08/01/2014 The League Cup Show

Evening. We are down to the last four of the capital one cup and

tonight we will find out who the remaining sides of you can get their

noses ahead. Needless to say, nothing can be won at this stage but

plenty can be lost. We are here to reflect on another frantic night of

cup football. West Ham pulled off a dramatic smash

and grab at Spurs in the last round, coming back from a goal down

to win at White Hart Lane. Tonight, the hammers faced a Man City side at

the top of their game. While Sunderland recorded the shock of the

quarterfinals when they also came from behind to dispose of Chelsea.

We will find out how Gus Poyet's side got on in their first leg tie

against an out of sorts Manchester United. Let's go straight to the FT

had Stadium. City have been in imperious form at home this

evening. -- the Etihad Stadium. Would it be a case for damage

limitation for Premier League strugglers West Ham, who are in need

of a cup of tonic after their defeat to Nottingham Forest in the FA Cup?

Two clubs, two games from Wembley, but two teams at the opposite end of

the spec informed. West Ham have four defeats in five, their latest,

5-0 at Nottingham Forest. City make four changes to their team, which

drew at Blackburn the FA Cup. Their last win in this competition was in

1976. They have lost three semifinals since, two of them in the

last four years. West Ham make a changes after their Forest

thrashing. -- eight changes. Roger Johnson, on loan from waltz, makes

his hammers debut. A bit of room to run into. Into Yaya

Toure. And flicked back into Nasri beautifully! A beautiful position,

Zabaleta arising... Into the grateful glance of the West Ham

goalie. Some hesitation in the ranks for West Ham here. Yaya Toure back

into the rush and then to Samir Nasri. A great ball.

A great looking for! Brilliant goal from Negredo! A fantastic goal for

Manchester City, who take the lead in the semifinal! Alvaro Negredo

with a beautiful left footed volley. Deliciously dispatched. That through

ball from Yaya Toure. This is a fabulous goal! What a pass from Yaya

Toure! And what execution from Negredo. That is a special goal.

Almost wriggled through there. And then wins it back brilliantly. A

great tackle by Yaya Toure, who is hurt. Adrian with the save. Not out

of the woods yet, West Ham. Still Yaya Toure down, for Manchester

City. West Ham can't clear and City are playing on.

Nasri shot through the crowd but saved by Adrian! A well hit curler

from Nasri but a good saved by the Spanish keeper. -- save.

Lovely back into Negredo and here's Negredo for 2-0! 25 minutes played

and now Negredo has already fired Manchester City into a 2-goal lead.

He has Dzeko here to thank. A lovely touch. Another really good finish.

And West Ham are in big trouble after 25 minutes.

Well, Sam Allardyce, the recipient of an open letter vote of confidence

from the two Davids. He looks like he has stepped out of the polyp

bureau tonight! Nasri in on goal, she delays... And miles over the bar

from Dzeko. The kind of chance he has been begging for here, really. A

bad miss. Credit to Neil Rami -- Noble for making it hard. Sam

Allardyce's team are finding it really hard to get the ball. Not the

only time that has happened to opposition teams here this season at

Eastland 's. And here is Yaya Toure, racing away,

Negredo in support. Toure, 3-0! And that might be it! The semifinal

might be over before half-time in the first leg because Yaya Toure has

put Manchester City three goals up. He ran a mile with this. Inside his

own half when he takes it... It is like Forrest. Once he started

running, he wasn't going to stop until he had scored. And it is 3-0.

And West Ham's worst fears about this semifinal are coming true.

Nobody attacking the back post. Didn't look to see who was there.

David Silva receives the standing ovation as he goes over to this

nearside to take it. Appealing for handball there, Manchester City.

Cole's intervention did look suspicious. A deflection on the

cross! That is four! And it is a hat-trick for Negredo! His second

hat-trick in Manchester City colours. He scored three against

CSKA Moscow here in the Champions League, three against West Ham here

now in the capital one cup. Negredo being pulled back by Noble.

