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Tuesdays Soccer – By Chris.

Carling Cup - semi final, second leg

Tottenham  -  Arsenal           2.40   -   3.10
How have Tottenham coped with their packed fixture list? (four games in eleven days). Two wins, vs Reading and Sunderland, a loss to Chelsea and the 1-1 draw with Arsenal in the first leg of this semi final. They were unlucky two weeks ago when they were clearly stronger than Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium, leading 1-0, but unbelievably enough a below par Arsenal side managed a late equaliser.

Arsenal will once again use their cup players. In other words their entire midfield at the weekend, Fabregas, Flamini, Rosicky and Hleb, will not be in the starting line up tomorrow. Instead we will see something like Diaby, G Silva, Denilson and T Walcott in the Arsenal midfield.  As I just pointed out, this second string cup team was second best to the Tottenham regulars, but that was two weeks ago. One regular will play tomorrow and that is W Gallas, who will replace the injured Senderos in the central defence. Hoyte or G Silva will be his partner. There is lots of talent in this young Arsenal side and I would definitely not rule out their chances ahead of this match, especially since they are well rested, unlike their Tottenham colleagues and you should never forget that Arsenal have a habit of inflicting defeats on Tottenham.

Ledley King was rested at the weekend, when Tottenham defeated Sunderland. He will back for this match and also Malbranque will be available again. My stand point is the same as a fortnight ago. A full strength Tottenham side ought to defeat the Arsenal youngsters. This time the odds on the Spurs win are 2.40. It was more fun in the first leg with the 4.00 odds on the away win and the winning chances for Spurs much the same as tomorrow!

17.00 pm 22/01/08 - Late News: Wenger has added Adebayor, Fabregas and Hleb to the Arsenal squad.

Tottenham 5 Arsenal 1

FA Cup replay

Bristol Rovers  -  Fulham        3.75  -  2.10
This replay was postponed last week due to a water logged pitch. I was backing Bristol Rovers then and I will be backing them tomorrow. Nothing has changed  except the odds on the home win have gone down from 4.00 to 3.75. Rovers drew with Walsall at the weekend, 1-1. They suffered no injuries and will be able to draw from the same squad for this match.

Fulham hope to play J Bullard from the start and they welcome back the previously suspended P Konchesky. They lost their home game with Arsenal 0-3, and new coach Hodgson has not enjoyed a happy start. OK, losing to Chelsea and Arsenal, that is just the way it should be for a mediocre side like Fulham. It has been raining and they played a rugby match at B Rovers home ground yesterday and consequently a  very difficult surface is anticipated for this cup clash and that is definitely no advantage for Fulham. Rovers to cause a cup upset! (3.75).

Bristol 0 Fulham 0

Sheffield Wednesday   -   Derby       2.50   -  2.80
The home side will come with the same squad that won the Sheffield derby at the weekend. Still no Jeffers or Simek. Esajas will have a late fitness test, but Sodje has been cleared to play.

Derby will have both C Davis and D Leacock available for this match and they will start in the Derby defence. Defensive colleagues D Mills, T Mears and MacEveley are on the injury list. S Pearson should be available again, but their recent signings, Villa, Savage, Roberts and Ghaly are ineligible for this cup game. Maybe the fact that Wednesday played the game of the season vs. Sheffield Utd only three days ago could prove advantageous for Derby. Maybe the Sheffield players will lack the 100% motivation this time. Even the big clubs have problems in dealing with two big fixtures in a week and now we are talking about two games in three days.
I am far from convinced, but I have to make a stand. Away win! (2.80).

Sheffield Wednesday 1 Derby 1

Chris.