Source: Telegraph
Carling Cup Final buildup
14:10Breaking news: He finished all Terry Butcher-like after Tottenham's win over Hull, he scored the winner in last year's Final after Chelsea's Petr Cech punched a clearance straight back into his face. But Redknapp is now faced with a defensive problem with 50 minutes to go...
... because Jonathan Woodgate is out of the Carling Cup Final after failing a late fitness test on his ankle.
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14:01 Both sets of fans are beginning to flock up Wembley Way with just under an hour unti kick-off.
And here is Man Utd's route to the final:
3rd rd: Middlesbrough (h) W 3-1 4th rd: QPR (h) W 1-0 5th rd: Blackburn (h) W 5-3 SF1: Derby (a) L 0-1 SF2: Derby (h) W 4-2
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13:45 Such is the stature of the Carling Cup, that the host broadcaster has decided that 2:30 is a decent time to kick-off build-up, a full 30 minutes before kick-off. This certainly is no FA Cup Final when my father would throw back the nostalgia and inform me that buil-up in the old days would mean four hours of live TV before the match.
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13:30 Past League Cup meetings between the two sides.
1998-1999 QF: Tottenham 3 Man Utd 1 1989-1990 3rd rd: Man Utd 0 Tottenham 3 1981-1982 2nd rd, 1st leg: Tottenham 1 Man Utd 0 1981-1982 2nd rd, 2nd leg: Man Utd 0 Tottenham 1 1979-1980 2nd rd, 1st leg: Tottenham 2 Man Utd 1 1979-1980 2nd rd, 2nd leg: Man Utd 3 Tottenham 1
Victory today would also see Spurs join Aston Villa as the second most successful club in the League Cup with five wins, two behind Liverpool.
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13:15 Breaking news: Jonathan Woodgate is a concern for Spurs after returning to the dressing rooms for treatment. More when we get it.
As expected, Fergie has given Darron Gibson and Danny Welbeck a starting berth for the Final. Rafael Da Silva is out with a fractured ankle but striker Wayne Rooney is set to start.
Tottenham's chances have already been blighted by the fact that Robbie Keane, Wilson Palacios, Carlo Cudicini and Pascal Chimbonda are all cup-tied. They will join Mrs Pavlyuchenko in the stands.
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United and Spurs fans also have the chance to win on another front today - a Fan-o-meter will record the loudest set of supporters which will be beemed on an electronic ticker behin d each goal throughout the match.
If it reaches over 110 decibels (which is jet engine noise territory) then organisers will put £20,000 towards the Bobby Moore foundation. Not sure how this will play out if, say, Spurs are 4-0 down at half-time.
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12:41 In true Cup Final ramblings... Manchester United have left the team hotel.
12:40 So how can Spurs stop Manchester United? Much has been made of Fergie's side in recent weeks and 'Arry is going to have to pull out all the stops this afternoon. Stewart Robson gives us his opinion
and you can even win a Carling Cup Final ball
after reading that.
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12.20: More early afternoon stat attacks for you. Roman Pavlyuchenko looks set to become the first Russian to feature in a League Cup final. This is unlikely to make much difference to Mrs Pavlyuchenko's thoughts on London. She will be able to tick off the lovely environs of Brent Council in a few hours time.
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