West Brom (Evens in the match betting) head to Ipswich in great heart after a 4-1 win over Everton at Goodison Park – following a performance manager Roberto Di Matteo described as ‘incredible’ – and should end the Championship’s final hope of lifting the Carling Cup (Ipswich 5/2 to win, 12/5 the draw) – providing the weather holds up.
That win matched the Bagies result in the fourth round at Leicester City, ending a five-match winless run since that game in the process, and the players should have the confidence to win on their travels and book their first semi-final place since 1982.
West Brom will be without midfielder Youssouf Mulumbu as he picked up a two-match ban following his second sending-off of the season at Everton at the weekend, while Jonas Olsson and Ishmael Miller are available through injury, but that should not matter against a team struggling for form in a lower division while contending with a whole host of absentees themselves.
The Baggies have certainly made an impression on their return to the top flight, beating Arsenal and Manchester City in what was a good start to the campaign, and although they suffered a recent blip, that win over Everton was just the tonic going into the Carling Cup quarter-final, having already beaten City in the competition as well.
Ipswich have hit a wall in the Championship, suffering four consecutive losses culminating in the 4-1 defeat at arch-rivals Norwich City on Sunday, and now lie just four points above the relegation zone.
The Tractor Boys have lost eight of their last 12 games and a number of injuries are not helping under-pressure manager Roy Keane, who is having to cope without Gareth McAuley, Mark Kennedy, Connor Wickham, Luke Hyam and Tom Eastman.
Defender Damien Delaney is also suspended for the West Brom visit, while goalkeeper Marton Fulop is a doubt after picking up an ankle injury in Sunday’s debacle at Carrow Road.
Di Matteo’s men can take advantage of the injury crisis at Portman Road (4/5 Over 2.5 goals) but they have kept only one clean sheet on the road this season (7/10 Both teams to score) – and that was at Leyton Orient in round two of this competition.
There will be another West Midlands side in the semi-finals as Birmingham City (11/8 in the match betting) host arch-rivals Aston Villa (2/1 to win) also on Wednesday night, but this looks a tougher match to call.
Villa have had the better of the derby in recent times, unbeaten in seven games and winning six of them, and the 2/1 looks tempting, but they have struggled for form under new boss Gerard Houllier.
The Villans have only won one of their last nine games in the Premier League – a 3-2 win over a much-changed Blackpool side – and despite a superb performance in a 2-2 draw against Manchester United, back-to-back defeats have seen the club slip below City in the table.
The Blues have struggled for goals this term and have found it hard to win games (drawing eight) but they have made themselves tough to beat at St Andrew’s – winning three, drawing three and losing just once.
They have home advantage for the fourth time in the Carling Cup and could just make it count, particularly as boss Alex McLeish is set to field a stronger side than in previous rounds.
There will be no Alexander Hleb as he has been ruled out with a hamstring problem, not that he has set the world alight so far in his loan spell at the club, but top scorer Craig Gardner (9/1 First Goalscorer) could return following an ankle problem.
The teams have met this season and fought out a goalless draw at Villa Park and another tight encounter should be expected with under 2.5 goals a favourite at 4/6.
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