SPURS SEEN OFF IN CARLING CAMPAIGN

 

(Image taken from Manutd.com)

Last time around, United faced a Blackburn team coached by 90s United midfielder Paul Ince in the Carling Cup quarter finals. Rovers started well but this would prove to be United's night. Carlos Tevez opened the scoring for United and Nani made it two before half time. Benni McCarthy pulled one back for Rovers early on in the second half only for Tevez to grab his second with a penalty soon after before the Argie assasin completed his hat-trick. Rovers then went on a late surge with Matt Derbyshire pulling one back and then McCarthy grabbing his second but Tevez just went on to grab his 4th, allowing United to finish off an explosive affair.

We went on to face Spurs that season in the final at Wembley. Well Aaron Lennon proved to be an annoyance in the early stages of the match and indeed Spurs looked likely to score in the first half but the match was still goalless at the break. United seemed to have the better of the second half but our attackers were letting Spurs off too lightly. We should have had a penalty but it was Spurs again who were finishing the match well. And so, with the match ending goalless, United knew that they would need extra time to settle things. It had been a frustrating match so far and there was definately the feeling that it should have been won already.

Extra time saw United overhaul their midfied but still the match slowed down quite a bit and even that didn't stop the Spurs players from going down with cramp. United were the only team that looked interested in scoring for the first period. Eventually Spurs got their act together and had some decent attempts but ultimately they counted for nothing and cue more cramp. United had the last opportunity of the period but eventually the game was forced into a shootout. United went on to win the shootout 4-1 with Anderson of all people managing to seal Spurs's fate. It was the first time we'd won the competition since '06 and we did it without picking our strongest team throughout the competition.

Now though, it was time for a rematch. Spurs were heading to Old Trafford for a Carling Cup quarter final. While the first team had already seen off Spurs in the Premiership, the visitors league form could not be ignored. Harry Redknapp was seeming to field strong sides in this competition which he clearly saw as winnable. A bigger problem was that Fergie was again playing a lot of reserves though switching back to 4-4-2. Belgian Ritchie de Laet was making his first team debut at left back. Obertan right mid, Anderson and Gibson centre mid, Park left mid. Berbatov returning alongside Wellbeck up front. This had the ptential to be a reality check.

Sure enough, Spurs were doing the business early on but couldn't score and when we did start attacking ourselves, we showed them how it should be done. Anderson set up Gibson in the 16th minute and the Irishman fired off a scorcher that the Spurs goalie could do nothing about. Spurs continued to batter at the United door but the visitors either couldn't shoot straight or just got blocked by a United wall. A Gibson-Wellbeck 1-2 in the meantime, gave the Irishman his second in the 38th minute. Spurs certainly had done themselves credit but this match was over already unless they were able to find themselves some extra edge.

The early stages of the first half started relatively even despite Spurs having brought on some fresh legs. The visitors kept attacking and David Bentley had a particularly good chance but didn't seem to quite have the class to break even a reserve United side apart. More fresh legs for Spurs but again they never really looked like turning this match around and United were able to cruise to the finish while not getting a third goal. It's redemption for our second-stringers after a poor result in the Champions League. It's also the first time we've reached the League Cup semis back to back since the '04-'06 period. This trophy looks winnable again.

Elsewhere, Portsmouth were beaten 4-2 by Aston Villa at Fratton Park despite Pompey opening the scoring - Villa turned the match round before half time. Man City beat Arsenal 3-0 at the City of Manchester Stadium with the Blues getting all their goals in the second half. Blackburn then drew 3-3 with Chelsea at Ewood Park annd that was after extra time. That of course led to a shootout in which Rovers managed to mug the Premiership leaders 4-3. As a result, that leaves United as the only Champions League team left in the competition which make the tournament look even more winnable - the question is, are our reserves up for it.

Next up however is the semis finals and we're going to be up against Man City with the first leg at the City of Manchester Stadium. As much as the idea of our reserves beating City's allstars makes me smile I do have reason to be nervous. Our first team has been given a rough enough ride by City in the Premiership already and while we came out of that encounter with three points, hell knews what they'll do to a United team that isn't at full strength at their place. While I certainly think this tie is doable, it's certainly our toughest one yet. The idea of City winning any trophy would have been a joke five years back. Now? Not so much.

In the meantime, the Europa League group stages continue. In Group I, Everton beat AEK Athens 1-0 at the Spyros Louis Stadium(leaving them 2nd in the group and securing themselves a spot in the knockout stages). In Group E, Fulham saw off CSKA Sofia 1-0 at Craven Cottage(leaving them 3rd in the group) while in Group C, Celtic beat Hapoel Tel Aviv 2-0 at Celtic Park(however that still leaves them not only in 3rd but too far behind second place to make the knockout stages). Overall, a great night for the British sides but certainly not a great tournament, particularly not as the SPL will yet again have no interest in the latter stages if either European competition.

Next up, World Cup preview.

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