City suffer cup upset
Pearce's mood was not helped by City's cup exit
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Wednesday, 20, Sep 2006 11:29
Manchester City's miserable start to the season continued as they were dumped out of the Carling Cup by Chesterfield.
The League Two side won 2-1 at Saltergate thanks to second half goals from Caleb Folan and Derek Niven.
City manager Stuart Pearce would have been apprehensive before the tie after his side's poor recent form but his nerves would have been eased four minutes before the break as Greek striker Georgios Samaras reacted quickest after Bernardo Corradi's header rebounded off the post to give the visitors the lead.
However, the former England international left-back would have been less than impressed by goalkeeper Nicky Weaver six minutes into the second period as he misjudged Phil Picken's free-kick and Folan headed the ball home at the back post.
Chesterfield then took the lead on 67 minutes as Niven struck a superb right-footed volley after Claudio Reyna had headed clear.
The Premiership side pushed forward late on but could not force an equaliser and it was Chesterfield's fans who were left celebrating in the end.
Last season's giantkillers Doncaster made it through to the third round after an epic encounter with Derby County.
The League One side established a three-goal lead after 57 minutes, thanks to a brace from Jonathan Forte and a Brian Stock strike.
However, the Rams scored three times in the last 16 minutes, through Steve Howard, Darren Moore and an injury-time strike from Arturo Lupoli to force the game to extra-time.
After no goals in the extra 30 minutes, it was 7-7 on penalties before Derby's Lewin Nyatanga missed and James O'Connor slotted home the winning kick for Rovers.