Think its always been the case that the early rounds get a lower attendance then it builds up....take a season like 89/90, we start in the Seciond Round
3 OCT Shrewsbury Town 5,544
FOURTH ROUND
29 NOV Southampton Home 0-0 15,085
Completely at odds with the FA Cup where it's usually healthyish attendances throughout ...
R4E: I'm sure the chance of getting a plum tie should be enough to motivate them, and I'm sure it is in the more prestigious FA Cup ... but the League Cup, really, is a noddy cup. I often wonder why they bother with it these days ... Obviously, I didn't think that when we'd just gone out to Leeds a few seasons ago. Nor when we went out to Man Utd ... erm ... oh bollocks. I've just talked myself out of my arguement.
No I'd say it was a pretty similar pattern, take 95/96 as an example....in the FA Cup, probably the last season we had a bit of a run...
FIRST ROUND
Cambridge United Home 4-1 7,383
FIFTH ROUND
17 FEB Southampton Home 1-1 15,035