SHEFFIELD WEDNESDAY were another Premiership side who left themselves with a difficult second leg tie after they drew with Oxford at home.
West Ham were also held to a 1-1 draw at Barnet.
Wednesday, who took a first-half lead through Guy Whittingham, were caught out five minutes from time by Oxford's Paul Moody in front of a paltry 7,499 at Hillsborough. West Ham had Tony Coffee, making his first start of the season, to thank for their 77th-minute leveller at Barnet, who had gone ahead through Phil Simpson after 13 minutes.
Wimbledon, who made 10 changes from the side which won 2- 0 at West Ham on Saturday, overcame first division Portsmouth at Selhurst Park with a goal from recalled striker began Holdsworth, who had missed four matches after a dispute with manager Joe Kinnear.
Dutch international Bryan Roy notched his first goal of the campaign as Nottingham Forest defeated Wycombe 1-0 while Southampton overcame another second division outfit - Barry Fry's Peterborough - 2-0 with strikes from Matthew Le Tissier and Gordon Watson Birmingham, whom Fry guided to last season's semi-finals, looked set for victory in their west midlands derby at Coventry before Irish international Liam Daish levelled two minutes from time. Paul Furlong, who began his senior career at Coventry, had put the first division side ahead after 37 minutes - his fourth goal since a Birmingham record £1.5 million move from Chelsea.
Stewart Houston enjoyed a successful start to his managerial career as Queens Park Rangers struck twice in three minutes - through Daniele Dichio and Andrew Impey - to overturn Mark Walters' 63rd-minute opener for first division rivals Swindon at the County Ground.
Stoke beat third division visitors Northampton 1-0 with a goal from Nigel Worthington early in the second half while Bristol City and Bolton drew 0-0 at Ashton Gate.
