McBurnie leaves Posh doubled over
OLLIE McBURNIE’S dream debut shattered Peterborough’s hopes of a giant-killing as 2013 winners Swansea eased to a 3-1 win.
The Scotland Under-21 international bagged a double in the space of three minutes before half-time to finally make the Swans’ dominance count.
Jay Fulton also helped himself to a first goal in Swansea colours, but the Premier League side were guilty of wasting a hatful of chances.
League One Posh were tormented in the early stages by the Usain Bolt-like pace of Ecuadorian winger Jefferson Montero, who went close on two occasions before paving the way for Fulton to break the deadlock with a close-range header.
Swansea’s dominance paid off when McBurnie pounced with two clinical finishes as the Posh defence buckled under intense pressure. Peterborough put up more of a fight after the break and gave their fans something to cheer when substitute Leo Da Silva Lopes fired home a 25-yard rocket.
Rafa Benitez was left to count his walking wounded as a patched-up Newcastle limped through with a 2-0 win over League Two Cheltenham.
Ayoze Perez scored twice with his first goals since March but progress to Wednesday’s draw came at a cost as Newcastle lost Rolando Aarons to a hamstring strain and Aleksandar Mitrovic to a gashed head before half-time.
Grant Hanley limped through the second half with a groin problem and Perez’s first goal came as he pounced on a loose ball to curl in from 18 yards with his first touch after returning from having a head wound bandaged. Cheltenham boss Gary Johnson was incensed he was allowed back on the pitch next to the Town area in the build-up.
Perez doubled the advantage 75 seconds after the restart, rolling the ball into an empty net after an intercepted backpass from Easah Suliman.
That made it three wins in a week for Newcastle, who are set to take their summer spending to £50m with the capture of United States defender DeAndre Yedlin, 23, who arrived on Tyneside last night to finalise a £5m move from Tottenham.
Ross Barkley inspired Everton to a comfortable 4-0 victory over League Two strugglers Yeovil. The England midfielder was involved in a superb passing move that ended with Aaron Lennon tapping in just before the half-hour mark.
He then caught out goalkeeper Artur Krysiak at his near post with a bending, dipping 25-yard free-kick with just over 20 minutes to play.
Substitute Arouna Kone added two late goals, the first after a fine individual run and the second after good work from Tom Cleverley.
Former England striker Peter Crouch bagged a hat-trick as Stoke easily beat League Two Stevenage 4-0.
Sergi Canos scored twice as Norwich thrashed Coventry 6-1.