Latics send Cottagers packing

WIGAN continued their Worthington Cup heroics with a fully deserved 2-1 home win over Fulham thanks to a brace of goals from Nathan Ellington, whilst Liverpool needed penalties to overcome Ipswich at Anfield. 

Fresh off the heels of their Premiership scalps against West Brom and Manchester City, the Second Division leaders were back at their plucky best.

Ellington, who has not been in the best form of late, scored his first goal in 12 games on 20 minutes with a clinical strike, and settled the tie with a second eight minutes later.

Fulham did make it a tense finish for the home fans when substitute Luis Boa Morte pulled a goal back late on, however it proved northing more than a consolation.

Liverpool survived a scare at home to Ipswich Town needing a penalty shoot-out win to finally see off their First Division rivals.

Town silenced Anfield early on when youngster Tommy Miller side-footed the visitors ahead following a poor clearance by Markus Babbel.

Despite huffing and puffing from the high-flying Premiership outfit, Andy Marshall was always equal to anything The Reds could conjure up.

They were level 10 minutes after half-time however when plucky striker Neil Mellor was fouled in the box to hand substitute El Hadji Diouf the chance to score from 12 yards out.

Liverpool almost settled the tie before extra-time, however the impressive Mellor saw his shot hit the post and rebound to safety.

With neither side unable to seize the advantage in extra-time, the contest went to the dreaded penalty shoot-out.

It was the Premiership side who held their nerve, scoring from every kick, whilst it was a miss from Jamie Clapham, striking the post with his shot, that settled the tie.

Elsewhere, Aston Villa booked their place in the quarter finals of the competition with a comfortable 5-0 thrashing over Preston at Villa Park.

After a slow start from the home side England international striker Darius Vassell fired Villa ahead with a half-volley following good work by Mark Kinsella.

Their lead was doubled shortly into the second half when Vassell bagged his second of the game, after Dion Dublin created the chance with a good chest ball.

With the First Division side struggling late on, Villa finished the contest in style adding a flurry of late goals.

Dublin made it three with a close-range header, before substitutes Juan Pablo Angel and Thomas Hitzlsperger completed the rout.

1998 League Cup winners Chelsea continued their march towards the final with an impressive 4-1 home win over Everton.

The Blues, who are now unbeaten in their last nine games, took the lead on 26 minutes when Jimmy Floyd Hasselbaink converted his chance coolly, after Gianfranco Zola and Mark Pembridge missed good early opportunities.

Emmanuel Petit doubled the London side's advantage with only his second ever goal for the club just before half-time.

With The Toffees searching for a way back into the game, Mario Stanic headed home at the near post before Hasselbaink settled the tie with a scorcher from the edge of the box.

Wayne Rooney missed a great chance to put his name on the score-sheet when he missed a penalty, but from the resulting corner Gary Naysmith tapped home to give the Merseyside outfit a consolation.

Reigning Cup holders Blackburn secured safe passage into the next round with a first-half goal blitz against Rotherham.

Strikers Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole had been struggling for goals of late, since being reunited at Ewood Park this season, however the duo netted three times against The Millers.

Yorke got the ball rolling with a simple goal on 12 minutes, before Cole beat Michael Pollitt when one-on-one just four minutes later.

Yorke grabbed his second with a scuffed shot just before the break, before Irish international winger Damien Duff sealed the win with a fourth from close range.

Click here for Worthington Cup match stats:
Aston Villa 5 Preston North End 0
Blackburn Rovers 4 Rotherham United 0
Chelsea 4 Everton 1
Liverpool 1 Ipswich Town 1 (AET) 5-4 on penalties 
Wigan Athletic 2 Fulham 1