Carling Cup: Previews of tonight’s matches
The Carling Cup action will continue tonight after a goals galore last night as six more teams embark on their journey in the English League Cup.
Aston Villa vs. Blackburn
In an all Premier League showdown, Aston Villa will welcome Blackburn Rovers at the Villa Park tonight in what promises to be an all action thriller. Villa had knocked Rovers out of the same competition at the semi-final stage last season. That defeat will
be fresh in the minds of the Blackburn players and they would be looking to avenge it.
But since then, Villa have lost their inspirational manager, Martin O’Neil and have been struggling in the league this season. This will be Gerrard Houllier’s first game as in charge of the Villains and he will be aiming to mark his re-entry into English
football but he surely knows that Rovers won’t be any pushovers tonight. His team will have to give it their all if they are to emerge victorious from the tie.
Chelsea vs. Newcastle
This would be the second all Premier League clash of the night. Newcastle will come to Stamford Bridge to play what will be the 7th Cup clash between the two sides since the turn of the millennium. The Blues have not lost to the Toons in their last 12 meetings
and it remains to be seen if this will be the lucky number 7 for the magpies or unlucky number 13 for the Blues.
Chelsea’s form, this season, has been scary for all their rivals as they have left every opponent of theirs bloodily bruised. In the league, Chelsea have won their last 10 fixtures and along the way have scored 38 goals and conceded just 1. Newcastle will
be well aware of this fact and would be looking to put a spanner in the works of Ancelotti’s men but the task seems to be just impossible for the newly promoted side.
West Brom vs. Manchester City
Manchester City will begin their journey in the Carling Cup after being knocked out of the competition at the semi final stage last season by Manchester United. The trip away to West Brom looks not that difficult for the imperiously rich, City, but Carling
Cup has a history of surprises and a giant killing in the competition can never be ruled out.
Liverpool vs. Northampton
It is the biggest mismatch of this round as the lowest ranked team takes on a European giant. Northampton will be playing the biggest match in their 113-year history as they welcome the Merseyside Reds.
The cobblers will be looking to cause a third upset in as many matches as in the previous two rounds they have defeated a team ranked higher than them. They won their match against Gus Poyet’s Brighton and Hove Albion in the first round and then beat a Championship
side in Reading 4-2. But to ask for a victory in tonight’s game will be too much to ask from the team. Still, the fans will be in a joyous mood as they think it’s a one in a lifetime opportunity.
Wigan vs. Preston
Preston North End will travel to DW Stadium tonight to take on Wigan in the Carling Cup tonight. They have been woeful this season and are already speculated to be struggling with relegation while their opponents tonight also have not been tearing many trees
in the Premier League.
They have had a woeful start to the season and are themselves stuck in the bottom three but a defeat tonight at the hands of Championship strugglers will spell doomsday for the club.
Scunthorpe vs. Manchester United
United would begin their title defense away at League One’s Scunthorpe and Sir Alex Ferguson is expected to play a youthful side. He has also promised to give his new summer signing, Bebe, a debut in a Unite shirt.
United have never played Scunthorpe in a competitive fixture ever and after winning the completion twice in as many years, they would be looking to match the Liverpool side of the early 80s, that won the English League Cup for four times in a row
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