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No win in 4, how wierd is that?

TEAM NEWS

Manchester City defender Pablo Zabaleta is suspended after being sent off against Chelsea on Sunday.

Sergio Aguero has a minor knee problem and misses out, as does David Silva who has an ankle injury, while Samir Nasri has a groin problem.

Sheffield Wednesday are still without midfielders Kieran Lee (groin) and Sam Hutchinson (back).

Goalkeeper Chris Kirkland was used in the first two rounds of the League Cup and could again play.

MATCH PREVIEW

As the first trophy he won with Manchester City, the Capital One Cup will always be special for Manuel Pellegrini, but it is more than mere sentiment that will make him desperate for victory on Wednesday evening.

City have not won in four matches in all competitions - and while those games have been tough fixtures, Pellegrini will be anxious to get his side back to winning ways.

A home tie against lower league opposition might not sound too arduous a way of opening the defence of the cup but Sheffield Wednesday are a team with momentum, and Pellegrini will not be underestimating them.

"When you play against a Championship team it is very difficult, the motivation is not the same and they always try to come here and win," said the City manager. "Last season, we were eliminated here in the FA Cup against Wigan, a Championship team."

Stuart Gray's side have lost just one of their 10 matches in all competitions this season, conceding just four goals, and the Wednesday manager is relishing the trip to the Etihad Stadium.

"We will be facing a team full of internationals but it will be a great opportunity for my players to test themselves against world class players," he said.

"Very rarely do you get these opportunities so we'll play with a freedom, we'll play relaxed, we'll be composed but one thing we will do is play with 100% commitment as well."

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

City are unbeaten in their last nine matches against Sheffield Wednesday (W5, D4).

It's 35 years ago this month since the two clubs last met in the League Cup - City won 2-1 at home to wrap up a second-round win 3-2 on aggregate.

Manchester City

Defending champions Manchester City have alternated between progressing and exiting at the third round in each of the last five seasons.

But they are without a win in their last four matches in all competitions.

Since his arrival at Manchester City, Edin Dzeko has scored nine goals in 10 appearances in the League Cup.

Sheffield Wednesday

Sheffield Wednesday last made it into the fourth round of the League Cup in the 2001-02 campaign.

Stuart Gray's side have already knocked out Premier League opposition in this season's Capital One Cup, beating Burnley 1-0 in the previous round.

Wednesday have lifted the League Cup just once, back in 1991, when they beat Manchester United 1-0 in the final.

Four goals conceded in ten games?

This will not be an easy fixture

expect a win, but think it will be closer than a lot expect

nottsblue wrote:Four goals conceded in ten games?

This will not be an easy fixture

expect a win, but think it will be closer than a lot expect

I'm not sure what to expect tonight, a team that wants to show the world what they're about or a team who will muddle around with the changes. Hope it's the former and we put on a good show.

Not easy against a good Championship side who are doing well in the league. What I don't want to see is a draw and extra-time as the Dippers had. We've had some difficult games this week and would like to see some early goals with some rested legs.

Is anyone at the townley for drinks before the match? Looking forward to this one!

@MCFC: TEAM NEWS @MCFC: Caballero, Sagna, Demichelis, Mangala, Kolarov, Navas, Fernandinho, Lampard, Milner, Toure (C), Dzeko

@MCFC: SUBS NEWS @MCFC: Hart, Kompany, Pozo, Boyata, Clichy, Sinclair, Bytyqi

Hope to see Fern off at half for Sinclair with Milner dropping to partner Lampard in CM

Incredibly strong team. I hope we can win in the first half and then rest Yaya and Fernandinho

NAsri still can't get a game! Incredibly strong team what I like to see!

Does anyone know who has the TV rights to the league cup in good old USofA? The radio doesn't do it for me.

Loadsa links on wiziwig

dick dastardley wrote:Loadsa links on wiziwig

Cheers, I was just about to ask. I still have to say that I hate this when you have to find a stream for the game. I would gladly pay quite a lot actually if somebody provided a good quality legit stream, like for NFL games or whatever.

edit: those seem to be rather low quality rivers so if someone finds a good un, I would appreciate a PM.

Moonchesteri wrote:

dick dastardley wrote:Loadsa links on wiziwig

Cheers, I was just about to ask. I still have to say that I hate this when you have to find a stream for the game. I would gladly pay quite a lot actually if somebody provided a good quality legit stream, like for NFL games or whatever.

edit: those seem to be rather low quality rivers so if someone finds a good un, I would appreciate a PM.

Yeah, I was hoping my tv-provider would show it "on demand", but no such luck. That means that I will have the Spurs game on on the telly and a dodgy illiegal stream for the City game.

I'm at work so don't wang to stream and get some virus on the company servers but I always use therfirstrow dot eu when I'm at home.

Dubciteh wrote:NAsri still can't get a game!

Injured. Ruled out ahead of time

if anyone finds a good joan I would appreciate a pm.

Hyde Road full of Owls supporters cars snd coaches, should be fun.

Hoping for a Psycho win against Spuds too

Hutch's Shoulder wrote:Hyde Road full of Owls supporters cars snd coaches, should be fun.

Hoping for a Psycho win against Spuds too

Hoo cares?

Funny that we finally see a 4-5-1 formation, not against Arsenal or Bayern away, but at home to Sheffield Wednesday.
But we do have an abundance of midfielders, compared to our stock of attackers at least.

Plenty streams bit none in English. Going to resort to the radio for this.

Come on city

Much stronger team than I anticipated. Good in the respect we ahould progress. Bad in that we may suffer later in the season when injuries and tiredness and suspensions creep in