CAPITAL ONE CUP: ROUND 3 REVIEW

Club News

25th September

An in-depth round up of this week's Capital One Cup action

The midweek Capital One Cup fixture list saw plenty of goals across the 16 matches - the biggest contributor holders Manchester City’s 7-0 thrashing of City's next opponents Sheffield Wednesday.

The defending champions dismantled the visitors in 45 minutes with loanee Frank Lampard opening and closing the scoring in front of an enthralled Etihad crowd.

In a slightly closer contest, nearly 20 minutes of penalties were played at Anfield - a gripping climax to a game in which Boro managed to twice pull themselves back. Mignolet saved the first. Raheem Sterling missed the fifth and the following 20 were dispatched with aplomb, both goalkeepers converting from twelve yards before Albert Adomah put his second penalty wide.

Spurs had to go a goal down to Championship leaders Nottingham Forest before finding their shooting boots to put three past Stuart Pearce’s men in the final 20 minutes to secure a fourth round spot. West Bromwich Albion edged past Hull scoring two in the last four at the Hawthorns - the final score 3-2 - whilst Newcastle overcame Crystal Palace by the same margin after extra time at Selhurst Park.

Chelsea defeated Dougie Freedman’s Bolton 2-1 at Stamford Bridge, Oscar’s low drive giving the home team the edge. Though perhaps Mourinho’s men should have had more with their 28 shots to Wanderers’ three, Stoke emerged victorious by the same score at Sunderland’s Stadium of Light in a rather different fashion. Mark Hughes’ Potters recorded just 40% possession, coming out on top thanks to two goals from an unlikely source – full-back Marc Muniesa.

Swansea displayed a clinical edge that starkly juxtaposed with their visitors' profligacy in a maiden victory versus Everton with three goals without reply at the Liberty Stadium. Meanwhile, Southampton defeated Arsenal 2-1 at the Emirates to record their fifth successive win in all competitions - a relative upset all the more inspiring following the dismantling of the Saints’ spine this summer.

Ronald Koeman’s new-look side were better throughout, Tadic converting from the spot before Clyne’s screamer settled affairs. Summer signing Alexis Sánchez did hit a cultured free-kick to open the game’s scoring though that was it for the Gunners, who are without a number of first-team defenders due to injury. Arsenal fans may find a silver lining in Benik Afobe - on loan to MK Dons – as he scored another two in their 2-0 win over Bradford taking his goal count this campaign to nine goals in 11 games.

Away from the top-tier ties, Reading succumbed a 2-0 defeat to Derby at the IPro Stadium in the all-Championship clash. Brighton defeated League Two outfit Burton Albion 3-0 at Pirelli Stadium, a visit to White Hart Lane their reward whilst Fulham picked up a win against League One’s Doncaster beating Paul Dickov’s side 2-1 at Craven Cottage – they will now host the Rams.

The round’s biggest upset saw Shrewsbury beat a rotated Norwich 1-0 through a James Collins header – the Canaries are two leagues above Town and flying high in the second tier. The goal is Collins’ sixth in nine appearances in the competition, all of which were scored against teams from leagues above! Shrewsbury are the lowest ranked team left in the competition - drawing none other than Chelsea in the fourth round.

Tuesday’s results

Arsenal 1-2 Southampton

Cardiff 0-3 Bournemouth

Derby 2-0 Reading

Leyton Orient 0-1 Sheffield United

Liverpool 2-2 Middlesbrough

(Liverpool win 14-13 on penalties)

MK Dons 2-0 Bradford

Shrewsbury 1-0 Norwich

Sunderland 1-2 Stoke

Swansea 3-0 Everton

Fulham 2-1 Doncaster