The Courier & Advertiser (Perth and Perthshire Edition)
Blues survive cup scare as Reds cruise past Burton
Summer signing Batshuayi hits double for Chelsea as they hold on against Rovers
Chelsea survived a tense second-half to secure passage into the third round of the EFL Cup with a 3-2 victory over Bristol Rovers at Stamford Bridge last night.
A strong Blues line-up numbering five first-team regulars, including Pedro and Nemanja Matic, laboured against their League One opponents despite twice claiming two-goal leads as the £33 million summer signing from Marseille, Michy Batshuayi, scored either side of Victor Moses’s goal.
Peter Hartley and Ellis Harrison, who fired the only goal of the second half, gave Rovers hope of a famous upset and on more than one occasion they threatened an equaliser.
Eden Hazard and Oscar came on to reinforce Chelsea and the visitors eventually ran out of steam having given everything in pursuit of a prized scalp.
Jurgen Klopp took the first step towards guiding Liverpool to another EFL Cup final as the Reds comfortably won 5-0 against Burton.
Klopp took Liverpool to the final last season, losing to Manchester City on penalties, after succeeding Brendan Rodgers two months into the campaign and his team are on the Wembley trail again after negotiating a potentially tricky opening tie at the Pirelli Stadium.
Another giant-killing never looked likely and two quick goals from Divock Origi and Roberto Firmino just before the midway point of the first half pretty much killed the game as a contest.
In the second half, Tom Naylor had the misfortune of scoring an own goal against the club he supported as a boy before substitute Daniel Sturridge netted a late double.
Former England striker Peter Crouch scored a hat-trick as Stoke advanced to the third round by sweeping aside League Two Stevenage 4-0 at the Lamex Stadium.
The frontman notched either side of Scotland international Phil Bardsley’s brilliant 30-yard strike, before adding his third with 20 minutes left to seal a comprehensive victory for Mark Hughes’ outfit.
A double from Ayoze Perez saw Newcastle brush aside Cheltenham Town 2-0 to reach the third round .
Aaron Lennon’s first goal since March, captain for the night Ross Barkley’s second of the season and two late rare strikes from Arouna Kone gave Everton a comfortable 4-0 win at home to Yeovil.
Two Premiership sides crashed out on a night of few shocks.
Northampton extended their clubrecord unbeaten run as they stunned West Brom at Sixfields. The Cobblers, who have not lost since January, knocked out the Baggies 4-3 on penalties following a 2-2 draw.
Watford lost 2-1 at home against League One Gillingham.