FOG CONQUERS ANFIELD WHILE WYCOMBE, CHELSEA AND SPURS MAKE SEMIS
The Carling Cup quarter finals. The point where the remaining teams usually start thinking that they can win the competition. No scratch that, if a particularly big team gets this far then they start 'caring' about it. United have already handed back the trophy but there were enough such big names still around. On the other hand, there were also a couple of underdogs whose teams were already local heros - surely that limited the possible winners to six though.
The tie of the round had to be Liverpool vs Arsenal at Anfield. Slight problem though, a mist came in from the Mersey and the ref didn't think he could see well enough. Result, the biggest match to get postponed by the weather that I can remember since a League Cup semi 1st leg back in '97 between Stockport and Middlesborough. The difference between that match and this though, is that one of this year's semis will have to get put back to fit in this quarter final now. You'd have thought that with everyone involved already in Liverpool, it wouldn't have been a problem to play the match the following day but no...there's some Scouse rule saying that the coppers have to be notified ten days before a match at Anfield!
Allright, on to the three ties that actually happened. You're a team bottom of the Premiership. You're at home to an L2 side. Surely you get the win just to avoid even more embarrassment? Tell that to Charlton, Wycombe beat them 1-0 with Jermaine Easter hitting the only goal in the first half. Charlton may have started decently but suddenly the underdogs took over and from there, the Addicks just looked like they couldn't hack the pressure.
In St James Park, Newcastle had to deal with Chelsea. The Blues pretty much ran the show for the early part of the match, and though in another reality, the Geordies could have celebrated a screamer, they were out of luck this time out. The second half started out with both sides having chances but when Didier Drogba hit yet another goal this season, the air got let out of the Magpie tyres. I wouldn't be surprised if the Cock One thinks he can scoop the quadruple right now.
Finally, Spurs faced United's conquerers Southend at White Hart Lane. Southend clearly were up for yet another giant killing, battering the Spurs goal early on while their goalie had another blinder. Spurs started the second half on the attack but then there was a scrappy period. Spurs were the better side over the 90 minutes but no matter who they brought in they couldn't bring down the stubborn Championship outfit and the match wound up going to extra time.
Extra time started out pretty even. If anything Spurs had more of the attacking play but kept missing their chances and the match remained deadlocked. The Premiership side kept up the pressure though with Southend having hardly any attacking opportunities and Spurs finally broke through thanks to Jermain Defoe hitting a late winner. Southend didn't have the spirit for a comeback, they'd knocked out enough Premiership sides for one competition.
So, still in the running are Liverpool, Arsenal, Wycombe, Chelsea and Spurs. I'm still thinking that the Scousers will win the tournament this year, even if their quarter final does turn out to be Liverpool vs Arsenal reserves after the first teamers play each other in the FA Cup 3rd round the previous weekend. Wycombe are probably the first fourth-tier side to make the League Cup semis since that Stockport side of '97 and everyone else's best case scenario.
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