Arsenal may find it difficult to recover from this disastrous day

Powered by Guardian.co.ukThis article titled “Arsenal may find it difficult to recover from this disastrous day” was written by Richard Williams at Wembley, for The Guardian on Sunday 27th February 2011 22.50 UTC

At the final whistle Arsenal’s players stood, sat or knelt on the lush emerald turf like figures in a tableau of despair. Motionless, traumatised, suddenly drained of the last vestiges of belief and hope and even pride, they looked dismayingly like Bayern Munich after Manchester United had finished with the German side at the Camp Nou in 1999.

Jack Wilshere hit the crossbar here and Robin van Persie was the author of one of the most beautiful goals ever scored in a Wembley final – surely, at least, the best ever scored by a player on the losing side – but Tomas Rosicky’s bungled attempt to backheel a clear chance into the net with 10 minutes left somehow epitomised Arsenal’s display on an evening when they failed in the attempt to win their first trophy since 2005.

So stunning was the defeat that they will find it difficult to recover their morale, although the press of events in the Premier League and the European Cup over the coming weeks may serve to take their minds off a disastrous day. Pointing to the enforced absence of Cesc Fábregas, Thomas Vermaelen and Theo Walcott will not help. A club with Arsenal’s ambitions and resources – they have 19 players out on loan – should have acquired the capacity to ride such misfortunes.

On paper, this was a mismatch: thoroughbreds versus mongrels. Of such contrasts are cup classics made, and in the eyes of more than one neutral the two sides produced arguably the best football match yet seen at the new Wembley. To make it so, the occasion required not just Birmingham City’s honest effort, dogged persistence and resilient structure but Arsenal’s insecurity and anxiety, a neurosis born of the weight of the expectation, conscious or otherwise, that they would ease their way to victory by virtue of their superior class.

It would not be too harsh to suggest that Arsenal got exactly what they and their manager deserved for a performance that began with the most blatant piece of undeserved good fortune, contained enough individual mistakes to fill an entire season and ended with the sort of defending that a team produces when not enough attention is paid to constructing a side equally strong and self-confident in all areas.

Of course they had their moments. At half-time, with the score at one apiece, it was tempting to feel that had Lee Bowyer been wearing the Arsenal No7 shirt, rather than the ineffectual Rosicky, the north London side would be two or three goals up and on the way to ending that wait for another trophy.

Yet they should have been a goal, and a man, down after two minutes, when a fine pass from Keith Fahey found Nikola Zigic. The angular 6ft 7in Serb, whose control with his feet is customarily wayward enough to make Peter Crouch look like Alfredo di Stefano, played what may have been the best pass of his entire career, a delightfully perceptive and carefully weighted ball for Bowyer, who ran smoothly on to it with only the goalkeeper to beat and was promptly upended by Wojciech Szczesny, only to be given offside, quite wrongly. A correct decision would inevitably have led to the goalkeeper’s expulsion.

The West Midlanders did not dwell on the injustice but profited from the knowledge of their opponents’ vulnerability. Arsenal’s defenders were never comfortable with the threat of Zigic, who scored Birmingham’s goal in the visitors’ 2-1 defeat at the Emirates Stadium in October. Szczesny, who lacks only two inches of the Serb’s height, could not get close to him when Roger Johnson headed a corner back towards the six-yard box, and Birminghan took the lead.

Arsenal had started to put their attacking game together but they discovered Ben Foster in a mood to show what Manchester United and England missed. Of the goalkeeper’s nine saves, the last two were truly exceptional. When Nicklas Bendtner’s shot was deflected in the 76th minute, Foster was already diving but reacted by throwing up a hand to turn the ball aside. Four minutes later he flew to his left to tip away Samir Nasri’s goalbound drive.

In the absence of Fábregas, Nasri had been expected to provide the goalscoring threat from Arsenal’s midfield. But rather than attempting the sort of incisive dribbles that often reached their climax with a goal in the first half of the season, he tended to loiter on the fringe of the Birmingham penalty area before transferring the ball and the responsibility to a team‑mate.

Andrey Arshavin, whose dribble ended with the cross that Van Persie volleyed home before the interval, was more incisive, and it came as a surprise when the Russian was withdrawn, rather than the pallid Rosicky, to make way for Marouane Chamakh in the closing stages.