What a brilliant evening he is having, Negredo. Not only in his

finishing but all over the park. He has been superb.

Dzeko will be jealous, I'm sure, of Negredo's three. More trouble. They

think there was a touch from his right foot there. There it is.

Demel's right foot rounding on top of Negredo's. David Silva might have

a go at this but Yaya Toure would be favourite.

Yaya Toure it is... And a foot over the bar. He allows himself a big

smile. West Ham need to lift themselves now. The West Ham fans

have been noisy throughout but their team is being blown away. And here

they come, Dzeko again. And that wasn't far away. Desperate to get

his name on the scoresheet. Wasn't too far away with that one.

Clichy and it is five! Dzeko finally gets his name on the scoresheet! And

Manchester City had a fifth goal on the hour. Well, you doesn't need

Andy Carroll to get back in this tie, you needs Lewis. Because that

is the realms of fantasy now for West Ham. -- he needs. 5-0 with half

an hour to play. Stewart Downing to take this free

kick for West Ham. It is a goal kick. Not the happiest

of debuts for Roger Johnson. Ooh, Dzeko has his foot in there.

Here is neighbour-mack... And deflected off Roger Johnson for a

corner. The workrate of Manchester City's front two has just

encapsulated them tonight. Great save! Brilliant save to deny

Dzeko, and what would have been City's six. Terrific textbook

header. All kinds of power and really got the header down but a top

save. And Kolarov keeps it in. Substitute

looking to make an impact. He finds Nasri. A good save again by Adrian.

And he has made a couple of brilliant saves to deny Edin Dzeko.

Otherwise he might have had a hat-trick, too.

A foul by Diame. His dreams have very much faded and died.

A lovely back heel by Marcos Lopes. And that is another, smashed into

the roof of the net by Dzeko! And Manchester City have six! And it

doesn't flatter them one bit. Another fabulous finish! Look how

much room he has, Edin Dzeko. It's terrible defending but a magnificent

finish. It has come to Clichy. It is Nasri.

And the referee blows his whistle and ends the misery for the moment.

West Ham have absolutely no chance of salvaging their semifinal.

Negredo with three of them and Yaya Toure with one of them and Negredo.

West Ham have been humiliated by Manchester City. They will be going

to Wembley for the Cup Final. All that remains is the formality. 6-0!

We ended up falling foul to a Manchester City that are great

quality and have great talent. And our players, in the end, could not

cope with that. That was a brilliant performance, but only because of the

six goals but by the way that the team played for those 90 minutes, it

does not matter if we have three or four of them but we play in the same

way, very balanced. And we always try to score more. You had the

unequivocal support of owners on Monday and they have repeated that

time and again. Does it annoy you that almost every week, people say,

do they really mean it? Well, they really do mean it because we keep

communicating and trying to resolve the situation as best we can, which

is not easy but we are actively communicating between each other on

the injury front and also in trying to bring new players in. I don't

think many neutrals were expecting any thing more than one Chester city

to win but how disappointed were you by the nature of that if it? In the

end I was slightly embarrassed. Man City are exceptional and they have

done that too many sides. I was not concerned about those six goals

because they have done that to other teams or about those 32 shots on

target but I was concerned about a game that was played for the most

part in the half of West Ham, and nine fouls, not one booking for any

West Ham player. Trying to close at ball down the never confronted and

it was not there. And Man City made them look silly. It was quite

pedestrian? It felt like an exhibition. It was played at

altitude, almost. It reminded me of a training session when you used to

play against the first-team and the manager says, don't go mad, see how

the first half goes. Don't injure anybody. At any stage, did we ever

see anyone going with any full-blooded tackle running around

the pitch meaningfully. And closing people dying. It looked completely

out of sorts. They didn't lay one glove on them. Six goals is no mean

feat. It was a West Ham player, a player they went after, Negredo, and

he was one of several highlights. Quality goals. But poor defending.

