Carling Cup betting

The draw for the third round of the Carling Cup has been made, and time to look at some more Carling Cup betting. There have been favourable draws for some of the big guns involved, who will take refuge in home fixtures. The teams who are involved in European competition all skipped entry until this round, and with Premier League teams including Norwich, QPR and Swansea bombing out in the second round, the third round throws up some interesting ties, with some interesting Premier League v Premier League clashes on the cards. Chelsea start their Carling Cup campaign with a home tie against London rivals Fulham, and the Blues from Stamford Bridge are still one of the favourites to take the Carling Cup honours this year. Troubled Arsenal, who are working hard at the transfer deadline, will also take comfort in a home fixture in the third round. They square off against Shrewsbury Town at the Emirates. Outright favourites to win the 2011/12 Carling Cup, Manchester City start at home as well, as they take on Championship outfit Birmingham City, who were relegated from the Premier League last season of course. Manchester United start their efforts with an away match however, as they were drawn against Leeds United in what could be a tricky and fiercely contested tie. Remember the two sides meeting at the start of 2010 in the FA Cup third round, in which Leeds pulled out a 1-0 at Old Trafford. Liverpool also get to start away from home, as they travel to the south coast to take on Brighton. Some big all Premier League clashes are Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur, Aston Villa v Bolton and Everton v West Bromwich Albion. So now the big guns have entered and we will have to lose at least four Premier League teams in the third round, and Carling Cup betting starts to get very interesting!

Carling Cup Third Round Draw – Matches to be played week beginning September 19th.
Cardiff City v Leicester City
Wolves v Millwall
Chelsea v Fulham
Aldershot Town or Carlisle United v Rochdale
Arsenal v Shrewsbury Town
Burnley v MK Dons
Leeds United v Manchester United
Brighton v Liverpool
Nottingham Forest v Newcastle United
Manchester City v Birmingham City
Blackburn Rovers v Leyton Orient or Bristol Rovers
Swindon Town or Southampton v Charlton or Preston North End
Everton v West Bromwich Albion
Crystal Palace or Wigan v Middlesbrough
Aston Villa v Bolton Wanderers
Stoke City v Tottenham Hotspur

2011/12 Carling Cup Betting Odds – Outright Winner
Manchester City: 11/2 at SkyBet
Chelsea: 6/1 at Blue Square
Manchester United: 6/1 at Totesport
Liverpool: 15/2 at Totesport
Arsenal: 10/1 at Victor Chandler
Tottenham Hotspur: 14/1 at Paddy Power

Carling Cup betting is a big feature of this week’s football wagers, so what do we have in store. The teams involved in European action are not in action yet, but the rest of the Premier League teams prepare themselves for some tricky ties. The second round of the Carling Cup is always great for picking up some extra bonuses in your football betting, because not all of the top teams take this too seriously, and therefore, you are more prone to seeing an underdog have their day. The Carling Cup second round betting will naturally focus mostly on the fortunes of the Premier League teams, and he we take a quick look at what is on offer for the matches on Tuesday and Wednesday this week.

Aston Villa v Hereford
With a solid start to the season from Alex McLeish at Villa Park, they are one of the Premier League teams with an easier looking Carling Cup tie. Hereford are stuck on one point from four games, second from bottom of League Two. So there are no immediate signs of an upset here, certainly not at Villa Park.
Prediction: Villa win 2/9 at Bet365 (Draw 11/2, Hereford 33/2)

Bournemouth v West Brom
Maybe a potential for a slip here from the Premier League side. Now, with West Brom having lost their two opening league matches against Man Utd and Chelsea, boss Roy Hodgson may want to keep his best players rested for next weekend. So this could be a tricky away match with the depth of the Baggies squad not too deep. Bournemouth have only one win from four matches in League One though, so wouldn’t be surprised to see a close thing here.
Prediction: Draw 11/4 at Victor Chandler (Bournemouth 3/1, West Brom Evens)

