Round Four of the Carling League Cup sees Championship side Scunthorpe United in town for a game that City are eager to win…
Vital Quotes:
Mark Hughes:
‘I’ve gone strong in terms of team selection in the previous rounds and I see no reason why we should change that. The injuries will affect the selection. There might be a few senior players who haven’t had a lot of football of late, we might introduce them. But there won’t be a raft of changes. We want to progress in the competition and it’s important that we do.’
VMC City Video Link: The boss previews Scunthorpe tie
Nigel Adkins:
Press conference quotes to follow…
Shay Given:
‘The games we were winning 1-0 and 2-0 earlier in the season came from clean sheets, and we have to get back to that and hopefully we will. Myself, the defenders and the team as a whole as a unit want to be defending better because clean sheets give you a great base.’
Manchester CITY Team News:
Sparky is highly likely to reshuffle his pack due to a number of enforced absences. Martin Petrov and Kolo Toure have both had scans this week and are in contention for Birmingham next Sunday, but not against Scunthorpe.
Out: Robinho (ankle) who is resting up in Brazil, Nedum Onuoha (thigh), Benjani (thigh) Martin Petrov (knee), Kolo Toure (heel).
Doubtful: Wayne Bridge (knee), Roque Santa Cruz (tonsilitis).
Pablo Zabaleta is back in the frame after a one match ban and Seamus is in line to take the Captain’s arm band in Toure’s absence.
Player to watch: Vincent Kompany
Vinny is back in amongst it and almost back to full fitness after recovering from the toe injury he battled through for the cause last season.
It will be interesting to see how the classy Belgian international responds to his first full start and how his solidity impacts upon the team.
Scunthorpe United Team News:
Scunthorpe striker Gary Hooper remains sidelined with foot knack but defender David Mirfin could return after sickness.
A handful of Iron players are said to be carrying knocks following their 3-0 thumping at Peterborough last time out.
Player to watch: Grant McCann
West Ham Academy graduate and Iron midfield general McCann is a Northern Ireland international and will need to be watched closely by Gareth Barry and Nigel De Jong or Stephen Ireland.
Match Facts & Stats
The Blues have beaten Scunny in all four of the club’s meetings. 21 City goals have been racked up in that time including a Fatty Fowler FA Cup hat-trick in January 2006.
Former hatstand and passionate City manager Mad Kevin Keegan began his sensational career at Scunthorpe.
To date, all three of The Blues October fixtures have been score draws.
Scunthorpe arrive in Manchester having lost their last three away fixtures.
TICKET NEWS:
The entrance fee for all under 16’s will be one pound with reduced prices for adults:
VMC City Link: Half Term Get’s Top Marks
Scunthorpe United confirm that they have sold 3,500 of their 6,000 allocation, eclipsing Fulham’s 91 visiting supporters in the last round by a fair old distance.
Tickets for Scunny fans will also be available right up to kick off.
Ref Watch:
Michael Oliver, Northumberland
Mr. Oliver will be well familiar to Scunthorpe and their fans. He has already reffed them once this season in their 0-2 home defeat to Middlesbrough during which he booked five Iron players!
He also officiated their last fixture of last season at Northampton, and their Wembley play off victory over Millwall which ended 2-3 in the Iron’s favour. Scunny’s Mark Halsey? He certainly likes his yellows.
This season’s record to date…Games: 12, Yellow Cards: 41, Red Cards: 2
Match Prediction:
This is another game that City should aim to finish quickly. But as we saw at Crystal Palace and at home to Fulham in previous rounds, we can expect Scunthorpe to be no pushover as their wins over Sheffield United and Newcastle have already shown this season. That said, I fully expect City to see this through with plenty to spare with our first clean sheet in a few games. Johnny On The Spot: CITY 4 Scunthorpe 0.
Next Fixtures:
A: Birmingham City Sun 1 Nov 1600 GMT
H: Burnley, Sat 7 Nov 1500 GMT
A: Liverpool, Sat 21 Nov 1245 GMT
H: Hull City, Sat 28 Nov 1500 GMT