The majority of the Premier League sides that entered the EFL Cup at the second-round stage avoided being the victims of upsets as seven of the nine advanced in normal time.
Antonio Conte's Chelsea were made to sweat by League One Bristol Rovers, and brought on Eden Hazard and John Terry from the bench, but went through at Stamford Bridge courtesy of a 3-2 win in which new signing Michy Batshuayi scored twice, while Adama Diomande claimed a double as Hull came from behind to beat Exeter 3-1.
Former England striker Peter Crouch bagged a hat-trick, completing his treble with an acrobatic scissor kick, in his first appearance of the season as Stoke defeated Stevenage 4-0 and his old club Liverpool also progressed courtesy of a 5-0 rout of Burton, with Daniel Sturridge claiming the fourth and fifth goals.
Swansea, winners of this competition in 2013, beat Peterborough 3-1, Crystal Palace were 2-0 winners over Blackpool on a night when £27million signing Christian Benteke played 45 minutes on his debut and Everton recorded a 4-0 triumph over Yeovil at Goodison Park.
Of the non-Premier League clubs who progressed, Norwich did so in the most style with a 6-1 success over Coventry while Brighton's 4-2 victory came on the road at Oxford thanks to three late goals.
Championship clubs Leeds, Nottingham Forest, QPR and Wolves were all victors by one-goal margins over Luton, Millwall, Rochdale and Cambridge respectively, and Newcastle avoided a banana skin against Cheltenham with a 2-0 triumph, the same scoreline which Preston recorded against Oldham.
Source: PA