Brighton v Sunderland
If this had been the Sunderland from last season heading down to Brighton, then we would have been calling this differently. Brighton are doing alright, up in fourth in the Npower Championship, so Sunderland have to be wary here. They will be smarting from losing their derby match against Newcastle at the Stadium of Light on the weekend in the Premier League, so boss Steve Bruce needs a reaction. Not an attractive tie for Sunderland, but we feel that they will get through this tough task. They have built a good enough squad to change things up for the Carling Cup.
Prediction: Sunderland win 8/5 at Totesport (Bright 2/1, Draw 5/2)

Northampton v Wolves
Wolves don’t have too far to go for this one, as they look to safely negotiate their way past the League Two side. Northampton are in 17th in League Two, not producing anything spectacular so far. You think of Wolves when you think of Premier League teams who may get a shock in the cups. However, with two wins from two in the league for Mick McCarthy’s side (which no-one surely saw coming), you have to back the Premier League team to get a result.
Prediction: Wolves win 4/5 at Bet365 (Northampton 4/1, Draw 11/4)

Norwich v MK Dons
When you think of Premier League teams most in danger in the early rounds of the Carling Cup, you think of the newly promoted teams. Norwich City take on League One leaders the MK Dons, who haven’t tasted defeat in their four league matches so far. As for Norwich, they will be relatively pleased with their start in the Premier League, with two draws under their belt so far. If this fixture was reversed, we would be suggesting something different, but we think that the home advantage here should just be enough to see Norwich not lose. The MK Dons will come and battle. Could be worth a draw.
Prediction: Draw 37/13 at Victor Chandler (Norwich 4/6, MK Dons 5/1)

QPR v Rochdale
QPR had a rough introduction to the Premier League, getting hammered on their opening day, but they bounced back with a great 1-0 victory away at Everton. That will have been a great boost for them. This should be a chance to cut loose a little bit and forget about the heightened stresses of the Premier League. Rochdale, who are down in the relegation zone in League One, may have a tough time of it.
Prediction: QPR win 8/13 at SkyBet (Draw 16/5, Rochdale 6/1)

Shrewsbury v Swansea
League Two opposition in Shrewsbury will be welcomed by Swansea. The Swans have picked up one point from their opening two Premier League matches, but they should be able to enjoy this match. Sure, they’ll have bigger things on their mind, but they can stretch their legs here.
Prediction: Swansea win 11/13 at Bet365 (Shrewsbury 7/2, Draw 11/4)

Exeter v Liverpool
Yes, Liverpool have been recent Carling Cup victims in shock loses. However, this trip to Exeter, who are in the wrong half of League One, shouldn’t be too scary for them. Liverpool are a much better squad than last year, and we should see a strong enough Liverpool side to finish this job off at the first attempt.
Prediction: Liverpool win 5/12 at Paddy Power (Exeter 8/1, Draw 15/4)

Blackburn v Sheffield Wednesday
As predicted, we though Blackburn may struggle this season again. Two defeats in two games is not what the new owners wanted to see, and now they need to give the fans something to cheer about in the Carling Cup. Sheffield Wednesday will probably be banking on at least a draw here. They have won their two home games in League One this season, and lost both of their away games. Good incentive here to claim a big Premier League scalp.
Prediction: Draw 3/1 at Bet365 (Blackburn 4/7, Sheffield Wednesday 11/2)

Bolton v Macclesfield
Mixed fortunes for Bolton at the start of the new season, but they are very tough to beat at the Reebok, so would back them for a win here. League Two side Macclesfield really shouldn’t cause Bolton too many problems. Owen Coyle’s men should get this job done comfortably enough.
Prediction: Bolton win 1/3 at Stan James (Draw 9/2, Macclesfield 10/1)

Everton v Sheffield United
Very interesting tie here. Sheffield United have started the season in League One very well, sitting in third at the moment, unbeaten. In contrast, Everton were dealt a major blow, losing at Goodison Park to Premier League new boys QPR. You never know with Everton, as they don’t give much away. Could be a sniff of an upset here if Sheffield United are brave enough.
Prediction: Draw 18/5 at Bet365 (Everton 5/11, Sheffield United 8/1)

