31/10/2012 The League Cup Show

$:/STARTFEED. Evening. The fourth round of the Capital One Cup comes

to a climax on Hallowe'en. Which teams will feature. Mark Bright is

here to reflect on the odd trick or treat on one of the most dramatic

rounds in League Cup history. Will it be a case of fright night part

two for Chelsea? The Blues had an early chance to address a few

perceived wrongs against Manchester United at Stamford Bridge tonight.

The revolution will be televised after an uncertain start, Andre

Villas-Boas is making headway at Tottenham. We have action from his

latest test against Norwich. Arsenal won't need reminding. It

has been seven years since they last won a trophy. Is their name on

the Cup this time round? We have all the action from the other five

matches of another terrific round of League Cup football. Five goals,

two red karting including a winner which looked offside controversy

over remarks made by the referee Mark Clattenburg. The team line-ups

may have changed for the Capital One Cup tie. This will be a match

with Adebola edge. Here is Paul with Adebola edge. Here is Paul

Walker. COMMENTATOR: Chelsea and Manchester

United lock horns again. Whilst the Clattenburg controversy rattles on,

both clubs have the chance to move on. Chelsea make six changes from

that eventful encounter three days' ago. Man at the centre of Sunday's

storm Mikel starts. Manchester United take ten changes. Hernandez

starts. Darren Fletcher continues his come back at the heart of

United's midfield. He will be hoping revenge will be sweet this

quickly. Moses has space here. Moses, it could be a decent ball.

Sturridge falls. It was a terrific ball from Moses, it really, really

was. He spotted the run of Sturridge who, when it mattered

Anderson. This is Ryan Giggs for Manchester United. -- pocket. He's

scored! Cech is beaten. Manchester United draw first blood. It was

sloppy, wasn't it? Giggs had the going to give a penalty. Chelsea

offered a route back into the game. Moses, a cast iron penalty. Luiz

Luiz against Lindegaard. He scores. Lindegaard couldn't keep it out.

Chelsea on terms. Low and hard from Luiz Luiz. It was the power that

more silverware in the cabinet. Manchester United breaking here.

It's Hernandez. Hernandez! He's scored again. His phenomenonal

record against Chelsea continues. Six goals in nine appearances

against them. Chelsea causing their own problems again. Definitely

onside. Manchester United retake stretch. It's his first touch,

since coming on as a sub, Powell. He knew exactly what he wanted to

do. Sturridge. Mata. Chelsea pressing for an equalliser. It goes

from Mata right under Lindegaard, taking no chances. He tips it over

for a corner. Mata's corner. Decent header. Terrific goal-line

clearance. Did it cross? The goal has been given. Gary Cahill, Rafael

looks completely unsure. Rafael is on the goal-line. A towering header

from Cahill, definitely over. Chelsea are all square again, 2-2.

Nice control from Nani, it takes the pressure off. Here's Powell.

Now, here's Hernandez, what's he going to do with this, he's going

to try to roll it inside the area. Hernandez, Anderson, Nani. Terrific.

It's Nani. Oh, what a goal! Nani reestablishs Manchester United's

lead. It's a beauty. It's an absolute peach from Nani. They won

it 3-2 on Sunday. They lead 3-2 now. The build-up was excellent. Nani's

finish was sublime. Really well worked. Nani's on the scoresheet

for the second time this season. Chelsea have to come-from-behind,

again! United with plenty back. Moses picking out Mata. Mata's

cross. It's a good one. Oh, what a chance. What a chance for

Azpilicueta. Still with Mata. Handball, was it? Had to be. Had to

be handball. He says not. Well, it looked clear enough to me. Well, as

clear as day, wasn't it? Oscar. It could go anywhere. A chance here.

It's got to be a penalty. It will be. Incredible. Wootton with a push.

93 minutes on the watch, Ramires is sent to the deck. Chelsea are back

into it. Another 30 minutes to decide who is going through to the

quarter-finals. Sturridge will take it down. It's Sturridge. Can he

finish this time? Scores, for the first time tonight. In this

incredible game, Chelsea now lead in extra-time. Daniel Sturridge

be in trouble. It's only yellow. Sturridge tuged back by Keane. I

think the Chelsea fans wanted more. Will it be Luiz? Off the bar.

