Sturridge to the rescue as Reds shake off County
The Reds opened the scoring on four minutes through a fine solo effort from Raheem Sterling. Sturridge then made the most of a defence-splitting pass from Steven Gerrard to put the hosts 2-0 up on 29 minutes.
League One outfit County hit back with a headed goal in the 62nd minute from Yoann Arquin. The visitors then stunned Reds fans with an equaliser with six minutes of normal time left through sub Adam Coombes.
County had penalty shouts turned down in extra-time when Enda Stevens went down under the attentions of Sterling in the box, and moments later Sturridge stroked in his second goal of the night and fourth of the season. That strike was in the 105th minute and in the 110th, substitute Jordan Henderson cut through the County defence to wrap up the win for the Reds.
Ian Holloway saw his Barclays Premier League new boys Crystal Palace embarrassed by League One Bristol City in the Capital One Cup at Ashton Gate.
Second-half strikes from Jay Emmanuel-Thomas and Scott Wagstaff sealed a 2-1 victory for the home side, with Owen Garvan grabbing a consolation for Palace in stoppage time.
Sunderland boss Paolo Di Canio avoided a similar upset as the Black Cats hit back from 2-0 down to beat League One Milton Keynes Dons 4-2 at the Stadium of Light.
Goals from Patrick Bamford and Izale McLeod put the visitors in control before Jozy Altidore finally got the home side on the scoresheet with 12 minutes left.
The home side’s dramatic revival soon kicked into gear with Connor Wickham equalising three minutes from time and netting Sunderland’s third in the 89th minute. Adam Johnson completed the comeback deep into injury time.
Ireland’s Robbie Brady was on target in extra-time as Hull City won 1-0 at Leyton Orient. Brady came off the bench and netted little more than a minute after his introduction to secure fortuitous progress for the Tigers.
Ravel Morrison marked his full West Ham debut with his first goal as the Hammers edged past League Two strugglers Cheltenham at Upton Park.
Ricardo Vaz Te’s direct free-kick gave Sam Allardyce’s men the lead three minutes before half-time and then Morrison struck moments into the second half after a precise cross from Stewart Downing.
Cheltenham fought their way back through a Matt Richards penalty on 58 minutes, but the Hammers held on for a 2-1 win.
Sweden international Johan Elmander marked his full Norwich debut with a brace in the Premier League side’s 6-3 win over Bury.
Elmander set up Martin Olsson for a 23rd-minute opener and Ireland’s Anthony Pilkington made it 2-0 on the half-hour before Elmander got on the scoresheet himself seven minutes into the second half.
Bury pulled one back through Anton Forrester before Elmander hit his second and, after a second Bury goal through William Edjenguele, another Canaries new boy, Leroy Fer, made it 4-2 to the hosts.
The scoring continued into injury time with Norwich substitute Steven Whittaker grabbing a sixth for the hosts before Jessy Reindorf hit another consolation for the visitors.
Goals from Steven Davis and Jay Rodriguez sent Southampton on their way to a 5-1 romp at Championship bottom club Barnsley.
Stephen Dawson pulled a goal back before further goals from Emmanuel Mayuka, a Davis penalty and an injury-time effort from Gaston Ramirez.
Three matches went to penalties.
Martin Jol’s Fulham escaped with a penalty shootout victory after a 2-2 draw at Burton Albion. Hugo Rodallega had equalised for the Cottagers in the 117th minute and they won 5-4 on penalties.
Birmingham won 3-2 on penalties after a 3-3 draw with Yeovil. Tranmere beat Bolton 4-2 on penalties after a 1-1 draw at Prenton Park.
