The Third Dround is the stage at which the big teams, from the Barclays Premier League, enter the competition. While the Carling Cup doe splay second fiddle to the more prestigious FA Cup, there is serious prize money – and reward – available, with the winning League Cup team getting an automatic place in the UEFA Europa League hat for 2012/12 in addition to substantial prize money.
Of the Premier League sides playing on Tuesday evening, Arsenal are in action at home to Shrewsbury, Aston Villa and Bolton play out an all-Premier clash at Villa Park, Manchester United travel to old enemies across the Pennines, Leeds United, Newcastle United travel to Nottingham Forest. Another all-Premier clash sees Stoke City take on Tottenham Hotspur, with the Potters sure to be keen to get over their 4-0 loss at Sunderland in the league on the weekend against a Spurs outfit who won against Liverpool by the same margin on Sunday at White Hart Lane.
Wolverhampton Wanderers entertain Millwall, while Blackburn Rovers welcome Leyton Orient.
Full Carling Cup fixture details for Tuesday 20 September 2011 are detailed below.
English Carling Cup 3rd Round Fixtures, Tuesday 20 September 2011
Kick-Off times are in Central European Time (CET) – British Summer Time + 1 hour.
| Kick-Off (CET) | Home | Away | |||||
| 20:45 | Aldershot | v | Rochdale | ||||
| 20:45 | Arsenal | v | Shrewsbury | ||||
| 20:45 | Aston Villa | v | Bolton | ||||
| 20:45 | Burnley | v | Milton Keynes Dons | ||||
| 20:45 | Leeds | v | Manchester United | ||||
| 20:45 | Nottingham Forest | v | Newcastle Utd | ||||
| 20:45 | Stoke City | v | Tottenham | ||||
| 20:45 | Wolves | v | Millwall | ||||
| 21:00 | Blackburn | v | Leyton Orient | ||||
| 21:00 | Crystal Palace | v | Middlesbrough | ||||
the mighties will fall again