Carling Cup Results 22nd September 2010

Aston Villa 3-1 Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn gave Villa – and their new manager Gerard Houllier – an uncomfortable time in the first half but Houllier must know how to deliver a decent half-time talk as Villa bounced back with three goals in eighteen minutes. Including one from none other than Emile Heskey.
James Collins was completely rested for this match – he wasn’t even on the Villa bench.

Liverpool 2-2 Northampton Town aet, 2-4 on penalties
It was amazing enough that Northampton even took Liverpool to extra time. Liverpool most certainly haven’t been at their best this season – although neither have Northampton - but Northampton aren’t exactly a Premier League side. They’re in League Two.
Northampton took the lead in extra time and came so close to winning it then and there. David Ngog, however, equalised for Liverpool but he was rather less composed when the penalty shoot-out came along – so it didn’t matter that Northampton’s Steve Guinan had sent Northampton’s first spot-kick over the bar. A second Liverpool penalty miss (Nathan Eccleston) gave Abdul Osman the chance to put Northampton into the fourth round. At the expense of Liverpool.
I hope no-one would have blamed him if the occasion had proved too much for his nerves although the scathing reaction from the commentators to the other penalty misses – have you ever scored a penalty against a Premier League keeper? Well, have you? – suggests this might not be the case. But Abdul Osman held his nerve – and whatever happens in the next round, it won’t only be the Northampton fans who are delighted with this result.
Paul Walker was on the bench for Northampton. I’d love to see him play in a competitive fixture but maybe this isn’t the ideal debut for an 18 year old goalkeeper. Although that’s not to say they wouldn’t have won if he had played.
Liverpool have won the League Cup (in its various forms) more times than any other club. But they won’t be winning it this year. Congratulations, Northampton.

Scunthorpe United 2-5 Manchester United
If Michael Owen is one of your second-choice strikers, the last thing you have is a weak squad and Manchester United proved they did not have one.
And Michael proved he still knows where the goal is with two goals against Scunthorpe.
I know it’s only Scunthorpe but they are better than Northampton Town.
Ryan Giggs was one of a number of rested players.

West Bromwich Albion 2-1 Manchester City
This is, of course, not a giant killing. But with Manchester City in possession of as many star players as the rest of the Premier League put together (well, it seems that way sometimes) and West Brom expected by most to go straight back down again, this still counts as a shock result.
Manchester City took the lead in the 19th minute but West Brom’s two goals in three minutes finished them off. And when they did come close to an equaliser, West Brom keeper Boaz Myhill was right there to stop him.

Wigan Athletic 2-1 Preston North End
Preston are making a habit of this. But at least it wasn’t so bad when it was Premier League side Wigan. Preston were still 1-0 up in the 88th minute but then Wigan found an equaliser, followed by a 92nd-minute winner.
Craig Morgan and Paul Parry were both on the bench for Preston but Paul made a substitute appearance.