Football: Man City march on with League Cup win over Swansea

Manchester City's John Stones applauds fans after the game. PHOTO: REUTERS

LONDON (REUTERS) - Manchester City reached the fourth round of the League Cup with a 2-1 win over Swansea City on Wednesday (Sept 21) as they continued their imperious start to the season under Pep Guardiola with a ninth straight win in all competitions.

Holders City, who have won two of the last three League Cups, took the lead through Gael Clichy four minutes after halftime and made the tie safe when 19-year-old Aleix Garcia found the net midway through the second half.

Swansea's Gylfi Sigurdsson grabbed a consolation deep into stoppage time.

It was a less straightforward evening for City's rivals Manchester United, who were given a testing workout by third tier Northampton Town before goals from Ander Herrera and Marcus Rashford wrapped up a 3-1 win.

United had taken the lead through Michael Carrick's powerful shot from the edge of the box after 17 minutes, but Northampton's Alex Revell levelled from the penalty spot after Daley Blind had fouled Sam Hoskins in the box.

The home side then frustrated the visitors, who had lost their last three games in all competitions, with a resilient defensive display until Herrera lifted the tension for United's travelling fans.

Tottenham Hotspur made light work of third tier Gillingham, as Christian Eriksen scored twice in a 5-0 thrashing, while West Ham United needed a 96th-minute free kick from Dimitri Payet to beat Accrington Stanley 1-0.

Charlie Austin and Jake Hesketh were on target for Southampton as they beat Crystal Palace 2-0 in an all-Premier League tie while Sunderland's Paddy McNair scored twice in a 2-1 win over Championship side Queens Park Rangers.

Hull City booked their spot in the next round after coming from behind to beat struggling Stoke City 2-1 thanks to a stoppage-time winner from Markus Henriksen. Bristol City beat Fulham 2-1.

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