Carabao Cup: Bradford City threaten another miracle but Hull City and Middlesbrough fall
Bradford City are the first Yorkshire club through to the fourth round of the Carabao Cup, but there were defeats for Hull City and Middlesbrough on Tuesday night.
The Bantams, surprise League Cup finalists 14 seasons ago when still in League Two, disposed of fellow League One side Leyton Orient 3-1 at Brisbane Road.
Goals from Will Swan, Stephen Humphrys and Nick Powell were more than enough to answer a Macaulay Gillesphey own goal.
The game sparked into life on 39 minutes when Gillesphey sliced the ball past Jon McCracken into his own net, following a cross by Armando Dobra.
Bradford struck back just before the break when Swan was fed through by Humphrys and was able to tuck his effort past Noah Phillips.
The visitors were lucky not to fall behind again on 51 minutes, when an Idris El Mizouni shot came down off the bar and hit McCracken but the ball deflected away from danger.
But they took the lead on 58 minutes when Humphrys curled a header past Phillips following a Kayden Jackson cross.
The visitors looked much more confident, and substitute Powell forced Phillips to turn his low effort around the post on 63 minutes.
Powell headed off the post eight minutes later, while Phillips denied Swan and then Powell after a three-man move four minutes before the end.
However, Bradford netted the third goal their play deserved with three minutes remaining, when a Powell volley finally beat Phillips.
Chemsdine Talbi’s goal was the difference as Sunderland claimed a 1-0 win over Hull in their Carabao Cup third-round clash.
Hull City suffered their first defeat of the season as Chemsdine Talbi’s goal was the difference as Sunderland claimed a 1-0 win in their Carabao Cup third-round clash.
A lacklustre meeting at the Stadium of Light between the two Premier League sides eventually saw Talbi’s chipped finish put the Black Cats ahead 71 minutes in.
His effort was enough to book Sunderland’s spot in the fourth round of the competition, which takes place at the end of October.
Regis Le Bris made 11 changes from the squad who drew with Brentford at the weekend, with Dayann Methalie and Jules Ahoka handed their debuts alongside a full debut for Malick Fofana, who came off the bench against the Bees.
Sergej Jakirovic – whose side have taken seven points from their opening three games on their return to the Premier League – also shuffled his pack with eight switches from their goalless stalemate against Aston Villa, including full debuts for Mohamed-Ali Cho, Sorba Thomas and Robinio Vaz.
Jorgen Strand Larsen struck twice to propel Crystal Palace into the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-0 victory over Championship side Middlesbrough at Selhurst Park.
Strand Larsen nodded home in each half before substitute Daichi Kamada lobbed keeper Sol Brynn for the third as Palace showed their clinical touch in a lively tie that was largely dominated by Boro.
But having named the Championship’s leading scorer Will Lankshear on the bench as both teams made eight changes, they lacked the firepower needed to capitalise on their impressive endeavour in the final third.
Palace, meanwhile, were content to sit back and absorb the persistent waves of attacks before pouncing on the counter when the moment arose – the theme for all three of their goals.
On Wednesday night, Leeds United travel to Premier League rivals Chelsea in the fourth round while Barnsley and Sheffield United are in action next week.