Premier League side Wolves needed penalties to beat Swindon after a goalless draw at Molineux.
Prem side need penalties to see off Robins
Premier League outfit Wolves escaped a Carling Cup shock against Swindon by securing victory in a penalty shoot-out.
The two sides played out a goalless draw at Molineux and could not be separated even after they had taken five penalties each.
Sudden death ensued and after Neil Collins had put Wolves 6-5 in front, Gordon Greer saw his penalty cannon back off the post to hand the hosts a passage into the third round.
The victory ensures that Mick McCarthy's side have progressed beyond the second round for the first time in six years.
Swindon wide man Anthony McNamee arguably came the closest the breaking the deadlock when his first-half strike bounced off the top of the crossbar but team-mate Mark Marshall and Wolves striker Sam Vokes also saw tame efforts strike the woodwork.
McCarthy turned to his fringe first-team players for the encounter, naming an entirely new XI from the side that started Saturday's 1-0 defeat to Manchester City.
Changes
Nathaniel Mendez-Laing also made his first start for the club while Swindon boss Danny Wilson made three changes from Saturday's 2-2 draw at Oldham.
Kevin Doyle squandered a great chance to register his first goal in a gold and black shirt after just three minutes.
Sam Vokes latched on to Marcus Hahnemann's long kick, laid the ball off to Doyle, who cleverly turned his man before firing narrowly wide from the edge of the penalty area.
Yet, in front of a half-full Molineux, the game quickly fell into a lull. A curling effort from young academy prospect Mendez-Laing brought the clash back to life, a strike that was heading for the top corner until David Lucas palmed it over the bar.
After a flurry of activity, excitement soon slowed right down again, but the lively Mendez-Laing brought the home crowd to life with a jinking run and tame shot that was easily held by Lucas.
But Swindon soon proved their attacking intent in the 37th minute courtesy of a rare foray into the final third.
Close Call
McNamee picked up the ball in plenty of space down the left-hand side and curled a looping effort that had Hahnemann beaten but bounced off the top of the bar.
Billy Paynter then silenced the home crowd further a minute before the interval when he prodded the ball into the net after Tope Obadeyi had seen his shot come back off a post.
But the assistant referee's flag was soon raised to deny the Robins what would have been a dream end to the first half.
Mark Marshall was introduced for Swindon in the second-half while both Andy Keogh, the only player to have found the net for Wolves this term, and Matt Jarvis were also brought on.
The changes seemed to add an extra attacking impetus to Wolves' play and Neill Collins headed a good chance over from a corner soon after.
There was a slight glimmer of hope as substitute Mark Marshall made space for himself in Wolves' penalty area before harmlessly hitting a post as he looked to cross, while at the other end Vokes also saw a header clip the woodwork although Lucas had the ball well covered.
Keogh, by far Wolves' likeliest chance of breaking the deadlock, lobbed inches over having been put clean through, much to the anguish of the home support.
And a goal never came as a goalless 90 minutes was brought to a close, signalling an extra 30 minutes.
Dave Edwards tested the reliable Lucas with a stinging drive as extra time got under way
and both sides huffed and puffed in the second period but neither managed to find the net to send the tie to penalties.
The first 11 spot-kicks were all scored as both sets of players found the net at will, before Greer blasted against the upright to put Wolves into Saturday's draw for the third round.
