TOWN'S next opponents Bristol City were taken all the way through extra-time to a losing penalty shoot-out in the Carling Cup second round last night.

City goalkeeper Steve Phillips thought it would be his night after a miracle double save from Jamie McFadden's second-half penalty.

It came when the tie was balanced at 2-2 with just five minutes left with City - who play Town at Ashton Gate on Saturday - having given Barclays Premiership Everton a torrid evening.

McFadden stepped up to blast the spot-kick, only for Phillips to save his effort and then leap up to tip over the follow up header.

In the end City went down 4-3 in the penalty shoot-out and it is Everton who go into the next round to face Leicester or Preston.

One-club man Phillips, who also saved a spot-kick in the shoot-out, said: "I am gutted by the result but I am delighted I saved a couple of penalties. Every goalkeeper gets some flak, but you take it on the chin when things don't go your way even if it may be harsh.

"But when moments come along like this you have to grasp it and take it all in.

"We were the better side, they had their moments, but if they are third in the Premier League and we are 56 places below them, you could not see much difference.

"We played exceptionally well, and we are very pleased with the performance.

"That late penalty allowed me to get two hands to it and when he got the header in I managed to get up to tip it over, nothing special really!

"After that double save I thought it may be our night, but it was not to be which is sad because we deserved something.

"But the main thing is that we know we could have beaten Everton, we drew and played exceptionally well."

City boss Brian Tinnion claimed he was "hugely proud" of his side.

He said: "When we were two down at the break I just told them to keep believing because they could get back into the game.

"And that is what they did. We carved them open time and time again and we were the better side. There was a long spell when they just could not handle us. We had the desire to get back into the game and I am hugely proud of them."

THIRD round Carling Cup draw:

Portsmouth v Leeds, Chelsea v West Ham, Middlesbrough v Coventry, Doncaster v Nottingham Forest, Newcastle v Norwich, Millwall v Liverpool, Burnley v Aston Villa, Southampton v Colchester, Sheffield United v Watford, Everton v Leicester or Preston, Charlton v Crystal Palace, Bolton v Tottenham, Bournemouth v Cardiff, Manchester City v Arsenal, Birmingham v Fulham, Crewe v Manchester Utd.