Watch West Brom vs Man City Carling Cup live

Carling Cup third round
Venue: The Hawthorns Date: Wednesday, 22 September Kick-off: 2000 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, BBC local radio & highlights on The League Cup Show

TEAM NEWS

West Brom's Graham Dorrans is expected to start after coming off the bench during the win against Birmingham.

Baggies boss Roberto Di Matteo is likely to rest key players ahead of Saturday's match with Arsenal.

Man City manager Roberto Mancini has hinted that out-of-favour goalkeeper Shay Given could play at the Hawthorns.

Left-back Wayne Bridge is likely to play as he continues his comeback from injury, and Jo may line-up in attack in place of the rested Carlos Tevez.

MATCH PREVIEW

It will be interesting to see how seriously these clubs take the Carling Cup, given that they both have vastly different priorities this season.

For West Brom, the cups will always come a distant second to league survival. The Baggies are desperate to end the yo-yo existence that has seen them swap divisions in seven out of the last nine seasons.

Manchester City took the Carling Cup very seriously last season and were just minutes away from reaching their first major final since 1981 until bitter rivals Manchester United knocked them out.

However, despite not winning any silverware since 1976, such has been the investment in the club and the rise in expectations that merely winning the Carling Cup this season would not be enough to satisfy City's billionaire owners. Their priorities lie in the league, and given that they face champions Chelsea on Saturday, Mancini is likely to ring the changes for Wednesday's games.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

• The Baggies are hoping to register a fourth successive home win over Manchester City.

• These clubs featured in the 1970 League Cup final at Wembley. Manchester City won 2-1 with goals from Mike Doyle and Glyn Pardoe, with Jeff Astle netting for West Brom.

BBC Sport

West Bromwich Albion

• West Brom have made one appearance in the fourth round in the last six years. They beat then League One Bradford and Premier League Fulham in 2005/06, before losing 3-1 away to Manchester United in the last 16.

• The Baggies have been dismissed by Premier League opposition in three of the last five years.

• If selected, Roman Bednar will be making his 100th appearance in a West Brom jersey.

Manchester City

• City have failed to qualify for the third round in three of the last five years.

• They have been knocked out by fellow Premier League clubs in two of the last three years.

• City have won five of the last seven league and cup matches this season, and are pursuing a third successive victory.

Source:bbc.co.uk

Watch West Brom vs Man City Carling Cup live

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