“We have to take a lot of pride and encouragement for the challenges ahead,” Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, said, having witnessed a collapse less protracted but potentially more damaging than the tossing away of a 4-0 lead at St James’ Park three weeks ago. Wilshere was one of the few Arsenal players to emerge with credit, going about his work neatly and unobtrusively alongside the dreadfully inaccurate Alex Song. It was his uncharacteristic error, however, that led to the opening from which Fahey hit the post early in the second half.

Birmingham City will not waste too much time on sympathy for Arsenal and their six-year search for something new to put in the trophy cabinet. For the winners, ignoring the Leyland Daf Cup and the Auto Windscreens Shield, the result ended a drought going all the way back to 1963 – between Lady Chatterley and the Beatles’ first LP, as a certain West Midlands poet might have put it.

guardian.co.uk © Guardian News & Media Limited 2010

Published via the Guardian News Feed plugin for WordPress.

Never Mind The Bollocks….Arsenal Will Win Carling Cup

SEX PISTOLS’ star, John ‘Johnny Rotten’ Lydon is backing red hot Carling Cup favourites Arsenal by staking a £500 bet on them to lift the trophy – with the potential £625 returns to be donated to the Holidays4Heroes charity. ‘The Sex Pistols permitted William Hill to use their hit record ‘Pretty Vacant’ in an ad campaign and the £500 bet was part of the deal’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Never Mind The Bollcks

ARSENAL will cost bookies millions if they win all four trophies they are still contesting, and William Hill have slashed their odds from a pre-season 1000/1 to 100/1 to score an unprecedented Quadruple. ‘After a trophy drought for several years Arsenal fans are convinced this is their year and we already face a seven figure payout which could ride to eight if they get trophy number one under their belt. Punters are betting up to £500 a time on them to win all four trophies’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe,

ARSENAL TO WIN QUADRUPLE – 100/1; TO WIN NOTHING – 9/2
TO WIN CARLING CUP….1/4 Arsenal; 11/4 Birmingham.
TO WIN IN 90m……6/10 Arsenal; 12/5 draw; 6/1 Birmingham
TO WIN IN EXTRA TIME….12/1 Arsenal; 25/1 Birmingham;
MATCH TO GO TO PENALTY SHOOT OUT…10/1
TO WIN ON PENALTY SHOOT OUT…14/1 Arsenal; 16/1 Birmingham.
COME FROM BEHIND TO WIN – 7/1 Arsenal; 18/1 Birmingham.
BOTH SIDES TO SCORE IN 90m – 19/20 Yes; 4/5 No.
WIN BOTH HALVES….13/5 Arsenal; 20/1 Birmingham.
BIRMINGHAM ARE 20/1 WITH HILLS TO WIN CARLING CUP AND BE RELEGATED.

William Hill Carling Cup Final Specials :

*Russian Roulette:
Arshavin to score in the first 36 minutes – 6/1
*Alexander the Great
Hleb to score the last goal in a Birmingham win – 50/1
*Swan Song
Alex Song to score last goal in an Arsenal win – 25/1
*Return of Chamakh
Marouane Chamakh to come on as a substitute & score – 4/1
*Carr Crash
Stephen Carr to score an own goal – 33/1
*Take Abou Son
Abou Diaby to score from outside the box – 12/1
*Gardening Leave
Craig Gardner to be sent off – 25/1
*Going For A Song
Alex Song to be sent off – 33/1
*Jack & the Beanstalk
Jack Wilshere & Nikola Zigic both to score at any time – 22/1
*Tired Old Clichy
Gael Clichy to be subbed off – 9/4
********90 minutes only************

**Nationality of First Scorer
English 8/11
French 6/4
Dutch 11/4
Danish 5/1
Moroccan 5/1
Spanish 11/2
Russian 6/1
Nigerian 8/1
Czech 9/1
Serbian 9/1
Brazilian 16/1
Belarussian 20/1
Cameroonian 20/1
Chilean 25/1
Irish 25/1
Ivorian 33/1
Scottish 33/1
Swiss 33/1

Carling Cup Review and Wednesday Betting Preview

Arsenal thrashed Spurs 4-1 in Extra-Time last night in the Carling Cup. Samir Nasri scored two penalties in extra-time to help Arsenal to a 4-1 victory over north London rivals Tottenham in the third round of the Carling Cup.

