Handy Hladky sets up trip to Everton for the Ammies
DEBUTANT keeper Vaclav Hladky inspired Salford City to a Carabao Cup upset against Championship Rotherham United, and set up a mouth-watering second round tie against Premier League Everton at Goodison Park.
The new No.1, who reportedly rejected Celtic and Rangers to make the switch from St Mirren, bravely denied Chiedozie Ogbene from close-range and thwarted a strong effort by Jamie Lindsay to keep the visiting Millers at bay in a busy opening period.
Paul Warne’s outfit resumed their dominance beyond the interval with Wes Harding and Ogbene again drawing smart saves from the Czech stopper, while the home side struggled to penetrate a resolute Rotherham defence.
Salford took the lead against the run of play through an Ian Henderson spot-kick after 83 minutes, but their advantage proved short-lived when Matt Crooks nodded home in the sixth minute of stoppage time.
In the ensuing penalty shoot-out, the Ammies despatched all four of their spotkicks while the impressive Hladky – making his debut in English football – denied Joe Mattock from 12 yards to secure his new side their first victory in the competition.
Boss Graham Alexander said: “Even if we’d have been on the wrong end of that shoot-out, the way that the players performed against a strong opponent filled me with confidence for the season ahead.
“We have to train and live our lives with that intensity and work ethic, and we believe we’ve got the characters to do that and instil that in the squad and that’s what we have to do to be successful over a consistent period.”
If Salford beat Everton, they will travel to Fleetwood or Port Vale in round three.