Shaun Goater netted his third goal of the season for Manchester City last night, but could not prevent his side going down 2-1 at home to Ipswich Town in the English League Cup quarter-finals.

The Bermudian striker, who has been battling a groin injury in recent weeks, came good a mere 10 minutes into the match, putting City ahead to the cheers of a boisterous crowd at Maine Road.

Goater was first to a loose ball on the edge of the penalty area and held off Matt Holland before he hammered the ball left-footed into the right-hand corner of the net.

Three minutes later, Goater was only denied a second goal when his 20-yard drive bounced off an upright.

And in the extra time made necessary by Ipswich's second-half equaliser, Goater was once more denied by the woodwork when his right-footed shot shaved the post.

Goater was heavily involved in City's attacking moves throughout the 120 minutes of play and missed several chances to have sent City through to the semi-finals.

Goater and Paulo Wanchope combined well to spring Shaun Wright-Phillips for a shot, but his effort missed by inches, as the half-time whistle sounded.

The home side's advantage was finally erased in the 59th minute when Fabian Wilnis floated in a cross from the right. Weaver managed to get a hand to David Johnson's header but Matt Holland was handily placed to sweep the rebound in.

City hit back and Goater somehow managed to steer his effort wide after Wright-Phillips had delivered a teasing cross. Goater then delayed his shot after Danny Tiatto played the ball in, enabling Gary Croft to make a vital block.

City manager Joe Royle took a gamble with 10 minutes remaining, bringing off defender Morrison and replacing him with winger Mark Kennedy. But neither side could get the second goal they craved in the 90 minutes and the match went into extra time.

Wanchope came within inches of giving City the lead 10 minutes into extra time but his effort came back off the post.

Ipswich were pushing forward in numbers which left them vulnerable at the back and Goater found himself clear but dragged his shot wide of the post.

Finally, it was left for Mark Venus to settle matters in the 109th minute, with a cool finish after the ball had broken off the foot of City's unlucky Wright-Phillips.

Town will now meet First Division Birmingham over two legs in the semi-finals, while Goater and the crew now return their attention to the league campaign and the FA Cup, with Birmingham their third-round opponents at Maine Road next month.

A late goal by striker Clinton Morrison steered Crystal Palace to a 2-1 win over Premier League Sunderland in the other English League Cup quarter-final played yesterday.

Morrison turned his marker and fired home an excellent individual goal in the 82nd minute to steer the London First Division side towards a semi-final clash with Premier League Liverpool next month.

After a goalless first half Palace had gone ahead with a 48th-minute effort from Finn Mikael Forsell before Sunderland equalised a minute later through Alex Rae.

Second Division Peterborough United earned themselves a prestigious FA Cup third round tie at Premier League Chelsea after a 1-0 victory at Oldham yesterday.

And York City of Division Three will play Premier League Leicester City after a 3-1 victory at Reading yesterday.

Shaun Goater: third goal of season all in vain.