The Carling Cup is occasionally sneered at by some, but a cup is a cup. Except when it’s a poisoned chalice as Birmingham fans might well tell you. If you were to ask them. Personally I’d leave well alone there.
And so to this evening’s games.
Arsenal v Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury may be small but they must be thinking to themselves that Arsenal will never be more vulnerable than they are tonight. Will there be a monster upset? Frankly I doubt it. Prediction 2-1.
Aston Villa v Bolton
Poor old Bolton, they need this like a hole in the head. Villa will relish the chance top play a club on a low ebb. Prediction 1-2
Leeds v Man Utd
We know two things for certain; one that there will be some mindless idiots hoping to get a scrap out of tonight and two that Leeds will give it everything but fail. Prediction 1-4.
Nottingham Forest v Newcastle
Newcastle should win this. Not on any other grounds other than Forest are hugely overrated by too many people. Prediction 1-3
Stoke v Tottenham
Spurs were silky against a Liverpool side that gave them too much room and watched them pass the ball around. Stoke won’t be quite so naive but must ask themselves on just how many fronts they can afford to fight? Prediction 2-3.
Wolverhampton v Millwall
This may be one of the least appetizing football matches ever witnessed by humans. I do hope the St Johns Ambulance are standing by. Prediction 2-1.
Blackburn v Leyton Orient (20:00)
Blackburn are actually going to find this tougher than the game against Arsenal. Orient are not a great side, but they are honest types who could nick this. Prediction 0-1.
