All eyes on Poll as Arsenal progress
Poll will be under the spotlight again
Also In The News
|
A sensational free-kick from Freddy Eastwood dumped Manchester United out of the Carling Cup as the Premiership side lost 1-0 away to Championship strugglers Southend United. |
Wednesday, 08, Nov 2006 10:41
Referee Graham Poll was at the centre of further controversy as he controversially sent off Everton's James McFadden as Arsenal won the League Cup tie 1-0 through Emmanuel Adebayor's late strike.
The incident occurred on 18 minutes when Poll denied Andrew Johnson a penalty and McFadden took his protest too far. This comes hot on the heels of his sending-off of John Terry against Tottenham which left experts baffled and Chelsea players enraged.
On the pitch, last night's game was an end-to-end affair between Everton's ten men and Arsenal's young guns, with both Tim Cahill and Johnson testing the Arsenal goal and Adebayor going close on several occasions for the visitors.
Adebayor did eventually seal the win in the 85th minute meeting Mathieu Flamini's cross with a bullet header.
Elsewhere, Tottenham survived a scare against League One side Port Vale. Despite the dominance of Spurs it was Vale who took the lead through Leon Constantine after the hour mark.
An upset looked on the cards until Tom Huddlestone curled in a free-kick from 25 yards out with ten minutes remaining.
In extra time the Premiership side were able to come through as Huddlestone grabbed a second and Jermaine Defoe scored a third.
Liverpool defeated Birmingham City 1-0 to progress to the next round, but the win cost them an injury to Mohammed Sissoko who damaged his shoulder after he fell awkwardly.
The injury meant that there was seven minutes of added time in the first half and it was during this that Daniel Agger scored the winner for the Reds.
Jermaine Pennant's corner fell to the defender in the six-yard box and he was able to volley past Maik Taylor in the City goal.
Liverpool missed chances to extend their lead in the second half as Craig Bellamy had a penalty saved and missed his kick inside the box with just the keeper to beat.