The Carling Cup second and third round: All the action as it unfolded

By Peter Carline for MailOnline
Updated: 18:06 EST, 24 September 2008

Third round

Aston Villa 0-1 QPR FT

Blackburn 1-0 Everton FT

Ipswich 1-4 Wigan FT

Newcastle 1-2 Tottenham FT

Portsmouth 0-4 Chelsea FT

Second round

Brighton 2-2 Manchester City (AET)

(Brighton win 5-3 on penalties)

Another night of Carling Cup football produced a wonderful result at the Withdean, where Brighton belied their winless home form in League One to beat the millionaires of Manchester City 5-3 on penalties.

Man City took the lead through a deflected Gelson Fernades effort, but when Glenn Murray pulled the Seagulls level with a minute to go, the partisan crowd sensed an upset.

Substitute Joe Anyinsah put Brighton ahead five minutes into extra-time, before Stephen Ireland's strike sent the tie into penalties.

Michael Ball's miss proved costly, and Matt Richards stepped up to put Brighton into the third round, where they will face Derby.

Another upset came at Villa Park, where high-flying Villa Park were beaten by Iain Dowie's QPR, thanks to Damion Stewart's close-range header.

Elsewhere, Tottenham were the night's other big winners, with goals from Roman Pavlyuchenko - the Russian striker's first in English football - and Jamie O'Hara, making Michael Owen's late effort redundant.

Portsmouth leaked their tenth goal in two games, with Chelsea running riot at Fratton Park with a Frank Lampard-inspired 4-0 rout - mirroring the Premier League curtain raiser between the two sides.

Elsewhere, Wigan eventually made light work of Ipswich with a 4-1 win, while Martin Olsson's goal was enough for Blackburn to sneak past Everton.

Flying high: Seagulls players celebrate a famous victory

22.29: Brighton 5-3 Man City. Matt Richards puts Brighton into the third round. The Withdean erupts. Pitch invasions and jubilant scenes on the south coast.

22.28: Brighton 4-3 Man City. Michael Ball has a long run up - never a good sign. It's saved by Kuipers!

22.27: Brighton 4-3 Man City. Adam Virgo puts Brighton ahead.

22.27: Brighton 3-3 Man City. Vincent Kompany coolly converts.

22.26: Brighton 3-2 Man City. Glenn Murray sends Schmeichel the wrong way.

22.25: Brighton 2-2 Man City. Elano levels in calm fashion.

22.24: Brighton 2-1 Man City. Tommy Elphick scores. It's a beauty.

22.24: Brighton 1-1 Man City. Ched Evans equalises.

22.23: Brighton 1-0 Man City. David Livermore steps up for Brighton. And scores.

22.17: Penalties will indeed decide the winner, who go on to face a potential bye in the shape of Derby. A truly memorable performance from Brighton, who have belied their mid-table League One status to take Man City all the way. Will the highest ever crowd at the Withdean see a famous upset?

22.11: It's still all square at the Withdean. It looks increasingly as though either Michael Kuipers or Kasper Schmeichel will be tonight's hero. Two minutes to go.

22.03: GOAL (107 mins). Looks like you can forget that last post. Stephen Ireland pulls City level. What drama.

21.57: Subsititute Anyinsah has transformed Brighton. Mickey Adams' men are as rampant as City are ragged. Cheered on by a partisan crowd, the Seagulls are dominating their more illustrious opponents. It's half-time in extra time.

21.54: Everton crash out of the Carling Cup thanks to a goal from Blackburn's Martin Olsson. The vultures are gathering around several Premier League clubs, the Toffees included.

21.46: GOAL (95 mins). Brighton rock City. Loanee Joe Anyinsah gives Brighton the lead against the richest club in the world.

21.40: It's full time at Fratton Park. Chelsea cruise past Portsmouth, as the whistle blows at St James' Park. Relief for Ramos and Spurs, while Newcastle's strife continues. 

Fog on the Tyne: A distraught Michael Owen and Nicky Butt reflect on defeat

21.39: The first upset of the night comes as Iain Dowie's QPR go into the last 16 at the expense of Aston Villa. Last year, his Coventry side knocked out Manchester United, and he continues his pedigree in the competition with a superb result at Villa Park. 

21.38: GOAL (90 mins). As does Michael Owen at Newcastle. Three minutes to go.

21.37: GOAL (90mins). Henri Camara scores for Wigan.

21.36: Newcastle, meanwhile, have added 5,000 to the attendance, making the crowd some 38,000 below capacity.

21.34: GOAL (89 mins) Glenn Murray scores for Brighton. The 8,000 souls at the Withdean are going berserk.

Glenn Murray (left) pulls Brighton level against a beleaguered looking City

21.32: Owen's strike partner, however, is not short of speed. Martins darts down the left, skipping past Assou-Ekotto, but Corluka makes a saving challenge in the area.

