EFL Cup: Shock exit for Middlesbrough

Luca De La Torre (left) of Fulham vies for the ball with Middlesbrough’s Daniel Ayala in their League Cup second round match at Craven Cottage in London on Wednesday. Fulham won 2-1. (Photo: AP)

Burnley suffered an embarrassing English Football League Cup exit against fourth tier Accrington, while Fulham also claimed a Premier League scalp with their second-round win over Middlesbrough on Wednesday.

Sean Dyche’s Burnley had enjoyed a surprise 2-0 win over Liverpool in the Premier League on Saturday, but they were brought down to earth in a 1-0 loss against their unheralded Lancashire neighbours. Accrington are currently 18th in League Two, but they proved stubborn opposition for Burnley and claimed a memorable victory when Matt Pearson swept home after a goalmouth scramble in the last minute of extra-time at the Wham stadium.

John Coleman’s team weren’t the only giant-killers of the evening as second-tier promotion chasers Fulham advanced to the third round with an impressive 2-1 win against Middlesbrough at Craven Cottage.

David Nugent glanced Middlesbrough into the lead with an eighth-minute header, but an own goal from Belgian midfielder Julien de Sart, deflecting in Scott Malone’s shot, gave Fulham an equaliser in the 54th minute.

Middlesbrough were unbeaten in their first two Premier League matches following last season’s promotion, yet Aitor Karanka’s side bowed out of the cup after Danish midfielder Lasse Vigen Christensen struck with seven minutes left in extra-time.