Owen goal in stunning City start for Hargreaves

Owen Hargreaves enjoyed a sensational Manchester City debut as he opened the scoring in his side’s Carling Cup triumph over Birmingham at the Etihad Stadium.

Released by Manchester United in the summer after three injury ravaged seasons, the midfielder drove home a superb 25-yard shot after 18 minutes and was deservedly named man of the match.

Mario Balotelli added a second before the break to secure City’s passage into the last 16 and end the holders’ interest in the competition at the third-round stage

Afterwards City boss Roberto Mancini said: “It was good for him. Owen is a fantastic player, who can become a very important player for us.

“He hasn’t had any problems in the last three weeks. At the moment his knee is fine.

“We said before the match we would give him between 45 and 60 minutes. As it turned out, he was OK for 60.”

Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish was pleased to see talismanic captain Steven Gerrard make his comeback in their 2-1 win over Brighton. Craig Bellamy and Dirk Kuyt scored the goals which put Liverpool through, Bellamy’s low strike in the seventh minute his first goal for the club following his return. Ashley Barnes pulled a late goal back for Brighton from the spot after Jamie Carragher fouled Vicente Rodriguez.

Gerrard came on with 15 minutes to go to play in his first game of the season for the Reds after being ruled out for six months with a recurring groin injury, and Dalglish admitted he still did not want to take too may risks with his skipper.

“If it had been four or five goals we’d have maybe given him a bit longer,” Dalglish said.

“We’ll manage Steven as well as we’ve managed everyone else and we’ll look forward to that continuing.

“We’re not going to throw him in and give him too many minutes. It’s fantastic to see him back so don’t let’s spoil it by being irresponsible.”

Everton captain Phil Neville put the disappointment of losing his first-team place behind him to score the goal which put his side into the fourth round.

The 33-year-old had watched the last two matches as an unused substitute, but when recalled for the visit of West Brom the defender was the unlikely match-winner.

Various attacking combinations failed to find a goal after Chris Brunt’s penalty midway through the second half had given the visitors the lead. But Marouane Fellaini gave Everton a lifeline they barely deserved with an 89th-minute volley. And Neville, who has fallen behind Tony Hibbert in the pecking order for right-back, showed his forwards how it should be done with a quality left-foot finish from outside the box in the first half of extra-time.

Chelsea’s penalty shoot-out curse ended in the most dramatic fashion as they survived the sending-off of Alex to beat Fulham.

Pajtim Kasami hit the crossbar with a second-half spot-kick after Alex saw red and Bryan Ruiz did the same in the subsequent shoot-out, with replays inconclusive as to whether the ball crossed the line.

Chelsea’s win improved their miserable record of seven penalty shoot-out defeats in their previous eight and gave manager Andre Villas-Boas another chance to blood his youngsters in the next round.

Paul Quinn scored the decisive spot-kick as Cardiff progressed 7-6 on penalties against Leicester following a 2-2 draw.

Quinn, who had been nursing a groin injury for most of extra-time, slotted home the winner after Gelson Fernandes had missed for the Foxes.

Scotland international Don Cowie opened the scoring for Cardiff with a header, only for Steve Howard to poke home his first goal of the season to equalise.

Lloyd Dyer slammed in Leicester’s second before Rudy Gestede’s first goal for Cardiff forced extra-time. In the shoot-out that followed, Fernandes skied his penalty, allowing Quinn to win the tie with the 14th spot-kick.

Championship leaders Southampton beat League One side Preston 2-1 thanks to goals by Celtic loanee Jos Hooiveld and Adam Lallana.

Hooiveld put the Saints in front with a header from close range before Adam Barton equalised for Preston in the 52nd minute.

Substitute Lallana sealed the win in the 66th minute with a stooped header.