Sheffield United Cup Semi

[gavin]

XI | Ortega Moreno, Walker, Akanji, Laporte, Gomez, Gundogan (C), Bernardo, Mahrez, Alvarez, Grealish, Haaland

SUBS | Ederson, Dias, Phillips, Stones, Rodrigo, De Bruyne, Foden, Palmer, Lewis

A few more changes than I was expecting. Even Pep in his press conference suggested that he had made too many changes in previous years but then he does it again.

[Stephen Paul]

Jesus, the stadium looks empty

[gavin]

It is mostly the Sheff Utd side that is empty. Not a great half but any win in this will be good enough. The commentary has been even worse than usual. They were making out City should be two or three down almost. Then disputing a clear penalty. He booted Bernard's foot. What more do you want for a penalty? Would have preferred Erling to take it. But a perfect penalty from Mahrez so can't complain.

[KunDB]

Commentary bores me to death.

More rhythm needed and we kill the game off in the 90 minutes without need for extra time

C'mon City

[gavin]

Nice, easy win. Well done Riyad.

This is the trouble when teams play so defensively. They can find themselves out of the game before they have bothered to try attacking.

[Neil Mcnab]

Good win at a canter. Palmer played the best I have seen him. Of course against dispirited, tired defenders, but there is a player there.

[gavin]

So, it's the rags in the final after they scraped through on penalties against Brighton. They must really want to get hammered by City in the final to go to all that effort.