ARSENAL are now 6/1 fourth favourites for the Carling Cup with William Hill after knocking out Spurs. Hills make Chelsea 4/1 favourites and also offer 5/1 Man U; 11/2 Man C; 8 Liverpool; 14 Villa; 16 Birmingham; 20 West Ham ;Wolves. Brentford are 100/1.



Everton crashed out in London, beaten 4-3 in a penalty shoot-out by League One strugglers Brentford after a 1-1 draw over 90 minutes. Jermaine Beckford and Phil Jagielka failed from 12 yards for David Moyes’ men. It could be a tricky period for Moyes if Everton don’t improve soon.

Bolton boss Owen Coyle endured a miserable evening on his return to former club Burnley, Wade Elliott scoring the only goal for the home side. Bolton out. Coyle was predictably abused all night by the Turf Moor faithful, who saw Elliott’s 45th-minute volley pushed out by goalkeeper Adam Bogdan only for referee Mark Clattenburg to award the goal on the advice of his linesman.

Birmingham enjoyed a comfortable passage into the next round after scoring three goals in four first-half minutes to beat MK Dons 3-1 at St Andrews. Alexander Hleb, Nikola Zigic and Craig Gardner put the result beyond doubt by the 28th minute, with Dons substitute Aaron Wilbraham deservedly bagging a late consolation for the League One side.

Tamas Priskin and Gareth McAuley gave Ipswich a 2-1 victory over Millwall at the New Den. Priskin struck his third goal of the season in the 23rd minute and defender McAuley doubled the lead before the break. Steve Morison pulled one back in the second half but Ipswich held off a late onslaught to reach the fourth round for the first time in eight years.

Championship outfit Swansea also joined the last-16 line-up as a hat-trick from former Chelsea winger Scott Sinclair accounted for League One pacesetters Peterborough at London Road. Craig Mackail-Smith scored Peterborough’s goal in their 3-1 home defeat. First-half goals from Michael Morrison and Lloyd Dyer saw Leicester advance at the expense of 10-man Portsmouth. A late Liam Lawrence goal set up a tense finale at Fratton Park following Richard Hughes’ straight red card, but Leicester held on.

Headers from Danny Higginbotham and Kenwyne Jones secured Stoke’s 2-0 victory over Fulham at the Britannia Stadium. Higginbotham gave the Potters the lead in the 23rd minute, arriving at the far post to convert Matthew Etherington’s corner and Jones wrapped up the win with his third goal in three games 11 minutes from time.

Nigeria international Victor Obinna gave West Ham their first victory over Premier League opposition this season with a 2-1 win at Sunderland. The 23-year-old struck 14 minutes after the break after Sunderland’s record signing Asamoah Gyan had earlier cancelled out Frederic Piquionne’s opener for the visitors.

Wolves were given a scare by Notts County but came through 4-2 after extra-time at Molineux. Former West Brom striker Lee Hughes put Notts County ahead in the 57th minute, but a penalty from Nenad Milijas seven minutes from the end of regulation time forced the extra 30 minutes – after County defender Liam Chilvers had been sent off for hauling back Christophe Berra. Substitute Steven Fletcher put Wolves ahead for the first time two minutes into the added period, and Kevin Doyle gave them breathing space by making it 3-1. Kevin Smith replied for County but Doyle scored again with a minute remaining to remove any doubt.

Wednesdays Carling Cup Betting…..

Highest scoring game –

ODDS
Chelsea v Newcastle5/2
Scunthorpe v Man Utd11/4
Wigan v Preston4/1
West Brom v Man City5/1
Liverpool v Northampton7/1
Aston Villa v Blackburn8/1

Red Cards –

ODDS
None11/8
One13/10
Two or more11/4

Total penalties –
ODDS
None7/4
One13/8
Two or more13/8

All 90 minutes only.



Tuesday’s Football Betting, What’s The Point Of the Carling Cup?

Tuesday night is Carling cup night, which is always a competition in which punters need to be wary. This is a rather devalued competition with the big boys often fielding reserves, and results cannot be taken seriously. What is the point of the Carling cup?

Arsenal face Spurs, but would you turn up?

With that in mind I will not be getting involved, but there are some interesting games not least the London derby between Spurs and Arsenal, which is always a lively encounter, even in the Carling cup.

Harry Redknapp will give a debut to Brazilian midfielder Sandro tonight. The Spurs boss told the press that he would make widespread changes for this game as will Arsene Wenger, effectively making this the reserve game. I personally feel that the fans are being shortchanged and with so much football on the calendar isn’t it time the League Cup was scrapped?