21.28: Michael Owen's declining pace is highlighted as Gomes darts out of his area to cut out a through ball. It's all a bit quiet with eight minutes to go, as Chris Hughton looks bleakly from the sidelines.

21.27: 19,743 hardy souls made the trip to St James' Park. That's some 43,000 below capacity.

21.19: Double substitution at Newcastle. Duff is replaced by Xisco and David Edgar comes on for Claudio Cacapa.

21.14: GOAL (70 mins). Paul Scharner puts Wigan 3-1 up.

21.14: GOAL (64 mins). Kalou gets the goal his performance deserves. That's now ten goals conceded in almost two games for Pompey.

21.14: GOAL (66 mins). Dear, oh dear. Coloccini and Taylor have a terrible mix up on the edge of the area. The Argentine feeds the Englishman, and Taylor dithers, allowing O'Hara to pounce. He duly exploits the calamity and sidefoots past Given.

A gift: O'Hara exploits some calamitous defending to beat Given

21.12: Newcastle have a chance for an instant riposte. But Geremi's 25-yard free kick is deflected by Woodgate. 

21.10: Lennon is rewarded for his creative endeavour by being replaced by Fraizer Campbell. Tough love from Ramos.

21.09: GOAL (62 mins). Spurs take the lead. Lennon's in space on the left, and the little winger fires in a right footed cross into the middle. Pavlyuchenko is a free man on the edge of the six yard box, and the Russian puts Spurs ahead with his first goal in English football. That's far too easy.

Ball watching: Newcastle defenders present Pavlyuchenko (centre) with the easiest of chances to score his first goal in English football

21.09: GOAL(64 mins). Gelson Fernandes breaks the deadlock at the Withdean.

21.07: GOAL (64 mins). Incredible stuff at Portman Road. Olivier Kapo regains the lead for Wigan.

21.06: GOAL (61 mins). Jonathan Walters equalises for Ipswich.

21.05: GOAL (58 mins). Damion Stewart scores for QPR. The centre half leaps highest to beat Brad Guzan with a header from close range. 

Damion Stewart (leaping forward) beats Craig Gardner (right) to put QPR ahead

21.03: And the little Mexican makes a bright start, bursting forward on two occasions to put Newcastle on the back foot. The atmosphere has picked up somewhat as Benoit Assou-Ekotto lets fly from 25 yards. Given collects his low effort at the second attempt.

21.00: Juande Ramos shuffles his deck some seven minutes into the second half. The disappointing Gareth Bale is replaced by Giovani dos Santos.

20.58. GOAL (52 mins). Lee Cattermole puts Wigan a goal to the good at Portman Road.

20.57: GOAL (49 mins). More woe for Pompey, who are leaking goals like a sieve. Lampard gets his second of the night. Kalou gets another assist, supplying the cross for the England midfielder, who finishes from close range. 

Make mine a double: Lampard (centre) gets his second of the night to put Chelsea 3-0 up

20.55: Chance for Newcastle. Charles N'Zogbia breaks down the left like a whippet. His cross is caressed into the path of Damien Duff by Martins, and the Irishman sees his goalbound shot cleared off the line by a sliding Woodgate.

20.53: 'It is eerily silent at a ground that is usually at fever pitch', says Jeff Stelling of St James' Park. Hopefully, the two sides will put on more of a display than the first 45 minutes, but as both have so much to lose, would anyone bet against penalties?

20.34: GOAL (45 mins). Chelsea go two up through the much-lamented Frenchman Florent Malouda after neat interplay with Ivorian Saloman Kalou. That's the eighth goal Pompey have conceded in one-and-a-half games. Harry won't be happy.

20.31: Pavlyuchenko, meanwhile, turns vigilante. The Russian challenges Coloccini for a high ball, connecting with a leading elbow into the bargain. Quite deliberate, and a cynic might say retribution for the earlier challenge. Again, no action from Foy and a bloody nose for the former Deportivo defender.

20.29: Typical Argentinian defending from Coloccini. He scythes through Jamie O'Hara, but referee Chris Foy isn't interested. If ever a game needed a goal, this is it.

20.25: You have to feel for the strikers. Martins and Michael Owen have been darting around, receiving no service whatsoever, while Pavlyuchenko is, shall we say, still coming to terms with the pace of the English game. Aaron Lennon lets fly from the edge of the area with an inventive effort that sails wide of Shay Given's right-hand post. 

20.24: GOAL (36 mins). Chelsea take the lead at Fratton Park through a Frank Lampard - who else? - penalty. Michael Ballack was felled in the area by Algerian Nadir Belhadj, and Lampard coolly converts from 12 yards past David James.

