Heroics by Gerken & Co humiliate Prem stars
MAURICIO POCHETTINO saw Tottenham dumped out of the Carabao Cup as Colchester pulled off a famous giant-killing.
League Two Colchester won on penalties as Tom Lapslie’s spot kick – after keeper Dean Gerken had saved Christian Eriksen’s effort and Lucas Moura fired over – sparked wild celebrations.
It means Spurs boss Pochettino saw another chance of elusive silverware disappear on a night of great cup drama.
Even more worrying for Pochettino, Spurs created very little in 90 minutes and then suffered a nightmare as their disastrous away record continued.
They have not won on their travels since the Champions League semi-final at Ajax in May.
Colchester put up an incredible fight as the minnows bravely took it to a shoot-out.
Lapslie will grab the headlines by scoring the all-important winning penalty which he struck with no fear.
Erik Lamela, Dele Alli and Heung-min Son were on target for Spurs while Luke Norris, Frank Nouble, Paris Cowan-Hall scored for Colchester. Jevani Brown’s Panenka-style penalty was easily saved but still Spurs could not grasp the lifeline.
Pochettino had rang the changes with only keeper Paulo Gazzaniga surviving from Saturday’s defeat at Leicester –but it was still a strong
FORGOTTEN man Danny Welbeck scored his first goal for 11 months to help Watford survive a scare.
Welbeck, making only his second start of the season after battling back from two operations on a badly broken ankle, put the Hornets in front in the 28th minute.
But Sam Surridge equalised for Swansea with his fourth goal in nine games and it took a late winner from Roberto Pereyra to finally secure a starting XI containing six full internationals alongside the youngsters, with Troy Parrott and Japhet Tanganga both making their full debuts.
Tottenham started in complete command as they pinned Colchester back but struggled to create clear-cut chances, with Alli’s low shot which went wide and a free-kick by Lucas Moura beaten away by Gerken the closest they came to breaking the deadlock.
But as the game wore on, Colchester grew in confidence. Courtney Senior made good runs forward and the home side flew into tackles.
Tottenham started the second half with more purpose and the away end were screaming in vain for penalty appeals as first Lucas and then Alli went down in the box – but referee Jarred Gillett was not interested.
Right wing-back Kyle WalkerPeters saw a cross beat the defence but crash against the post.
Finally Pochettino threw on the big guns as Son and Eriksen replaced Parrott and Tanganga.
Immediately, South Korea star Son injected some pace and directness into their attacks but a goal just wouldn]t come.
WATFORD SWANSEA
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first win since his return for Quique Sanchez Flores.
Former Arsenal striker Welbeck opened the scoring with a powerful header which took a slight deflection on its way in.
But the lead did not last long with Surridge levelling from a Connor Roberts cross just six minutes later.
The winning goal came when Gerard Deulofeu crossed for Pereyra to net.
JAMES JUSTIN scored on his Leicester debut and was immediately given a round of applause by his former fans.
Justin added the second for the Foxes a minute before half-time after Demarai Gray (inset) had put them ahead.
But Luton’s followers showed their appreciation for their former hero James – one of the stars of last LUTON LEICESTER
season’s promotion to the Championship – and sang, “James Justin, he’s one of our own.”
This was an easy night for Leicester boss Brendan Rodgers and he saw his side score their third on 79 minutes as Youri Tielemans netted. Kelechi Iheanacho added a fourth late on.