James Vaughan’s bizarre own goal signalled Huddersfield Town’s exit from the Capital One Cup.

The striker who is returning from a calf injury had  been on the field for only 12 minutes when he headed past his own keeper Joe Murphy to give Nottingham Forest the 72nd-minute breakthrough they had threatened all evening.

Henri Lansbury struck 10 minutes later to seal the unbeaten visitors’ second-round success and inflict a first cup-tie defeat as Town caretaker manager on Mark Lillis.

There was no argument with the outcome, but Town once again produced a spirited show to make the Championship leaders work for their win.

Town were without League Cup specialist Nahki Wells, who failed to beat the ankle injury picked up against Charlton on Saturday.

Lee Peltier was also ruled out by his groin problem, but fellow former Forest player Joel Lynch was passed fit after an ankle knock and took the captain’s armband.

Forest made seven changes, but former Town right-back Jack Hunt, on loan from Crystal Palace, beat the cut.

Both sides hit a post inside the opening 10 minutes, Henri Lansbury for Forest and Jon Stead for Town, while Harry Bunn drove a shot  into the side netting. But Forest then took a firm grip of the tie, with keeper Joe Murphy, making his home debut for Town, kept busy for a 15-minute spell.

He had to block at the feet of Dutch frontman Lars Veldwijk, and showed good reflexes to deny Jamie Paterson.

Adam Hammill then cleared off the line from Michail Antonio’s firm header, before the former Sheffield Wednesday winger had a shot pushed wide.

Murphy denied Paterson, who scored twice when Forest won 3-0 at Town in the Championship in February, before Veldwijk shot wide when well placed.

Town had been struggling to trouble the Forest defence, but keeper Karl Darlow had to back-pedal and tip the ball over when Hammill’s shot took a deflection and looped up.

But Forest were soon attacking again, and Town were thankful that striker Veldwijk was struggling to get his shots on target.

Forest started the second half with former Birmingham winger Chris Burke on in place of Antonio, and were soon pushing forward again. Veldwijk sent a low effort from the left across the face of goal before Paterson’s shot from Hunt’s cross was blocked by Tommy Smith.

Town hit back when Paul Dixon teed up Hammill, playing as a wide midfielder, but Darlow was equal to his shot.

Jacob Butterfield then sent in a couple of teasing corners, Forest scrambling to clear.

Frontline favourite Vaughan got a great reception when he replaced Bunn on the hour, while Forest then brought on their own dangerman Britt Assombalonga for Veldwijk.

Vaughan was clearly keen to make an impact, but not in the way he did as he powered a header from Paterson’s cross past a bemused Murphy to give Forest the lead with an own goal.

Lillis made changes in the form of Duane Holmes for Smith and Sean Scannell for Stead, but Forest cemented their place in round three when a ricochet fell to Lansbury, who rolled a low shot past Murphy.