Sport 24-09-2003 Seasiders Knock Out Birmingham who: Birmingham City what: Lose 1-0 to Blackpool on Carling Cup where: BLACKPOOL when: Last night snippet: "Steve Bruce`s Birmingham side suffered the embarrassment of a Carling Cup exit at the home of lowly Blackpool," says The Mirror this morning. "Striker Scott Taylor ensured the Second Division Seasiders pulled off the shock of the round with a sixth-minute winner that ended City`s unbeaten start to the season." "A robust, battling defensive display capped by a superb performance from the goalkeeper Lee Jones underpinned the upset," says The Guardian`sIan Winrow, "and Bruce`s decision to field virtually a full-strength side only added to the scale of Blackpool`s achievement." "For Welshman Jones it was a personal triumph as his season had looked like coming to a premature end with the fans calling for him to be stuck in the reserves," says The Sun`s Neil Custis. "But manager Steve McMahon showed faith in Jones and it has been repaid in full." "City were not the only top-flight side to crash out of the competition, as Fulham were dumped out 1-0 by Wigan with Nathan Ellington grabbing the decisive goal," says The Evening Standard`s website, thisislondon.com. Charlton just scraped through, defeating visiting Luton Town 8-7 on penalties after their tie finished 4-4 after extra time. The other winners in the Carling Cup second round were West Ham United, Wolverhampton Wanderers, Notts County, Aston Villa, Bristol City, West Bromwich Albion, Gillingham, Crystal Palace, Portsmouth, Huddersfield, Notts County, Rotherham, Burnley, Leicester City, Gillingham and Nottingham Forest. [... more]

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