Chelsea's Scott Sinclair (right) celebrates his goal during their English League Cup third round soccer match against Hull City at the KC Stadium, Hull, England, yesterday. Chelsea won 4-0. - AP Photo

LONDON (AP)

Manchester United were eliminated from the English League Cup yesterday by lower-league Coventry and defending champion Chelsea ended a four-match winless streak with a 4-0 win at Hull.

Man United, which lost at Old Trafford for the first time this season, fielded a second-choice side but still had six international players in its starting line-up.

Coventry won with two goals from Michael Mifsud, one in each half.

Avram Grant oversaw his first win as Chelsea manager since replacing Jose Mourinho last week. Chelsea had two goals from Salomon Kalou and one each from Scott Sinclair and Steve Sidwell.

West Ham, Everton, Blackburn, Tottenham and Plymouth also won their third-round matches. Leicester upset Aston Villa 1-0.

Fourth round

Liverpool, Arsenal, Manchester City, Portsmouth, Sheffield United, Cardiff, Luton and Blackpool had already advanced to the fourth round of England's second-tier cup competition on Tuesday.

United had won three and drawn one of its Premier League matches at Old Trafford this season. It beat Chelsea 2-0 on Sunday but used an entirely different starting 11 against Coventry, with defenders Jonny Evans and Danny Simpson making their debut.

Mifsud scored his first goal in the 27th minute, taking a low cross from Coventry captain, Michael Doyle, to score. Mifsud nearly scored again soon afterward, but his backheel flick hit the post.

Coventry goalkeeper Andy Marshall made a fingertip save from Fangzhuo Dong shortly before Mifsud scored his second goal in the 70th. He missed a chance for a third when he shot wide after Man United goalkeeper Tomasz Kuszczak spilled a free kick into his path.

Coventry are eighth in the League Championship, the division below the Premier League, where United are second place. The Red Devils won the League Cup in 2006 and 1992.

It's been a tough week for Grant, who has been under scrutiny from the British media for his lack of coaching qualifications, his lack of experience outside of his native Israel and his friendship with Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich. There's also been speculation he was not supported by the players, who were loyal to Mourinho.

"It was a great win and certainly well needed. It is a tough place to come," said Chelsea captain John Terry, who played the whole game. "But we deserved it, especially after the last three games. We do our best to maintain team spirit in Chelsea. We'll try to keep it going. It has been tough recently but we take a lot of positives from tonight."

Chelsea have lost twice and drawn one in the Premier League in September, and last week drew 1-1 with Rosenborg in the European Champions League - Mourinho's last game in charge.

Matt Fryatt scored the winner in the 76th for Leicester, whose former manager Martin O'Neill is now in charge of Villa. Leicester are 21st in the League Championship, hovering above the relegation zone.

Tottenham defeated visiting Middlesbrough 2-0 with second-half goals from Gareth Bale and Tom Huddlestone within four minutes.