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Carabao Cup wrap: Andrew Moran shines with two goals and two assists

Andrew Moran celebrates finding the net for Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup
Andrew Moran celebrates finding the net for Blackburn Rovers in the Carabao Cup

Ireland U21 starlet Andrew Moran scored two and set up two as Blackburn Rovers overpowered Cardiff City 5-2 in the Carabao Cup third round.

Jake Garrett's composed finish set Rovers on their way in the 13th minute before Ireland forward Callum Robinson marked his first start of the season with a thunderous equaliser.

The first assist from 19-year-old, who is on loan from Brighton, came in the 36th minute when his cutback was turned home by Arnor Sigurdsson on his home debut, but the much-changed Bluebirds hit back again through Kion Etete’s brilliant improvised equaliser in first-half stoppage time.

A second-half Rovers blitz put the game beyond doubt. Moran profited from woeful defending to score his first goal in English football just after the break, before inducing a foul that led to a Sigurdsson spot kick that was well saved.

He doubled his tally and Blackburn’s lead in the 54th minute with a spectacular long-range effort, before feeding Dilan Markanday to register a fifth 15 minutes later.

Rovers have made the fourth round for the second consecutive campaign, having netted 17 times in their three outings in the competition so far this season.

Dominik Szoboszlai celebrates scoring for Liverpool against Leicester City

Elsewhere, Caoimhin Kelleher briefly wore the captain's armband for Liverpool, as the Reds overcame Leicester City 3-1 at Anfield.

Second-half goals from Cody Gakpo, Dominik Szoboszlai and Diogo Jota overturned a 1-0 deficit after Kasey McAteer put the Foxes in front as early as the third minute.

The late substitution of stand-in captain Curtis Jones meant that Corkman Kelleher was given the honour of captaining the Merseyside outfit for the first time.

A second-half strike from Alexander Isak secured a 1-0 victory for Newcastle United over Manchester City, while Nicolas Jackson found the net as Chelsea defeated Brighton by the same scoreline.

Everton made it back-to-back away wins by beating Aston Villa 2-1, while an early Reiss Nelson strike earned a 1-0 win for Arsenal at Brentford.

West Ham United were also 1-0 winners at Lincoln City, while Bournemouth overcame Stoke City 2-0 and Fulham beat Norwich City 2-1.

The draw for the Carabao Cup fourth round was made after Wednesday night's games, and it threw up a repeat of last season's final, with Manchester United set to host Newcastle.

Liverpool will travel to Bournemouth, West Ham will entertain Arsenal, and Goodison Park will be the venue for the meeting of Everton in the other all-Premier League clashes, while League Two Mansfield Town will face Port Vale of League One.

Moran and his Blackburn teammates will travel to Chelsea in round four, with Fulham playing away at Ipswich Town and Exeter City hosting Middlesbrough, with ties set to take place during the week commencing 30 October.

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