The FA Cup serves up a Manchester derby in the last four, as City see off Championship Reading with a second-half Micah Richard’s goal. The ecstatic Eastlands celebrations failed to disguise the fact that Roberto Mancini’s side again failed to impress, relying on a set-piece winner as their multi-millionaires struggled to pick Reading’s lock. As Fantasy Managers contemplate a forthcoming blank gameweek for Carlos Tevez and company, the stock in City’s assets continues to slide.
At the Britannia meanwhile, Stoke City made progress courtesy of more dead-ball deciders. Robert Huth’s connection with a Roy Delap slingshot and Danny Higginbotham’s free-kick proved enough to dispose of a resurgent West Ham.
On-loan John Carew missed out on the chance to lead the line for Stoke’s Quarter Final showdown with West Ham; a back injury kept the big Norwegian on the sidelines, allowing Kenwyne Jones to take his place alongside Jonathan Walters up front. Danny Higginbotham started at left-back for the hosts as Tony Pulis welcomed Matthew Etherington back to his starting line-up. After an impressive performance in the first 45 minutes against his former club, the winger’s main contribution was a miss from a dubiously awarded penalty, as the home side avenged their recent 3-0 trashing at Upton Park to set up a Semi Final date with Bolton.
Robert Huth continued his outstanding goalscoring season for the hosts, netting the opener direct from a Rory Delap throw-in, while Higginbotham’s free-kick proving to be the match-winner. Thomas Sorensen, preferred to Asmir Begovic for Stoke’s cup games this season, kept the Hammers at bay time and again in the second half as Pulis’ side held on for victory. The Stoke manager hailed the club’s “Fantastic Achievement“ in reaching the Semi Finals, which -as Andy has mentioned- will take place in the weekend of gameweek 33, with the league fixture (at home to Wolves) to be subsequently rescheduled. There is a chance that this will remain in gameweek 33, with the fixture shifted to a midweek April 20 slot – that is yet to be confirmed.
Avram Grant chose to leave Demba Ba out of his squad – resting the Senegalese striker after his recent back-to-back appearances. Grant started with Carlton Cole up front at the Britannia then, with Freddie Piquionne providing support. Piquionne began well, putting the Hammers in front with a dubious opener having appeared to have handled a Thomas Hitzlsperger pass. The striker was however injured in the process of bundling home the goal and was forced off after just 36 minutes. He will now be a doubt for the gameweek 30 trip to West Ham. With Robbie Keane ineligible for that match, Grant will have just Ba and Obinna as obvious options up front.
The other FA Cup Semi Final will be all Manchester affair, after Micah Richards finally broke Reading’s resistance late in the second-half at Eastlands. The full-back headed home a David Silva corner to banish the Royals’ hopes but City’s performance was lethargic at best. With this being their sixth game in seventeen days, however, the below-par display is perhaps understandable. Silva was an impressive exception for the home side, continually prompting and probing in the final third of the pitch, though the same cannot be said for Carlos Tevez, who, yet again, looked a shadow of his former self – a concern for his many Fantasy owners.
Aleksander Kolarov -previously fielded left of a front three by Roberto Mancini- played at left-back this time round but his set-piece duties were still a threat, and the City boss gave rare starts to the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips and Patrick Veira as he attempted to freshen up the side following a long trip home from Moscow on Thursday night. Mancini also chose to bench big-money forwards Edin Dzeko and Mario Balotelli, with the latter coming on for a forgettable 20 minute appearance halfway through the second half, as City limped into their first Semi Final for 30 years.
City’s semi-final appearance will fall in gameweek 33 of course, postponing their league fixture with Spurs on April 17. Harry Redknapp’s side already have a fixture on April 20 with Arsenal, so the City vs Spurs game will certainly drop out of the gameweek and leave Roberto Mancini’s side with a blank. City now have 3 away games and a blank in their next 5 gameweeks – not an appealing prospect for owners of City’s assets.
