Man Utd v Man City preview

Posted Wednesday, January 27, 2010 by skysports.com

Mancini and Ferguson: Wembley awaits

All eyes will be on Manchester on Wednesday evening as the powder-keg Carling Cup semi-final second leg between United and City takes centre stage.

Carlos Tevez's brace against his former club in the first leg at Eastlands last week has set the scene for an enthralling encounter at Old Trafford with City holding a narrow 2-1 advantage.

Tevez's celebrations and juvenile spat with Red Devils club captain Gary Neville have generated more headlines than the game itself and have done little to ease an already hostile atmosphere.

Calls for calm have been issued from all quarters, and while passion, pride and fervent support will be welcome inside Old Trafford, there is no place for the mindless minority intent on violence.

Argentina international Tevez, who received a less-than warm welcome on his return to Old Trafford in the Premier League earlier in the season, will be under the spotlight once again and can expect his every touch to be jeered by those who once revered him.

United's sole focus as Sir Alex Ferguson's men aim to defend the trophy they lifted for the third time last year will be cancelling out the deficit they conceded in the first fixture, where they started strongly before sliding to defeat.

Roberto Mancini has the opportunity to guide the Blues to within 90 minutes of their first major silverware in 34 years, with his stated aim of removing the infamous banner at Old Trafford which reminds City of their drought.

An appearance in a Wembley final would go some way to justifying City's astonishing outlay on new players in the past 18 months and would further enhance their burgeoning credentials as an emerging force.

Team news
Ferguson could be forced to make changes in defence with Rio Ferdinand facing a three-match ban from the Football Association after being charged with violent conduct following his clash with Hull City's Craig Fagan on Saturday.

Ferdinand, who had only just returned from a long-term back injury, could decide to appeal against the charge, which would leave him free to face City but could incur an additional penalty if he is found guilty.

Serbia international Nemanja Vidic is nearing a comeback after tweaking a nerve in his leg in the warm-up to the FA Cup defeat by Leeds, with Wes Brown another possibility to partner Jonny Evans at centre-back.

In-form striker Wayne Rooney, who scored all four goals in the victory over the Tigers, will lead the line and veteran midfielder Ryan Giggs is set for a recall, while John O'Shea and Owen Hargreaves remain long-term absentees.

Mancini is still unable to call upon January signing Patrick Vieira who continues to struggle with a calf problem, while Roque Santa Cruz will not feature after suffering a similar problem in the defeat at Everton.

Striker Emmanuel Adebayor is back with the club following the trauma of the gun attack on the Togo team bus, but may not yet be in the right frame of mind to feature, while Ivory Coast defender Kolo Toure has only recently returned from the African Cup of Nations.

Robinho will be in the squad despite ongoing discussions over his future ahead of an anticipated loan return to his homeland, while defensive duo Joleon Lescott and Wayne Bridge (both knee) are still on the treatment table.