The Carling Cup will take the spotlight this week as Burnley, Derby County, Manchester United and Tottenham Hotspur do battle with a trip to Wembley at stake for everyone still involved. Tottenham Hotspur are of course the current holders of the Carling Cup and many fancy their chances of completing a quick fire double.
Manchester United are the competition favourites now that all the big guns have now been booted out by some of the smaller clubs. Both Burnley and Derby County are the surprise semi-finalists with both looking to secure European football if they are to progress into the final. They will both have to overcome Premiership opposition though if they are to get to Wembley.
Carling Cup Outright:
Manchester United 8/11 – BetFred
Tottenham Hotspur 15/8 – CORAL
Burnley 16/1 – Bet365
Derby County 25/1 – CORAL
Tottenham Hotspur V Burnley Tuesday 20:00 (Carling Cup – Semi-Final)
Tottenham are the defending champions and won’t want to relinquish that title now they have gotten this far. They have had to overcome both Liverpool and Watford to get as far as they have and will the see the draw against Burnley as a fantastic chance to make it all the way to the final once again. To do so they will need to put their poor run of result in the league behind them and concentrate fully on the task ahead as this won’t be an easy fixture by any stretch of the imagination.
Spurs failed to win any of their fixtures over the festive period and have now gone four matches without a win. They did however win comfortably last Friday when they beat Wigan Athletic in the FA Cup to secure progression into the next round. Their reward was a mouthwatering away tie at Manchester United. Very appealing to us neutrals but certainly the draw most Spurs fans didn’t want. Roman Pavlyuchenko scored twice in that 3-1 win over Wigan and that should do him the world of good going into this crucial fixture. He has failed to impress since his big money move from Russia and this could be a chance for him to show his worth to the manager.
Tottenham should really win this match and need to win as this is a two legged tie. They have been inconsistent at home in the league with a home record of 3-3-4 but if Harry does select a strong side, they should come through for us.
Burnley aren’t to be underestimated and merit a lot of respect going into this Semi-Final match with Spurs. After all, they did beat both Chelsea and Arsenal on the way. Burnley have also had a good season up till now and finished 2008 5th in the Championship. Their away record stands at 5-2-5 which looks alright but they haven’t faired too well at some of the bigger sides in the league. They suffered defeat at both Reading and Wolves while they lost their previous away fixture 2-1 to Doncaster. They don’t have a problem scoring as they have hit the net on no less then 19 times away from home so they are capable of breaking the Spurs rearguard.
The Burnley manager will almost certainly field a strong side as this could spell European football providing they get to the final itself. It’s all to play for but despite Burnley’s early heroics in the competition. We fancy them to come up short in this one.
Selection – Tottenham Hotspur at ½ Boylesports
Derby County V Manchester United Wednesday 20:00 (Carling Cup – Semi-final)
The first of a two legged tie takes place at Pride park on Wednesday with the Rams desperate to put their recent woes behind them and book a place in the Carling Cup final. The home leg for Derby will be crucial what with the return leg back at Old Trafford. You would feel that United would ease past Derby in Manchester so Derby need to take some sort of a lead into the second leg if they are to stand any chance of making it to the final.
If Derby’s recent form is anything to go by. The Rams don’t stand a chance. They have been woeful in the league winning just two of their last 12 league matches. Their win at the weekend in the FA Cup at Forest Green will only hide some of the massive cracks appearing at the club. Their poor run of form has lead to the departure of their manager Paul Jewell. They have found a suitable replacement in Nigel Clough who couldn’t of dreamt of harder fixture to start his Derby managerial career.
It would be an understatement to say that Derby have been dyer this season and have been really inconsistent at Pride park. 5-4-4 is their home record and they have won just two of their last six home fixtures in the league. Not the sort of form you would like behind you when you’re preparing to face the current champions of England. Nigel Clough would need to pull a hat out of the bag for Derby to claim the scalp of United despite the likelihood of Fergie fielding a weaker side then usual.
Manchester United are looking to secure just their 3rd league cup. That is surprising for a side that has won everything there is to win in club football. They last won this competition back in 2006 when they beat Wigan Athletic in the final 3-0. They have a fantastic opportunity to make it three with Tottenham the only other Premiership side left in the running. The are currently 8/11 with BetFred but were they to win over two legs, that would price would shrink greatly depending on their opponent in the final. Whichever team they face it shouldn’t matter as they are capable of going all the way and look a snip at 8/11 to win the Carling Cup once again.
Sir Alex Ferguson will probably give some of his fringe players a go for this fixture at Pride Park with the Premiership making a return on Saturday. The likes of Carlos Tevez, Luis Nani and Danny Welbeck could be handed a starting places with the latter looking very promising in their FA Cup fixture at Southampton on Sunday. He scored United’s opener and Fergie looks set to hand the youngster his second consecutive start. Carlso Tevez may also get a starting berth in a bid to settle the player down after speculation that forward is unhappy at the club.
Manchester United look a shoe in for the final and should see off a poor Derby County side. They have been a tad inconsistent away from home in the league with an away record of 4-4-2. Those defeats were to very good side but they are vulnerable to poor performance on the road despite how rare they are. The Red Devils have scored just nine away goals all season which is extremely poor by their own very high standards but they are facing a Derby side that are caoable of conceding a bucket load right now. Providing United field a respectable side on Wednesday they should safely progress to the final and win the first leg at pride Park.
Selection – Manchester United at ½ WilliamHill
Over / Under Predictor:
Tottenham Hotspur V Burnley – OVER
Both sides have the potential to score a few while both can certainly concede. Tottenham home goalscoring record of 7-7 may not back up my quote but they are playing a side that has conceded 21 on the road so Spurs shouldn’t find it too hard too find the net. Burnley have also scored 19 away from home and with Spurs defence still looking weak. They have every chance of making the score sheet.
Derby County V Manchester United – UNDER
If Manchester United play their strongest available side then they should walk this fixture but we highly doubt they will. This is not at the top of Sir Alex’s priority list and he will more then likely play some of his fringe players. This may well be a game you have to wait until the line ups are announced but if United do field a weaker side then normal then it has every chance of being a 1 or 2 goal game. Derby have managed to score 17 goals at home this season but they may well find scoring against United too much of a challenge to overcome. Has the potential to be a tight game.
