Manchester City travel to the iconic Wembley stadium on Sunday as favourites against struggling Premier League Sunderland in what is expected to be an one way encounter. The Black Cats however will be taking inspiration from Wigan’s 1-0 over City in the fina of the FA Cup last year at Wembley too, when Roberto Mancini was at the Citizens’ helm.
Striker Sergio Aguero could return to the side after missing five games due to a hamstring injury and in all probability City’s top goal scorer is expected to take the pitch. Stevan Jovetic and Matija Nastasic are both out for the game while Sunderland midfielder Liam Bridcutt will be will be the only one missing from the Black Cats’ squad as he is cup tied albeit his outings with former side Brighton. As a result, Lee Cattermole is expected to get the nod in the starting eleven playing as a screen in front of the back four. Striker Connor Wickham will not be present having joined Leeds on loan while keeper Keiren Westwood is also out thanks to his shoulder injury.
Elsewhere Joe Hart has accepted the fact that he will be dropped for the final. “You have to be able to accept when you are playing or not. After being dropped I just did what I always did – I went and trained hard and listened to what the manager had to say and knuckled down and got on with my job to the best of my ability. When managers have got decisions to make, whether it benefits me or not, I have to be man enough to take it. I work hard every day to win and I understand it doesn’t always go my way and you have to move forward.”
Stats Courtesy: Telegraph.co.uk
Stats of the game
- City are in the final of the competition for only the fourth time in their history; they won two of the previous three visits, most recently in 1976.
- Sunderland, who can book a place in Europe if they win the trophy, have made only one previous appearance, in 1985 – and they lost to 1-0 to Norwich City.
- The only previous meeting between these teams in the League Cup was in 1980. After a 1-1 draw at Maine Road, Sunderland won the Roker Park replay 1-0.
- Since 2007 every League Cup winning manager, apart from Manchester United’s Sir Alex Ferguson, has lost his job within a year of lifting the trophy.
Match Details:
Wembley Stadium
Manchester City (Possible, 4-2-3-1): Pantilimon; Zabaleta, Kompany, Lescott, Kolarov; Ferdinand, Touré, Navas, Aguero, Silva; Negredo.
Out: Jovetic (hamstring), Nastasic (knee).
Test: Aguero (hamstring).
Sunderland (4-1-41): Mannone; Bardsley, Brown, O’Shea, Alonso; Cattermole; Johnson, Ki, Colback, Borini; Altidore.
Out: Westwood (shoulder).
Referee: Martin Atkinson. Matches (all competitions): 27, R3 Y81.
Sportzwiki Predictions: City 3-1 Sunderland
