2011–12 Football League Cup
Encyclopedia
The 2011–12 Football League Cup, known as the Carling Cup due to the competition's sponsorship by lager brand Carling
, is the 52nd season of the Football League Cup
, a knock-out competition for England
's top 92 football clubs. Birmingham City
were the defending
champions, having beaten Arsenal
2–1 in last season's
Final, but were knocked out 2–0 by Manchester City
in the Third Round.
The winner of the competition will qualify for the third qualifying round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League
.
and the BBC
. Sky Sports have rights to broadcast two live matches from each round while the BBC will show match highlights online and on a special League Cup highlights show which will broadcast in the late evening on BBC One.
The BBC will show two legs of the semi-final fixtures, which will most likely be broadcast on BBC Two
and Sky Sports will broadcast the remaining two legs. Both BBC and Sky Sports will simulcast the final which will be at Wembley on 26 February 2012.
(UTC+1). Times from the quarter-finals onwards are GMT
(UTC±0).
Due to Birmingham City
having a bye
to the Third Round following qualification to the Europa League, newly promoted AFC Wimbledon
and Crawley Town
played each other in a Preliminary Round, with Crawley Town having home advantage following a draw on 13 June. This was the first need for a Preliminary Round since the 2002–03 season.
. The First Round took place in the week commencing 8 August 2011. Rioting in London
caused three matches to be postponed on the advice of the Metropolitan Police
. The fixtures at West Ham United
, Charlton Athletic
and Crystal Palace
were called off on safety grounds. The ties at Bristol City
and Bristol Rovers
were called off later after the disorder spread across England
.
teams not involved in European competition entered the competition at this stage.
The Second Round took place in the week commencing 22 August 2011.
clubs who qualified for European competition in the 2010–11 season – Arsenal
, Birmingham City
, Chelsea
, Fulham
, Manchester City
, Manchester United
, Stoke City
and Tottenham Hotspur
– entered the competition at this stage. Only two teams from League Two
remained at this stage: Aldershot Town
and Shrewsbury Town
.
The Third Round took place in the week commencing 19 September 2011.
were the lowest ranked team remaining in the competition and the only team representing League Two
at this stage. No teams from League One remained.
The Fourth Round took place in the week commencing 24 October 2011.
and Crystal Palace
of the Championship
were the only non-Premier League
clubs left at this stage, which also saw last season's top four Premier League clubs competing.
The quarter-finals took place in the week commencing 28 November 2011.
applied.
The first legs will take place in the week commencing 9 January 2012, with the second legs a fortnight
later in the week commencing 23 January 2012.
. It will be a Premier League club vs a Championship club.
Carling
Carling brands are currently owned by the Molson Coors Brewing Company. In South Africa it is distributed by SABMiller.Carling Black Label is the name of a brand of Canadian lager in Australia, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom and South Africa...
, is the 52nd season of the Football League Cup
Football League Cup
The Football League Cup, commonly known as the League Cup or, from current sponsorship, the Carling Cup, is an English association football competition. Like the FA Cup, it is played on a knockout basis...
, a knock-out competition for England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
's top 92 football clubs. Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
were the defending
2011 Football League Cup Final
The 2011 Football League Cup Final was the final match of the 2010–11 Football League Cup, the 51st season of the Football League Cup, a football competition for the 92 teams in the Premier League and the Football League. The match was contested by Arsenal and Birmingham City, at Wembley Stadium in...
champions, having beaten Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
2–1 in last season's
2010–11 Football League Cup
The 2010–11 Football League Cup, known as the Carling Cup due to the competition's sponsorship by lager brand Carling, was the 51st season of the Football League Cup, a knock-out competition for England's top 92 football clubs....
Final, but were knocked out 2–0 by Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
in the Third Round.
The winner of the competition will qualify for the third qualifying round of the 2012–13 UEFA Europa League
2012–13 UEFA Europa League
The 2012–13 UEFA Europa League will be the fourth season of the competition since it was renamed from the UEFA Cup. The final will be played at the Amsterdam ArenA in Amsterdam, the Netherlands....
.
