Jack Diamond (pictured) scored a hat-trick as Sunderland beat Peterborough United 6-2 to clinch their place in the last 16 of the Premier League Cup.
The home win keeps the Black Cats top of Group A and puts them eight points clear of Charlton Athletic, in third, with the top two advancing from each group.
Stoke City also won to advance from Sunderland's group, beating Charlton 4-1 to stay within two points of the leaders.
Derby topple champions
Derby County will join defending champions Aston Villa in the Round of 16 after earning a 2-1 away win against the Group F leaders to move up to second place, on 10 points, within two points of the Villans.
Group F's bottom club, Bristol City, earned their second point of the campaign with a 2-2 draw at Plymouth Argyle, leaving them one point adrift of their opponents.
Cherries go through
AFC Bournemouth are through to the last 16 after a 1-1 draw at West Bromwich Albion. The result means the Cherries are two points clear of the Baggies, in second, and third-placed Burnley, who face each other in their last Group C fixture for a place in the knockout stage.
Liverpool are fourth in the group, two points off second spot, and must beat AFC Bournemouth and hope for a draw between West Brom and Burnley to stand a chance of finishing in the top two.
Fulham and Exeter boost hopes
Fulham boosted their hopes of reaching the knockout stages with a 5-0 victory at Colchester United. The result puts the Cottagers second in Group G on nine points, two above third-placed Birmingham City with one match remaining.
Elsewhere, Exeter City won 3-0 at Norwich City to end the Canaries' hopes of qualification and keep theirs alive going into their final fixture. The Grecians are behind second-placed Leicester City on goal difference, having played one more match than the Foxes.
See: PL Cup tables
