Reid makes Rovers return

REPUBLIC OF IRELAND midfielder Steven Reid made a return to action last night — playing 75 minutes of Blackburn Rovers’ 1-0 away Carling Cup Third victory over Nottingham Forest before being replaced by Irish team-mate Keith Andrews.

Benni McCarthy’s fortuitous free-kick ensured the win but Reid was counting his blessings after gifting the home side a second-half penalty.

Rovers took the lead eight minutes before the break but the hosts came close to equalising through a free-kick of their own when Earnshaw’s curling effort clipped the bar.

However, in the 72nd minute when Steven Reid mistimed his jump to head clear, the ball struck the Ireland player’s flailing arm, leaving referee Michael Oliver with little choice but to award a penalty.

Blackstock stepped up but his spot-kick was superbly pushed away by Brown, diving to his left.

Andy Griffin’s dramatic winner in stoppage time saw Stoke advance past Blackpool on a 4-3 scoreline.

It was an improbable victory given the Premier League side found themselves 2-0 down inside 47 minutes.

But the introduction of Matthew Etherington and Ricardo Fuller made all the difference with both players find the target in a rousing comeback.

Stoke scored three times in five minutes only for Ben Burgess to level matters. It looked as though the tie was heading for extra time but Griffin’s individual effort broke Blackpool hearts.

Gary Megson’s Bolton edged out West Ham 3-1 after extra-time at the Reebok Stadium.

Herita Ilunga put the Hammers ahead on 59 minutes but Kevin Davies equalised to bring the game to extra-time.

Gary Cahill put Bolton ahead in extra-time and Johan Elmander confirmed the victory on 119 minutes.

Burnley’s brilliant Premier League start counted for nothing against Barnsley as Hugo Colace’s late winner left Owen Coyle’s men on the wrong end of a 3-2 upset.

Colace headed home in the 75th minute to seal victory in an entertaining game at Oakwell in which the Clarets drew first blood through Steven Fletcher only for Jonathan Macken to equalise almost immediately.

Anderson De Silva gave the home side the lead with a super 25-yard strike on the stroke of half-time before Chris Eagles equalised in the 52nd minute, setting up Colace to grab the winner.

Peterborough sent Newcastle crashing out thanks to first-half goals from Craig Mackail-Smith and Tom Williams.

Jordan Henderson and Fraizer Campbell opened their Sunderland accounts as the Black Cats cruised past Birmingham with a 2-0 win.

The 19-year-old midfielder and the £6 million striker had the game sewn up within 23 first-half minutes as a much-changed City side offered little resistance at the Stadium of Light.

Portsmouth recovered from a disastrous start to overcome Carlisle 3-1 and relieve some of the pressure on manager Paul Hart.

His job looked in jeopardy when former Irish international Ian Harte put the League One side a goal up from the penalty spot after two minutes.

But Pompey regained their composure quickly and strikes from Aruna Dindane, Danny Webber and Anthony Vanden Borre sealed a morale-boosting 3-1 victory.

In the other tie, Scunthorpe needed extra time to overcome Port Vale 2-0.