Capital One Cup: Man City look to extend dominance over Palace

Lee Gormley | October 27, 2015

Manchester City v Crystal Palace

Man City hope to continue Palace dominance

Premier League leaders Manchester City will switch their attention towards the Capital One Cup in midweek, as Manuel Pellegrini’s Sky Blues prepare to face Crystal Palace, with the hosts having lost just once in this fixture since 2002.

Having so far dominated domestically, the hosts will look to extend their impressive form onto the League Cup stage, and they are 7/5 to win to nil at the Etihad in normal time, having done so in five of their six previous Eagles meetings.

Although, Palace secured their first win over City since December 2001 last season, rallying to a 2-1 victory at Selhurst Park, and Alan Pardew’s men are 5/1 to qualify from this last 16 encounter, on a night which could ultimately see extra-time and penalties.

Kelechi Iheanacho incredibly struck a last-gasp winner when these two sides met in the Premier League last month, and the Man City prospect is 6/1 to strike last again this time out, having also recently featured in the Manchester derby as a late substitute.

Yohan Cabaye has been pivotal to Palace’s early season success and the clinical Frenchman is 5/1 to net in 90 minutes on their travels, while Jason Puncheon is 7/1 to get on the scoresheet, having done so in that shock triumph last term.

Manchester United v Middlesbrough

Red Devils host Championship club Boro

Louis van Gaal is tracking his first piece of silverware with Manchester United and the Capital One Cup could be a great route towards that maiden trophy, as his side face Middlesbrough next, with the hosts having gone unbeaten in this fixture since October 2005.

The last time United tackled Boro in the League Cup was in September 2008, when Cristiano Ronaldo and Ryan Giggs helped inspire a 3-1 victory at Old Trafford, and the Red Devils are 10/1 to secure the same result this time out within normal time.

Recently returning winger Stewart Downing knows Man Utd all too well, having played against them more times than any other team in his career, but has only been on the winning side on three occasions from 27 total encounters.

The former England international is 6/1 to net his just his second ever goal against United in 90 minutes, while David Nugent is 10/1 to open proceedings and double his current single goal tally against the Red Devils too.

Anthony Martial could be set to lead the line once again for Van Gaal’s hosts and the deadly teenager is 4/1 for a brace or more in his latest outing in normal time, having already fired in five times so far, including in the previous League Cup clash against Ipswich Town.

Southampton v Aston Villa

Saints confident of toppling stuttering Villa

Southampton will enter their Capital One Cup match-up with Aston Villa with plenty of confidence, having thrashed their West Midlands opponents 6-1 last term at St Mary’s, and have have been toppled just twice since 2005 in this fixture.

In-form wideman Sadio Mane hit a hat-trick in that south coast demolition last May, while Republic of Ireland international Shane Long bagged a brace and Italian hitman Graziano Pelle rounded off proceedings with a late strike.

Both Mane and Long are absent for this cup meeting through suspension and injury respectively, though towering Saints sharpshooter Pelle is 4/1 to add two or more to his impressive nine strikes for club and country so far in normal time.

Meanwhile, the visitors are still without a managerial replacement for recently dismissed Tim Sherwood, with Remi Garde being heavily tipped to take charge and Under-21 boss Kevin MacDonald at the helm temporarily, but the domestic strugglers are 7/1 to secure victory in 90 minutes.

Their main threat will be Rudy Gestede, who is 11/4 to net anytime within normal time, while experienced attacker Gabriel Agbonlahor is 12/1 to strike last in this League Cup match-up.

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Coral’s top tip: Kelechi Iheanacho to score last @ 6/1