Arsenal are outright favourites to win the Carling Cup in your football betting, after progressing through the semi finals with a midweek 2-0 victory over Wigan. The semi final draw has seen them paired up with Championship side Ipswich. Arsene Wenger will grab this opportunity with both hands now, as Manchester United crumbled out of the competition in a 4-0 defeat away at West Ham United. That was the real last threat to Arsenal and their hope of ending their silverware drought by winning the Carling Cup, a tournament which they have won twice before. They have landed a favourable draw against the lowest side left in the competition, Roy Keane’s Ipswich. Ipswich, who are struggling for a bit of form in the Championship, saw off Premier League opposition in the form of West Brom, to secure their place in the semi finals. Out of the four remaining combatants, Ipswich are the only team who have not tasted League Cup final action.

The other semi final will see Birmingham take on West Ham. The Hammers produced a fantastic, and completely unexpected result against tournament favourites Manchester United on Tuesday night. Granted, United did not have a full strength side out, but the Hammers really put them to the sword. United’s second string was completely invisible, and that will have been the brightest spark in West Ham’s season so far. Birmingham saw of Midlands rivals Aston Villa at St Andrews, by a 2-1 scoreline, and if Arsenal get past Ipswich, then they will fancy their chances against either of those in the Carling Cup final at Wembley. The semi finals of the Carling Cup are played over two legs, with the first legs being played during the week of January 10th. The second legs will played a fortnight later.

Carling Cup Outright Winner Betting Odds

Arsenal: 4/7 at Stan James
Birmingham: 9/2 at Paddy Power
West Ham United: 5/1 at Unibet
Ipswich Town: 16/1 at Bodog

Carling Cup Semi Final First Leg Ante Post Prices at Bwin

Ipswich: 5/1,  Draw: 58/19, Arsenal: 5/11

West Ham: 11/10, Draw: 11/5, Birmingham: 11/5

West Ham United v Manchester United Betting Tip & Odds: An away win banker here? There is a gulf in class between the two teams, even though United won’t bother sending their strongest side to Upton Park. There’s really not much need to. The Hammers will give a spirited display no doubt, but the extra quality level that United can produce will win them this game. It is just by a matter of how many really, as United have a good recent record against the Hammers. Manchester United/Manchester United Halftime/Fulltime bet 2/1 at Blue Square

West Ham United to win: 3/4 at Totesport
Draw: 57/20 at Bodog
Manchester United to win: 9/2 at SkyBet

Carling Cup Match Preview: Manchester United laid down a huge marker to their rivals in the Premier League on the weekend, firing seven goals past Blackburn. It’s unlikely that it will be the same team that takes to the field at West Ham for this Carling Cup quarter final match, as boss Alex Ferguson will no doubt ring the changes. With such a variety of attacking options available to him, this is the perfect opportunity to give starts to the likes of Javier Hernandez and Federico Macheda. The central defensive pairing of Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic will probably also get the chance to have a rest, not that they had a lot to do on the weekend against Blackburn. United are the defending champions, and how much will it mean to them to defend their title? If they can do it with a second string team, then all the better for Alex Ferguson, who has a lot bigger fish to fry than this. So don’t expect a strong Manchester United side for this one, but nonetheless, it really should be strong enough. But, with Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester City falling by the wayside early in the competition, the road has pretty much been left open for them. Realistically the only challenge to the Red Devils in their quest to defend the Carling Cup, will be Arsenal. So will a much changed team have a big influence on the football betting for this one?

Not a great deal really. But there are some considerations to be factored into all this. Manchester United have found wins on the road hard to come by in the Premier League this season, and that was with stronger teams than which will take to the field on Tuesday night. West Ham are also unbeaten in their last three matches at home as well. However, while the depth of the Manchester United squad really is not as good as one would expect it to be, it has still shown that old United magic of pulling through even when they have looked down and out. Fergie will field players who are fighting for starting places at the club, and that should be enough incentive for these fringe players likes Chris Smalling who will get the chance to start in defence again. The other big factor is looking at the level of opposition here. West Ham are not going to be able to cope with that extra touch of quality, and it may only take a flash of genius here and there from United to win this one, without breaking too much of a sweat. That is the difference between a top side and struggling one at this level. They are both Premier League teams, but divisions apart in truth. United won 3-0 against West Ham at the start of the season in the League, and have now hit 10 goals in their last three matches against the Hammers.

