Carling Cup round-up: Palace maintain good form to overcome Saints

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Crystal Palace maintained their fine recent form to reach the quarter-finals of the League Cup for the first time in nine years, beating Championship leaders Southampton 2-0 at Selhurst Park last night.

Dougie Freedman's side recorded a fourth successive victory against a Southampton side making 10 changes from their draw at Reading on Saturday. The visitors had the better of an end-to-end first half but were unable to make the breakthrough, Lewis Price making a number of fine saves including one from Jonathan Forte.

Palace went ahead with 17 minutes remaining, Darren Ambrose tapping in from Jonathan Williams's cross. The Welshman was also the inspiration for Palace's second goal nine minutes later, forcing a foul from Dan Harding which gave Jermaine Easter the chance to double the lead from the penalty spot and seal their place in the last eight.

Fellow Championship side Cardiff City joined Palace in the quarter-finals, a fine effort from Joe Mason earning a 1-0 home win over Burnley to take the Welsh side into the last eight of the League Cup for the first time in 45 years. The visitors had won all three previous meetings between the pair in the competition but were unable to extend that run. Irish forward Mason curled into the corner five minutes before the break after being set-up by Don Cowie.

Dean Marney went close with a deflected free-kick for Burnley but Cardiff held on to advance.