A thrilling night of Football League Cup action saw several teams book their places in the fourth round, with emphatic wins, nervy finishes, and breakthrough moments shaping the drama across the country. The 2026-2027 competition is heating up, as both Premier League giants and lower-league hopefuls made statements in their quest for silverware.
Match Results
| Home Team | Score | Away Team |
|---|---|---|
 AFC Bournemouth | 4 - 0 |  Lincoln City |
 Crystal Palace | 3 - 0 |  Middlesbrough |
 Leyton Orient | 1 - 3 |  Bradford City |
 Sunderland | 1 - 0 |  Hull City |
 Millwall | 0 - 1 |  Newcastle United |
At the Vitality Stadium, AFC Bournemouth delivered arguably the most commanding performance of the evening, dispatching Lincoln City FC 4-0. For head coach Marco Rose, the victory provided welcome relief after a tough start to the Premier League season. Despite missing key defenders through injury and rotating his squad to manage a packed schedule, Rose’s side looked sharp and relentless. The win not only ended Lincoln City FC's impressive unbeaten streak but also injected valuable confidence into a Bournemouth side eager to make a mark in this year’s cup campaign.
Over at Selhurst Park, Crystal Palace FC’s attacking firepower was on full display in their 3-0 triumph over Middlesbrough FC. Jorgen Strand Larsen stole the headlines with a clinical brace, underlining his importance to Palace’s ambitions this season, while Daichi Kamada capped off the scoring with a composed finish. Although Middlesbrough FC held their own for an hour and earned praise from manager Kim Hellberg for their spirited play, Crystal Palace FC ultimately proved too polished in front of goal, ending the visitors’ hopes of a cup run.
The night also saw cup dreams continue for Bradford City AFC, who produced a strong 3-1 away win at Leyton Orient FC. While details on individual stars were scarce, the result itself marks a significant achievement for the visitors, who now look forward to testing themselves further in the competition. Leyton Orient FC, meanwhile, will need to regroup as their cup journey concludes on home turf.
Tight margins defined the contests at the Stadium of Light and The Den. Sunderland AFC edged past Hull City AFC 1-0 thanks to a memorable strike from Chemsdine Talbi in the 71st minute. Hull’s rotated lineup nearly forced a shootout, but they fell just short after Joe Gelhardt's late effort sailed over. In South London, Newcastle United FC showcased their resilience, grinding out a 1-0 win over Millwall FC in a fiercely contested tie. Opting for a strong starting eleven, Newcastle manager Matthias Jaissle’s approach paid off as his side navigated a challenging away fixture to keep their cup hopes alive.
With a mix of dominant performances, emerging heroes, and hard-fought victories, the third round of the Football League Cup served up all the ingredients that make this competition special. As the field narrows and the stakes rise, fans can expect even more drama when the next round gets underway.