West Ham received a boost on the weekend, when they managed to pick up their second victory of the Premier League season, as they bottom side club took a vital three points off Wigan. Boss Avram Grant is a man under pressure though, and the Hammers look odds on favourites to be playing Championship football next season. The quality is not there, neither up front or at the back, but they do have pretty much a full squad to pick from, including Kieron Dyer, who is looking hopeful for a place in the team. Although they have been going badly in the Premier League, a loss against a side of Manchester United fringe players would be just as demoralising for the West Ham fans. West Ham need to be better than that, but neither form nor stats are really on their side. Even though the Hammers really do have a pretty good home record against Manchester United (West Ham have won 45% of home matches against Manchester United) recent form needs to be looked at primarily. They have lost in their last six matches against Manchester United, and not only that, the Hammers have failed to score against United in the last five games also. Manchester United are unbeaten this season in all competitions and it is likely to stay that way as well after Tuesday night’s game at Upton Park. United have a good recent history in the Carling Cup, and they should be well on their way to the final after this.

Last 5 Head to head
Manchester United 3, West Ham 0
Manchester United 3, West Ham 0
West Ham United 0, Manchester United 4
West Ham United 0, Manchester United 1
Manchester United 2, West Ham United 0

Arsenal v Wigan Athletic Betting Tip & Odds: Home win without much shadow of a doubt really. Yes, Arsenal have had some uncharacteristic slip ups at home this season, but they are still a quality side. They showed a lot of mettle in beating Aston Villa on the weekend after some poor defeats, and they have the creativity to create hatfuls of goals. This could turn into something of a goal-fest again, as the Wigan defence is unlikely to be able to match the flair and quality of Arsenal. Arsenal to win by 2 goals: 16/5 at 888Sport

Arsenal to win: 2/7 at Totesport
Draw: 5/1 at SkyBet
Wigan Athletic to win: 14/1 at Victor Chandler

Carling Cup Match Preview: The Carling Cup quarter finals are upon us, and for Arsenal, they represent a great chance of ending a barren spell of silverware. Although the Gunners have, to many people’s surprise, lost their last two home games in the Premier League, there appears to be little chance of an upset here in the Carling Cup, against a Wigan side who are struggling to find form of their own. Arsenal bounced back from a bruising week in the Premier and Champions Leagues with a 4-2 away win at Aston Villa on the weekend, in a performance which was typically brave and attacking from the Gunners. That was without Cesc Fabregas and Robin Van Persie, but the latter could well be in line for an appearance. His return to the side would make a nice problem for Wenger, as fellow forwards Marouane Chamakh and Samir Nasri really are in excellent form at the moment. Arsenal will still be without the services of Cesc Fabregas for the visit of Wigan, but that really shouldn’t affect their chances of reaching the semi finals of the competition too much.

What Arsene Wenger has done this year, is buck the trend a little bit and fielded stronger sides in the Carling Cup that he has historically done. Usually this competition was used to give the young Gunners a first team run out, but not this season. This is how important it is for Arsenal to get some silverware into the club. For one of the best teams in England, and one of the best footballing teams around, it would really be deserving. Arsenal have seen off Newcastle and Tottenham in the competition so far, and have been pretty emphatic in the goal scoring charts. That is the power that Arsenal have, and it is one which should, more often than not, see them through. Arsenal have a 100% record at home against Wigan in all competitions, and have outscored their opponents 18 goals to four in their seven matches played at Arsenal. Wigan have only won twice in eleven matches, with one draw, so that shows the class and dominance that Arsenal have over Wigan, and that is exactly where your betting should go. Arsenal are strong favourites, so shop around in some of the alternative sub market betting for the Arsenal v Wigan Carling Cup match. It will probably serve you better in terms of odds.

