JuicyTalk
Everton and Aston Villa powered into round four of the EFL Cup with wins on Wednesday night.
Everton saw off the challenge of recently relegated Wolves at home thanks to a late goal from Charly Alcaraz with Prime Minister Andy Burnham among the crowd.
And Villa needed two goals from Tammy Abraham to see off Coventry and continue their poor start to the season.
Fleetwood Town, of League Two, soldier on after a fine home win over Sheffield United.
Abraham on song
Abraham issued a timely reminder of his quality to boss Unai Emery with a decisive double for Villa.
Having rejected summer loan moves following Nicolas Jackson’s £65m arrival, Abraham opened the scoring after seven minutes. Though Victor Torp briefly levelled with a sublime 25-yard free-kick, Coventry’s defensive frailties resurfaced. Ross Barkley glanced home an unmarked header before the break, and Abraham sealed progression just before the hour mark by turning in John McGinn’s corner, condemning the struggling Sky Blues to a fifth defeat in six matches.
At the Hill Dickinson Stadium, David Moyes’ Everton were repeatedly thwarted by former Toffees goalkeeper Joao Virginia, who brilliantly denied Thierno Barry. However, the breakthrough arrived in the 80th minute when substitute Alcaraz jinked into the box and slotted home his first goal for the club in 13 months.
The shock of the round came at a wet and windy Highbury Stadium, where Fleetwood made club history when Rhys Norrington-Davies inadvertently headed Danny Andrew’s cross into his own net.
Wednesday’s EFL Cup results
Everton 1-0 Wolves
Fleetwood 1-0 Sheffield United
Coventry 1-3 Aston Villa
