Oct 30,2024
Tom Cannon was on target for Stoke City, however, the Republic of Ireland striker ended up on the losing side as his side lost 3-2 to Southampton in the Carabao Cup.
James Bree struck a late winner as the Premier League strugglers survived a major scare by scraping into the quarter-finals with a thrilling victory over the Championship side.
Goals from Potters pair Ashley Phillips and Cannon threatened to force a penalty shoot-out after Saints blew a two-goal lead following Taylor Harwood-Bellis' header and Adam Armstrong’s spot-kick.
Defender Bree prevented a new low in a miserable season so far for the top-flight’s bottom club by rifling home from range in the 88th minute at a sparsely populated St Mary’s.
Southampton were fortunate to reach that stage still level as only a goal-line clearance from Yukinari Sugawara stopped Stoke substitute Million Manhoef completing the turnaround minutes earlier.
Elsewhere, Mark Flekken was Brentford's hero as the Premier League side needed penalties to see off stubborn Sheffield Wednesday and reach the quarter-finals.
The Bees looked to be cruising into the last eight after taking the lead through Kevin Schade and bossing a one-sided first half.
But Championship Wednesday levelled shortly before the hour with their first effort on target through Djeidi Gassama’s spectacular strike.
Brentford could not find a winner in normal time but Dutch keeper Flekken saved Liam Palmer’s penalty to send the hosts through 5-4 after a 1-1 draw.
Thomas Frank clearly fancies a run in this competition and with at least five Premier League sides to be knocked out on Wednesday night, Brentford could yet better their march to the semi-finals in 2021 and maybe even grab a first piece of major silverware in the club’s history.
