Manchester City News 24/7Writer: danielqpr 
Date:Tuesday September 20 2011
Time: 8:19PM
UK time is: 23:16:52
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Manchester City vs. Birmingham City
Etihad Stadium
21/09/11
7:45pm
Carling Cup & FA Cup Holders Prepare To Lock Horns
Championship side and current Carling Cup holders, Birmingham City travel to the Etihad Stadium on Wednesday to face last seasons FA Cup winners, Manchester City.
Roberto Mancini is expected to make at least half a dozen changes to the side that started against Fulham on Sunday with Owen Hargreaves almost certain to make his City debut.
Vital Quotes:
Roberto Mancini
Chris Hughton
Manchester City Team News:
Carlos Tevez, Mario Balotelli, Kolo Toure and Adam Johnson could all start as Roberto Mancini looks to give full matches to a number of players, including Stefan Savic and Costel Pantilimon who are set to make their full debuts.
Nigel de Jong (foot) is still out but James Milner, who missed last week's draw with Fulham after a clash of heads, could return.
Player to watch: Kolo Touré
Kolo Touré is expected to return to his central defensive duties following his six month suspension.
Birmingham City Team News:
Birmingham is expected to rest key players given the fixture congestion caused by their participation in the Europa League.
Striker Adam Rooney is expected to replace Marlon King in attack.
Player to watch: Adam Rooney
Birmingham signed former Inverness Caledonian Thistle striker Adam Rooney on a two-year-deal in June 2011.
In the 2010/11 season he netted 21 goals in 42 games for the Scottish side in the top flight. In total Rooney scored 44 goals in 103 appearances for Inverness.
So far this season the 23-year-old Republic of Ireland born striker has scored twice in four Championship appearances.
Match Facts & Stats
The clubs have met twice before in the League Cup, with each side bizarrely enjoying one emphatic win apiece.
City 6-0 Birmingham
10 October 2001
Darren Huckerby(10,25,81,89)
Tresor Luntala(og 15)
Shaun Goater(54)
Birmingham 6-0 City
11 December 1962
Goal scorer details not available.
Ref Watch:
Referee - Kevin Friend
Assistants - Scott Ledger and Andy Newbold
Fourth Official - Mark Brown
Match Prediction:
Last Sunday's Fulham prediction was way off the mark therefore I'll sit on the fence for this one just in case I embarrass myself again. Oh sod it, City to win by two clear goals.
Next Fixtures:
Barclays Premier League
Saturday 24 September
Everton (H)
12:45 Kick off
Live on Sky Sports
Your Comments
After winning the FA Cup last season the "trophy monkey" is finally off our backs. It would be nice to progress, however with both teams facing fixture congestion you have to wonder if both managers are going to put weakened teams out (if City is even capable of that) and if they lose then too bad. I can see the big picture of finishing Top 4 and progressing in the Champions League (for us) and returning to the Premiership (for Birmingham) being more important to both managers and clubs.
PhillyBlueMoon
After winning the FA Cup last season the "trophy monkey" is finally off our backs. It would be nice to progress, however with both teams facing fixture congestion you have to wonder if both managers are going to put weakened teams out (if City is even capable of that) and if they lose then too bad. I can see the big picture of finishing Top 4 and progressing in the Champions League (for us) and returning to the Premiership (for Birmingham) being more important to both managers and clubs.
PhillyBlueMoon
Would imagine our team will be virtually unrecognisable from the one we put out against Fulham, and hope to see quite a few of the youngsters on the fringes of the first team given a run out. Of course Tevez and Balotelli botrh need game time to improve their match fitness, so would expect to see both of them as well. Birmingham have more important issues than the Carling Cup this season, so we should hopefully be too strong for them.
fifthcolumnblue
Would imagine our team will be virtually unrecognisable from the one we put out against Fulham, and hope to see quite a few of the youngsters on the fringes of the first team given a run out. Of course Tevez and Balotelli botrh need game time to improve their match fitness, so would expect to see both of them as well. Birmingham have more important issues than the Carling Cup this season, so we should hopefully be too strong for them.
fifthcolumnblue
Regardless of what team we put out, there's no reason why we can't win this by 3 or 4 goals. Birmingham have already shipped about 14 goals this season and have only scored about 5. There's talk of Hughton resting a few of his key players too. Balotelli to score a hat-trick at 17/2 looks a very tempting bet...
rojo2010
Regardless of what team we put out, there's no reason why we can't win this by 3 or 4 goals. Birmingham have already shipped about 14 goals this season and have only scored about 5. There's talk of Hughton resting a few of his key players too. Balotelli to score a hat-trick at 17/2 looks a very tempting bet...
rojo2010
The only thing I want to see is a pk awarded to City. Mario or Tevez? Has to be Mario now right?
hosko
The only thing I want to see is a pk awarded to City. Mario or Tevez? Has to be Mario now right?
hosko
Owen Hargreaves - man of The match - get in!
fifthcolumnblue
Owen Hargreaves - man of The match - get in!
fifthcolumnblue
Have Your Say
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