League Cup: Chelsea made to sweat while West Brom knocked out by Bournemouth
Chelsea reached the quarter-finals of the League Cup but had to call for reinforcements to see off fourth tier Shrewsbury Town 2-1 in Wednesday morning's (Oct 29) game.
Shrewsbury kept the game goalless for more than half the match until Didier Drogba finished from close range in the 48th minute for his third goal in as many matches and in three different competitions.
But Shrewsbury refused to be daunted and substitute Andy Mangan equalised just 84 seconds after coming on in the 75th minute before an own goal Jermaine Grandison decided the match.
Nemanja Matic and Willian were promptly summoned from the bench to help quell the uprising and the latter’s superb cross caused panic in the defensive ranks and Grandison turned the ball into his own net to break the hearts of Shrewsbury's supporters.
Shrewsbury Town's Jermaine Grandison reacts after scoring an own goal as Chelsea's Didier Drogba celebrates. Photo: Reuters
West Bromwich Albion were knocked out by in-form Championship side Bournemouth, losing 2-1.
Bournemouth, fresh from their 8-0 thrashing of Birmingham, made 10 changes.
But that didn’t stop the hosts reaching the last eight of the League Cup for the first time in the south coast side’s history.
Eunan O’Kane gave the Cherries a 49th-minute lead and, after Georgios Samaras’s shot deflected in off Tommy Elphick in the 85th-minute, Bournemouth scored the winner barely 60 seconds later when substitute Callum Wilson raced down the other end to score the decisive goal.
The all-Championship tie saw second-tier leaders Derby County come from two goals behind to beat Fulham 5-2 at Craven Cottage.
Moussa Dembele’s first Fulham goals fired the London club into a 2-0 lead shortly before half-time.
But Chris Martin pulled one back from the penalty-spot before the interval for Derby and the Rams stormed to victory after the break thanks to goals from Johnny Russell, Jeff Hendrick and two from Simon Dawkins.
Meanwhile Sheffield United needed two goals in the final four minutes from Michael Higdon to beat fellow third-tier club Milton Keynes Dons 2-1.
Other results: Milton Keynes Dons 1 – Sheffield United 2
Related report: League Cup: Balotelli finally scores to spark late Liverpool comeback against Swansea
Source: AFP, Reuters
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