LONDON: Southampton suffered an embarrassing 1-0 League Cup quarter-final defeat at third tier Sheffield United on Tuesday while Chelsea powered through with a 3-1 win at Derby County.

The sparkling early-season form shown by Sout hampton now seems but a distant memory after a second-half goal from Mark McNulty inflicted a fifth straight

defeat on the Premier League club who were reduced to 10 men late on when Florin Gardos was sent off at a raucous Bramall Lane.

Eliminated at the quarter-final stage in three of the previous four seasons, Chelsea made no mistake this time as goals by Eden Hazard, Filipe Luis and Andre Schuerrle secured victory at second-tier Derby.

Derby, managed by former England coach Steve McClaren, were reduced to 10 men in the 78th minute when centre-back Jake Buxton was sent off just as it was threatening a comeback at 2-1 — Craig Bryson replying for Derby in the 71st minute at Pride Park.

Published in Dawn December 18th , 2014