Carling Cup Preview
The League Cup has in recent seasons been littered with so-called giant killings, as Premiership clubs' team selections have reflected the diminishing priority of the competition within their busy schedules. Sky's cameras are at Chesterfield's Saltergate home on Tuesday night, scenting another victim, in the shape of beleaguered West Ham.
Halloween is just around the corner but Alan Pardew must already be having nightmares. On Sunday he witnessed his side slump to their seventh successive defeat, thereby falling into the relegation zone. Despite the double signing of Argentine internationals, Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, the Hammers have failed to score in 630 minutes of competitive football, and the vultures are beginning to circle. The wildly celebrated arrival of the South Americans in East London has actually had a negative impact on the pitch, and if that wasn't enough for the embattled Irons take-over rumours have further rocked the boat. Pardew now heads the Premiership sacking race, little better than even money to be the first head to roll, and pundits believe a defeat here could cause the blade to fall.
West Ham are chronically short of confidence, with performances a far cry from the form that took the club to last season's FA Cup final. The Spireites will be acutely aware of the visitors vulnerability, as will the 9,000 fans that will pack their tiny ground, expecting a repeat of the heroics in the previous round when they dumped out Manchester City (also of the Premiership). Despite all of this bad karma, Pinnacle Sports has West Ham as favourites 1.90 (-0.5 & -1) with the League One outfit 1.943 (+0.5 & +1). Take a close look at team news for this one, as given the circumstances Pardew may well put out a full strength side seeking a confidence-boosting win, which might also loosen the noose around his neck.
The pick of Tuesday's other Carling Cup fixtures must be at the Walkers Stadium, where the Midlands' Derby between Leicester and Aston Villa has the added spice of Martin O'Neill's return to the club he managed for five largely successful years. The Villans are the only unbeaten Premiership side, playing with increasing confidence under O'Neill's tutelage. The Foxes have been on a slide ever since parting company with the Irishman, but are currently on a seven game unbeaten run, and certainly capable of an upset, as when shocking Spurs in last season's FA Cup. Pinnacle Sports price the Championship outfit 2.08 (+0.5) while the Claret and Blues are 1.855 (-0.5).
On Sunday afternoon Manchester United beat Liverpool watched by almost 76,000 fans at Old Trafford, but come Wednesday they will be slumming it at Gresty Road, as they take on Division One Crewe in the Carling Cup. This fixture is a re-run of two years ago, when the Red Devils ran out comfortable winners, with Alan Smith opening the scoring. Smith should feature again here as he continues his return to full-fitness after a horror broken-leg. In fact the United side could feature some other big names seeking match fitness after lengthy lay-offs, such as Gabriel Heinze and Mikael Silvestre in defence, and Ole Gunnar Solskjaer up front. Alex Ferguson may even be tempted to bring Wayne Rooney just to give the England star a chance to get back among the goals, as he has drawn a blank since the opening game of the season. Given the likely strength of the United line-up, Pinnacle Sports have them 1.87 (-1 & -1.5), with the home side 2.06 (+1 & +1.5).
The Railwaymen warmed up for the game by losing at home to Blackpool, continuing a five game run of fixtures featuring at least three goals. It will be a concern for Dario Gradi, facing the Premiership's top-scorers, that Crewe have already conceded 25 goals from their 15 league fixtures. Unsurprisingly Pinnacle Sports have priced over 2.5 goals at 1.794, which should see plenty of action.
