After an early scare for Spurs against Burnley last night in the first Carling Cup semi-final, you’d expect Manchester United to ease to a comfortable win away at Derby tonight in the second.

There’s a possibility that ‘new manager syndrome’ could strike but the newly appointed Derby boss Nigel Clough won’t be officially in-charge until after this match. The problem is for Derby is that they don’t have a player of Clough’s quality to lead the line tonight and even if United keep some of the bigger names wrapped up warm on the sidelines it’ll take a gargantuan effort for the home side to take something worth playing for back to Old Trafford in a fortnight.

United disposed of Southampton in the FA Cup at the weekend with a weakened line-up and with the recalled Carlos Tevez having something to prove it could be a long 90 mins for the Derby defense.

Derby will be looking for the United that struggled to a late win versus QPR earlier in the competition to turn up, but the betting reflects very favourably on United’’s chances.

United are a 4/9 chance with Derby as big as 13/2 at totesport. The draw can be backed at 16/5 with the same firm.

Totesport will be betting live in-running on tonight’s match.

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