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Chesterfield pile on the agony for hapless Manchester City

League Cup Second Round: Manchester City's miserable start to the season plumbed new depths as Chesterfield dumped them out …

Thu Sept 21 2006 - 01:00

League Cup Second Round: Manchester City's miserable start to the season plumbed new depths as Chesterfield dumped them out of the English League Cup last night with a 2-1 victory at Saltergate.

City were joined by English Premiership rivals Fulham and Middlesbrough in exiting the competition to lower-league opposition as they crashed out at home to Wycombe Wanderers and Notts County respectively.

Greece international Georgios Samaras gave Stuart Pearce's full-strength Manchester City side a 40th-minute lead, following up to score after Bernardo Corradi headed against a post.

But Caleb Folan's 47th-minute header quickly dampened City spirits early in the second half and the visitors' miserable season continued when Derek Niven put the League One side in front courtesy of a long-range volley.

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Fulham, meanwhile, were powerless to overcome a two-goal deficit at Craven Cottage as they lost 2-1 to League Two leaders, Wycombe.

The lively Jermaine Easter opened the scoring in the eight minute with a clinical finish before skipper Tommy Mooney doubled the score from the spot.

Heidar Helguson, who wasted Fulham's best first-half opportunity, gave his side a lifeline with a headed goal early in the second half but that was as good as it got on the night for Chris Coleman's side.

Elsewhere, Martin O'Neill's impressive start as new Aston Villa manager continued as they secured a hard-earned 2-1 victory over Scunthorpe at Glanford Park.

New Aston Villa chairman Randy Lerner watched from the stands as O'Neill's charges survived what appeared to be a tricky assignment against a side with a formidable home record.

Juan Pablo Angel scored the opening goal for the visitors three minutes before half-time, following up his own penalty after Joe Murphy had saved his initial spot-kick. Luke Moore earned the sport-kick after getting hauled down by Richard Hinds.

Angel grabbed his second with an emphatic header from Aaron Hughes' cross, before effervescent Iron striker Billy Sharp pulled a goal back.

Tcham N'Toya's first goal for League Two side Notts County dumped Gareth Southgate's Middlesbrough out in another second-round shock. The 22-year-old capitalised on a mistake by full back Tony McMahon to smash home a 26th-minute winner and leave the bulk of a crowd of just 11,148 less than satisfied.