For Wigan, it has been a season of struggles under Roberto Martinez, who have really struggled away from home this season. Fighting in the relegation zone in the Premier League, the Carling Cup could be their silver lining, having beaten Hartlepool, Preston and Swansea along the way. However, Wigan have one only once on the road in the Premier League this year, and their last four trips away have all ended in defeat. With a shaky defence on show, the last place a team wants to go to is the Emirates Stadium. But there is some interesting little bits of history between the two clubs, as Wigan knocked out Arsenal on their way to the Carling Cup final back in 2006, winning the tie on away goals. The sides also clashed last year in the tournament, with Arsenal running out easy 3-0 winners. When Wigan went to Arsenal last season in the league, Arsenal ran out 4-0 winners, and the time before that Arsenal won 3-0, so the Gunners have enjoyed plenty of success against the Latics. There doesn’t appear to much going for Wigan in this one. This is a third in the league placed team against third from bottom placed team. With Wigan only winning one of their last eight matches, there really is only one apparent outcome on the cards.

Last 5 Head to Head
Wigan 3, Arsenal 2
Arsenal 4, Wigan 0
Wigan 1, Arsenal 4
Arsenal 1, Wigan 0
Arsenal 3, Wigan 0

Ipswich Town v West Bromwich Albion Betting Tip & Odds: Well, Ipswich have a good home record against West Brom, however Ipswich seem to be in a very generous mood at the moment. They are gifting away goals and points, something which boss Roy Keane understandably is not too happy about. Funnily enough, the two sides have even records in defence and attack, so there doesn’t look to be too clear and advantage there. Can Ipswich cause an upset against the Premier League side? Ipswich are just too fallible at the moment to back with any confidence, even though West Brom aren’t in fantastic form. The Baggies do have the edge in quality, and that has to win out in your betting strategy. Method of Victory West Brom in Extra Time 10/1 at Bet365

Ipswich Town to win: 11/4 at BetFred
Draw: 13/5 at Bet365
West Bromwich Albion to win: 11/10 at 888Sport

Carling Cup Match Preview: The Midlands are being pretty well represented in the quarter finals of the Carling Cup this year, with Aston Villa and Birmingham going at in Wednesday’s other tie. West Brom, who have earned themselves some deserved plaudits this year, square off against the lowest team left in the competition, Ipswich from the Championship. Despite a lot of early promise and guts, West Brom have slowly been sliding backwards down the Premier League, winning only one of seven matches. But they topped up their numbers on the weekend, with a great away performance at Everton of all places, where the Baggies hit four goals. That win has left them in mid table mediocrity in the league, and boss Roberto Di Matteo really has the chance here to do some further good with the club, by getting them to the semi finals of the Carling Cup. This competition is great for teams like West Brom, as it offers a glimmer of a chance of silverware, with bigger clubs historically fielding weaker side. West Brom are the big club in this fixture however, and they need to put in a good, professional performance in order to get the job done against Ipswich.

What Roberto Di Matteo has done for West Brom, is give the Baggies a good footballing identity. There is that touch of Italian flair there in the side, a desire to play the ball on the ground, to play it out from the back. However, you do still need the quality of player to pull it off, but West Brom’s biggest downfall, really has been their defence, which hasn’t been sharp or strong enough this season. West Brom have only managed to keep one clean sheet this season, back in their second match of the season. They have been good to watch this season though, and they just need a little more solidity and they should be able to comfortably secure Premier League football next season. They have had some bothersome results of late though against opposition which they should be beating. They lost to Blackpool, drew with West Ham and lost to Wigan, the teams against which, they really need to be picking up points if they are going to make life easier for themselves. They have shown good qualities though this season, beating Arsenal at the Emirates and holding Spurs to a draw, all part of a six game unbeaten streak they went on. They are just in a slump at the moment, but perhaps the big victory away at Everton will see them get back on track, and play with a bit more confidence.

