I wasn't at the game and I haven't seen any highlights. All I know is this; it is unacceptable for a Premier League team to go out of the cups, without a whimper for three years in a row, to lower league teams. And, especially if the club's only league ambition is to avoid finishing in the bottom three places each season.
I understand resting the main 'keeper. I can also understand resting certain other players such as Vlaar, Delph, Cissokho, Gabby and Weimann because of their importance to the positions they play in. But, last night's team should have been strong enough to have won against a league one outfit and, for it to happen for the third season in a row is simply unacceptable. There's only one real common factor between the playing and management staff from all those cup defeats - Paul Lambert.
I'm not saying Lambert should be sacked, probably because I have no trust in Lerner to fill the position with anyone worthwhile, but, I am saying that Lambert needs to sort himself out and get these guys performing better than us fans have become accustomed to. It's simply not fair of him, the players or the club to keep churning out dire performances and expecting the fans to put up with it. This summer's signings are of a higher calibre than the last two seasons so the club's management needs to start making sure that the football churned out is a reflection of those higher quality signings.