Everton avoid any slip-up, Fulham out

LONDON, Aug 24 (Agencies): Everton avoided any slip-up as they beat third-tier Fleetwood Town 1-0 in the League Cup second round to claim their first win of the season on Tuesday.
Frank Lampard's struggling side were one of 10 Premier League clubs in action across 21 ties and edged through to round three thanks to Demarai Gray's 28th-minute goal.
Fulham were brought back to earth with a bump after their impressive start to their top-flight return.
The Londoners went down 2-0 away to fourth-tier Crawley Town who are 84 places lower on the English ladder.
Manager Marco Silva made 10 changes for the trip and Crawley took advantage when Tom Nichols slotted a 16th-minute opener.
Liverpool loanee James Balagizi made it 2-0 shortly after halftime and the hosts held on comfortably to prompt a pitch invasion after the final whistle.
Leicester City, who like Everton have started the season poorly, gained some relief as they scraped through on penalties against Stockport County after a 0-0 draw.
Premier League Bournemouth also required penalties to knock out Norwich City who were relegated from the top-flight last season. Norwich were poised for the third round as they led 2-1 at Carrow Road but Brooklyn Genesini equalised in stoppage time before the visitors won the shootout.
Steven Gerrard's Aston Villa fell behind at third-tier Bolton Wanderers but hit back to win 4-1.
Premier League newcomers Nottingham Forest eased to a 3-0 win at Grimsby Town and Wolverhampton Wanderers beat second-tier Preston North End 2-1.
Crystal Palace scored two late goals to win 2-0 at Oxford United, their first win in the competition since 2018.
Brentford bounced back from their weekend defeat by Fulham to win 2-0 at fourth-tier Colchester United.
Che Adams maintained his scoring form with two goals as Southampton won 3-0 at Cambridge United.
Adams also scored twice at the weekend as Southampton beat Leicester City.
Premier League clubs playing in European competitions are exempt until the third round of the League Cup.
Villa came from behind to spare Steven Gerrard's blushes in a 4-1 win at Bolton.
After a frustrating start to the season and just three wins from 14 games stretching back to March, questions were being asked of Villa's direction under Gerrard.
The Premier League side were stunned as Dion Charles gave third tier Bolton a 24th-minute lead, but Douglas Luiz levelled directly from a corner.
Danny Ings put Villa ahead with a 62nd-minute penalty and further goals from Lucas Digne and Leon Bailey eased Villa into the third round.
"You are always looking for the right reaction and response," Gerrard said.
Everton are also off to a slow start in the Premier League and they only scraped into the third round with a 1-0 victory at League One side Fleetwood.
A first-half goal from Demarai Gray, playing after Tom Davies was injured in the warm-up, ensured Frank Lampard's side progressed.
Leicester needed a 3-1 penalty shoot-out victory to avoid a shock defeat at fourth tier Stockport, who held Brendan Rodgers' troubled side to a 0-0 draw.
Without a win in three Premier League games and with Wesley Fofana and James Maddison linked with moves, Leicester needed debutant keeper Daniel Iversen to make three saves in the shoot-out before they advanced.
Bournemouth edged past Norwich as Todd Cantwell missed the decisive penalty in the Cherries' 5-3 shoot-out victory after a 2-2 draw at Carrow Road.