Will Lankshear's debut strike ensured Middlesbrough made a winning start to the season as they beat Championship rivals Wrexham 1-0 in the Carabao Cup first round. Leo Castledine headed Jeremy Sarmiento’s cross into Lankshear’s path, and the striker swivelled neatly before hooking a superb first-time volley into the far corner. The 21-year-old joined from Tottenham Hotspur in a deal initially thought to be worth £10 million, as Boro look for more potency in attack to go with their fine approach work.
Lankshear's strike settled a tight match between two sides, who were only separated by two places in the Championship last season. New signing Danny Imray wasted a decent chance for Wrexham when he failed to make a proper connection from Callum Doyle's cross, and the visitors went close again six minutes before the break when Sam Smith fired a low shot into the legs of Sol Brynn after he was rolled into space by Nathan Broadhead. Boro almost doubled their lead with three minutes remaining, but Morgan Whittaker's low strike rebounded off the post.
Former Tottenham striker Will Lankshear is first to be punished by new rule during Middlesbrough’s win over Wrexham. But because he took too long to come off, thanking his applauding fans as he left the pitch, his replacement Fin Cartwright was forced to wait more than 60 seconds before being introduced. It meant Boro had to play with ten men for a short period.
However, the replacement will only be permitted to enter the pitch at the first stoppage after a full minute has elapsed, meaning the team in question is left playing a man short in the interim.