Nicholls strike stuns Bluebirds

Alex Nicholls booked Northampton's place in the second round of the Capital One Cup after they came from behind to beat Cardiff 2-1 at Sixfields.

Last season's runners-up fell at the first hurdle this time and can have no complaints after the League Two side overcame the early setback of going behind to the Championship outfit. It took just four minutes for new signing Heidar Helguson to get off the mark on his Cardiff debut. Helguson sent keeper Dean Snedker the wrong way from the penalty spot after defender Kelvin Langmead had been harshly penalised for the former QPR striker. Cobblers responded well and finally got back on level terms in the 37th minute when Ben Tozer's long throw-in found David Artell, whose header beat the diving Joe Lewis and nestled into the bottom corner of the net. And the home side took the lead three minutes after the restart when Lewis failed to deal with an inswinging corner from Ben Harding and Nicholls nipped in to head home at the far post.