Arsenal 3-0 Blackburn
Arsenal earned their second win of the season with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Blackburn Rovers at Emirates Stadium.
Before the biggest crowd of the competition so far, more than 5,600, Sanchez Watt gave the home side the lead in the 14th minute, and after carving out chances in the first half, they had to wait until seconds before the interval to double their advantage as Thomas Eisfeld converted from close range.
Conor Henderson added a third goal, his second of the competition, midway through the second half with a deflected drive. Match report here
Manchester City 4-0 Middlesbrough
Almost 1,500 fans turned up at the Etihad Stadium and were rewarded with a convincing home victory for Manchester City against Middlesbrough.
Free entry encouraged supporters to watch Attilio Lombardo’s side seek their first win after drawing 0-0 against Chelsea a week before.
Those that came also had the chance to see Gareth Barry continue his comeback from injury to play a half. City took the lead through Jordy Hiwula after 14 minutes. Luca Scapuzzi, who came on for Barry, won a penalty that Denis Suarez converted and then headed in the third, before Hiwula finished off the scoring. Match report here
Reading 6-1 West Bromwich Albion
At the Madejski Stadium, there was an even more convincing home win as Reading beat West Bromwich Albion 6-1.
Simon Church, the Wales striker, was the star, scoring twice and creating two more. Reading were three-up within the first ten minutes, with a Chruch goal sandwiched by strikes from Charlie Losasso and Craig Tanner.
Another Church goal and a free-kick from Nicky Shorey gave Reading a 5-0 half-time lead but things went better for West Brom after the break.
Saido Berahino, who scored a hat-trick in West Brom's win over Everton, got a goal back but the five-goal cushion was restored by Sean Morrison. Full report here
Everton 1-5 West Ham United
West Ham sealed a comprehensive victory at Finch Farm as they hit five goals to condemn Everton to their second successive defeat.
The visitors cruised into a 3-0 lead inside the first 15 minutes as Robert Hall and George Moncur scored either side of Johan Hammar's own goal.
Blair Turgott made it 4-0 shortly before half-time with a smart run and shot, and although Shane Duffy reduced the arrears before the break when he met Tyias Browning's cross, it proved no more than a consolation goal.
Everton did prove more threatening in the second half with Hallam Hope and John Lundstram going close and Apostolos Vellios hitting the woodwork but the Hammers put the seal on a commanding display when Paul McCallum capitalised on a quickly taken throw-in. Full report here
FIXTURES
Friday 24th August, 2012
GROUP 1 - Reading 6-1 West Bromwich Albion (Madejski Stadium) Report
GROUP 3 - Manchester City 4-0 Middlesbrough (Etihad Stadium) Report
Saturday 25th August, 2012
GROUP 1 - Arsenal 3-0 Blackburn Rovers (Emirates Stadium)
Sunday 26th August, 2012
GROUP 1 - Everton 1-5 West Ham United (Finch Farm TG)
Monday 27th August, 2012
GROUP 1 - Bolton Wanderers v Norwich City (Lancashire FA) 2pm
GROUP 3
Crystal Palace v Liverpool (Selhurst Park) 3pm Ticket information
Fulham v Wolverhampton Wanderers (Motspur Park) 2pm
Wednesday 29 August, 2012
GROUP 2 - Manchester United v Tottenham Hotspur (Altrincham FC) 7pm
You can follow developments on Twitter with the Premier League’s account @premierleague or via the hashtag #BU21PL.