Penalty king: Lampard (centre) celebrates the opening goal with Saloman Kalou (left) and the returning Didier Drogba

20.23: It's Newcastle's turn to put men behind the ball. Gerard Houllier would be proud with the two banks of four from the men in black and white.

20.20: Bassong and Corluka square up after the Croatian assaults the French Under 21 international with a high boot. Yellow card for Corluka.

20.18: Corner to Tottenham. Barely a whimper from the crowd. Pavlyuchenko connects with Jenas' outswinger and nods just wide of the far post. 

20:15: Oh, there's Joey Barton watching his team-mates stuttering from the sidelines. But Mike Ashley isn't standing, pint in hand, next to his drinking partners at St James'. This is absolutely dire. I've seen Cub football matches with less bunching, greater invention and more enthusiastic support.

20.11: GOAL (10 mins). Martin Olsson has netted for Blackburn, who list Robbie Fowler among their starting line-up. The left-back plays a one-two with the former Anfield idol on a forward foray before a clinical finish.

Swede dreams: Blackburn's young player of last year, Martin Olsson (right), celebrates putting Rovers one up at Ewood Park

20.09: Butt picks up a yellow card after a late challenge on Bale.

20.07: Spurs have nine men behind the ball, leaving Pavlyuchenko upfield as they thwart a Newcastle attack. Looks like Ramos has told them to keep the crowd quiet and not to concede in the opening 20 minutes. Or indeed, at all. The first objective won't be hard - I've heard noisier Trappist monks.

20.05: First decent chance and it falls to Spurs. Gareth Bale pings a free kick from the left into the area. Slack defending from Newcastle allows Jonathan Woodgate to break free in the area, but the erstwhile England star fails to connect properly, with his half- volley trickling wide.

20.01: Gomes certainly has recovered, claiming a high ball from Nicky Butt. No flamboyant punches from the giant South American this time - perhaps Juande's had a word.

19.58: 'The Octopus' seems to be floating again. According to Sky, Terry Venables has been spotted in the crowd, fuelling the flames of a 'Cockney mafia' further extending the Omerta at Newcastle.

19.56: Good heavens, it's a flat opening at St James' Park. The two sides are devoid of confidence and belief, and it shows. Geremi floats a free kick into the danger area, Heurelho Gomes collects at the second attempt after colliding with Stephen Taylor. The Brazilian keeper's receiving treatment.

19.53: 'Ron' Geremi fails to provide decent service from the right for Newcastle, following some tentative prodding in the Spurs half. Meanwhile, Pavlyuchenko tries an audacious effort from 20 yards that flies into the upper echelons of the Gallowgate.

19.51: Terrible defending from Newcastle left-back Sebastien Bassong almost gifts Spurs an early opening. It's a lamentable clearance that'll do little to calm the nerves on Tyneside.

19.49: Roman Pavlyuchenko receives a 'welcome to England' challenge from Fabricio Coloccini. If an Argentine can do that. The curly-haired wonder leaps high for a ball, with studs flying into the Russian's torso. 

19.47: Kick off at St James' Park. A meagre crowd greets two meagre teams. 

Enlarge  

Hard times: Punters vote with their feet at crisis club Newcastle

19.45: At Fratton Park, Didier Drogba returns to the Chelsea line up for the first time since the Champions League final in Moscow, while Gareth Barry has been handed the captain's armband at Villa Park.

19.37: Here's all tonight's teams. With Newcastle pairing Michael Owen with Obafemi Martins in attack, Ledley King makes a rare appearance at the heart of Spurs' defence. Both managers have named strong teams, displaying the importance of tonight's clash. 

Aston Villa: Guzan, Gardner, Cuellar, Knight, Shorey, Osbourne, Petrov, Barry, Ashley Young, Harewood, Carew. 

Subs: Friedel, Agbonlahor, Delfouneso, Davies, Salifou, Routledge, Reo-Coker.

QPR: Cerny, Connolly, Hall, Stewart, Delaney, Mahon, Rowlands, Parejo, Ledesma, Buzsaky, Agyemang.

Subs: Camp, Leigertwood, Blackstock, Gorkss, Balanta, Di Carmine, Ephraim.

Blackburn: Robinson, Simpson, Ooijer, Khizanishvili, Olsson, Villanueva, Kerimoglu, Warnock, Treacy, Derbyshire, Fowler.

Subs: Brown, Samba, Nelsen, Roque Santa Cruz, Pedersen, Kane, Roberts.

Everton: Howard, Neville, Yobo, Jagielka, Lescott, Rodwell, Castillo, Fellaini, Vaughan, Saha, Osman.

Subs: Turner, Hibbert, Baines, Cahill, Nuno Valente, Yakubu, Baxter.

Brighton: Kuipers, Whing, El-Abd, Thomson, Richards, Livermore, Murray, Loft, Fraser, Virgo, Elphick.

