Tuesday, January 11, 2011

Carling Cup Semi-Final Opta Facts - 11-12 January


Statistics and facts to help your football betting are available every week at Sta Sam Ti Reko courtesy of Opta Sportsdata, Europe's leading provider of sports performance statistics.


Ipswich Town v Arsenal
  • Arsenal are in the semi-finals of the Carling Cup for the fifth time in the last eight seasons, more often than any other side.
  • Arsenal have only ever lost one League Cup match against a lower league side in the Arsene Wenger era (Burnley).
  • Arsenal are unbeaten in their last 15 matches in all competitions against Ipswich, winning 12 of those games.
  • Ipswich and Arsenal have been drawn together twice, with Arsenal winning on home soil after a replay in 1970-71 and Town winning at Highbury in 2000-01.
  • Ipswich have made the semi-final three times in the League Cup, but lost on each occasion (1981-82, 1984-85 and 2000-01.)
  • The last two semi-final home legs at Portman Road have ended as 1-0 wins for Tow n.
  • Four of Ipswich's five wins in the League Cup have been by a one-goal margin.
  • Wojciech Szczesny hasn't conceded a goal for Arsenal in the three Carling Cup matches he has played.
  • Nicklas Bendtner has scored five goals in his last five Carling Cup appearances.
  • The Gunners have benefited from an own goal just before half-time in their last two Carling Cup ties.
  • Tamas Priskin has scored four goals in his last six Carling Cup appearances.
  • New Ipswich manager Paul Jewell was manager of Wigan when they knocked Arsenal out in the League Cup semi-finals in 2005-06.
West Ham United v Birmingham City
  • West Ham have won only one of the last eight meetings in all competitions with Birmingham City.
  • The Hammers and the Blues have been drawn together twice before in the League Cup and West Ham have progressed on both occasions courtesy of away wins.
  • In 1989-90 West Ham won at St Andrews before drawing the second leg at home to progress.
  • In 1999-2000, the Hammers came from behind twice to win 3-2 at St Andrews.
  • West Ham last reached the semi-final in 1989-90.
  • The Hammers have reached the semi-final seven times, progressing to the final on only two occasions.
  • West Ham have won nine of their last 10 Carling Cup ties at Upton Park, losing the other.
  • In their last 14 Carling Cup away games, Birmingham have alternated between wins and not winning. If the pattern continues, they will win this match.
  • Birmingham have been in four League Cup semi finals, progressing to the final on two occasions.
  • Carlton Cole has scored four goals in his last five Carling Cup starts.