Only three games took place on Wednesday night to conclude the First Round of this season’s Carling Cup with three Championship teams taking on lower league opposition.

After their opening day draw to come from behind at the weekend, Cardiff City eventually eased past League Two Burton Albion at The Cardiff City Stadium but needed extra time to do so.

Shaun Harrad equalised for Albion after Bothroyd opened the scoring for Cardiff and the game entered added time level between the sides. However goals in the extra from Michael Chopra and a brace from Scot Ross McCormack wrapped up a 4-1 win for The Bluebirds.

Sheffield United were the ones to share the spoils with Cardiff on the opening day however they could do nothing to prevent their exit at the hands of Hartlepool at Victoria Park.

The League One side dominated throughout and opened the scoring through James Brown after just six minutes. And the Monkey Hangers doubled their advantage from the spot to win 2-0 through Adam Boyd after Rob Kozluk had bundled over Anthony Sweeney.

United’s only shot on target in the entire game had to wait until its very end when on-loan Arsenal defender Kyle Bartley’s shot at goal was headed away by Andy Monkhouse.

Torquay in the meantime hosted Reading at Plainmoor and took their higher-division visitors right to the end of their game before cruelly succumbing.

A Grzegorz Rasiak scrambled finish after a Brian Howard free kick in stoppage time of extra time was enough to see The Royals through 1-0 and dashing The Seagulls’ hopes of progression.

Full Carling Cup Second Round Draw

Accrington v Newcastle
Portsmouth v Crystal Palace
Leeds v Leicester
Wolverhampton v Southend
Blackburn v Norwich
MK Dons v Blackpool
Tranmere v Swansea
Everton v Huddersfield
Peterborough v Cardiff
Reading v Northampton
Scunthorpe v Sheff Wed
Brentford v Hull
Sunderland v Colchester
Leyton Orient v West Brom
Morecambe v Burnley
Birmingham v Rochdale
Crewe v Ipswich
Watford v Notts County
West Ham v Oxford Utd
Southampton v Bolton
Bradford v Preston
Fulham v Port Vale
Millwall v Middlesbrough
Stoke v Shrewsbury
Hartlepool v Wigan

Jon Osterland