On Sky
Now for a cup run. The painful memories of Brighton, September 2008 and Forest, January 2009 are still fresh in many Blues minds and it’s time for them to be erased…
Vital Quotes:
Neil Warnock, Palace gaffer:
‘Man City fans have had it rough over the years and I think it’s great the foreign owners have come in and supported a British manager. Everyone talks about the pressure he’s under, but I think he’ll be loving it.
‘To be able to sign these quality players with the money he’s got is exciting and good luck to him…it’s a great thing for the club and for Manchester because all of a sudden there’s two teams in Manchester and looking from afar I think it’s fantastic.’
‘If we defend like we did in the first 15 minutes against Newcastle, I would think we’ll be looking at double figures, so we know we can’t defend like that to have any chance whatsoever of an upset. And we don’t really want to be three or four nil down at half time, but it will be a good challenge to see if we can give a game to a team like that.’
Sparky:
“There is expectation but we are enjoying that and the Carling Cup is the next match on the agenda. We are looking to do well in the competition especially as we have not got Europe this year so we have one fewer trophy at which to aim.”
“It is a difficult tie. We know that any side of Mr Warnock’s will have a certain way of playing and a certain attitude about them which is a reflection of the manager. It is not going to be easy, far from it. We are not going to take the tie lightly.”
“We will go there with a strong side. There are two views on these things. You can possibly give game time to guys that need it because we are so early in the season and maybe some of them need a little bit more actual playing time. On the other hand you can say let’s be really strong and hopefully start really well and get the game put to bed and then you make changes and give people opportunities. So there are two schools of thought and I know which one I am erring towards….everyone will find out tonight.
“We are not in bad shape injury wise. And they have all already been told how important we regard this tie and this competition.”
Crystal Palace Team News:
Doubts remain over the fitness of ‘keeper Julian Speroni who missed last Saturday’s home defeat to Newcastle. Darryl Flahavan will be called upon again if Speroni’s throat injury persists. New signing, the young Saints winger Ryan Smith could make his debut.
Player to watch: Darren Ambrose
The ex Newcastle and Charlton attacking midfielder has been in sound form so far this season. He’s bagged four goals to date, two of which came at the expense of Torquay United in the previous round.
Manchester CITY Team News:
Mark Hughes’ increasingly robust looking squad might be juggled a little for this fixture should the City manager deem it right to rest a couple of minor injuries. Gollum Moyes’ Chistmas Card list absentee Joleon Lescott will not feature.
City from: Given, Zabaleta, Dunne, Toure, Ben Haim, Onuoha, Bridge, De Jong, Barry, Ireland, Wright-Phillips, Weiss, Robinho, Adebayor, Bellamy, Tevez, Richards, Garrido, Etuhu, Vidal, McGivern, Petrov, Benjani, Taylor.
Player to watch: Shaun Wright-Phillips
Keep an eye on Wrighty. He’s had a relatively quiet pre season by his high standards but is clearly running into form at just the right time. Palace’s defenders could be in for a bit of SWP trickery and terrorising!
City’s Number 8 needs one goal to take his combined personal record of goals for City and Chelsea to 50.
Match Facts & Stats
The Citizens have been knocked out at this stage of the Carling Cup no less than 3 times in the last 4 seasons!
Palace are aiming to knock out a top flight club for the first time since 2005 when they beat Liverpool.
Head To Head: 46 Games.
City wins: 20, Palace wins: 14, draws: 12.
Ref Watch:
Darren Deadman, Cheshunt:
2008-2009 record:
Games: 37, Yellow Cards: 113 Red Cards: 7
A lower league ref yet to referee a Premier League side according to the Vital MC vaults. Quite a yellow flourisher averaging 3 per game last season.
Match Prediction:
High time a City side went for the jugular on the road in a cup competition. City’s travelling army will be looking to Sparky to field a City side which affords no respect and get’s the job done quickly. And so it should be. Johnny On The Spot? Palace 0, CITY 4
Next Fixtures:
Sun 30 Aug, 1.30pm Sailors Time: Portsmouth v CITY, Premier League.
Sat 12 Sep, 3.00pm Eastlands Time:
CITY v Arsenal, Premier League.