Venue: Old Trafford Date: Tuesday, October 29 Kick-Off: 19:45 Can Manchester United continue their mini-revival when they welcome Norwich in the fourth round of the Capital One Cup?
Team News
Manchester United manager David Moyes is likely to rest Wayne Rooney and Robin van Persie as his side prepares to play host to Norwich in the League Cup, meaning Javier Hernandez will be handed a rare start. Wilfried Zaha is also expected to feature alongside a host of other fringe players, and is set to make only his second competitive appearance for the Red Devils. Norwich manager Chris Hughton is also set to ring the changes, with many alterations expected to be made to the side that drew 0-0 with Cardiff City at the weekend. Ricky van Wolfswinkel has a toe injury so may not feature while Alex Tettey could also sit this tie out. (BBC)
Key Stats
Manchester United have never beaten Norwich in the League Cup (L2 D1). Their last meeting in the competition was in 1979 - Norwich won a third-round encounter at Carrow Road 4-1. Manchester United have won 10 of their last 11 League Cup ties at Old Trafford (L1). The Canaries have scored nine goals in their two League Cup games this season.
Manchester United manager David Moyes has previously stressed the importance of winning his first major trophy at the club and will know the Capital One Cup likely represents his best shot at success this season. United may be unbeaten in five games but are far removed from the cohesive squad we saw during Sir Alex Ferguson's final season in charge in the last campaign. That was evidenced by what has recently become a series of unconvincing performances at Old Trafford in the nervous 3-2 win over Stoke City at the weekend. The visitors tonight are Norwich, unfancied and without a win all month, but Chris Hughton's side will be hoping to spot and exploit the types of weaknesses targeted by the likes of Southampton in recent weeks. United are likely to make wholesale changes to their starting XI but I'm still going for a home win, because I think they'll simply have too much for Norwich, even with the absence of their big hitters. Amazingly, victory here would be the Red Devil's first ever over the Canaries in League Cup competition. Prediction 2-0
Joseph is an accredited football journalist and has interviewed nearly all of the current 20 Barclay's Premier League managers. He is also a correspondent for Bleacher Report and has written for Caught Offside and Give Me Football.