Bolton manager Owen Coyle takes his team back to Burnley which adds a little spice to this encounter, but the Premier league side will surely come out on top, despite the probable widespread team changes.

Sunderland V West Ham is an encounter which will probably be played at full strength as these types of clubs target the Carling cup other possible avenue to win silverware. Sunderland should be West Ham who have endured an absolute nightmare in the Premier league so far this season. There is no value to be had in backing Sunderland so once again I shall abstain.

All in all there are 10 Carling cup ties this evening, which you get the feeling is rather a hindrance to the clubs involved. If you’re having about good look but for me it’s an absolute waste of time, the Carling cup!

Carling Cup Draw, Football Betting update…

Carling Cup Draw, First Act of  The new Football Season

Football betting Tips

Carling Cup Draw

The draw for Round 1 of this season’s Carling Cup has thrown up some excellent ties, including a repeat of the 1997 FA Cup semi-final.

Chesterfield will host Middlesbrough, in what could be their first match at their new home. The two sides have met in the League Cup since that famous FA Cup semi-final back in 1997, when they met two years later in Round 2 of the competition. The Spireites held the then Premier League side to a goalless draw at Saltergate before bowing out 2-1 at the Riverside Stadium.

Will Portsmouth, in the Premiership last season, be dumped out of the Carling Cup by Stevenage, in the Blue Square Premier last season, after the two were drawn together?……Hills make Portsmouth 4/9 and Stevenage 13/8 to knock them out.

Following the Carling Cup draw, bookmakers William Hill make Chelsea the 9/2 favourites and then offer: 6/1 Man Utd, 6/1 Man City, 9/1 Liverpool, 9/1 Arsenal, 10/1 Tottenham, 12/1 Aston Villa, 12/1 Everton, 20/1 Fulham, 25/1 Birmingham, 25/1 Sunderland, 33/1 Blackburn, 33/1 West Ham, 33/1 Stoke, 40/1 Bolton, 50/1 Newcastle, 50/1 West Brom, 50/1 Wigan, 50/1 Wolves, 80/1 Blackpool, 80/1 Nottingham Forest, 80/1 Burnley, 80/1 Middlesbrough, 80/1 QPR, 80/1 Reading,

100/1 Leeds, 100/1 Cardiff, 100/1 Bristol City, 100/1 Hull, 100/1 Portsmouth, 100/1 Norwich, 100/1 Swansea, 100/1 Ipswich, 100/1 Leicester, 100/1 Sheff Utd, 125/1 Derby, 150/1 Coventry, 150/1 Crystal Palace, 150/1 Preston, 200/1 Doncaster, 200/1 Millwall, 200/1 Barnsley, 250/1 Sheff Weds, 250/1 Southampton, 250/1 Scunthorpe, 300/1 Brighton, 300/1 Swindon, 300/1 Peterborough, 300/1 Notts County, 300/1 Huddersfield, 300/1 Charlton, 300/1 Plymouth, 400/1 MK Dons, 400/1 Colchester, 500/1 Oldham , 500/1 Walsall, 500/1 Rochdale, 500/1 Leyton Orient, 500/1 Carlisle, 750/1 Brentford, 750/1 Bristol Rovers, 750/1 Bournemouth, 750/1 Exeter, 750/1 Yeovil, 750/1 Tranmere, 750/1 Hartlepool,

1000/1 Gillingham, 1000/1 Northampton, 1000/1 Bradford, 1000/1 Rotherham, 1000/1 Chesterfield, 1000/1 Wycombe, 1000/1 Port Vale, 1000/1 Morecambe, 1000/1 Shrewsbury, 1000/1 Aldershot, 1000/1 Bury, 1000/1 Oxford, 1000/1 Crewe, 1000/1 Torquay, 1000/1 Southend, 1000/1 Stockport, 1000/1 Lincoln, 1000/1 Stevenage, 1000/1 Burton, 1000/1 Hereford, 1000/1 Cheltenham, 1000/1 Barnet, 1000/1 Accrington, 1000/1 Macclesfield.

Manchester United Win The Carling Cup

A great game saw us land a nice touch. Manchester United beat Aston Villa to win the Carling Cup- 2-1. Michael owen equalised an early Villa penalty then was replaced by Wayne Rooney.

