Watford suffer embarrassing exit

London: Watford suffered an embarrassing League Cup exit as Championship side Bristol City beat the Premier League club 3-2 in the second round on Tuesday. Marco Silva’s side were the only top-flight outfit to perish on a night when clubs showed their disdain for the competition by making 274 team changes across the 19 ties.

Etienne Capoue put Watford ahead from Will Hughes’ 47th-minute cross, only for Freddy Hinds to equalise from 30 yards 12 minutes later. Bobby Reid handed City a shock lead in the 67th minute and Watford were in deeper trouble when Jose Holebas was sent off in the 88th minute for a second bookable offence.

Niclas Eliasson made City’s advantage pay with the killer third in stoppage-time before Adrian Mariappa hit an irrelevant reply for Watford. Frank De Boer got his first win as Crystal Palace manager as James McArthur’s double sealed a 2-1 win over second-tier Ipswich at Selhurst Park. West Bromwich Albion eased to a 3-1 win at fourth-tier Accrington as Salomon Rondon, Matt Phillips and Jay Rodriguez netted for the Premier League side.

Bournemouth came from behind to win 2-1 at second-tier Birmingham, while on-loan Chelsea striker Tammy Abraham hit his first goal for Swansea in a 4-1 win over third-tier Milton Keynes Dons. Leicester and Brighton also made it to the third round. Holders Manchester United, along with Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool, Tottenham and Manchester City will enter the competition in the third round, with the draw to be held in Beijing on Thursday.