And this one, Dzeko was able to return the favour to Negredo and was

unchallenged, good finish. Adrian was isolated. Seeing the entire

game, this sums up the game. In a nutshell. Normally, the penalty area

would be somewhere to make a challenge but they continued to back

off. That is from ten yards. This is another example, you would think

that was Roy Keane, not one tackle being made on him. That is the thing

they did willingly. Finishing was sensational. But the build-up to

getting into that was issued, it beggars belief at times from West

Ham. Dzeko, he had that little scrap and he gets in front of him. This

was the icing on the cake. This is another one. Through the legs. That

is an outstanding finish. Steve is right, the finishing was exceptional

but every time they finish in the box, it was three yards and they

could easily have taken a touch on any touch. Manchester City, 91 goals

in 32 games. They will not take their foot off the gas. The game

never changed for a West Ham, three down, never changed. But Man City

would not take their foot off the gas, they kept playing and driving

home that advantage. Heavy defeats for West Ham, you know David

Sullivan, a penny for his thoughts? Eight don't think that they got beat

in the other day heavily, they were beaten again today and I am not sure

that is the deciding factor, the case will be, do the players still

believe in what they are doing? Does he believe? On those performances,

there was a lack of belief, I thought, on both occasions. Good

following from a West Ham fans, they were a positive. They were singing

their Hearts out. They are out of both cups. They can concentrate on

the league and it did not cost them any points in the league. They have

to get some players with enthusiasm of the majority of those players

tonight and they once they must -- that must get a match in the Premier

League. They have to lift their game and show more aggression. But what a

game on Saturday! Cardiff City? Yes! I am sure they had one eye on

those games, that is why they decided that. But that keeps

knocking them, it keeps knocking that belief from them and on paper

it will be a really crucial game. Ali ever seen such a one-sided

semifinal in the League Cup? You were involved in one against Oldham?

1990, the plastic pitch, they called me back for the second leg and the

excuse was the pitch, and we won the second leg but I have seen something

like that before. But again, the supporters were exceptional on that

day and denied they were fantastic and they will need them, they need

that support. That is reflect in the other semifinal, Sunder land against

Man United. Their season took another nosedive after exiting the

FA Cup at the third round on Sunday. Guy Mowbray was there.

Their semifinal with added extra. The Capital One Cup carries extra

importance for Manchester United. Both teams are much changed from

Sunday. Seven changes each. Alonso makes his debut, having

signed on loan. Those staying or Jonny Evans, Tom Cleverley and

Valencia along with Welbeck. Still no Wayne Rooney or van Persie.

Fletcher. It got away from Evans. That was worth a go. He had to get

it through his legs. That touch from Fabio Borini was excellent. Always

wide. Alex and Bobby. Ki. Taken nicely by Alonso. Fletcher

could not quite get onto that. He deflected that cross. It moved up

invitingly for Fletcher. David Moyes has only got past the fourth round

once before, with Everton. Ryan Giggs. I spotted space. He goes

for the girl and it comes off the crossbar. It was deflected. That

took it away from Mannone. The Dutch... The spin of the ball

changes. That will not kind. That was a

lovely ball. His best pass of the match. The cross was not headed

around and 64 macro... It was blocked by Ryan Giggs. It does not

have a semifinal feel to it. John O'Shea. Free kick. Hard and heavy.

Sunderland will barely have time to lift this into the penalty area

before the break. One last chance before the break for

either side to try to steal the initiative in this cup tie. A

chance! And he has scrambled over the line! Phil Bardsley has done it.

The former Manchester United full-back. This has been crying out

for a goal and delivery... No one side. That was played back across

the box. The old Manchester United one, two. Wes Brown. Was that an own

goal? I don't know. That is an own goal from Ryan Giggs?

Adnan Januzaj against Phil Bardsley. Into the box. He comes up against

Alonso. Handball appeals. They have been heard and it is a yellow card

for the Italian and a free kick for United. Punched away from Rafael.