Carling Cup

Owen and Rooney - Goal Scorers

Wayne Rooney’s superb second-half header won the Carling Cup final for Manchester United as they beat Aston Villa 2-1 in Sunday’s final at Wembley.

Football Betting

Rooney Scores Carling Cup Winner

It was a fine comeback from the Premier League champions, who recovered from the shock of going behind inside five minutes. That is now 32 trophies for Sir Alex Ferguson. The most successful manager in British Football History.

We said United to win, possibly 2-1 and suggested over 2.5 goals. Rooney scored, but not first, all in all excellent stuff in what was an excellent game!

We were on, we got it right- were you on?

Carling Cup Final Preview, Sunday 28 Feb

Aston Villa v Manchester United, Sunday. 3pm Live on BBC 1

Manchester United won the Carling Cup in 2009 and now only Aston Villa stands in the way of another Wembley win for Sir Alex Ferguson’s men. Aston Villa were the first ever winners of the League Cup, in 1961, and return for the 50th final. And both teams are making their eighth League Cup final appearances – only Liverpool, with 10, have made more.

Manchester United have won the trophy three times, including last season’s success, thanks to a penalty shoot-out success over Tottenham following a goalless 120 minutes at Wembley.

Manchester United are 4/5 odds on favourites to win the Carling Cup, with Villa the outsiders at 7/2 and the draw a 5/2 option.

Aston Villa boss Martin O’Neill expects Manchester United to field a full-strength team in Sunday’s Carling Cup final. O’Neill doesn’t believe United will field the kids this time round. If so then United would be a strong bet to win.

Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he is facing a Carling Cup goalkeeping conundrum, with Edwin van der Sar, Thomas Kuszczak and Ben Foster all vying for a place in his starting line-up for Sunday’s Wembley showpiece.

Wayne Rooney to score first must be a strong bet with him banging them in for fun at the moment. Wayne Rooney to Score first with William Hill is also recommended.

Football betting Tips

Rooneyto score first?


I also think there will be more than 2.5 goals on the game, therefore suggest backing over 2.5 goals;

Correct Score:
Suggest it may be 2-1 to Manchester United, but as this type of bet is guessing, small stakes advised.

Get all the markets for all the games with inrunningodds.com
Bet Live With inrunningodds.com

A preview of the Carling Cup Final with BBC TV’s Steve Claridge.

Get a £25 Free Bet for the Carling Cup Final from William Hill…..

Fantastic Football Betting Tips

It has been a sensational week for Racing Diary’s Free Football Betting Tips.

On Tuesday we advised a LAY of Liverpool who were odds on to beat Wolves and on Wednesday we were on the mark again with the highlight being the victory of Manchester United over Manchester City.

Bet Live….
Bet Live With inrunningodds.com
CHELSEA ODDS ON FOR TITLE

CHELSEA HAVE been cut from 5/6 to 4/6 favourites to win the Premier League title by William Hill who also offer 11/4 Man U; 4/1 Arsenal; 25/1 Man C; 8 Liverpool; 100 Spurs; 150 Villa.

MAN CITY are Even money favourites to finish 4th with Hills who also offer 5/2 Liverpool; 7/2 Spurs; 11/2 Villa.
PORTSMOUTH are 1/4 favourites to be relegated with Hills who also offer 8/15 Hull; 4/6 Burnley; 5/4 Wolves; 7/2 Bolton; 4/1 West Ham; 9/2 Wigan.

free football betting tips

Champions Will they Win it Again?

UNITED 33/1 FOR TREBLE

MANCHESTER UNITED ARE now 33/1 to win the treble with William Hill who make them 4/9 favourites for the Carling Cup with Villa at 13/8. United are 5/6 to win in 90mins wi Villa 11/4 and the draw 11/5.

Bet Live In Running…
You can Bet LIve with Inrunningodds.com. Get the best prices with real time updates, check it out!
Bet Live With inrunningodds.com

Wednesdays Football Betting Tips, 27 January

A busy night of Football Betting with four Premier League matches and the Carling Cup. The top two in the Premier League are in action and it is the big Carling Cup Clash at Old Trafford. We should get stuck in to tonights games as there is some money to be made.

Our tips on Tuesday performed very well and we can continue that this evening.

