For the second season in succession United have gone to the capital to play a team from a higher division in the League Cup (now called the Carling Cup) and come away victorious. Last season it was Charlton, this year it’s Millwall who are on the receiving end after Steve Basham shot fiercly home in the 59th minute to silence the small home crowd.

United started with just one change from the line-up which won at Lincoln on Saturday, Dean Whitehead replacing Julian Alsop, who jarred his back at Sincil Bank. This meant Basham was on his own up front as the lone striker, a tactic that obviously worked as the Us soaked up the Millwall pressure (albeit with a touch of luck as Andy Roberts hit the post in the first half) and looked threatening on the counter-attack. Basham was replaced by player-coach David Oldfield with about five minutes left, having run himself into the ground.

Referee Grant Hegley showed a yellow card to Paul Wanless, but also denied a Millwall shout for what looked a blatant penalty after Andy Crosby was adjudged not to have brought down Neil Harris. The attendance was a tiny 4,781. A match report may well appear online on the Match Reports section tomorrow.

United were one of only two Third Division sides to win away from home in today’s first round matches. Darlington beat Bradford City 5-3 on penalties at Valley Parade, after drawing the main game 0-0. Other Division Three clubs who did make it through to the second round included Scunthorpe, who beat crisis club Oldham 2-1, Doncaster, who beat Grimsby 3-2, and Huddersfield, 2-1 winners over Derby. Northampton beat Norwich 1-0, but United’s opponents on Saturday, Hull City, lost 2-0 at Wigan.

The draw for the second round is live on Sky Sports One on Saturday at 5.30pm.

In other results, in the Conference, Jefferson Louis scored twice in two minutes for Woking, once from the spot, as they beat Gravesend 3-2. Ben Abbey scored one of Gravesend’s goals. Ross Weatherstone scored for Farnborough in their 1-1 home draw with Barnet.