They renew a meeting against a side which they were familiar with last season. The sides met in the Championship last year, with the Baggies winning their home fixture, and drawing away at Ipswich. This is why this could be a tricky match for West Brom. Ipswich have a very good record at home against West Brom overall, with a 57% win percentage against the Baggies when they come to down. However, Ipswich are not a team in any kind of form at the moment. After suffering the humiliation of a 4-1 defeat at bitter rivals Norwich on the weekend, that has left Ipswich with just three wins in their last eleven matches. This is a serious downward turn, after showing a lot of promise at the start of the season under boss Roy Keane. Keane admitted himself though that the club aren’t likely to win the league, and at the moment promotion seems a long way away, at least in the league standings. However, Ipswich may be down in 16th, but they are only six points off sixth place, so there is a lot to play for. Jason Scotland leads the way in the goal scoring charts for them, with five league goals this season, but having lost their last two home matches, there is a lot to turn around at the moment. Roy Keane really needs his troops to respond at Portman Road on Wednesday. Better form and they may have just edged this one. West Brom to battle through though.

Last 5 Head to Head

Ipswich 1, West Brom 1
West Brom 2, Ipswich 0
Ipswich 2, West Brom 0
West Brom 4, Ipswich 0
West Brom 2, Ipswich 0

Birmingham City v Aston Villa Betting Tip & Odds: At first glance there really doesn’t appear to be much to separate these teams. However, dig just a little bit deeper and you may well be leaning towards an Aston Villa away win for this one. Thehttp://www.online-betting.me.uk/links/, even though it should be another tight match between two organised sides. There are probably not going to be chances galore, but for reasons explained below, Villa are the tip to go with on this one. Astpn Villa 0 Asian Handicap 6/5 at Victor Chandler

Birmingham City to win: 7/5 at Victor Chandler
Draw: 9/4 at Bet365
Aston Villa to win: 9/4 at William Hill

Carling Cup Match Preview: There’s a very entertaining Midlands derby prospect happening at St Andrews on Wednesday, with a Birmingham v Aston Villa Carling Cup quarter final match. When the word “interesting” crops up to describe a football match, then it is because the two teams are evenly matched and there really isn’t all that much to say about either of them. Such is the case of Birmingham and Aston Villa, who sit together in the Premier League table. They both have seventeen points from their fifteen matches, and when the two sides met in the league earlier this season, it played out to an expected 0-0 draw. That really was no surprise and not too hard to call in your football betting, and this is probably where you should be heading again for this one. The two sides are evenly matched, as both have decent defensive systems, and both teams work hard for the ball. However, neither of them are really as good as they would like to be at the moment, especially Villa, who really are failing to keep pace with the top six, where they were expected to be hovering around. Anyway, this is the Carling Cup, a semi final place is at stake, so there is a call to be more adventurous.

If you are looking for adventure in these two teams, then you will need to point your magnifying glass towards Aston Villa, because that is where you will find the bulk of it. Villa were expected to be able to maintain a stronger, more consistent challenge in the top half of the table, especially with the experience that boss Gerard Houllier could bring to the table. However, with just one win their last eight games, it’s easy to see the problem. They just have not got that extra cutting edge need to turn one point into three. They are still a tough side to break down, because four of those eight matches have ended in drawn games, however, they are now on a two match losing skid after being outgunned by Arsenal on the weekend. However, they are the side which should carry the bigger threat, because they play quite good football. Villa do play with some good width, which serves them well, but they are just a little to conservative to be a great side. They do not have the firepower up front, although the return of Gabriel Agbonlahor to fitness will only help them. In this one though, their limited attack may just be enough. It should just be the kind of game which suits them. One in which they can do a smash and grab job.

