Source: Daily_Mail
LIVE: CARLING CUP SEMI-FINAL Manchester City v Manchester United - as it happens
It's the big one! Follow all the action from the Carling Cup semi-final first leg between the Manchesters City and United as the big rivals vie for the advantage in this two-legged clash. Some would have you believe these next two matches will decide the future of football in England for the next 20 years - will United's dominance end here and usher in the Mancini era? No histrionics from us - we're just expecting a cracking match and Sportsmail has coverage from 7.30pm.[LNB] CARLING CUP SEMI-FINAL (1st leg)MAN CITY 0 MAN UNITED 1 8.33: Another chance for City. Richards' header from Bellamy's cross was deflected and the pace was taken off it. Van der Sar collects easily.[LNB]8.31: Head tennis from the corner wins ... another corner after Zabaletta tried to bundle his way through.[LNB]8.30: Bellamy and Tevex combine down the right and Rafael's sliding challenge earns the hosts a corner. [LNB]8.26: What a chance for Tevez! Wright-Phillips skipped passed Evra and whipped in a great cross but Tevez got over the top of it and headed straight into the ground. Cue much derision from the United fans massed behind the goal he had just declined to head into.[LNB]8.23: In all honesty, City have been a bit slow out of the traps this evening. Mancini's side aren't pressing the ball after losing possession and their only forays into the United box have come courtesy of free-kicks.[LNB]8.20: GOAL! RYAN GIGGS taps United in front after some fine play out on the right from Valencia who skipped past Bellamy and swung a wicked cross into the six yard box, it bounced off a couple of bodies and landed at the Welshman's feet who couldn't miss from a yard.[LNB] Goal: Giggs taps home Valencia's cross to put United into the lead at Eastlands[LNB]8.15: Boooooo. Yep, Tevez gets a touch and the United fans don't like it. Then a huge shout of HANDBALL but Mike Dean waves it away. [LNB]8.12: Some delightful interplay on the edge of the City box but Richards sticks out a boot to cut out Rooney's pass as it threatened to put Valencia through.[LNB]8.09: You will not be surprised to read the following sentence. Scrappy start, tackles flying in, no clear-cut chances. It's noisy but not pretty so far.[LNB]8.05: City get the game underway to a huge roar - not a spare seat at Eastlands and with 5,000 United in attendance the atmosphere is electric.[LNB]7.59: The players are out, we'll have some football for you in just a couple of seconds. [LNB] Flaring up: The United fans light a flare ahead of kick-off at Eastlands[LNB]7.45: And the team news pours forth - Dedryck Boyata is the surprise name in the Manchester City starting line-up for their first domestic semi-final since 1981. [LNB]The 19-year-old defender only made his senior debut at Middlesbrough earlier this month but manager Roberto Mancini has entrusted him with a central defensiveberth alongside Micah Richards, allowing Vincent Kompany to move up into a three-man midfield.[LNB]And quelle surprise, there's no room for Robinho, but Carlos Tevez does get to go head-to-head with his old club who, contrary to Sir Alex Ferguson's claim, have not packed their side with youngsters.[LNB]Rafael Da Silva was included, but then so too was Ryan Giggs, 36 and Edwin van der Sar, 39. [LNB]Fergie does NOT want to lose this one![LNB]Man City: Given, Zabaleta, Richards, Boyata, Garrido, De Jong, Kompany, Barry, Wright-Phillips, Tevez, Bellamy. Subs: Taylor, Onuoha, Ireland, Robinho, Sylvinho, Petrov, Mwaruwari.[LNB]Man Utd: Van der Sar, Rafael Da Silva, Brown, Jonathan Evans, Evra, Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Valencia, Rooney, Giggs. Subs: Kuszczak, Neville, Owen, Park, Scholes, Fabio Da Silva, Diouf.[LNB]Referee: Mike Dean [LNB] Missing out: After a series of poor performances Robinho is absent tonight[LNB]7.35: Before we get the team news, take a look at some classic clashes between these two sides over the years. [LNB]Ian Ladyman spoke to City legend Dennis Tueart about the 4-0 thrashing his side handed out in this competition in 1975. [LNB]And I made myself busy yesterday and found this delightful footage of the dramatic semi-final these two sides played out 40 years ago. [LNB]Or you could just watch Eastenders? [LNB]7.30pm: Here we are then, the phony war is over, the snow swept away, I do believe we'll have some football for you tonight - Carling Cup semi-final action between Man City and Man United. Excellent.[LNB]If the hype is to be believed the winner of this two-legged affair is a dead-cert to go on to dominate English football until at least the middle of the century. [LNB]We'll try and remain a little more level-headed than that, but there's no doubt this is an intriguing clash.[LNB]Gary Neville, Patrice Evra and City boss Roberto Mancini have all done their level-best to stoke things up ahead of tonight's game, too ...[LNB]Neville has spoken out in defence of his manager over allowing Carlos Tevez to leave last summer, he said: 'I can't disagree with his decision on Tevez. He was a good player for us, but if the financial demands are too big then that's just the way it goes.' [LNB]Evra has claimed City are more focussed on United than actually winning anything and Mancini chipped in with a little gem about the Eastlands club becoming the dominant side in Manchester very soon. [LNB]Do you need any more to wet the appetite for this match? [LNB]If I've missed anything or you fancy getting in on the action tonight - via email, not on the pitch - you can get in touch via the Banter Hotline - tom.bellwood@dailymail.co.uk[LNB][LNB] Red hot: Owen's goal separated the two sides in a classic earlier this season[LNB] Rooney is Barcelona target as Pique tries to tempt Man United pal to SpainMan City grab another ex-Gunner with Milan ace Flamini set to arrive on loanBeckham promises to do a Denis Law if he scores against Manchester UnitedVan Nistelrooy in, Pavlyuchenko out! Spurs in talks to sign Real strikerMANCHESTER CITY FC