Football betting Tips

Manchester City v Manchester United

You can bet live with the best prices from Inrunningodds.com
Bet Live With inrunningodds.com
Aston Villa (5/2) Draw (12/5) Arsenal (13/10)
A tricky game but Arsenal look the value. Their form is solid and even though they are away they can still win.

Chelsea (5/19)Draw (5) Birmingham (14)
Chelsea are the only bet here and could bag a few goals so over 2.5 goals is also a back. Chelsea are red hot and can win by two or three goals.

Back over 2.5 Goals

Blackburn (1) Draw (12/5) Wigan (10/3)
Poor game, no bet for me.

Everton (4/6) Draw (11/4) Sunderland (5) Sky Sports
I would suggest Everton are the bet here and again a high scoring game in store so over 2.5 goals.

Over 2.5 Goals…

Carling Cup
Manchester United (4/6) Draw (11/4)Manchester City (5)
This could be a great game and I think United will do it, in 90 minutes too.

To Qualify
Man City 18/19 Man Utd 21/10
To Win Cup, both 2/1

The Manchester City manager thinks it will be tough….

Who are you backing? Bet Live with Inrunningodds.com
Bet Live with Inrunningodds.com

Football betting Tips, Tuesday 26 January

Premier League

A big night of betting with Premier League and Carling Cup action. Below are the live odds- get the best odds:
Portsmouth (13/8) Draw (12/5)West Ham (19/10)
This could go either way but preference is for West Ham under new ownership. Pompey are poor but this could be a poor game.

Wolverhampton (5) Draw (11/4) Liverpool (8/11)
Surely Liverpool will win this but at that price I would not be getting involved. I would LAY Liverpool.

Lay Liverpool…

Bolton (4/5) Draw (13/5) Burnley (4)
A proper grudge match with Owen Coyle against his former club. I think Bolton will win at home as Burnley do not travel well.

Tottenham (8/13) Draw (14/5)Fulham (11/2)- Live on SkySports
Spurs are up and down but at home I would take them to edge it.

Carling Cup
Second Semi-final, second leg
In 90 Mins
Manchester United (4/6) Draw (11/4)Manchester City (5)
This is going to be loud and is set up for another special encounter. Remember the 4-3? Well I think United will win and go through to the final, although it may be a draw in 90 minutes. Who are you backing?

To Qualify
Man City 18/19 Man Utd 21/10
To Win Cup, both 2/1

United are on a high. Here is what Sir Alex had to say ahead of tonights game…

Roberto Mancini says its not a big advantage…

WILLIAM HILL UNITED-CITY CARLING CUP SPECIALS…

MANCHESTER UNITED ARE 10/11 TO REACH THE CARLING CUP FINAL with William Hill who make City 4/5 to do so. United are 8/13 to win the game in 90 minutes with Hills who make City 9/2 and the draw 11/4.



HILLS….HOW WILL TIE BE WON?….
Man Utd In 90 Mins 13/8
Man City In 90 Mins 6/5
Man Utd In Extra Time 6/1
Man City In Extra Time 14/1
Man Utd On Penalties 11/1
Man City On Penalties 12/1


HILLS OFFER 4/9 THAT BOTH UNITED AND CITY WILL STILL HAVE THE SAME MANAGERS ON THE FIRST DAY OF NEXT SEASON, 13/8 THAT ONE OR BOTH HAS MOVED ON BY THEN. ‘Fergie has to go sooner or later and Manchester City managers seem to have a limited shelf-life these days’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.

Gary Neville & Carlos Tevez to both be sent off: 100/1 Either of Tevez or Neville to receive a card for fouling each other: 11/4 Gary Neville to finsh the game (90m) if starting: 1/7 Yes 4/1 No Carlos Tevez to finish the game (90m) if starting: 1/2 Yes 6/4 No….Tevez is 6/4 to score in 90m play while Robinho is 10/3 to sign off with a goal in 90 minutes.
Bookings (90m)
4 or less yellow cards 9/4
5 or 6 yellow cards 17/10
7 or more yellow cards 5/4
‘This is a traditionally feisty game with the potential to see a real rash of cards flourished, so we are making 7 or more our 5/4 favourite, giving anyone who believes the players will be aware of the need to keep their heads and actually do so, the opportunity of cashing in’ said Hill’s spokesman Graham Sharpe.
HILLS MAKE ASTON VILLA 11/8 favourites to win the Carling Cup, with Manchester United at 7/4 and City 2/1.