Lindegaard was stretching. Terrific hit from Luiz. Moses steaming

through the middle, so too Sturridge. Hazard. Ramires. Round

the keeper. Chelsea are through to the quarter-finals. That puts the

game to bed, once and for all. Beautifully done by Hazard.

Terrific awareness. And stuck away. Hernandez goes down this time. It's

a penalty. The drama continues. Absolutely incredible. Ryan Giggs,

to bring it back to 5-4. He does. Cech beaten. The clock might have

beaten Manchester United. Now, Chelsea can break. It's three

against one. It's Mata. It's Hazard. Ramires is with him. Still with

Hazard. Oh! So close to six. The referee has called time. It is

Chelsea's night. On an extraordinary night, here at

extraordinary night, here at Stamford Bridge. It is always nice

to win. It gives you that feeling of being successful and also it

just instills belief and confidence that we can compete against anybody

and we are a very strong team. think we have done fantastically

well. I think we have thrown the game away really with the game

finish. We have possession of the ball. The corner flag and Nani

decides to try and beat a player. We have lost a penalty kick. We

didn't deserve it. Extra-time I think they found it too much, in

terms of the young play ergs. the nine goals at Stamford Bridge.

I feel shortchanged after what I saw at the Madejski. A great game.

Is Chelsea feeling better after what happened on Sunday? Proper Cup

tie. Chelsea will feel better. We know what went on at the weekends,

two players sent off. A great Cup tie. It showed both sides of

Chelsea. Poor defencively and the excitement of the players coming on,

off the bench, sensational. Manchester United's never say die

attitude all the way to the end. 39-year-old Ryan Giggs playing the

entire match. I thought he was outstanding. Mata was excellent for

Chelsea. Chelsea didn't help won the ball back. David Luiz made

a run for it, gives the ball away, and a really great finish there,

the second in a week. You cannot give Manchester United a head start,

and that is what Chelsea did. I said, it was reminiscent of

Arsenal and Reading, but this time Chelsea, 95 minutes on the clock,

four minutes of injury time, Chelsea benefited. No question

about it, but their bench was stronger, their team was stronger,

Ramires, Hazard, Oscar, quality all around. Talking about those three

midfielders, this is quite a statistic, 17 shots on goal.

Chelsea... United together, as a unit, 13. That is what you pay for,

this is what you get, and this is the argument between the teams who

do not pick their better players, the ones who want to rotate. That

was a strong bench, that was an intention from Roberto Di Matteo,

they wanted to go through and beat Manchester United, and obviously

win a trophy. When they came on, some of the movement and passing,

exactly the style of football that Roman Abramovich wants to play now,

the interchange of positions, excellent finish for the final goal

by Daniel Sturridge. An enthralling cup-tie. Arsenal's much publicised

AGM saw Arsene Wenger making it clear that winning this Cup was not

his highest priority this season, but one of the greatest comebacks

last night may make him revise his view. Brian McDermott made six

changes to his Reading side, while Arsene Wenger changed his full 11,

including six players under 21. home side. Up comes Sean Morrison,

just 21 years of age, alongside Morrison, and Arsenal were grateful

that it did not end up in the back for Reading, and it has put them in

front against Arsenal in the League Cup. Look at the Rome that they

have up front, Roberts able to find some space for himself, in behind

Laurent Koscielny. It is a an own-goal, Martinez could not get

on the end of its. Laurent Koscielny will be credited with an

own goal. Reading have doubled their lead. After a marvellous

passage of movement and into play from distance! Just as he did at

the weekend against Fulham. -- Mikele Leigertwood. What a night

for Reading, it is turning into a nightmare for Martinez and for

Arsenal. He still had plenty to do, he created a bit of room for

himself. And what was Martinez Arsenal 0! And we are not even at

half-time yet! Noel and scores for the third match in a role. -- hunt.

