Holders Leicester saw their hopes of retaining the English League Cup disappear in a devastating nine-minute second-half spell against giant-killers Grimsby at Blundell Park last night. Ian Marshall gave Leicester a first-half lead but long-serving Kevin Jobling equalised for Grimsby after the break and a quick-fire Steve Livingstone double-strike turned the tie on its head.
To add to Leicester's woes Julian Watts was stretchered off after colliding with goalkeeper Kasey Keller as they challenged Livingstone for the cross which led to Grimsby's second goal.
At Oakwell Barnsley fell behind to a Matt Le Tissier special. The Channel Islander saw Barnsley goalkeeper Steve Watson off his line and unleashed a dipping volley from 25 yards which flew into the net off the underside of the crossbar.
But the Premiership's bottom side were not going to be dismissed easily and Martyn Bullock's fine run ended with Andy Liddell converting a rebound from Neal Redfearn's thumping strike.
Barnsley took the initiative in the second half but the tie looked to be heading for extra time when Southampton snatched the victory with a Kevin Davies winner.
Bolton needed extra-time against Wimbledon before they could finally claim a place in the fourth round and their first victory at the Reebok Stadium.
The Dons had stubbornly weathered all that Wanderers had thrown at them for 90 minutes but Bolton then scored twice inside four minutes through unsettled midfielder Jamie Pollock and a Brian McAllister own goal to seal their passage into the last 16.
An own goal from Sheffield United defender Carl Tiler two minutes from time was enough to give second division Walsall victory. With the teams level at 1-1 John Hodge's corner was headed back into the goal-mouth by Adrian Viveash and, in trying to clear, the unfortunate Tiler deflected the ball into his own net.
:quality(70)/cloudfront-eu-central-1.images.arcpublishing.com/irishtimes/YVIRIOZQ35EWRPZXR27KGMO6YU.png)