Birmingham, to little surprise again, come into the match on the back of a draw. That is their eighth of the season in the Premier League, and just like Midlands neighbours Villa, cannot find the cutting edge. These two teams last season were very hard to beat, but both are just that little bit more vulnerable this year, and they are finding it hard to get that extra attacking gear when needed. So this is two evenly matched teams, and will Villa’s extra attacking quality be negated by Birmingham, who have home advantage? While you look at the two sides and see a lot of similarities in quality, there is one football betting influence which should grab your attention. That is, the fact that Villa have won six of the last seven matches against Birmingham City, and the only blemish there was a 0-0 draw in the league last season. That’s a big shot in the arm for your betting on Aston Villa, plus they have done pretty well at St Andrews. Birmingham have a 38% win percentage against Villa at home, but Villa have a close 37% win percentage when visiting Birmingham, and that is a pretty good record. It’s certainly one to take notice of in your betting. The last time the two sides met in the League Cup was back in 1994 when Villa won both legs 1-0. That is a plausible scoreline again here, as neither team will give too much away, so it could all come down to that one moment of glory for someone.

Last 5 Head to Head
Aston Villa 0, Birmingham 0
Aston Villa 1, Birmingham 0
Birmingham 0, Aston Villa 1
Aston Villa 5, Birmingham 1
Birmingham 1, Aston Villa 2

Newcastle v Arsenal is the highlight game of the Carling Cup on Wednesday night, with tantalising football betting opportunities afoot at St James’ Park, kick off 7.45 pm. The Toon Army scored a vital victory over West Ham in the Premier League on the weekend, and after knocking out Chelsea in the last round, expectancy will be high again as Arsenal head north. Newcastle’s 4-3 success over Chelsea came through the introduction of a lot of fringe and youth players, as the first team squad was largely rested because of the priority of Premier League duties. While this is a good shot at a piece of silverware for the season, the Tyneside club will really be worried about Premier League survival over a trip to Wembley in the new year. However, the gusto with which they overhauled Chelsea, should put them in good stead against Arsenal. It is clearly not going to be the strongest line up that Newcastle boss Chris Hughton fields, but it should still be a competitive game, as Newcastle have been quite entertaining this season. Sitting ninth in the league at the moment, is not bad for a club tipped as strong favourite to get relegated.

While there are legal problems surrounding main striker Andy Carroll, he wouldn’t have been picked for Wednesday’s clash anyway, even though he has full support of the club. Sol Campbell is out injured, and will miss the chance to face his former side. As for Arsenal, the tides have changed a little for boss Arsene Wenger, who is keen to end the silverware drought at the Emirates Stadium. With, realistically only Man Utd left in the competition as a genuine threat, this could be the season that gives the Arsenal faithful something to cheer about again. Having easily brushed aside North London rivals Spurs in the previous round at White Hart Lane, it was done so as Wenger fielded first teamers. That is almost unheard of in the Carling Cup from the Frenchman, but there is growing importance on this competition as Wenger is hungry for success. A strong 3-0 away win over Man City in the league on Sunday, really showed what a formidable force Arsenal can be, and they aren’t even back to full strength just yet. But, when you can throw Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner into the team, you’re not going to be too bad off. It will be interesting to see how strong a team Wenger does field though, as they look to be gaining momentum, and are still scoring freely. As one of the strongest teams in England, Arsenal will naturally start the match as favourites. Will the Newcastle home advantage play its part though? Can the Tyneside club put in another rousing performance?

Arsenal to win: 10/11 at Ladbrokes
Draw: 14/5 at Ladbrokes
Newcastle United to win: 16/5 at SkyBet

Online Bookmaker Promotion. For all Carling Cup matches this week, online bookmaker SportingBet are running a Heading Home Football Special. If the final goal of this match, and any other Carling Cup match, is scored with a Header, then SportingBet will refund losing First Scorer, Anytime Scorer, Correct Score and Scorecast bets on the match. The refund is up to £25 max, and comes back to you as a free bet. You also have until the end of October to sign up for a new account to the current FREE £50 matched bet offer. Come the end of October 31st, this will revert to the standard £25, so move quickly!

Manchester United v Wolves headline Carling Cup betting at SportingBet

Plenty of opportunities tonight for some live in play betting for the Carling Cup at SportingBet. There are five matches tonight, with the highlight being Manchester United v Wolves. You can always follow Birmingham v Brentford, Ipswich v Northampton, Leicester v West Brom and Wigan v Swansea. With one of the most impressive live in-play football betting services, SportingBet makes a great place to follow the matches, especially as the Carling Cup can throw up odd surprises, meaning some great football odds if you know where to look. With plenty of markets on offer at SportingBet, betting live gives you the opportunity to follow the action and make some great calls as you go along, judging the ebb and flow of the match. Quarter final places are up for grabs, and with Chelsea, Liverpool and Man City all crashing out, the strong favourites remain Man Utd and Arsenal (who play on Wednesday).

