A busy programme of Carling Cup action saw some Premiership managers shuffle their packs and hand some action to their “squad players”. Not surprisingly perhaps, several sides came a cropper with Bolton, West Brom and Hull sent packing.

Bolton made tonight’s events more relevant to fantasy managers by having Gary Cahill sent off for a straight red card offence. He’ll now miss the next three matches, starting with the West Brom game at the weekend. Over sixty thousand fantasy premier league managers, including myself, rang their hands in frustration.

Here’s the notes on tonight’s games…

Bolton were the biggest scalp on the evening, crashing out by a 2-1 scoreline to Northampton. A late goal from Nolan, converting a Davies knock-down, wasn’t enough to save Megson’s side from an early exit.

The Bolton boss promised to put a greater priority on the cups this season have rotated heavily whilst battling relegation last term. He was without Elmander and Taylor through injury but also rested Davies, Nolan and Andy O’Brien to the bench. Riga and Shittu got their home debuts while Gardner, Helguson and McCann made their first starts of the season.

Despite fielding a strong side, Bolton were two down in just under half-an-hour and then lost Gary Cahill to a straight red shortly after. Despite the late rally, they couldn’t haul themselves level. Cahill will now serve a 3 match ban, starting with the home game against West Brom on Saturday. Shittu now looks a certain starter for the next three games against West Brom, Fulham and Arsenal.

West Brom were another of the Premiership victims tonight, losing out to Hartlepool by a 3-1 margin after extra time.

Mowbray made six changes to the Baggies lineup that took the field against Everton. Hoefkens and Cech came into the full-back positions, while Kiely started for Carson in goal. Bednar and Moore got their first starts of the season up front while new signing Valero got his debut in midfield. Zuiverloon, Robinson, Morrison, Kim and Miller all made way then but it was still a very strong West Brom lineup on the night. Robert Koren got an equaliser for Mowbray’s men late on but Hartlepool ran out winners in extra time.

Hull City were the third Premiership side to fall – losing their tie to Championship Swansea after extra time. Phil Brown put out a completely different eleven to the side that drew at Blackburn and, despite taking the lead through a first half Windass strike, found themselves knocked out by a penalty kick in extra time.

Stoke made ten changes for their trip to Cheltenham but faired better – winning the tie 3-2 with goals from Whelan, Cresswell and Parkin.

Newcastle needed extra time and another winner from Owen to see off Chris Coleman’s Coventry. Keegan fielded a strong side, making just three changes, two of which were enforced. Duff and Martins sat out with injuries, while Steven Taylor dropped to the bench. Enrique, Geremi and Bassong came into the eleven. The changes saw N’Zogbia pushed into a wide midfield role and Milner and Gutierrez paired in attack.

Milner provided the pass that deflected in off a Coventry defender to give the Magpies the lead before firing the second himself. The Championship side pulled one back before half time and then levelled in the dying minutes of injury time. Owen then side footed the winner from an Enrique cross just 7 minutes into extra time and Newcastle held on for the win.

Middlesbrough showed no mercy to their league one opponents Yeovil, firing five past them at the Riverside. Southgate made a string of changes with Wheater, Taylor and Jones all picking up knocks at the weekend. Alves, Huth, Downing, Tuncay and O’Neil were also rested to the bench as the Boro boss gave opportunities to new signing Hoyte, along with Grounds, Riggott, Digard, Johnson, Emnes and Mido.

Mido scored his third in three games and Boro’s other goals came from Emnes, Johnson, Aliadiere and Digard.

Wigan also cruised their way through to the next round with a 4-0 win over Notts County. Henri Camera provided the inspiration with two goals and a lively performance, while Zaki chipped in with another goal and two assists.

Steve Bruce made 6 changes to the side that lost to Chelsea. He gave starts to Camera, Montrose, de Ridder, and Kilbane. Nash started in goal with Pollitt benched and Kirkland out injured. Brown also earned a recall in midfield.

Camara got the first from a Figueroa cross to take Wigan into a half time lead. Bruce then brought Zaki off the bench and the Egyptian got in on the act mid-way through the second half with a tap-in from a Kilbane pass. Zaki then turned provider for Camera’s second and the Egyptian then provided the pass for sub Kupisz to round off the win with a fourth goal. Zaki is clearly adapting well to life at the JJB and looks a solid bargain purchase up front as we enter a decent period of Wigan fixtures.