Carling Cup Round-Up

United and Villa go out as Chelsea, Spurs, Blackburn, Everton, Bolton & West Ham progress

By Graeme Bailey   Last updated: 26th September 2007   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Carling Cup Round-Up

Mifsud: Coventry hero

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Manchester United and Aston Villa were both dumped out of the Carling Cup on Wednesday evening after suffering shock home defeats to Championship sides.

United were put to the sword by Coventry at Old Trafford, while Villa were shocked by Midlands rivals Leicester City at Villa Park.

Coventry fully deserved their victory as they matched the Red Devils, who made 11 changes for the match, but Sir Alex Ferguson will still be disappointed to have seen his side succumb to two Michael Mifsud goals.

The Maltese striker was a constant thorn in the side of United's makeshift defence and he fired Coventry ahead midway through the first half when he slid home after an excellent cross from Michael Doyle.

The second goal clinched victory for the visitors and it was a sublime finish from Mifsud as the ball fell to him just inside the box and he fired into the far corner - leaving Tomasz Kuszczak helpless and sending the 11,000 visiting fans into raptures.

Likewise, Villa bowed out to opposition from the division below. The only goal of the game in the Second City arrived just 14 minutes from time.

The ball came for Matty Fryatt and he finished with a neat left footed strike across Stuart Taylor.

Holders Chelsea made easy work of booking their place in the last 16 with a 4-0 victory at Hull.

The Championship side held their own in the opening half hour, but Avram Grant's men proved just too strong in the second period.

The Blues went ahead shorty before half time. Shaun Wright-Phillips created when he burst down the right and pulled the ball back for Scott Sinclair, who slotted the ball into the corner in clinical fashion.

Damien Delaney then headed past his own keeper under pressure from Salomon Kalou, after good work down the right from Claudio Pizarro.

Steve Sidwell added the third with his first goal for Chelsea before Kalou slammed home a Joe Cole cross to seal victory.

Everton avoided an upset as they sealed a comfortable 3-0 win at Sheffield Wednesday.

Scotland hero James McFadden opened the scoring on the hour as he tapped in from close range after he was played in by Yakubu.

McFadden added a second not long after when he headed home after a nice cross from Phil Neville. Yakubu wrapped up the win with five minutes left.

Blackburn eased past Premier League rivals Birmingham with a 3-0 victory at Ewood Park.

The opener came on 66 minutes and it was a spectacular strike from England's David Bentley as he rifled the ball home from 30 yards.

Matt Derbyshire added a second from the penalty spot and Roque Santa Cruz scored a third in injury time to seal the win.

Tottenham left it late at White Hart Lane before sealing a 2-0 victory over Middlesbrough.

Boro defended resolutely but were undone by Gareth Bale on 71 minutes as he sprung the offside trap before rounding Brad Jones and slotting home.

The second came just moments later when Tom Huddlestone headed home after good work from Aaron Lennon down the right.

Plymouth hearts were broken at Upton Park as West Ham grabbed a last-minute winner to seal a 1-0 win.

With the game heading for extra time, in-form Dean Ashton was on hand to fire home a superb volley.

The only game to head to extra time was at Craven Cottage as Bolton sealed victory over Fulham.

Danny Guthrie had curled Bolton ahead, only for David Healy to come off the bench and level matters to send the game into added time.

The winner came after 112 minutes when Stelios Giannakopoulos pounced to give manager Sammy Lee a huge boost.