City’s Brazilians and millions can’t save them from a Carling Cup exit at the hands of Brighton. Villa also exit to Championship Rangers. A Lampard brace sees Chelsea rout a patched-up Portsmouth, while Newcastle decide that they are in a worse state than Spurs and hand them a win at an sparse St James’ Park.
Here’s the notes from last night’s Carling Cup action…
Starting with the fairytale result of the night, with League One Brighton handing a penalty shoot-out defeat to Man City in their second round tie. City can have no excuses – their fielded a side stuffed with first team talent including the likes of Jo, Kompany and Johnson who returned from injury to the midfield. Gelson had given the Premiership side the lead from a Jo assist, before Brighton equalised in the final minutes to take the tie into extra time. Having fallen behind, Ireland continued his run of form by levelling things from a Kasper Schmeichel assist to take the tie to penalties. Michael Ball missed the crucial spot kick that allowed Brighton to take the tie and progress to the third round.
While this was a major shock, Hughes still has a UEFA Cup campaign to fight and will have his sights set on top four place – so his priorities may well have been elsewhere as the season progresses. He rested the likes of Robinho, Wright-Phillips, Elano and Richards for this one and this early exit from the Carling Cup is probably good news for their fantasy owners.
Looking at tonight’s third round ties, Villa were another Premiership side dumped out, losing 1-0 to QPR, despite having plenty of opportunities on the night to take the tie.
O’Neill kept a strong side – Cuellar was once again given a start in central defence, as was Knight alongside him. Davies and Laursen earned a rest then, and Luke Young also sat out with Gardner starting at right back. The midfield was left intact in the main, although Osbourne came in for Reo-Coker on the right. Up front, Harewood partnered Carew, with Agbonlahor benched. Guzan got a Villa debut in goal for Friedal. O’Neill will of course make a number of changes for the weekend fixture with Sunderland, so there was really little to take from this lineup or result.
After a goalless first half, Wigan handed out a thrashing to Championship Ipswich with goals from Cattermole, Kapo, Scharner and Camara. The assists went to Palacios, Zaki, Kilbane and Bramble on the night.
Steve Bruce made a number of changes but kept the nucleus of his first choice side. Cattermole returned from suspension and came into midfield. That meant that Scharner returned to a central defensive role. Kilbane came in at left back as Figueroa and Melchiot were handed rests. Kapo came in on the left of midfield, while Zaki was fit enough to take his place up front with Heskey, despite fears this week of a calf injury. Koumas was dropped to the bench alongside Camara, Taylor and De Ridder.
The role of Scharner is worth watching – his shift to centre back will hopefully see Bramble dropped to the bench. If not, then Boyce could give Bruce options across his back four, which could cause fantasy owners of Figueroa and Melchiot a few problems. Scharner himself, was a decent FPL bonus magnet last season and proved his goal threat again in this one. He’s worth monitoring with Wigan’s fixtures still looking fairly decent.
Things go from bad to worse for Newcastle, who kindly helped beleaguered Spurs to a morale boosting win after some disastrous defending. Pavlyuchenko opened his account with the nights first goal, heading home from a Lennon cross. O’Hara then sealed the tie, converting after he caught Taylor in possession deep in his own half. Owen fired a late consolation for Newcastle.
Both teams started in 4-5-1 formations with Pavlyuchenko up front on his own, supported by a midfield that consisted of O’Hara, Zokora and Jenas with Bale and Lennon out wide. Once again then, there was no starting role for Bentley. King returned at centre back with Corluka moving to right back.
Ramos is set to ring the changes for the trip to Portsmouth – Bentley and Bent are sure to threaten starts, although Ramos may well go with a 4-5-1 which will certainly hand him a selection headache. Right now, I can see Pavlyuchenko rested for that one with Bent recalled.
Newcastle welcomed back Martins to their starting lineup and he started up front with Owen playing just behind him in the deeper role. Cacapa was once again employed in midfield, as was N’Zogbia with Bassong taking the left back spot. Geremi shifted back to right full back. Hughton is unlikely to have further options available to him for the weekend fixture with Blackburn, so we could possibly see an almost unchanged lineup for that one.
An injury ravaged Portsmouth were handed a lesson by Scolari’s Chelsea – shipping four more goals without return. Redknapp was forced to make changes, handing Mvuemba, Hughes, Hreidarsson and Pamarot their first starts of the season. Utaka, Belhadj and Kaboul also started in a makeshift Portsmouth midfield that simply couldn’t cope with a strong Chelsea side. Some dreadful defending, particularly from Distin for the third goal, was in evidence again, as Pompey made it easy for Scolari’s side. Although Harry will be able to bring Campbell and Traore back into the defence for the weekend game with Spurs, it’s almost impossible to back the Pompey rearguard in this kind of form. Defore and Crouch meanwhile, could find their supply limited by the injuries in midfield. The Spurs game already looks like an edgy affair.
For Chelsea, Scolari did make changes, handing starts to Ivanovic and Bridge in the full back positions. Belletti occupied the holding midfield role, while Kalou started in support of Drogba who got his first start of the season having returned from injury. Lampard struck two of the goals – the first from the spot. Malouda and Kalou scored the others. The latter enjoyed a decent game – reminding us and Scolari of his potential with two assists to add to his goal. Kalou is classed as a midfielder in some games – notably the FPL. Ballack and Ivanovic also came away with assists tonight.
Blackburn sneaked a 1-0 win in another all-Premiership tie, as they saw of Everton at Ewood. A tenth minute goal from left back Martin Olsson, set up by Robbie Fowler on his Blackburn debut, won it for Ince’s men. The Rovers boss made a host of changes aside Olsson and Fowler. Khizanishvili, Villanueva, Treacy and Derbyshire all earned starts.
Moyes put out a strong side – making just a few changes to the side that started at Hull. Lescott returned for Baines at left back while Rodwell came in for virus-stricken Arteta. Saha started for Yakubu up front, he was partnered by Vaughan with Cahill rested to the bench.
Injuries and Bans
One major injury to note in this final match – Paul Robinson limped off with a calf injury and was replaced by Jason Brown after just twelve minutes. He is set to undergo a scan today to assess the damage before the trip to Newcastle.