Fletcher has to turn it behind. There is not any wavering support

for David Moyes. And Manchester United are level. That was a

wonderful corner. Well timed run and jump from the captain. His first

goal of the season. Nothing that Mannone could do to stop that.

Perfect, eyes on the ball, right from the start. 1-1. Sebastian

Larsson. It comes to Sebastian Larsson. That

was a superb parry from David De Gea. Great cross from Phil Bardsley.

He relieved tried to make the best of it. He was beaten by Nemanja

Vidic. Straight into Sebastian Larsson. Corner. Strong red and

white presence there. He cannot get the shot in. That corner nearly

turned out to be a good one. John O'Shea. Johnson. Into the box! The

flag has been waived. Penalty to Sunderland! Tom Cleverley tries the

challenge. That was a clumsy looking challenge. He puts his backside into

Adam Johnson. Manchester United players are delivered. They haven't

had a penalty given against them in 77 games in the Premier League, in

the Capital One Cup, this is a big one.

The Italian is on loan from Liverpool. Fabio Borini. He scored

the winner, the late winner against Newcastle. And he scores! Into the

roof of the net. Sunderland have the lead again. Fabio Borini always

scores the big ones. Semifinal, it is alive all right. Absolutely

rocking at the Stadium of Light. Johnson weaves his way past one

challenge, and two, and shoots. Going for glory and he did

everything right except find the finish. This is what he hasn't done

enough in a Sunderland shirt. Through a quarter of the first leg

of this semifinal. A few on the nearside think it might have been

closer than it actually was. The technique there, eyes on the ball,

knows where the goal is. And he is very close to finding it. Only at

the halfway stage at the end of the night.

And Januzaj has found the roof of the net! A really clever attempt. He

is in line again. No problem with that decision and no problem with

what Januzaj was trying to do. The ball bounced off as well. David

Moyes looks resigned. Having to come from behind at Old Trafford in the

last couple of weeks. Nonstop dialogue between the Manchester

United manager and his coaching staff. Whistles all around the

ground. Gus Poyet screaming for full-time!

