Cherries out of the Carabao Cup

AFC Bournemouth were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the third round stage on Wednesday following a 2-0 defeat at Burton Albion.

AFC Bournemouth were knocked out of the Carabao Cup at the third round stage on Wednesday following a 2-0 defeat at Burton Albion.

Goals in each half from Oliver Sarkic and Nathan Broadhead confirmed the League One Brewers’ progression into the next round at the expense of a much-changed but still strong Cherries side.

And the night wasn’t without incident as three floodlight failures at the Pirelli Stadium threatened to see the game abandoned – with referee John Busby appearing to call a permanent halt to proceedings after the third failure.

Eddie Howe made ten changes to his starting line-up from the Cherries’ south coast derby victory over Southampton last week, with only striker Dominic Solanke remaining from the clash at St. Mary’s.

There were also first appearances of the season for captain Simon Francis, who had been sidelined since Boxing Day with a ruptured anterior cruciate ligament, and summer signing Lloyd Kelly, who picked up an ankle injury during pre-season.

It was Burton who fashioned the opening chance of the game with less than six minutes on the clock.

Forward Liam Boyce created space for himself around 20 yards out but Lewis Cook’s fantastic block prevented the shot from finding its target.

The hosts were in control and broke the deadlock on 14 minutes.

Ryan Edwards, who had seconds earlier tested Mark Travers with a low drive, got down the left and delivered a deep cross.

Arriving at the far post was Sarkic, and the midfielder made no mistake with a sweetly struck volley.

The Brewers looked comfortable in their lead. Travers was forced to tip over Broadhead’s long-range effort, before a penalty appeal for handball against Jack Simpson was waved away, as the defender went to ground inside the area.

But Bournemouth slowly grew into the contest and with half-time approaching, finally threatened the hosts’ goal.

Dominic Solanke regained possession in the middle of the park and played a defence-splitting through ball for Ryan Fraser to chase. The Scottish international was onto it in a flash, beating the offside trap and attempting to round goalkeeper Kieran O’Hara.

However, the stopper had other ideas and sprung bravely to his right to clip the ball off Fraser’s toes.

Harry Wilson was introduced at the interval, in place of Gavin Kilkenny, and the Welsh international immediately set about trying to make his mark on proceedings in the hole behind Solanke.

Lewis Cook flashed an angled volley over the bar as the Cherries went in search of an equaliser but their progress was halted by three lengthy stoppages in play caused by floodlight failure.

As the game got underway for a fourth time, Arnaut Danjuma – for his debut – and leading scorer Callum Wilson were introduced into the fray.

And Danjuma almost found the net when he went through, but home stopper O'Hara was swift off his line to deny the Dutchman a debut goal.

But Burton sealed victory deep into 28 minutes of stoppage when Broadhead slid in at the far post to turn home a low cross from the right and put the Brewers into the fourth round.