For the past few seasons Arsene Wenger has used the League Cup to showcase and blood his young players, giving them a chance of glory and also to prove themselves worthy of a sought after first team place. A couple of seasons ago they made it to the final, only to be beaten by a full strength Chelsea team. But last night Arsenal were outgunned by Coca-Cola Championship Burnley, and in particular one of Burnley’s own young guns - Kevin McDonald.
The young Scottish striker scored two goals, one at the beginning of each half; and though Burnley also have their young Danish goalkeeper Brian Jensen to thank, they deserved to beat Arsenal 2-0 and go through to the League Cup semi-finals.
Burnley have now beaten three Premier League teams in this season’s League Cup - Fulham, Chelsea & Arsenal and must be confident of a trip to Wembley. Football league betting also expects them to be there or there abouts in the league, so it could be two trips!
Unfortunately, as always, Arsene Wenger missed the chance to praise Burnley’s plucky performance and simply stated that Arsenal didn’t deserve to lose, in his post match interview. A shame because all too often Arsene Wenger complains in defeat that teams kick Arsenal off the park and stop them from playing the beautiful game. But last night at Turf Moor is sub-zero temperature, Burnley turned up the heat and simply out-played Arsenal’s young team, something Wenger should have admired in defeat.
Burnley are currently fourth in the Championship and very much in contention for Premiership promotion this season. But after last night’s performance, 20-year-old Kevin McDonald has put himself well and truly in the shop window marked ‘January Sale’.
The other League Cup quarter-final played last night between Stoke and Derby also resulted in a Championship team beating a Premier League side; but this game was decided by a striker at the other end of his career - Nathan Ellington.
Both Stoke and Derby had several chances to win the game, none came closer than Ricardo Fuller’s shot that was saved by Derby’s veteran goalkeeper Roy Carroll in injury time, just before Derby were awarded a penalty in the 94 minute after Andy Griffin was alleged to handle the ball by referee Rob Styles.
After the game Stoke City manager Tony Pulis disputed the penalty while Derby manager Paul Jewell simply said, ‘if it wasn’t a penalty we deserve a bit of luck’.
Derby make it into the League Cup semi-finals for the first time in 40 years, whie for Burnley it was 1983.
Another Championship team will attempt to book their place in the last four tonight when Watford take on the League Cup holders Tottenham. The other quarter-final sees Manchester United play struggling Blackburn Rovers.
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