Live on Skysports 1: Wed 19.45: West Ham are 4/1 with Betfred to make it through to the semi finals of the Carling Cup at Man Utd’s expense.
Just as West Ham reached crisis point in the league, they picked up 3 points and played well to back it up. However, they can be suitably daunted by Man United’s seven-goal demolishing of Blackburn Rovers and the Red Devils are 4/5 at 888sport to beat West Ham at Upton Park.
Man United will not play the same eleven that beat Blackburn, that much can be assumed. The question is, now they have the league lead, how much will that effect squad selection in the Carling Cup? Will they rest nearly all first teamers to concentrate on regaining the title? Or with the semi’s in sight, will they push for some silverware?
It’s hard to tell what Sir Alex will do but each team that gets sent out, doesn’t appear to get beaten; zero losses in 23 games across all competitions would attest to that. United’s younger and/or weaker line-ups to tend to concede so both teams finding the net might be shrewd at 4/5 (Coral). In fact, a game with 3 goals or more is backable at evens with Ladbrokes as West Ham struggle to keep clean sheets.
Man United should win this contest but Avram Grant, a real cup specialist with struggling sides, would relish a 1 goal start and bet365 offer evens about West Ham to win with such a handicap.
In the other quarter final of the evening, Arsenal are just 3/10 (Boylesports) to see off a fairly hapless Wigan side who are really struggling away from the DW.
The Gunners appear to be taking the competition seriously but as injuries mount, Wenger must be slightly concerned about some of his first teamers being over-exposed. Wigan, 12/1 at bet365, can be buoyed by this but an Arsenal XI should have too much for them, even Arsenal with a 1 goal defecit can win at 4/5 (Stan James).
Back Bendtner to score at anytime (13/10 ) as he should see a rare start.
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