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The Carling Cup, also known as the League Cup tournament, held since 1960, features the 4 strongest teams from the country's leagues. In the first stage of the tournament, the weaker teams compete, while in the second stage, some Premier League clubs enter the fray. In the first matches of the second stage held on Tuesday, not all top league clubs performed as well as they wanted or expected.
Perhaps the biggest surprise was "Wigan" team's failure away from home losing 0-2 to the modest "Crewe" team (from the 3rd division - 7th place). "Wigan" head coach Paul Jewell made 5 changes in the starting lineup of his team due to injuries after the match against "Everton".
The best chance for "Wigan" came in the first half when David Wright hit the post and in the 42nd minute Rodney Jack unexpectedly put the hosts ahead. Almost the entire second half, the visitors pressed the "Crewe" players but couldn't equalize the score. Finally, in extra time, "Wigan" received another blow when Nicky Maynard scored in a quick counterattack.
In two matches, extra time and penalty kicks were needed. "Watford" had full control of the game against "Accrington" (from the 4th division - 13th place). The hosts had 20 shots on goal, earned 14 corners, controlled the ball for 57 percent of the time, but the victory was secured only after penalty kicks - 6-5 (the main time and extra time ended 0-0).
It was even harder for the new "Reading" club in the Premier League. They had to come from behind three times against "Darlington" (from the 4th division - 9th place). The hosts scored their third goal when a player from the opponents, David Duke, was sent off by the referee. After the main time and extra time ended 3-3, "Reading" scored penalties more successfully - 4-2.
"Charlton" and "Sheffield United", in their home matches, with modest attendance figures, respectively beat "Carlisle" (from the 3rd division - 6th place) and "Bury" (from the 4th division - 23rd place) with the same modest score of 1-0. In South London, with only 8 thousand fans in the stands, the victory was decided by Darren Bent's goal in the 57th minute. In Sheffield, with only 6 thousand spectators, the match was sealed by a goal celebrating Frenchman Christiano Wade's 22nd birthday.
"Everton" had a tough time away against "Peterborough" (from the 4th division - 10th place), beating them 2-1. At the end of the match, the hosts tried to snatch victory and went on the attack but were punished themselves. "Everton" took the ball at the 87th minute and launched a quick counterattack, where Victor Anichebe's shot was adjusted by Australian Tim Cahill, sealing the victory for the Liverpool team.
The Premier League discovery of this season, "Portsmouth", scored two goals within the first 33 minutes in the away match against "Mansfield Town" (from the 4th division - 16th place), with Manuel Fernandes and Matthew Taylor on the scoresheet, and then defended calmly after giving the opponents the initiative. However, the hosts managed to soften the result in the 81st minute by scoring through Danny Reet - 1-2.
"Bolton" also won 3-1 away against "Walsall" (from the 4th division - 3rd place). However, the scoreline doesn't reflect the fight. Until the very end of the match, the score was tied (1-1), and "Bolton" victory was decided by goals from Iván Campo at 88th and Nicolas Anelka at 92nd minutes.
On Wednesday, four more Premier League clubs will start their matches in the second qualifying round, and in the third round, the strongest English teams will join the tournament.
