Carling Cup & FA Cup Holders Prepare To Lock Horns

Championship side and current Carling Cup holders, Birmingham City travel to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to face last seasons FA Cup winners, Manchester City.

Roberto Mancini is expected to make at least half a dozen changes to the side that started against Fulham on Sunday with Owen Hargreaves almost certain to make his City debut.

Vital Quotes:

Roberto Mancini



Chris Hughton

Manchester City Team News:

Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli, Kolo Toure and Adam Johnson could all start as Roberto Mancini looks to give full matches to a number of players, including Stefan Savic and Costel Pantilimon who are set to make their full debuts.

Nigel de Jong (foot) is still out but James Milner, who missed last week’s draw with Fulham after a clash of heads, could return.

Player to watch: Kolo Touré

Kolo Touré is expected to return to his central defensive duties following his six month suspension.

Birmingham City Team News:

Birmingham is expected to rest key players given the fixture congestion caused by their participation in the Europa League.

Striker Adam Rooney is expected to replace Marlon King in attack.

Player to watch: Adam Rooney

Birmingham signed former Inverness Caledonian Thistle striker Adam Rooney on a two-year-deal in June 2011.

In the 2010/11 season he netted 21 goals in 42 games for the Scottish side in the top flight. In total Rooney scored 44 goals in 103 appearances for Inverness.

So far this season the 23-year-old Republic of Ireland born striker has scored twice in four Championship appearances.

Match Facts & Stats

The clubs have met twice before in the League Cup, with each side bizarrely enjoying one emphatic win apiece.

City 6-0 Birmingham
10 October 2001
Darren Huckerby(10,25,81,89)
Tresor Luntala(og 15)
Shaun Goater(54)

Birmingham 6-0 City
11 December 1962
Goal scorer details not available.

Ref Watch:

Referee – Kevin Friend
Assistants – Scott Ledger and Andy Newbold
Fourth Official – Mark Brown

Match Prediction:

Last Sunday’s Fulham prediction was way off the mark therefore I’ll sit on the fence for this one just in case I embarrass myself again.

Oh sod it, City to win by two clear goals.

Next Fixtures:

Barclays Premier League
Saturday 24 September
Everton (H)
12:45 Kick off
Live on Sky Sports