And they have seen enough, they are between Olivier Giroud and Martinez,

the goalkeeper took an eternity to come for that ball. Martinez has

been on the bench for a full Argentina international, albeit in

games where they have not called as have Arsenal. A chance here now,

go, might that signal the start of pulsating first half if you are a

the referee not impressed. There were appeals for handball by the

Reading fans, Arsenal are not over the place at the back, that is put

once but twice, whether they should Marouane Chamakh, he goes to ground

in the penalty area. And he has got nothing. His is a handball, first

of all? No. -- is this a handball? Certainly a header, which was not

immediately apparent. And Arsenal denied what they felt should have

there a route back for Arsenal? Dash Federer et. It is turned in by

Olivier Giroud. Corner kick, and match with any fondness, the

Nicky Shorey was there to tidy up, excellent staff to deny Olivier

Giroud a second goal since coming on as a substitute. -- excellent

Apology for the loss of subtitles for 40 seconds

Giroud once more, and that is twice had a free kick for that foul.

Instead they have to defend a Laurent Koscielny! At 4-0 down,

there looks to be very little hope watch. The Reading fans are howling

though it crossed the line, it has now! Carl Jenkinson with the touch.

And our staff have completed what looked like an impossible job at 4-

0 down. -- Arsenal have completed. It did look like it crossed the

line. Jacobson made sure. -- And we will go into 30 minutes of

additional time at the Madejski Stadium. What a night! And it is

the defender, and the goalkeeper from the amount of stoppage time

added on at the end of the match. They felt there was far too much. A

real chance there fall goal number kept out by the legs of Martinez.

He has not had plenty to be pleased about in his own performance

Pogrebnyak makes it 5-5 on an unforgettable night at the Madejski

numbers, four against three. Off the line by Nicky Shorey and In!

Theo Walcott has this time surely won it for Arsenal with another

he scored controversially laid at the end of the second half, and are

now he has scored late on in the second period of extra-time.

Arsenal breaking in numbers, Andrey Arshavin came forward quickly,

Nicky Shorey was able to keep it out, but Walcott walloped in the

rebound. Nobody was going to stop quickly. The last few seconds,

be on here for Arsenal. Chamakh to go over Federici. Finishes an

amazing night in style. I don't think I've ever seen a game like

this, not ever! The long ball forward, Chamakh was on to it.

Federici, caught rather in no-man's land. Chamakh, with the finish.

That, most definitely, confirms That, most definitely, confirms

Reading's exit from the League Cup. You cannot be very happy when you

are 4-1 down at half-time. You can be happy with the response we have

given in the second-half. That can make the team feel more confidence,

stronger for the rest of the season. I wasn't happy at half-time. We

conceded a goal before half-time which gave Arsenal a lift. They

have quality players. You give them an inch and they took it. In the

second half we didn't perform. If you look at our quality and what we

did in the second-half was extraordinary. Second-half we

didn't do. It we have to go in at 4-0 at half-time. Spare a thought

for those Arsenal fannes who left at half-time, who does that?

amateur. I went to the game. I left with ten minutes to go at 4-12. I

thought it's too much. I will listen it in the car. I nearly went

back. One of the best Cup ties I have ever seen. Reading can't close

the game out. They have had four games in the Premier League which

they have gone on to lose. You have to shut out. In the second-half -

in the first half Arsenal were appalling. The worst display I have

seen. Tony Adams was cringing. The second-half, after Arsene Wenger

spoke to the players, they then spoke to the players, they then

played outstanding. You know Arsenal have the quality. This is

an excellent finish from Walcott. He was the only player I would not

have taken off in the first half. He made forward runs and

threatening defence and got a hat- trick. Did you have sympathy for

Reading when Arsenal made it 4-4. Generous time keeping? I thought

Arsenal should have had a penalty Arsenal should have had a penalty

when Chamakh was going through. He nipped through with a handball. I

thought that was a penalty. They didn't get that. Listen, when you

are 4-1 up, the first team to ever score five goals in the FA Cup or

the League Cup and go out. They have never beaten Arsenal in ten

attempts. They will never have a better opportunity. They have to

learn to close out the game and take the confidence they can score

goals against the best. You have to shut up at the back. Painful lesson.

