Indeed, Grimsby Town's X account lapped up their cup win over Manchester United, tweeting: "You've just been slapped by the fish."

There were plenty of inflatable fishes on show at Blundell Park among the Mariners' faithful, who famously sing 'we only sing when we're fishing'.

Well, they were signing last night.

Image source, PA Media

Image source, Daily Star

Plenty of fishing puns around after Manchester United were beaten - some might even say battered - by Grimsby Town, aka the Mariners.

'Fish and Drips' reads the unflattering headline in the Daily Star.

The Sun says United goalkeeper Andre Onana was at fault for both Grimsby's goals as the underdogs opened up a 2-0 lead inside 30 minutes, before United salvaged penalties with two goals in the last 15 minutes - and an 89th-minute equaliser from Harry Maguire.

Image source, The Sun

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Chief Football Writer at Blundell Park

There were recent precedents for Manchester United in this competition, with the Red Devils losing to York City in 1995 and MK Dons in 2014. Defeat at Southend in 2006 was similar in terms of the raucous old school stadium where it happened but the Essex side were actually in the Championship at the time.

None of those defeats came from quite such a gloomy place as this one. Ruben Amorim finished with his new-look £200m strikeforce on the pitch and paired Kobbie Mainoo with Bruno Fernandes in the midfield formation many United fans have been pleading for.

The spot-kick drama took away some of the edge of incredulity in the moment. But when the dust settles, major questions will be asked about where United are going.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Mirror

Back to the EFL Cup and today's newspapers. It is no surprise to see they make grim reading for Manchester United fans and manager Ruben Amorim after their loss to Grimsby Town.

The Mirror says the defeat was a humiliating night for the six-time winners.

Under the headline 'Grim Reapers', the Daily Telegraph shows the League Two side's players celebrating after the Premier League giants were beaten 12-11 on penalties

Image source, Telegraph

Rangers

Head coach Russell Martin apologised to Rangers fans after watching his side get thrashed in Belgium.

"It is humiliating, it's really painful," he said. "We had such a tough task tonight and the most hurtful thing is we make it so hard for ourselves.

"Even with 10 men, there was nothing to be proud of," Martin added. "It's probably the toughest night I've had as a head coach/manager."

It was also a disappointing night for another of the British powerhouses as Rangers' Champions League campaign came to an embarrassing end.

Not only were the Scottish giants unable to threaten an unlikely turnaround following their first-leg defeat by Club Brugge, but they were thumped 6-0 in Belgium and had a player sent off.

Image source, PA Media

Grimsby Town

Manager David Artell, who has been in charge of Grimsby since November 2023, called it a "terrific night for the football club, the whole town and the community".

Three years ago the Mariners were not even in the EFL Cup as they sat in the National League.

Artell said: "The lads were terrific. They deserve every plaudit, every credit and accolade that will come their way. It's one we've been working towards for a long time - to put this club back on the map.

"I appreciate it's one night. There's a long way to go, we've just started off the league - we're unbeaten this season - and nights like this don't come around very often."

Image source, PA Media

Simon Stone
BBC Sport Chief Football Writer at Blundell Park

The Grimsby fans eventually left the field but waited in their seats long after the final whistle as the players and manager David Artell came out to conduct post-match interviews following one of the greatest nights in the club's history.

Manchester United manager Ruben Amorim gave the impression of cowering in the dugout as the drama unfolded and one of only two realistic chances of silverware disappeared at the first available opportunity.

He endured the "sacked in the morning" chants from gleeful home fans in the stand behind him during the first half as he watched his side find themselves in an even more embarrassing position than those he experienced last season, during which he described them as 'maybe the worst' in the club's history.

United had never previously lost to a fourth-tier side.

Image source, Getty Images

Manchester United suffered a humiliating EFL Cup exit as they were beaten in a marathon penalty shootout by League Two Grimsby.

It had appeared United had rescued themselves in the nick of time after finding themselves two goals down following a truly awful first-half display, with returning goalkeeper Andre Onana at fault for Grimsby's second.

Charles Vernam and Tyrell Warren got the Mariners goals before United substitute Bryan Mbeumo pulled one back and Harry Maguire equalised in the final minute.

But Matheus Cunha failed to secure victory with United's last spot-kick of the regulation five, and Mbeumo's second penalty hit the bar to hand Grimsby a 12-11 shootout success and trigger a pitch invasion from the jubilant home fans at Blundell Park.

Image source, Reuters

Absolute scenes on the east coast last night as Grimsby pulled off a huge shock in the EFL Cup.

The mighty Manchester United had to come back from 2-0 down to force penalties at Blundell Park.

But the League Two side, who were in the National League just three years ago, would not be denied in an epic shootout.

We're set to bring you all the reaction to last night's EFL Cup drama, plus the Champions League play-offs.

Image source, Reuters

Image source, Reuters

Image source, PA Media