AMSTERDAM — It was a big Tuesday night for Nottingham Forest forward Robbie Findley, who scored his first goal for the club and then added a successful spot kick as the hosts squeaked past Carling Cup derby rivals Notts County on penalties.
The former Real Salt Lake man nearly opened his Reds account with the score tied 1-1 just before the break, but was a shade offside in bagging a firm header. Ten minutes out of intermission, Findley put his side ahead for the first time by lashing home a textbook Andy Reid cross on the volley.
The visitors rallied to tie and then took a lead in the first extra session, but Wes Morgan dialed long distance at the death to send the match to spot kicks at 3-3. Findley calmly slotted Forest's fourth try of the shootout and they gained passage to the second round when Magpies skipper Neal Bishop fired over on the sixth kick.
Elsewhere in first-round action, Anton Peterlin made his competitive debut for Walsall, contributing 76 physical minutes of relief after his side had been put down to 10 men in a 3-0 loss to visiting Middlesbrough.
Jemal Johnson worked the opening 70 minutes as Southend United crashed out of the Cup at home with a penalties defeat after a 1-1 draw with Leyton Orient.