Tottenham made an encouraging start under Andre Villas-Boas in the

League. His reshaped team travelled to Carrow Road to meet a Norwich

side showing improvement. side showing improvement.

COMMENTATOR: Teams have won this competition before. They have met

in the final. No-one playing today was born when the Wembley winner

well-known to everybody at Tottenham Hotspur. The Norwich

manager. 22 years at White Hart is onside and has to do it by

himself. Can't do it. Tackle by -- tackled by Livermore. He

accelerated towards goal. He was one-on-one. There is Norwich's most

instantly recognisable fan, Delia Smith, always in attendance.

Noughton. Falq ue. Good shot. Gareth Bale, who else, on that left

foot? Comfortably saved by Bunn. Too much for teernteern tsh

teernteern -- Tierney to deal with. Bale, the most space he has had yet.

He has got it through to Dempsey. Not far over. Gareth Bale nearly

created something. Dempsey was so half hit that well. No doubt that

he, on either side, has looked the Bale! Good stop by Bunn. It wasn't

really about the shot. It was the pass from Falque, the best player

on the pitch since half-time. Sigurdsson. Falque. Falque, he's

gone for goal. That was going in. Mark Bunn with the save. There is

no doubt who is catching the eye, Bale to score. All over the game,

he has been the stand out player. He scores the first goal of the

night, with his other foot. Ran on and on. He knew exactly where he

was going to put it. Mark Bunn whether that might have snuck in.

He has a box of tricks has Falque, from the Norwich City captain for

the night. Not a bad save from the captain of France in the Spurs'

level. Tettey claims the goal. It looked to be on target. Maybe it

wasn't on target. I think that's an own-goal. We might be on for extra-

time. The rebound is smashed in by Jackson. Two quick fire goals from

Norwich City. Now, it looks as though they are quauler finals

bound. -- quarter-finals bound. It's got Delia Smith to her feet.

Chris Hughton can point to master ful substitutions. Jackson in the

right place to score. Two goals in under three minutes have turned

this tie around. Norwich City 2, been waved. It's a Spurs' penalty.

Tierney said Walker took a dive. I think he's taken out. Dempsey. He

has the chance to take us close to extra-time. Dempsey doesn't score.

Falque can't get there. Mark Bunn is the Norwich hero. It should have

been 2-2. He's gone hard and low, has Dempsey, but he's gone straight.