Online bookmaker SportingBet are also offering a Carling Cup betting promotion. This is an interesting one from the Bookie, who really step to the fore with some great and unique football betting offers. This is a Heading Home football special. If the last goal of any match in the Carling Cup is scored with a header, then SportingBet will refund all lost bets on the First Scorer, Anytime Scorer, Correct Score and Scorecast bets which have been place on that match. So, that provides some pretty good coverage, and the refund will come as a free bet with a maximum of £25 back per bet. This is great, because you still have time to open an account with the bookie, before the end of October. They are currently running an increased welcome offer for new account holders. Whereas the standard FREE bet when opening a SportingBet account is £25, at the moment, until October 31st, it has been doubled. That means you can get a FREE £50 in this great first matched bet offer with this highly recommended online bookmaker.

Carling Cup Tuesday Odds at SportingBet

Man Utd 2/7, Draw 15/4, Wolves 8/1
Birmingham 2/5. Draw 33/10, Brentford 11/2
Ipswich 4/9, Draw 11/4, Northampton 6/1
Wigan 19/20, Draw 11/5, Swansea City 13/5
Leicester 5/4, Draw 23/10, West Brom 5/4

Carling Cup Outright Betting at SportingBet

Manchester United 15/8
Arsenal 11/4
Aston Villa 6/1
Birmingham 9/1
Newcastle United 12/1
West Ham United 18/1
Stoke City 20/1
West Brom 28/1

It’s been a week of shocks in the Carling Cup, although it should probably come as no surprise to see big Premier League teams go crashing out when they play weakened sides in this competition. It was certainly the case with Liverpool on Wednesday night when Roy Hodgson fielded a youthful side against Northampton and it was the League Two side who went through on penalties.

It was a similar story the evening before when another Merseyside team lost to a team many positions lower than them in the football league ladder. Everton had been no bigger than 2/5 to win at Griffin Park, although the Toffees are one of several Premier League teams to leave the competition at this stage.

With Tottenham Hotspur, Manchester City, Blackburn Rovers, Chelsea, Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland also out of the Carling Cup, holders Manchester United are now 9/4 chances with William Hill to retain this trophy after winning 5-2 at Scunthorpe. It had appeared as though a potential shock could be on the cards when the Iron struck to go 1-0 in front, although the Red Devils rallied to win comfortably.

Arsenal have also been slashed in the betting, with Coral going 3/1 about the youthful Gunners going all the way and Arsene Wenger actually played a half-decent team that won 4-1 after extra-time at Tottenham on Tuesday night. The sponsors would like nothing better than to see them play Manchester United in the final.

However, sometimes the draw doesn’t work out like that and Aston Villa now have a chance to win some long-awaited silverware after so many Premier League clubs have gone crashing out. Gerard Houllier won’t believe his eyes that the way has been paved clear and we should remember that the Villans reached the Carling Cup final last season. They are 9/1 with Coral to go one better this time around.

Midlands rivals Birmingham City will also fancy their chances of a long run in this competition after beating MK Dons on Tuesday and the Blues are a best price 16/1 with Boylesports to win the Carling Cup, while West Brom beat Manchester City on Wedneday and can now be backed at 33/1 with Stan James to be the successful team from the west Midlands. Wolves are also still in the cup and they are 22/1 with Boylesports.

West Ham United produced a surprise when winning at Sunderland and Ladbrokes go 25/1 that they give their supporters something to cheer about this term, while north-east rivals Newcastle go from strength to strength after a win at Chelsea and the Magpies are a 16/1 chance with Stan James. Stoke City are 20/1 with Boylesports and Wigan are the other top flight team remaining in the Carling Cup, with the Latics on offer at 25/1 with Blue Square.