Carabao Cup: Abraham nets twice as Villa book place in fourth round, super sub Alcaraz saves Everton

Meanwhile, Everton’s forgotten man Charly Alcaraz stepped up when his side needed some inspiration to score the only goal in the Carabao Cup third round win over Wolves just three minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Aston Villa's Tammy Abraham scored a brace to send Villa through. Pic: Nick Potts/PA

Tammy Abraham scored twice on his first start of the season as Aston Villa booked their place in the fourth round of the Carabao Cup with a 3-1 victory over Coventry.

Abraham started over summer signing Nicolas Jackson and cashed in on his chance to pile more early season misery on to Frank Lampard’s side who were beaten for a second time at home in the space of a week.

Both teams have shared early season struggles in front of goal in the Premier League, with Coventry still yet to find the net while Villa only scored once, so few would have been blamed for not expecting goals.

But Villa have saved their best goalscoring form for the cup matches so far this season and Abraham slotted Villa in front before Victor Torp’s sublime free-kick got Coventry level.

Ross Barkley punished the hosts from a corner five minutes before the break to give the visitors the lead heading into the interval.

And set-pieces proved to be the Sky Blues’ downfall as they conceded from a corner for a second time in the contest when Abraham tapped home from John McGinn’s delivery.

The last time these two sides met was back in May 2001 when Villa relegated Coventry, so it made for a tasty atmosphere between clubs who are separated by just 20 miles.

The pair were craving a much-needed win to get their season up and running and it was the visitors who had the livelier of starts.

George Hemmings looked menacing early on and Villa’s opener was all thanks to him after he slipped Abraham through with a delicious outside-of-the-foot pass and the Villa striker was able to comfortably slot beyond Dan Bentley for his first goal of the season.

Coventry aimed to respond and came within inches of getting an equaliser when Torp sent their first effort past Marco Bizot but marginally past the post too.

The hosts ended their goalscoring drought against Premier League sides after Barkley tripped Caleb Yirenkyi up outside the box, Torp stepped up and sent the resulting free-kick past a flat-footed Bizot and into the net.

The momentum swung in favour of the Sky Blues and they ought to have at least tested Bizot when Bobby Thomas opted to pass to Sidiki Cherif instead of shooting while one-on-one.

McGinn uncharacteristically dragged one wide from close range but it mattered very little as Villa hit the front once again.

Barkley’s strike from distance needed to be tipped behind by Bentley but he was not to be denied a second time when he was left unmarked in the box to simply nod home Ibrahim Mbaye’s corner.

Villa capitalised from another corner in the 59th minute, this time McGinn’s low corner bounced to Abraham who was left free inside the six-yard box to tap home his second of the night.

Villa’s new keeper Zion Suzuki, who replaced Bizot at the break, was needed to deny Loum Tchaouna as Villa sealed their passage through to the fourth round.

Everton’s forgotten man Charly Alcaraz stepped up when his side needed some inspiration to score the only goal in the Carabao Cup third round win over Wolves just three minutes after coming on as a substitute.

The Argentinian had played just 14 minutes all season but belied his lack of match sharpness with a quick switch of the ball from one foot to the other to guide a left-footed shot past former Toffees goalkeeper Joao Virginia in the 80th minute.

It also represented a minor success for Tyler Dibling, whose career has not really taken off since his £35million move from Southampton just over a year ago, as he claimed the assist at the end his most encouraging performance for the club.

Alcaraz’s only other Everton goal came 13 months ago in this competition against Mansfield and he has remained a fringe player.

But with squad numbers at an almost critical level, everyone is expected to contribute and the 23-year-old ensured his side avoided the lottery of penalties and a potential upset.

A 57th-minute Rhys Norrington-Davies own goal sent Fleetwood into the last 16 of the Carabao Cup for the first time as the League Two outfit stunned Championship Sheffield United 1-0 at Highbury.

Matt Lawlor’s side, unbeaten now in nine games in all competitions, had another Danny Andrew effort ruled out for offside and twice hit the woodwork in a dominant second-half display.

And it was left-back Andrew’s searching left-wing cross that Norrington-Davies nodded beyond keeper Michael Cooper to give the fourth-tier outfit a historic victory.

Tom Cannon did get the ball in the net for Chris Wilder’s visitors who lined up with only four starting survivors from last Friday’s 1-0 league defeat by Wolves.

But a flag for offside was raised before the striker slid the ball into the net.