Mark Hughes’s honeymoon as Blackburn manager came to an abrupt end on Wednesday when the Premiership side were dumped out of the League Cup by League One strugglers Bournemouth.
Two hours of incredible drama at Ewood Park had ended with the two sides tied at 3-3. But it was to be the Football League minnows who prevailed 7-6 in the penalty shoot-out after Turkey midfielder Tugay blazed Blackburn’s eighth kick over the bar.
It was a thoroughly deserved win by Bournemouth, who had been seconds away from a 2-1 win in regulation time only to be denied by a last-minute equaliser from Norwegian winger Morten-Gamst Pedersen.
Paul Gallagher then thought he had scored Blackburn’s winner, but John Spicer popped up five minutes from the end of the second period of added-on time to force the tie to penalties.
Everton were also forced to penalties but managed to squeeze through to the next round after a 2-2 draw at Bristol City.
David Moyes’s side had appeared to be coasting after a Duncan Ferguson penalty and a Nick Chadwick strike secured a 2-0 lead at half-time.
But an Alan Stubbs own goal gave Bristol City hope and they went on to equalise through Leroy Lita.
Everton should still have killed the tie in regulation time but they were frustrated by City goalkeeper Steve Phillips, who saved a James McFadden penalty and then did even better to keep out the Scot’s header on the rebound.
Nottingham Forest also had to go to extra time, but Gareth Taylor’s second goal of the night was enough to see off Rotheram in the first ground at the City Ground since the death of legendary Forest manager Brian Clough on Monday.
Paul Gascoigne was unable to inspire any giant-killing heroics from his League Two outfit Boston, who went down to a 4-1 defeat at home to Premiership side Fulham.
Tomasz Radzinski notched a double and Steed Malbranque and Brian McBride were also on target for the Londoners. Lee Beevers headed Boston’s consolation strike.
Spurs boss Jacques Santini ignored the protocol that dictates that Premiership sides use this competition to field virtual reserve sides in the early stages.
He was rewarded by the sight of all his main strikers hitting the net in a 6-0 thrashing of Oldham.
Frederic Kanoute, who opened the scoring in the 37th minute, contributed a double while Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe were also on target before a late collapse from Oldham allowed Goran Bunjevcevic and Anthony Gardner to get on the score sheet.
It was a similar story at Northampton, where goals from Kevin Phillips, David Prutton and Neil McCann allowed Southampton to coast into the third round and gave Steve Wigley his first win since taking over as caretaker coach.
Aston Villa survived a testing second half to go through with a 3-1 win over Queens Park Rangers.
Darius Vassell fired Villa in front after 29 minutes and Juan Pablo Angel added a second when he headed home a Nolberto Solano cross.
QPR got themselves back into the game when Kevin McLeod pounced on a mix-up between Olof Mellberg and Thomas Sorensen but Villa held firm and Solano wrapped up the win with a late free-kick.
Coventry overcame 10-man Sheffield on Wednesday 1-0 at Highfield Road after Michael Doyle struck with a curling long-distance effort after 36 minutes.
The Owls had Glenn Whelan sent off two minutes later after a bad foul on Matthew Mills and the home side held on to go through.
Wednesday were watched from the stands by Paul Sturrock, who is expected to take over as manager on Thursday following the weekend sacking of Chris Turner. — Sapa-AFP