Man Utd still to schedule Carling Cup tie

Manchester United and Blackburn have yet to resolve the dilemma over when to play their Carling Cup quarter-final tie.

The game is scheduled to take place during the week commencing December 1.

As United tackle Manchester City at Eastlands on Sunday, November 30, with Blackburn facing the more geographically challenging trip to Portsmouth on the same day, the Carling Cup tie would normally be scheduled for Wednesday, December 3.

However, that situation is complicated because Manchester City are in UEFA Cup action against Paris St Germain that evening and local police prefer both their major clubs not to play at the same time.

With United due to play a Champions League tie against Aalborg the following week before flying to Japan for the World Club Cup, there is little opportunity for the Carling Cup tie to be played at a later date as the semi-finals should take place at the beginning of January.

Discussions with Greater Manchester Police are continuing, with the likelihood remaining that Blackburn will travel to Old Trafford on December 3.