Carling Cup Results 24th August 2010 Part 1

Blackburn Rovers 3-1 Norwich City
Blackburn are a good side but they are slightly lacking in the goalscorer department. The answer? Sign a striker from a top four team. It worked last season with Chelsea’s Franco di Santo and so far the ploy looks set to reap still more dividends this season. Mame Biram Diouf didn’t even wait thirty minutes before he got onto the scoresheet and he went on to get a hat-trick. Exciting stuff if you’re a Blackburn fam but not so good if you want some Carling Cup giant-killing romance. Norwich did have a go at fighting back but as their goal came in the 90th minute, the referee’s whistle got in the way of any attempts to build on this comeback.
Jason Brown was nowhere to be seen for Blackburn. Mark Bunn played in goal and England star Frankie Fielding was on the bench. This sounds bad but I do kind of hope Jason’s injured. Because if he’s not injured, he’s being ignored.
Andrew Crofts was rested due to a slight knock but Norwich didn’t bring in Owain Tudur Jones or Josh Dawkin.

Bradford City 1-2 Preston North End (after extra time)
League Two Bradford managed to hold Preston to a draw in normal time but Preston got a winner in extra time which is just so unromantic. Although of course it’s Bradford, not Preston who are the former Premier League side.
Michael Flynn didn’t play for Bradford as he’s going to have a groin operation. I’m not sure why as it I heard he had a back injury.
Preston were without Paul Parry. I’m a bit worried about him. He’d just got back into the first team but then he’s missed the last two matches, even though he has appeared in a reserve match. Maybe he needs the reserve matches to help him get up to literal and figurative speed.
Craig Morgan did play for Preston though.

Brentford 2-1 Hull City
Yes, that’s more like it! I do actually like Hull and Brentford are technically a rival London team but this is what the Carling Cup’s all about. At least until Arsenal come into the competition. Hull took the lead in the 8th minute but Brentford got an equaliser fourteen minutes later before finding a late winner.
Nicky Adams was absent from Brentford’s squad. He’s not cup-tied so that’s not why.

Crewe Alexandra 0-1 Ipswich Town (after extra time)
Crewe struggled in their opening league games but a 7-0 victory over Barnet seemed to give them a bit of confidence. Ipswich have been on great form in the Championship this season but League Two Crewe took them to extra time.
Ipswich found a winner in the 101st minute but only though s stunning goal, the kind that more experienced keepers than Rhys Taylor couldn’t have stopped.
Troy Brown played his first ninety minutes – plus another thirty – for Ipswich.

Leeds United 1-2 Leicester City
Leeds led for much of this tie after taking the lead through the supersub that beat poor Millwall at the weekend. But Leicester equalised shortly after the hour mark before winning a penalty in the 89th minute. This penaty was scored – saving them from more penalties half an hour later.
Sanchez Watt came off the bench for Leeds after 72 minutes. I’m sure he was just being rested.
Leicester’s Andy King was also rested but at half-time they realised they just couldn’t do without him. Well I could have told them that. He made a big difference to Leicester’s attack and also playing his part in defence, clearing a Leeds shot off the line.