“Stoke will want to be in this final as much as possible”.
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That should have signalled the opening of the floodgates, but Hull stubbornly fended off the Premier League leaders and their rearguard were not breached again until the 80th minute.
The Blues will meet Manchester City only a week after the first leg at the Etihad in the Premier League on January 13.
Manchester City are massive favorites going into this match so the value is betting on the handicap which is set at 1 goal. In addition to this, City have found hard to keep clean sheets in their last few outing so I think that Stoke may be able to score in this match.
Wednesday made the biggest splash in the previous round, crushing visitors Arsenal 3-0, but any hope of a repeat at the Britannia Stadium looked faint when Ibrahim Afellay volleyed into the corner on the half-hour for his first Stoke goal.
The draws for the semi-finals of the Capital One Cup were conducted on Wednesday night, following the completion of the quarter-final matches. “They played a fantastic game”. “It will be a hard game but on the back of the [League Cup] quarterfinal we’re full of confidence and can’t wait for the weekend”.
Stoke City 2 – 0 Sheffield Wednesday (Half-time 1-0).
Manchester City will be without captain Vincent Kompany (calf), Pablo Zabaleta (knee) and Eliaquim Mangala who is suspended, while Fernando (knock), Jesus Navas (ankle), Sergio Aguero (heel) and Joe Hart (hamstring) are doubtful.
Eliaquim Mangala is banned, with Fernando (knock) and Jesus Navas (ankle) doubtful.
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Stoke are now the lowest scoring team in the league, having netted just 11 goals, while City are the highest scorers in the top flight this season with 30 goals.