Another Manchester United throw. Can they get the ball into the box one

last time? Trying to pass their way into the middle... Fletcher will now

deliver and it is Brown who heads away. Vidic has stopped him and

there still might be another chance before the end. And in comes Marcus

Alonso. That will be a goal kick. There

won't be time for it. That will be it at the Stadium of Light. We are

halfway through and all set up for a cracking second leg to this Capital

One Cup semifinal at Old Trafford in a couple of weeks time. The winner,

scored from the penalty spot by Fabio Borini. It means an advantage

to Sunderland halfway through. It is Sunderland's first win over Man

United in 21 meetings. David, where do your frustrations

mostly lighter night? Decision for the first goal. Can't see how it was

a free kick. I think it was a centre forward challenge but it gave

Sunderland a free kick. That doesn't take away our defending at the end

of that but we had a player booked for a similar decision when they had

a penalty kick, so tough to take. Tougher the players because they

played well. The support was unbelievable, the way they backed me

and the team. The team are getting better and we were unlucky to lose

tonight's game. You are halfway, no great celebrations yet. No, because

we know how good they are, how good Old Trafford is. We were under

pressure but to have a chance, you need to take advantage of the home

leg and I think we scored the two goals and it gave us a little

advantage. I sensed the frustration with the award of the penalty? Just

a bit. The referee was looking directly at it, didn't give it, and

the lines man, who I think would have had to see through Patrice

Evra, gave that. I can't believe it. We will have another look at those

key decisions shortly but Sunderland now have their noses in front come

the return leg at Old Trafford. Yes. There are a couple of things you

need to take out of that. The fans will play a big part and they have

to be patient in that game. I have seen Gus Poyet's side playing, the

last 20 minutes, he showed and they showed they can be well organised,

tough to break down as well. When he was Brighton manager coming he did

the same there. They had a ready good reputation for playing in

possession but what they did not get an awful lot of credit for was how

they played out of position. He has Sunderland in that same vein, where

they are well-organised, they have good struck. It is going to be that

sort of game because we saw 20 minutes from the end, Manchester

United playing comfortably. Do you have sympathy with him or is it a

case of clutching at straws? I do have sympathy for him. We are

talking about the penalty layout. But, to be honest, I was astonished

that David did not think the first foul was a foul on Fletcher. Because

this ball goes up, he needs him in the back. He is distracted by

Fletcher, straight into the back. It is a foul and every time I've see

it, it is even more of a foul. So I was even more astonished by that.

And to compound their misery, it was a goal made in Manchester, wasn't

it? Yes. He literally runs from the edge of the box and runs around the

back and he is not tracked. This is your centre half, your opposition

coming up for the free kick. So you can understand why David Moyes is

not happy about that. It puts a different complexion on the game all

of a sudden. Why are they failing to do such basic things, then? I don't

know. At that level, it is an elementary error. You would expect

somebody given that job, this is your job, Mark Kim and stay with him

until the danger is out. -- Mark him. You can deliver the ball but

you need to go and head it. In effect, the first time, they were

giving the free header away. You both understand things when it comes

to the penalty call. It wasn't a penalty? No... Time and time again,

you have a chance. Should Vidic come out sooner? And does Cleverley need

to make that challenge? You are in the box and all of a sudden, things

change. He runs an awfully long way here. Has Cleverley made the

challenge with the wrong foot? He shouldn't have made the challenge,

but take that away, it is not a penalty. People might say Johnson

dived. He did not die. For me, he is just off balance and he has fallen

over. It is not a penalty. -- he did not dive. Invariably, players make

their challenge with their strongest foot. It is difficult if you are not

ultra left-sided to wrap your left foot around there. I think, as I

say, there is a coming together, but enough to give a foul moment. David

Moyes refuted it in his book recently but it is being said it is

not helping David Moyes at the moment. Almost reminiscing when he

couldn't easily read in question at Old Trafford. But you guys are not

having any of it? If Man United were winning games... Now they are losing

games at the moment and it is his fault they are not performing at a

level to win games. It is nonsense. He should be allowed to go and watch

the game. When David Moyes is down in that dugout watching the game, he

is not thinking about Alex Ferguson. Nor are the players. They

are thinking about their job. Why can't they do this, Sunderland, when

it comes to the league? Because they have been brilliant. It is a

different sort of pressure and a different way of approaching the

game. I don't think they have played particularly poorly. We have seen

some diesel results. In every game, you need an element of luck. -- some

decent results. I'd just think I have seen under Gus Poyet some sort

of direction certainly consistent with improvement. And there is no

doubt, they have a chance of staying in this season. Shrews we lost at

home to Leyton Orient, who have gone off the boil of late, but they did

win 2-0 yesterday. A cracking goal from Moses. Just before the

half-hour mark, that was. That was before Scott Cuthbert wrapped up the

good win just before the 90 minutes were up. Puts them back into winning

ways, really, and just one point behind the leaders, Brentford, as

this will confirm. Second win in seven games now. He has had to

reinforce the ranks. He told us that only a few days ago. And it looks to

me as if the new faces are doing well. Yes. They have a few players.

He has been backed and he has needed players, he has players out injured.

Reinforcement to look like coming at just the right time. Before we go, a

quick reminder of the football on offer this coming weekend on BBC

One. We have Football Focus, of course. Then joined Gary for all the

top-flight goals on Match Of The Day. That gets under way at

10:30pm. The perfect warm up act for the Football League Show just after.

Thank you as always for your company this evening and thank you to you,

too. So at the halfway point, save to say Manchester City are all but

in the final, while it is advantage Sunderland at Old Trafford. See you

on Sunday. Good night.