Wolverhampton v Man City

TEAM NEWS

Wolves could again be without striker Steven Fletcher, who has missed the last two games with a calf injury.

Ronald Zubar lacks match fitness despite recovering from a groin problem, while Kevin Foley is nursing an ankle injury.

Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini is likely to rest many of the players who started the win at Manchester United.

Owen Hargreaves will not play due to a calf strain, but Kolo Toure and Costel Pantilimon could feature.

MATCH PREVIEW

Late goals from Kevin Doyle and Jamie O'Hara spared Wolves a sixth successive league defeat on Saturday, but under-pressure manager Mick McCarthy must now prepare his struggling side for back-to-back games against Manchester City, who travel to Molineux on a high following their record-breaking 6-1 win at Manchester United.

Of the two matches, Saturday's Premier League trip to Eastlands is likely to be the more taxing.

City boss Roberto Mancini used many of his fringe players for the win against holders Birmingham in the previous round, and may be tempted to do the same against Wolves, who last reached the quarter-finals in 1995-96.

Mancini and McCarthy have found their substitutions under the spotlight this season, but both made effective changes at the weekend. Many Wolves fans reacted with dismay when McCarthy replaced wingers Adam Hammill and Matt Jarvis against Swansea, but that decision proved the catalyst for an unlikely comeback. Mancini's decision to introduce Edin Dzeko at Old Traford helped City rub salt win United wounds, the Bosnian scoring twice in the closing stages.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Wolves have won two of their last three home games against Manchester City.
They beat Manchester City in the 1974 League Cup final. The sides also met in the 1971-72, and 1987-88 seasons, with City progressing on each occasion.

Wolves

Mick McCarthy's men were knocked out of the Carling Cup by Manchester opposition last year, losing 3-2 to Manchester United in the fourth round.
They have scored 17 goals in their last five games in this competition.
Wolves have not reached the last eight of the League Cup since 1995-96.
They have lost only one of their last 10 League Cup ties at Molineux, losing 3-1 to Morecambe in the second round in August 2007.

Manchester City

City have failed to make the quarter-finals in eight of the last 10 years.
They have scored 40 goals in 14 matches this season (including the Community Shield).
City have failed to score in only one of their last 19 League Cup games; the 2-0 home defeat to Spurs in the quarter-finals in December 2007.
City won the League Cup in 1970 and 1976, and were runners-up in 1974.

 

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