In what is still considered one of the biggest cup shocks ever, Swindon Town shook off their underdog status to beat an Arsenal side in the 1969 League Cup Final.
A reminder of that day, @Official_STFC fans?
📆 15th March, 1969
🏟 Wembley Stadium
⚽️ Swindon Town 3️⃣ – 1️⃣ Arsenal#CarabaoCupFinal 🏆 pic.twitter.com/07jvMgC8Xo— Carabao Cup (@Carabao_Cup) February 23, 2018
The Gunners, who had also lost the previous year’s Final to Leeds United, were expected to come out on top against Third Division outfit Swindon.
Like QPR in 1967, Swindon were two leagues below their opponents, but they took the lead in the first half and looked set to record an upset until Bobby Gould equalised for the Gunners in the 86th minute, sending the Final into extra-time for the first time. Two goals from Don Rogers in extra-time saw Swindon secure their fairytale victory.
A force to be reckoned with
The most successful team in the history of the EFL Trophy, Bristol City lifted the silverware for a record-breaking third time in 2015 when they overcame Walsall 2-0 under the famous arch in the 2015 Final, following on from triumphs back in 1986 and again in 2003.
Aden Flint and Mark Little both made the score-sheet for the Robins who rippled the net either side of the break in front of over 40,000 travelling City supporters. And those fans were in good spirits, with their team 10 points clear at the top of the League One standings.
Bristol City went on to do the double that season, securing the title later down the line to ascend to the Championship.
A worthy winner
At 39, Hull City cult hero Dean Windass proved that age is just a number when he notched the match winner for his hometown team in the 2008 Championship Play-Off Final. The East Yorkshire native volleyed in the only goal of the game as the Tigers edged out Bristol City in a slender 1-0 victory.
For the first time in the Club’s 104-year history, Hull would be a top-flight team courtesy of Windass’ strike from range – one of the most famous in the Tigers’ existence – to steer Phil Brown’s team into the Premier League with a moment of individual brilliance.
And the now 54-year-old went on to take the title of the Club’s oldest goalscorer the following term.
Cruising to victory
Swansea City beat Bradford City – the first fourth tier side to reach the League Cup Final since 1962 – by the largest-ever margin in the competition’s history a decade ago this year. The result bettered Manchester United’s 4-0 victory over Wigan Athletic in 2006.
It marked a first Wembley scalp for the South Wales side, who were 2-0 up and in the driving seat by the interval with goals from Nathan Dyer and Michu, and in the second period, the Swans had the Bantams at their mercy. Dyer added his second while Jonathan de Guzman bagged a brace to complete the rout.
Hat-trick hero
An eight-goal thriller was on the cards when Charlton Athletic locked horns with Sunderland in the 1998 First Division Play-Off Final. The Twin Towers awaited in what was set to be a thrilling conclusion to the Addicks’ campaign and it was a game is regarded in strong contention for one of the competition’s greatest showpieces.
Most notably, Charlton’s Clive Mendonca netted a hat-trick against his boyhood team the Black Cats, becoming the first player to score a treble in a Play-Off Final and the last to do so at the old National Stadium.
After 120 minutes, it came down to a shoot-out which, in turn, went to sudden death, with Charlton eventually winning 7-6 on penalties, and the two teams came face to face at Wembley once again in the 2019 League One Play-Off Final.