It's nowhere near the corner. Bunn guessed right. Norwich City's

backup goalkeeper. He might be taking them into the next round of

taking them into the next round of the Cup. Can you give yourself a

pat on the back because you made the chances and all three were

involved in the goals? We need a little bit of fortune. The first

goal is a deflection. You have to be in the right place at the right

time. That is a little bit of the luck we haven't had too much of

this season. It take as wicked deflection. Unless you get bodies

on the end of it, you can't keep the ball in the box. Great delivery

for the second goal. I thought Snodgrass's delivery all evening

was good. After going behind you could take the game into extra-time,

does the missed penalty make it all the more disappointing? It's a big

opportunity. We don't blame Clint individually for missing it. We

move on from that. It happens to the great players. I think he, as

the goalscorer he, is will do better next time. Norwich through

to the quarter-finals for the first time in 18 years. Great result

considering the ten changes he made? You have to have desire and

passion to go to the end. Holt's involvement in the goal with the

header, smashing in the rebound, Tettey being involved. All three

substitutes contributed to the win. For 80 minutes he didn't look like

they could produce something like. That the manager will be asking

more of the same. It was a case of more of the same. It was a case of

justice done at the end? Was it or wasn't a penalty? Look how quick

they are going? There is a little challenge. He looks to the referee

to say he's diving. The referee gave it. That was a poor finish

from Dempsey. It could have take continue to extra-time. Well done

continue to extra-time. Well done to Norwich. Turning the corner, two

big wins. Absolutely. The third tie saw an emotional reunion yoon

between Liverpool boss and Swansea, who he divide guided to the Premier

League two seasons ago. Rodgers was League two seasons ago. Rodgers was

taking nothing for granted. COMMENTATOR: Ki Sung-Yeung's effort

led to a breakthrough they deserved. Swarz and Gerrard came on from the

bench. -- Suarez and Gerrard came on from the bench. The home defence

were left trailing. With 18 minutes left, Laudrup's side had a cushion

they knew they might lead. Four minutes leader the big guns

combined, goer to Suarez to shift the momentum in Liverpool's favour.

Swansea would have to weather a final push. In po cletion they were

slick and dangerous. -- possession they were slick and dangerous. They

knocked out the holders and put the Swans former boss on-the-spot.

Skwhr I felt the tempo and the intensity of our game was well too

slow, no surprise I know Swansea inside and out. I know the

brightness and the quality that they have. Disappointing to go out

of the competition, but a lot of of the competition, but a lot of

ideas for me to get from the game. Well done for Swansea. Never been

in the quarter-finals before. Stung result for them. They played on the

counter attack. Look at the white shirts. They move with pace. They

are always behind here. Lovely pass, square, unselfish. Lovely little

The holders are out, how much of a blow is it for Liverpool? Well, it

is a new dawn, a New era, and they are trying a new style of football,

getting everyone involved, and it is a tough one to take, you do not

want to go out at this stage as the holders. We can round up the rest

would have struggled against the home team. As it was, the 11

changes from Sunday's league match were reeling from the start. This

should have been the first goal, only Luke Varney knows how we

failed to score. He never stopped running despite illness and almost

had his reward with this smart piece of opportunism. His

determination paid off, though, after 35 minutes, when the defence

creaked again, and Michael Tonge gave Leeds a deserved lead. The

surprise was that Southampton were still only one goal behind as

Rodolph Austin stormed downfield with two minutes remaining. El Hadj

duke scored his first goal in the competition for nine years. -- El-

Hadji Diouf. Leeds had another goal to celebrate as their won this

penalty in stoppage time. Luciano Becchio did the honours, and

Southampton suffered at Elland Road like another Premier League club,

Everton, had in the previous round. We played some good football

tonight, and I was delighted that we sustained that. We did against

Everton as well, played well that night. We have played poorly in the

last couple of games, did not really enjoy either of them, but

you could see we were enjoying it tonight. We wanted to play tomorrow

to give ourselves sufficient recovery, but we could not do that,

the powers that be decided it would be tonight, so you have to take a

lot into consideration. Middlesbrough rarely get the luck

of the draw, and this was their 11th successive away match in the

League Cup. Scott McDonald made the journey worthwhile six Ms before

half-time, but it was not a long trip. -- six minutes. Doubly

embarrassing for Sunderland to lose against a Championship club in the

area. Victory capped a successful month for Middlesbrough, handily

placed for their promotion push and a tilt at this silverware, which

they won in 2004. One goal was bad enough for the disillusioned

Sunderland support, in stark contrast to the mood of the

travelling fans. Delighted for the travelling supporters who have made

the trip down the road. Great for the players, they have really

worked hard, five on the bounce now, we have won the last five away

games as well, so they have got the bit between their teeth, working

extremely hard for each other. frustrating and disappointing night

for us, a game that we felt we were capable of winning, drawn at home,

that gives you a chance, and despite the fact that it was a

local derby, it was a match that we were looking forward to. The

supporters were looking forward to this. We did not do well enough on

all fallen under Paolo di Canio's spell, but Christian Benteke's

forceful header suggested Swindon's fairy-tale run was about to end.

