Tag Archives: stun

Whites to stun Saints

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There are five Capital One Cup fourth round games on Tuesday night with Reading versus Arsenal the one match chosen for TV coverage on SKY. Here we preview the other four games taking place across the country (match prices).

Leeds v Southampton

Leeds (6/4 to win) were impressive in despatching an in-form Everton at Elland Road in the last round however they have faltered since that night. Neil Warnock’s side have won only one of their last five Championship matches – though defeat to Birmingham last time out was their first loss in eight in all competitions.

The trio of Lee Peltier, Rodolph Austin and Michael Tonge all face fitness tests, while Leeds will be without Ryan Hall as he is ineligible having featured for Southend earlier in the competition.

Southampton (7/4 to win, draw 12/5) are making the trip to West Yorkshire having lost to Tottenham at the weekend, which was their seventh defeat in nine games. The Saints will take heart from the fact they controlled the second half and should have really taken something from the game.

Forward Tadanari Lee is in contention to play at Elland Road having recovered from an elbow injury, while Frazer Richardson is back and could play against his former club. The Saints have lost all four games on the road and if Leeds can reproduce the form at Elland Road they showed against Everton it could be a long evening for Southampton.

Sunderland v Middlesbrough

It’s a north-east derby at the Stadium of Light and Sunderland manager Martin O’Neill seems set to make changes following their goalless draw with Stoke at the weekend. The Black Cats have struggled for goals so far this season, with six draws and only one win from their opening eight league games.

Middlesbrough will be full of confidence as they have won four games on the trot and climbed the Championship table. Merouane Zemmama is back from a hamstring problem but Jonathan Woodgate and Marvin Emnes face late fitness tests.

Boro have won their first three rounds away from the Riverside and could have enough to defeat a depleted Sunderland in a feisty derby encounter (Sunderland 4/6, draw 13/5, Middlesbrough 9/2).

Swindon v Aston Villa

Swindon could fancy their chances of shocking Premier League side Aston Villa, who have only won one league game so far this season and scored only seven goals. Paolo Di Canio’s side beat second-placed Stevenage 4-0 away at the weekend, ending their opponent’s 18-match unbeaten home run. Swindon can county Premier League Stoke and two Championship sides among their Capital One Cup victims already this season.

Villa did shock Manchester City in the last round of the Capital One Cup but confidence remains low around the club and, in total, its only two wins in 25 league games. Swindon have scored at least three goals in all their League Cup ties this season and, given their opponents leaky defence, Di Canio will fancy goals at the County Ground (Swindon 12/5, draw 12/5, Villa 11/10).

Wigan v Bradford

Wigan (2/7 to win) got their first home win of the season against West Ham at the weekend and Roberto Martinez will hope that confidence boost will see them through against Bradford. The League Two side are the lowest-ranked club left in the cup and went down 1-0 to Burton Albion on Saturday.

Martinez is likely to turn to Mauro Boselli, who has got three Capital One Cup games this season and bagged a hat-trick in the reserves. Bradford’s loss at Burton was their fourth away defeat, and it would require a huge effort to pull off a shock at the DW Stadium.

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Can Chelsea stun Barca again?

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Chelsea face probably the biggest test in club football on Tuesday when they take on Barcelona in their Champions League semi-final second leg at the Nou Camp but will they be able to pull off one of the greatest results in their history by knocking out the Catalan giants?

Since taking temporary charge, Roberto Di Matteo has significantly enhanced his chances of getting the Stamford Bridge job on a permanent basis with some eye-catching results.

The 1-0 first-leg win last week has been THE stand-out score during his fairly brief tenure but if the Blues can secure a place in the Champions League final and knock out Barca on their own ground then that result alone could go along way to seeing him get the job in the summer (Barcelona 1/5, Chelsea 9/1, draw 9/2 – match odds).

Barcelona may have dominated possession, territory and created by far the greater amount of chances in the first game but Didier Drogba’s goal against the run of play in London has given Chelsea the edge in the tie whatever way you look at it.

They now head to Spain knowing a draw or even a 2-1 defeat will see them through to a place in Munich next month – and plenty of pundits and fans alike believe the Premier League side can finish the job.

Barca did everything but score last week, hitting the frame of the goal twice, while Lionel Messi and co failed to convert the numerous clear opportunities that would have given them the vital away goal. Chelsea know they are likely to face an attacking barrage once again at the Nou Camp so a mighty defensive rearguard will be needed once more.

However, keeping Xavi, Andres Iniesta, Pedro and Alexis Sanchez (11/8 to score anytime) quiet is one of the toughest jobs in the game, without even considering what three-time world player of the year Messi (2/1 – First/Last goalscorer) can do, so the Londonders are sure to be up against it.

Barca had in excess of 70% posession in the first leg and if Chelsea let them dominate to that extent again then Pep Guardiola’s side are set to come out on top overall, even though the visitors are sure to try and implement a gameplan to try and hurt their opponents on the break.

Real Madrid showed the Blues how to do it when they came away with a 2-1 win in Saturday’s El Clasico but the La Liga leaders certainly have more attacking threat, compared to Chelsea, in their side to make an impact at the Nou Camp.

If Barca fail to score in the first half then Chelsea’s hopes will rise considerably but, as tempting as it is to believe the Premier League side can come out on top, Guardiola’s men are too good to lose three on the bounce and their superiority should finally tell to break Di Matteo and his side’s heart.

Second-leg Prediction – Barcelona 2-0 Chelsea (11/2).

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