League Cup giant-killings: Who will shock with a Halloween fright night in EFL Cup?

Shock | Bradford, then of League 2, defeated Arsenal on penalties in 2012-13
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Alex Young @alexwsyoung31 October 2018

No one is safe on Halloween, especially when much-changed Premier League sides face lower-level opponents in the League Cup.

There have been a host of giant-killings in the competition's 58-year history, many involving Manchester United and more than one involving Arsenal in the final.

With another selection of tasty ties lined up for All Hallows' Eve, who will join the below list of Spook-tacular cupsets?

Here are a selection of the biggest upsets in League Cup history...

Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

Arsenal 1 Swindon Town 3 (Final, 1968-69)

Arsenal were huge favourites at Wembley, flying high in Division One and looking to make amends for losing in the League Cup final to Leeds the previous season. Swindon, meanwhile, were battling to get out of the Third Division and playing at Wembley for the first time in their history.

The Robins scored first through Roger Smart, completely against the run of play after a mistake between Ian Ure and Bob Wilson. Arsenal battled throughout and were gifted a goal of their own just four minutes from time when Swindon goalkeeper Peter Downborough fumbled the ball to allow Bobby Gould to head home.

Extra time began and it was all Swindon and top scorer Don Rogers scored twice to see out a famous win.

Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

Manchester United 0 York City 3 (Second round, 1995–96)

Another third-tier humbling of an England giant as York City, languishing in Second Division, comfortably beat a Manchester United team who would go on to win both the Premiership and FA Cup at the end of the season.

The Minstermen had lost five on the bounce heading into the second-round tie and facing the likes of promising youngsters Ryan Giggs, David Beckham and Gary Nevile plus experienced heads Dennis Irwin, Bryan McClair and Gary Pallister.

Paul Barnes' deflected effort gave York the lead inside the opening half hour before adding a second from the penalty spot after the break. Tony Barras headed home for a 3-0 lead after just 53 minutes. United won the second leg 3-1, with Scott Jordan's strike secured an aggregate win. York lost to QPR in the next round.

Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

Liverpool 1 Grimsby 2 (Third round, 2001-02)

The first of two Grimsby giant-killings on the list as Liverpool fan Phil Jevons hit a screamer in front of the Kop to knock the Reds out of the League Cup.

Liverpool were the holders of the competition, having also won the FA Cup and UEFA Cup the previous season, and hadn't lost a cup game in any competition for nine months heading into the game. Grimsby were fighting for their lives in the First Division.

A goalless 90 minutes led to a frantic period of extra-time. Gary McAllister broke the deadlock from the penalty spot, only for Marlon Broomes to equalise seven minutes from time. Jevons beat Chris Kirkland from distance for a famous win.

Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

Grimsby 1 Tottenham 0 (Second round, 2005-06)

Fast-forward four years and Grimsby find themselves in the Third Divison - now League Two - after back-to-back relegations but the story is the same: a last-minute winner knocks out a Premiership giant.

Tottenham, managed by Martin Jol, named 10 internationals in their starting line-up, five of which had caps for England to their name, but were unable to break down Russell Slade's side.

Jean-Paul Kamudimba's half-volley from 20 yards in the 89th minute secured another memorable Mariners win, defeating the likes of Jermain Defoe, Robbie Keane, Ledley King, Michael Carrick and Paul Robinson.

Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

Southend 1 Manchester United 0 (Fourth round, 2006-07)

The first of three embarrassing entries for Manchester United, with a few more omitted from the final list, as a stunning free-kick saw Southend reach the quarter-finals.

The Shrimpers were struggling in the Championship and hosted a United team who boasted Cristiano Ronaldo in the starting line-up alongside the likes of Wayne Rooney, Darren Fletcher and Alan Smith.

United were the holders of the League Cup but a 30-yard cracker from Freddy Eastwood and a man-of-the-match display from goalkeeper Darryl Flahavan kept out a team with 10 internationals. Southend lost to Spurs, after extra time, in the quarter-finals.

Photo: Man Utd via Getty Images
Man Utd via Getty Images

Manchester United 0 Coventry City 2 (Third round, 2007-08)

Sticking with Manchester United as less than 12 months on Sir Alex Ferguson hadn't learnt his lesson. United again made wholesale changes - all 11 this time - as Coventry won at Old Trafford.

Striker Michael Mifsud was the hero with two goals, one in each half, bettering the likes of Jonny Evans and Gerard Pique in defence, while summer signing Nani was an aberration up front.

United would go on to retain the Premier League title won the season before and lift the Champions League. Coventry lost at home to West Ham in the next round.

Photo: AFP/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images

Liverpool 2 Northampton 2 (2-4 pens) (Third round, 2010-11)

A giant-killing in the lashing rain as the Kop were silenced by League Two's Northampton Town.

Roy Hodgson made a number of changes - seeing a trend here? - but Milan Jovanovic put Liverpool in the lead after just nine minutes. The hosts missed a number of chances until Billy McKay levelled the scored to force extra time.

Michael Jacobs looked to seal a shock win only for David Ngog to send the game to penalties in front of the Kop. Abdul Osman kept his cool for the decisive penalty after misses from Ngog and Nathan Eccleston. Hodgson did not last much longer at Liverpool.

Photo: AFP/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images

Arsenal 1 Birmingham City 2 (Final, 2010-11)

The same season came a shock on the grandest stage in front of 88,851 people as Birmingham City stunned Arsenal in the final minutes to win their first piece of major silverware for 48 years.

Arsenal had a scare in the semi-finals with a 1-0 first-leg loss to Ipswich and went behind at Wembley through Nikola Zigic. Robin van Persie levelled shortly afterwards, tucking home the rebound after Jack Wilshere hit the crossbar.

The Gunners, on a six-year trophy drought, then lost the match due to a mix-up between Wojciech Szczesny and Laurent Koscielny which allowed Obafemi Martins to tap into an empty net for a famous win. Another finale fail from Arsenal.

Photo: Getty Images
Getty Images

Bradford 1 Arsenal 1 (3-2 pens) (2012-13)

A little over 18 months later and Arsenal were at it again, though this time swapping Wembley for the slightly more modest surroundings of the Coral Windows Stadium against Bradford City.

The League Two side won on penalties after Arsenal captain Thomas Vermaelen missed the crucial spot-kick. Vermaelen had earlier headed home a Santi Cazorla penalty two minutes from time to cancel out Garry Thompson's opener.

Bradford reached the final by claiming another Premier League scalp as Aston Villa were beaten 4-3 on aggregate only for Swansea to put five past them in the final. Arsenal's trophy drought ended the following season with FA Cup.

Photo: AFP/Getty Images
AFP/Getty Images

MK Dons 4 Manchester United 0 (Second round, 2014-15)

The biggest result in MK Dons' 14-year history as Manchester United were humiliated in the second round as new manager Louis van Gaal's reign began with a third game without victory.

Coming on the same day United announced the £60million arrival of Angel Di Maria from Real Madrid, an MK Dons side costing less than £500,000 put four past David de Gea.

Arsenal loanee Benik Afobe and fellow striker Will Grigg both scored a brace as 18-year-old Dele Alli played the full 90 minutes.

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