Nine minutes later, the script belonged to Gabriel Agbonlahor, who

reminded Aston Villa fans of the quality which can still shine

undermanned. 2-0 down, Swindon looked down and out at half-time,

but the substitutes turned the game. Aston Villa looked to be cruising

until Andy Williams set up Miles Storey and the County Ground came

to life. Even more so five minutes later, when he was at it again,

this should have impressed even the Aston Villa defenders. The Academy

striker did not even break stride before flicking the ball between

his legs and past Shay Given. Suddenly the home crowd really

believe. But Premier League quality told in the end. This was where the

Paolo di Canio dream was truly shattered. Although the Italian was

in no doubt at the whistle which team had been top draw, and which

had been underwhelming! We looked like a Premiership side,

they looked like a League One side, not because how you say... Because

we were on top. They showed a lot of us of to come back, 2-0 we

looked comfortable, we got complacent, it does not matter what

level you play, but it was a Wigan made nine changes from the

weekend, but Bradford were as stubborn as they come, Jordi Gomez

thwarted by Matt Duke. And it took a stop almost as sharp from Ali Al-

Habsi to keep out Zavon Hines and make sure it was still goalless at

90 minutes. His pass from Watson gave Gomez an extra-time chance to

win it for Wigan. But the game was destined for penalties, where Shaun

Maloney got his angles wrong. Bradford fans made up almost a

third of the crowd, and a new history was in the offing. -- and

they knew. Now Gomez had to score. But Matt Duke was Bradford's hero

as they equalled their best-ever League Cup runs, into the quarter-

finals for the first time since 1989. It is huge for us, and you

just have to look at the level of support, 5,000 supporters, and what

an atmosphere they created. I said to our lads afterwards, they are

the reason we are at Bradford City, because we know the potential of

this club. Well done to the lowest- ranked team left in the Cup, they

have won their last seven penalty shoot-outs in all competitions.

That is amazing, I am so happy for them, six years since somebody

outside the top two divisions got to the quarter-finals, so well done

to them. They went with the intent of shutting up shop at the back,

making it difficult for Wigan, trying to hit and the counter-

attack, taking it to penalties, because what a great track record.

5,000 fans away from home? Amazing. Absolutely amazing, and the draw is

later! It certainly is, and Bradford fans are smiling after a

barren few years, so hopefully this marks that back for a former

Premier League team! They have fallen from grace, hopefully it

will spur them to bounce back. headlines were waiting for Miles

Storey, but then up comes another striker, a lot more money,

Christiane Benteke. Excellent Dutch, 2-0 down, Paolo di Canio chasing

down the line, and then really could not hold out. The Premiership

quality should show and did in the end. And Benteke continues to set

and enforce of four goals in 10 games, everything is new to him.

And well done to Gabriel Agbonlahor. We saw an upset by Middlesbrough,

who continue to do well in the Championship, a well deserved

performance, no mistake, at Sunderland. No question about it,

you heard Martin O'Neill say they did not create enough, and he

played a decent side. They have got the third best defence in the

Premier League but they rely on Flo Jo for the goals. It should be

exciting, and it is not clicking for them at the moment. -- they

rely on Fletcher of all the goals. One man who will be relieved has

got to be Luke Varney after this happened in the first couple of

minutes. Listen, I have been in this situation many a time, you

think you cannot miss. It just comes off his heel, he starts to

tap it in. He has found the back of the club at every club he has been

at, but they ended up winning 3-0. Oh, I don't know, it is hard for

Southampton. I do not think he will thank us for showing that. We have

got a cracking fifth-round in prospect, this is out the names

came out of the hat. Your reaction? We have got an all Premier League

tie, but Leeds playing Chelsea is a great tie, Ken Bates, Neil Warnock

will really fancy his chances against Chelsea. Middlesbrough

doing so well in the championship, that is a great tie for them. Paul

Lambert going back to his old club. Bradford, League Two, doing ever so

well, knocking out Everton, they wanted a big one, they got Arsenal,

it does not get bigger. Arsenal will be happy with that draw.

is almost it from us, but a quick reminder that Football Focus is on

at the slightly earlier time of 11:30am this Saturday. I will be

back, as usual, with all the goals and talking points from the

Football League, this time from the Championship only, because it is FA

Cup weekend. Thanks for your company tonight. What a fourth-