City's season sinks to a new low

Carling Cup round-up:  Manchester City's miserable start to the season plumbed new depths as Chesterfield dumped them out of the competition with a 2-1 victory at Saltergate.

City were joined by Premiership rivals Fulham and Middlesbrough in exiting the competition after defeat by lower-league opposition tonight.

Greece international Georgios Samaras gave Stuart Pearce's full-strength side a 40th-minute lead, following up after Bernardo Corradi headed against a post.

But Caleb Folan's 47th-minute header quickly dampened City spirits early in the second half and the visitors' miserable season continued when Derek Niven put the League One side in front courtesy of a long-range volley.

Hapless Fulham were powerless to overcome a two-goal deficit at Craven Cottage as they lost 2-1 to Coca-Cola League Two leaders Wycombe.

The lively Jermaine Easter opened the scoring in the eight minute with a clinical finish before skipper Tommy Mooney doubled the score from the spot.

Heidar Helguson, who wasted Fulham's best first-half opportunity, gave his side a lifetime with a headed goal early in the second half.

New Aston Villa chairman Randy Lerner watched from the stands at Glanford Park as his side beat Scunthorpe 2-1.

Juan Pablo Angel scored the opener three minutes before half-time, following up his own penalty after Joe Murphy had saved. Luke Moore earned the sport-kick after getting hauled down by Richard Hinds.

Angel grabbed his second with an emphatic header from Aaron Hughes' cross, before effervescent Iron striker Billy Sharp headed home from a corner to pull one back.

Middlesbrough, winners in 2004, joined City and Fulham in crashing out after an abject 1-0 defeat at home to Notts County.

Congolese striker Tcham N'Toya fired Notts County into a shock half-time lead. The 22-year-old pounced on a 26th-minute error by full-back Tony McMahon to give the Coca-Cola League Two side hope of pulling off an upset.

And Middlesbrough, with Mark Viduka, Robert Huth, Massimo Maccarone and Gaizka Mendieta in their side, were unable to force a comeback, to the frustration of their supporters.