Carabao Cup roundup: Peterborough United trash Watford as Bradford City upset Burnley

The Carabao Cup second round action came to an end on Thursday night as Luton Town put up a valiant effort against Xabi Alonso’s big hitters Chelsea but ultimately came unstuck in a 2-0 defeat.

At the same time, Fulham put three past AFC Wimbledon as this stage of the competition saw limited number of shocks across the board.

However, Bradford City upset Burnley on penalties after shutting the Clarets out for 120 minutes, while Peterborough United produced a five-star performance to see off Watford – with the League One sides both claiming victories over Championship opposition.

Here’s a roundup of the most eye-catching EFL results from the second round, along with the full results and draw for the next stage of the cup.

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Watford 1-5 Peterborough United

Watford boss Alessio Dionisi gambled by making 11 changes – and the move backfired as Peterborough stormed into the third round of the Carabao Cup with a stunning 5-1 victory.

Dionisi, with an eye on Saturday’s home Championship clash with West Ham United, fielded a back four made up entirely of debutants.

That young defence was exposed when the Posh went ahead in the 10th minute with an own goal by centre-back James Clarridge, who turned Bolu Shofowoke’s right-wing cross into the net.

Peterborough, who made six changes themselves, doubled their lead in the 23rd minute.

Martin Payero lost possession in the home half, Vernon Masara fired in a shot from the left which goalkeeper Daniel Bachmann parried, and Harry Leonard pounced to score.

A potential upset turned into humiliation as the Posh scored twice in the first 10 minutes of the second half.

First, Ben Woods split the crumbling home defence with a through-ball to Leonard, who scored right-footed in the 51st minute.

Then Shofuwoke made it 4-0 from close range before Harrison Jones scored the fifth with an angled shot in the 64th minute.

Watford, with five first-teamers on as substitutes, finally scored in the 73rd minute when striker Mamadou Doumbia headed home.

Bradford City 0-0 Burnley (Bradford City win 4-2 on penalties)

Bradford increased Burnley’s uncomfortable start to the season with a 4-2 penalty shoot-out win after their second-round Carabao Cup tie had finished goalless at Valley Parade.

Jon McCracken saved from Jacob Bruun Larsen after Zeki Amdouni had hit the post with the first spot-kick.

Burnley head coach Nicky Hayen had made nine changes from the side beaten at West Bromwich Albion on Sunday and they were on the front foot from the start, forcing the first save as McCracken tipped over a well-struck drive from Connor Roberts.

The midfielder tested McCracken with another shot from 25 yards but it flew straight at the home keeper.

Bradford, who had not conceded a goal in their first three games, defended solidly against the Championship club’s pressure and Reece Welch denied Zeki Amdouni from close range.

Former Burnley midfielder Adam Phillips had Bradford’s first chance but lifted Jake Beesley’s cross over the bar.

The home side asked a lot more questions after the break with Gregoire Coudert saving from Adam Phillips and Josh Laurent clearing Macaulay Gillesphey’s header off the line.

McCracken denied Laurent and Ugo Raghouber volleyed over as the game became more open.

McCracken saved again from Laurent before the League One side won the penalty decider.

Newcastle 3-2 West Bromwich Albion

Isaac Price scored twice but West Bromwich Albion were edged out 3-2 by Newcastle United in an entertaining Carabao Cup second-round tie.

Price opened the scoring with a superb 25-yard free-kick after 20 minutes, finding the bottom corner despite Ewen Jaouen getting a hand to the effort.

Newcastle levelled through debutant Bazoumana Toure in the 38th minute, bundling home from close range after Amar Dedic’s cross caused problems.

The hosts then went ahead shortly after half-time when Harvey Barnes reacted quickest following a scramble in the box to stab home.

West Brom refused to fold and were rewarded with an equaliser in the 77th minute.

Lewis Hall was penalised for handling inside the area and Price calmly dispatched the resulting penalty into the bottom corner.

Newcastle almost restored their lead immediately, with Hall hitting the post and Yoane Wissa firing over.

Barnes eventually proved decisive four minutes later, guiding Dedic’s cross into the bottom corner to send Newcastle through to the third round.

West Brom pushed for another equaliser late on, but Jaouen denied them when he pushed away a dangerous Jayson Molumby free-kick.

Carabao Cup second round results

Tuesday 25 August

• Cardiff City 1-2 Norwich City
• Doncaster Rovers 1-3 Middlesbrough
• Barnsley 3-2 Crewe Alexandra
• Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Sheffield United
• Blackpool 1-4 Lincoln City
• Cambridge United 0-1 Millwall
• Fleetwood Town 4-0 Shrewsbury Town
• Ipswich Town 3-1 Leicester City
• Plymouth Argyle 2-4 Coventry City
• Sheffield Wednesday 0-2 Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Southampton 1-4 West Ham United
• Stevenage 0-3 Reading
• Stoke City 1-1 Hull City (Hull City won 5–4 on penalties)
• Walsall 0-0 Leyton Orient (Leyton Orient won 6–5 on penalties)
• Watford 1-5 Peterborough United
• Birmingham City 1-6 Brentford
• Nottingham Forest 0-2 Leeds United

Wednesday 26 August

• Bradford City 0-0 Burnley (Bradford City won 4–2 on penalties)
• Newcastle United 3-2 West Bromwich Albion
• Tottenham Hotspur 5-1 Charlton Athletic
• Preston North End 0-4 Everton

Thursday 27 August

• Chelsea 2-0 Luton Town
• Fulham 3-0 AFC Wimbledon

The third round draw in full

• Crystal Palace v Middlesbrough
• Manchester City v Norwich City
• Sunderland v Hull City
• Ipswich Town v Arsenal
• Coventry City v Aston Villa
• AFC Bournemouth v Lincoln City
• Liverpool v Tottenham Hotspur
• Chelsea v Leeds United
• Millwall v Newcastle United
• Fleetwood Town v Sheffield United
• Everton v Wolverhampton Wanderers
• Leyton Orient v Bradford City
• Reading v Brentford
• Peterborough United v Barnsley
• West Ham United v Fulham

READ MORE: Carabao Cup third round draw: Millwall to face Newcastle United as EFL sides eye upsets