Subs: Sullivan, Cox, Hart, Robinson, Anyinsah, Wills, Cook.

Man City: Schmeichel, Zabaleta, Dunne, Ben-Haim, Michael Ball,Kompany, Ireland, Johnson, Gelson, Sturridge, Jo.

Subs: Hart, Elano, Garrido, Caicedo, Hamann, Evans, Logan.

Ipswich: Richard Wright, Volz, Bruce, McAuley, Thatcher, Norris, Campo, Miller, Quinn, Walters, Lisbie.

Subs: Supple, Garvan, Peters, Balkestein, Bowditch, Haynes, Shumulikoski.

Wigan: Kirkland, Cattermole, Boyce, Bramble, Kilbane, Valencia, Scharner, Palacios, Kapo, Heskey, Zaki.

Subs: Pollitt, Taylor, Koumas, De Ridder, Camara, Kupisz, Figueroa.

Newcastle: Given, Geremi, Taylor, Coloccini, Bassong, Cacapa, Butt, N'Zogbia, Owen, Duff, Martins.

Subs: Harper, Xisco, Ameobi, Edgar, Tozer, Doninger, Donaldson.

Tottenham: Gomes, Zokora, King, Woodgate, Corluka, Lennon, Jenas, Assou-Ekotto, O'Hara, Bale, Pavlyuchenko.

Subs: Cesar, Bentley, Bent, Gilberto, Modric, Giovani, Campbell.

Portsmouth: James, Johnson, Pamarot, Distin, Hreidarsson, Utaka, Mvuemba, Kaboul, Hughes, Belhadj, Crouch.

Subs: Ashdown, Kanu, Armand Traore, Defoe, Wilson, Djimi Traore, Little.

Chelsea: Cech, Ivanovic, Terry, Alex, Bridge, Belletti, Ballack, Lampard, Kalou, Malouda, Drogba.

Subs: Cudicini, Di Santo, Obi, Sinclair, Ferreira, Mancienne, Stoch.

Crisis clubs Tottenham and Newcastle are citing tonight's Carling Cup clash as a must win game, so there will be red faces and increased pressure whatever the result at St James' Park.

Arguably, Carling Cup holders and Premier League basement side Spurs have more to lose, with the pressure mounting on under-fire Spanish boss Juande Ramos, whose side have flattered to deceive in the Premier League with two draws from five games.

Newcastle caretaker boss Chris Hughton welcomes back striker Obafemi Martins, with reserve keeper Steve Harper claiming the tie will be a welcome distraction from the behind the scenes turmoil at St James' Park.

'You are not affected on the pitch. You go out there and it is still your job to catch the ball or score a goal or whatever,' he said. 

'You can't affect it. You just go out there and do your job. It's not ideal but the situation is what it is and as a group of players, we can't affect that.

'We are professional footballers and we have just got to go out there and do our job and get a result.'  

Still smarting from Sunday's 6-0 humbling at Eastlands, FA Cup holders Portsmouth face a daunting tie against Chelsea in another all Premier League tie.

And with manager Luiz Felipe Scolari claiming the competition is important to him as the Champions League, it could be another night of meagre pickings on the South Coast.

'All the games are important to Chelsea - friendly games, league games, Carling Cup, FA Cup, Champions League,' Scolari said.

'I think differently from the other coaches because I think when the players play, it is not a job.  

'For the game against Portsmouth, from the team we started against Manchester United, I think four or five players start because I need to change, not because they don't want to play, but because I need to make something different with injuries.

'If I had all the players free for this game, I put all the players to play,' the Brazilian added.  

Will Luiz Felipe Scolari's Chelsea put him through a gamut of emotions against Portsmouth?

David Moyes' stuttering Everton travel up the M65 to face Blackburn Rovers, with influential Spanish playmaker Mikel Arteta a doubt for the tie following a virus.

Meanwhile, Steven Reid has joined the Rovers sick list, which already features David Dunn (Achilles), Vince Grella (calf), Benni McCarthy (groin), while Aaron Mokoena is also ill.

In-form Aston Villa host QPR, and while many will see Martin O'Neill's attacking side as outsiders for the tournament, Hoops defender Peter Ramage has fired a statement of intent at the midlanders.

'Aston Villa obviously go into the game as favourites,' he said. 'But we can go there and judge ourselves on how far we've come in the first few months and see where we need to be to compete against the top teams.

'Villa are one of the best in the Premier League and with all this talk about us as promotion contenders, it's a great chance to see how far behind or on track we are.

'Hopefully we can nick a result. They are fighting on a few fronts with Europe so we might catch them on a bad night.'

Championship outfit Ipswich host Wigan, and the final tie of the second round sees the richest club in the world, Manchester City, travel to the Withdean Stadium to face League One Brighton, with the winners set to face Derby.