had been reduced to ten men in the first half when goalkeeper Jordan Smith was sent-off, fell behind, then equalised in the third minute of added time to force penalties.

Byram was on target in a marathon shootout, which the Reds eventually edged 10-9 to reach the second round.

Two former Hammers were on target elsewhere, with Ashley Fletcher scoring twice for Middlesbrough in a 3-3 draw with Kevin Nolan’s Notts County, with the Championship side progressing 4-3 on penalties.

Academy of Football graduate George Moncur opened the scoring for Barnsley at Blackpool, only for the Tangerines to bounce back and score a 3-1 victory at Bloomfield Road.

At the weekend, Martin Samuelsen started as VVV-Venlo kicked-off the Dutch Eredivisie season with a 1-0 win at Willem II.