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Carling Cup Betting: Wembley return within range for Cardiff

Carling Cup RSS / / 01 December 2011 /

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Malky Mackay has built on the foundations Dave Jones laid at Cardiff

Malky Mackay has built on the foundations Dave Jones laid at Cardiff

"Eight of the last ten sides to have hosted the second leg of their semi-final have wound up in the final, including each of the last four, and that in spite of three of those losing the opener."

Crystal Palace and Cardiff are both dreaming of Wembley, silverware and a possible European tour after being paired with one another in the Carling Cup semi-finals.

In a rare moment of absolute inspiration, this writer flagged up the [100.0] offered on both clubs ahead of the quarter-final draw, noting the high frequency of Football League teams who reach the final four.

Now, after being rewarded for the scalps of Premier League duo Manchester United and Blackburn with the guarantee that one will become the first finalist from the Championship since Birmingham 11 years ago, Crystal Palace are in to [15.0] to take the trophy, with Cardiff [11.5].

Those odds rate the Bluebirds, FA Cup runners-up in 2007-08, as favourites to face one of Manchester City [[1.97]] and Liverpool [[2.8]] in the final, and as heroic as Palace were at Old Trafford, the majority of trends support that view.

For starters, Malky Mackay's men are eight points better off in the league, sitting third in the table after a superb run, during which they beat the south Londoners 2-0 in the Welsh capital.

Most significant of all though is the fact that the second leg will be played at their own Cardiff City Stadium. Home advantage in the return tie is talked up as a big boost in European encounters but is of even importance in the Carling Cup.

Eight of the last ten sides to have hosted the second leg of their semi-final have wound up in the final, including each of the last four, and that in spite of three of those losing the opener and then battling back from behind.

Manchester City's greater squad depth and undefeated domestic record sees them fancied to overcome Liverpool, however the Reds haven't lost to a Champions League club all season and are the most successful team in the competition's history.

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