FRANK ENJOYS MAGIC NIGHT
WHATEVER Frank Lampard goes on to achieve in his managerial career, the night his Derby County heroes defeated Manchester United at Old Trafford will be a memory he can always treasure.
While most managers, like United boss Jose Mourinho, made wholesale changes, Lampard showed how seriously he was taking the competition by fielding the same team that had defeated Brentford 3-1 at the weekend.
It was a show of faith in them – and it paid rich dividends after the Rams won through 8-7 on penalties after a pulsating 2-2 draw in 90 minutes.
When Juan Mata’s third minute goal gave the Red Devils a 1-0 halftime lead, it looked as though it could be a routine night. But then Liverpool loanee Harry Wilson cracked a stunning, long-range freekick with dip and swerve into the top corner to level things up just before the hour.
And things got worse for United when goalkeeper Sergio Romero was dismissed on 67 minutes for handling outside his area to deny Wilson the chance of a second.
With five minutes left, substitute Jack Marriott chose a brilliant time to score his first Derby goal following his summer move from Peterborough. The goal poacher nodded home after Mason Mount’s effort had been parried by sub keeper Lee Grant.
There was still time for another dramatic twist as sub Marouane Fellaini headed home five minutes into stoppage time to earn the ten men a penalty shoot-out.
Lampard’s men kept their nerve with Mount, Florian Jozefzoon, Wilson, Marriott, Bradley Johnson, Craig Bryson, Craig Forsyth and Richard Keogh all netting their spot-kicks. United were also flawless – until Phil Jones saw his effort saved by Scott Carson down to his left.
Cue wild celebrations among Derby players and supporters – and Lampard was keen to savour the moment after putting one over his former Chelsea boss Mourinho.
The rookie Rams boss, 40, in just his 12th match as a manager, said: “I am trying to build a group to be successful and nights like this are incredible. To go against worldclass players and play that way, it’s right up there.
“To go down early at Old Trafford and play as well as they did was superb. We had the personality to take penalties and play the way we did.”
Derby were one of six EFL clubs to make it through to the last 16 – with near neighbours Nottingham
Forest and Burton Albion among those to join them.
Forest saw off fellow Championship outfit Stoke 3-2 in a City Ground thriller. It looked as though the Reds would coast home when they opened up a three-goal lead in the opening 50 minutes through Ben Osborn, Daryl Murphy and Joe Lolley.
However, the visitors gave themselves a glimmer of hope when sub Benik Afobe, who had only been on the pitch for five minutes, fired home to cut the deficit.
Prospects
The visitors’ prospects improved when Forest’s Diogo Goncalves was sent off with 13 minutes left for a foul on Tom Edwards. Saido Berahino shovelled the ball home with seven minutes left to make it 3-2, but then blotted his copybook by heading wide from close-range in stoppage time when it looked easier to score.
It was virtually déjà vu for Stoke - they trailed Blackburn 3-0 at the weekend before cutting the lead to 3-2 and Berahino missed a stoppage time penalty.
League One Burton produced a brilliant performance to stun Premier League Burnley. The visiting Clarets looked on course to make their higher pedigree count when Kevin Long gave them an interval lead.
However, the Brewers stormed back in the second half to win through. Liam Boyce fired home the equaliser just after the hour mark and then teed up Jamie Allen to net the winner with seven minutes left.
Proud Burton boss Nigel Clough said: “We don’t get the chance to play Premier League opposition very often. We tried to make it a special night and the players did that.
“Getting into the fourth round for the first time puts it into perspective what a small club we are and how far we have come.” One other League One outfit,
Blackpool, progressed. The Seasiders saw off Championship side QPR 2-0 at Bloomfield Road.
Armand Gnanduillet opened the scoring on 28 minutes and the R’s had a mountain to climb when Jordan Cousins was sent off for his second bookable offence on 70 minutes. Jay Spearing shot home at the death to seal the victory and knock out Steve McClaren’s men.
Tony Pulis’ Middlesbrough were forced to dig deep to get past Preston in their all-Championship tie.
Youthful
Hosts Preston twice took the lead, firstly through Callum Robinson and then through Tom Barkhuizen, but a youthful Boro outfit quickly got on terms both times.
Ashley Fletcher notched their first leveller before 19-year-old Marcus Tavernier scored a belter to take the tie to penalties.
Preston’s Robinson and Graham Burke fired over in the shoot-out as Boro triumphed 4-3, Tavernier netting what turned out to the winner.
Jordan Rhodes hit a hat-trick and Tom Trybull was also on the mark as Norwich beat Wycombe 4-3 in an Adams Park thriller. It looked all over as the Canaries led 4-1 early in the second half, but Sam Saunders (pen) and Adebayo Akinfenwa added to Paris Cowan-Hall’s earlier effort to set up an exciting finish.
Six EFL sides bade farewell to the competition after being knocked out by Premier League opposition.
Blackburn were left frustrated after twice coming from behind against Bournemouth before con-
ceding a last-minute winner. Craig Conway and Adam Armstrong (pen) notched for Rovers, but it was all to no avail as Derrick Williams was sent off deep into stoppage time for deliberate handball and Callum Wilson still found time to head the winner.
Oxford United found the might of Manchester City too much to handle as Pep Guardiola’s men eased to a 3-0 victory with goals from Gabriel Jesus, Riyad Mahrez and Phil Foden.
West Brom were beaten by the same score by Crystal Palace, while Millwall succumbed 3-1 at home against Fulham. Tom Elliott headed home for the Lions, while Fulham sub Harvey Elliott – 15 years and 174 days - became the youngest ever player to feature in the League Cup when he came on with nine minutes left.
Alan Judge curled home a superb free-kick as Brentford went down 3-1 at Arsenal, while Macclesfield were crushed 8-0 at West Ham. In all-Premier League ties, Chelsea won 2-1 at Liverpool, Tottenham beat Watford 4-2 on pens after a 2-2 draw and Leicester edged out
Wolves 3-1 on pens after a 0-0 draw. The fourth round draw took place on the ‘EFL on Quest’ show last night, after The FLP went to press.