adminLONDON. — Frank Lampard and Edin Dzeko scored twice as holders Manchester City sailed into the English League Cup fourth round with a crushing 7-0 win over Sheffield Wednesday and Chelsea beat Bolton Wanderers 2-1 on Wednesday.
Manchester City entertain struggling Newcastle United and Premier League leaders Chelsea travel to fourth tier Shrewsbury Town, the lowest-ranked team left in the competition.
Stoke City host in-form Southampton in the other all-Premier League tie and Tottenham Hotspur entertain second tier Brighton & Hove Albion.
Liverpool, who edged past championship (second tier) Middlesbrough in a marathon penalty shoot-out in the last 32, will host Swansea, who are riding high in fifth place in the Premier League.
After struggling to break down their Championship (second tier) opponents in the first half, City produced a blistering spell of four goals in 13 minutes immediately after the break.
Lampard opened the scoring just three days after netting against his former club Chelsea before Dzeko, Jesus Navas, Yaya Toure, Dzeko, Jose Pozo and Lampard completed the rout.
“I really enjoyed that because tonight we saw the team that we were used to seeing last year,” City manager Manuel Pellegrini told reporters.
“We have not been scoring so many goals at home so it is the first game we have returned to the team that everyone saw here last year. It is important to try to retain the trophy but the most important thing tonight was to play like we did.”
Chelsea, top of the Premier League and unbeaten in all competitions this season, had Kurt Zouma’s equaliser cancelled out by Matt Mills before Oscar’s skidding low shot in the 55th minute secured a victory that was more comfortable than the scoreline suggested.
THE DRAW
Tottenham Hotspur v Brighton and Hove Albion (II)
Stoke City v Southampton
Bournemouth (II) v West Bromwich Albion
Shrewsbury Town (IV) v Chelsea
Liverpool v Swansea City
MK Dons (III) v Sheffield United (III)
Manchester City v Newcastle United
Fulham (II) v Derby County (II) — Reuters.
Online Reporter