Carling Cup Round Up: Blackburn Cruise and Blackpool Fall

The Carling Cup is a truly fascinating competition.  Beyond the dream day out at Wembley stadium for the fans of teams who make the final, the competition also allows fans to see fringe players and young prospects as managers rotate squads.

In last night’s second round action a mix of veterans and young prospects featured.  World star Edgar Davids made his debut for Crystal Palace, and Premier League veterans Darren Bent and Dietmar Hamann starred for Sunderland and Milton Keynes Dons respectively.

At the other end of the scale, young stars such as Victor Moses of Wigan Athletic, and Scott Sinclair of Swansea City showed why so many view them as up and coming stars.

Premier League

Eight Premier League teams emerged safely from the second round of the Carling Cup, with Blackburn Rovers and Wigan Athletic among the most comfortable wins.  A debut hat trick from Senegal international Mame Biram Diouf helped Blackburn see off Norwich City 3-1, and the Latics put a horrific opening to their Premier League season behind them to win 3-0 at Hartlepool.

Darren Bent spearheaded a 2-0 Sunderland victory with a brace against Colchester, and a largely reserve West Brom side won 2-0 at Leyton Orient.  The other four victorious Premier League sides scraped through courtesy of a one goal margin.

West Ham beat Oxford 1-0 at Upton Park, a game in which the Hammers made the nice gesture of slashing ticket prices to 10 pounds for adults, and five pounds for seniors and children.  A Scott Parker goal sent the crowd home happy.  Bolton Wanderers won 1-0 at Southampton courtesy of an Ivan Klasnic goal.  At the Britannia Stadium, Jon Walters’ first goal for stoke and a Tuncay Sanli strike helped the Potters edge Shrewsbury 2-1.

Wolves were the closest run of the winning Premier League sides, winning 2-1 in extra time against a plucky Southend outfit.  Richard Stearman’s winner in the last minute of extra time broke the hearts of the Shrimpers.

The only Premier League side to topple was Blackpool, who lost a 4-3 extra time thriller to an MK Dons side that included former Liverpool and Manchester City star Dietmar Hamann.  Blackpool made 10 changes from their beating at Arsenal, and Blackpool manager Ian Holloway missed the game on a reported scouting trip of a mystery player.

Championship

Just like the Premier League clubs in the second round, eight Championship teams made it safely through to the third round of the Carling Cup.  Portsmouth, Millwall and Leicester City all emerged unscathed from all-Championship encounters.

Portsmouth triumphed in a penalty shootout against a Crystal Palace team featuring the debut of Dutch star Edgar Davids.  An excellent game from Steve Morison helped guide Millwall past Middlesbrough, and a Steve Howard penalty was the difference as Leicester City beat Leeds United at Elland Road.

The second round also saw comfortable wins for Burnley, Swansea and Scunthorpe.  Burnley beat Morecambe 3-1, Swansea beat Tranmere 3-1, and Scunthorpe beat Sheffield Wednesday 4-2.

Preston North End emerged with a 2-1 extra time victory at Bradford, and a David Norris volley gave Ipswich a 1-0 extra time win at Crewe.

Perhaps the most surprising development among Championship teams, was the fact that Hull City, Reading and Cardiff City were eliminated by Brentford, Northampton and Peterborough respectively.

Lower Leagues

Four teams form League One and struggling Northampton (20th in League Two) also kept their dreams of a deep cup run alive last night.  All four League One teams produced impressive upset wins.

Peterborough produced a 2-1 victory over Cardiff City at London Road.  Jay Bothroyd headed Cardiff into a first half lead, before Craig Mackail-Smith leveled on 74 minutes from a George Boyd assist.  George Boyd snatched a late winner with a 20 yard curling drive in the 88^th minute.

An extra time Lewis Guy winner dumped Premier League Blackpool out, Marcus Bean’s diving header for Brentford eliminated Hull City and Kevin Smith headed a winner to help Notts County past Watford.

Northampton , who were so far without a League One win, snatched a magnificent shootout victory away to Reading, a result they hope will give them the confidence to turn their league form around.

Player of the Night:  Mame Biram Diouf

Upset of the Night:  Milton Keynes Dons 4 – 3 Blackpool (aet)