The Accrington Stanley fairytale shows no sign of reaching its conclusion after Paul Mullin’s goal secured the Coca-Cola League Two club’s place in the second round of the Carling Cup at the expense of Nottingham Forest last night. Forest arrived at the tiny Fraser Eagle stadium as heavy favourites. But John Coleman's side showed no sign of an inferiority complex. Mullin signalled Accrington's intent when he flashed a right-foot shot across the face of the Forest goal after just 36 seconds.

Last year’s Nationwide Conference champions were in the second division of the Cheshire League when Forest won the European Cup in 1979. But that history counted for nothing as John Coleman’s team inflicted a humiliating 1-0 defeat on Forest, who have started their League One campaign with four wins out of four.

Accrington striker Paul Mullin - five times the club's leading scorer in the non-leagues before it reclaimed its league status after 44 years this season - saw his 61st-minute effort deflected into the net. Gary Roberts and Romauld Boco had forced Smith into important saves before the goal and Boco was twice denied by the Forest keeper.

Forest, four-time winners of the trophy, came desperately close to an equaliser when substitute Gary Holt let fly from the edge of the penalty area and forced Ian Dunbavin into an excellent save. The visitors went even closer to salvaging their reputation when a Neil Harris header was cleared off the line, the striker pouncing on the rebound only to shoot into the side netting.

Forest, who had made five changes from the team who beat Brighton at the weekend, showed more urgency after the break but when Accrington were eventually pushed back into all-out defence they deserved their good fortune in the closing minutes.