Broadcasting rights
The broadcasting rights for the 2011-12 Cup in the United Kingdom are shared between Sky SportsSky Sports
Sky Sports is the brand name for a group of sports-oriented television channels operated by the UK and Ireland's main satellite pay-TV company, British Sky Broadcasting. Sky Sports is the dominant subscription television sports brand in the United Kingdom and Ireland...
and the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
. Sky Sports have rights to broadcast two live matches from each round while the BBC will show match highlights online and on a special League Cup highlights show which will broadcast in the late evening on BBC One.
The BBC will show two legs of the semi-final fixtures, which will most likely be broadcast on BBC Two
BBC Two
BBC Two is the second television channel operated by the British Broadcasting Corporation in the United Kingdom. It covers a wide range of subject matter, but tending towards more 'highbrow' programmes than the more mainstream and popular BBC One. Like the BBC's other domestic TV and radio...
and Sky Sports will broadcast the remaining two legs. Both BBC and Sky Sports will simulcast the final which will be at Wembley on 26 February 2012.
Preliminary Round
Times up to and including the Fourth Round are BSTBritish Summer Time
Western European Summer Time is a summer daylight saving time scheme, 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is used in the following places:* the Canary Islands* Portugal * Ireland...
(UTC+1). Times from the quarter-finals onwards are GMT
Greenwich Mean Time
Greenwich Mean Time is a term originally referring to mean solar time at the Royal Observatory in Greenwich, London. It is arguably the same as Coordinated Universal Time and when this is viewed as a time zone the name Greenwich Mean Time is especially used by bodies connected with the United...
(UTC±0).
Due to Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
having a bye
Bye (sports)
A bye, in sports and other competitive activities, most commonly refers to the practice of allowing a player or team to advance to the next round of a playoff tournament without playing...
to the Third Round following qualification to the Europa League, newly promoted AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon
AFC Wimbledon is a professional English football club that traces its origins to Wimbledon in the London Borough of Merton. Based at Kingsmeadow, Kingston upon Thames, the club are members of Football League Two, the fourth tier of English football....
and Crawley Town
Crawley Town F.C.
Crawley Town Football Club is an English football club based in Crawley, West Sussex. They won the title of the Football Conference, by a record 15 point margin on second place, and with it promotion to The Football League, in April 2011.-1896–2009:...
played each other in a Preliminary Round, with Crawley Town having home advantage following a draw on 13 June. This was the first need for a Preliminary Round since the 2002–03 season.
First Round
The draw for the First Round took place on 16 June 2011 at 10:00 BSTBritish Summer Time
Western European Summer Time is a summer daylight saving time scheme, 1 hour ahead of Coordinated Universal Time. It is used in the following places:* the Canary Islands* Portugal * Ireland...
. The First Round took place in the week commencing 8 August 2011. Rioting in London
2011 England riots
Between 6 and 10 August 2011, several London boroughs and districts of cities and towns across England suffered widespread rioting, looting and arson....
caused three matches to be postponed on the advice of the Metropolitan Police
Metropolitan Police Service
The Metropolitan Police Service is the territorial police force responsible for Greater London, excluding the "square mile" of the City of London which is the responsibility of the City of London Police...
. The fixtures at West Ham United
West Ham United F.C.
West Ham United Football Club is an English professional football club based in Upton Park, Newham, East London. They play in The Football League Championship. The club was founded in 1895 as Thames Ironworks FC and reformed in 1900 as West Ham United. In 1904 the club relocated to their current...
, Charlton Athletic
Charlton Athletic F.C.
Charlton Athletic Football Club is an English professional football club based in Charlton, in the London Borough of Greenwich. They compete in Football League One, the third tier of English football. The club was founded on 9 June 1905, when a number of youth clubs in the southeast London area,...
and Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
were called off on safety grounds. The ties at Bristol City
Bristol City F.C.
Bristol City Football Club is one of two football league clubs in Bristol, England . They play at Ashton Gate, located in the south-west of the City...
and Bristol Rovers
Bristol Rovers F.C.
Bristol Rovers Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Bristol, that competes in Football League Two. The team plays its home matches at the Memorial Stadium, in the Horfield area of the city....
were called off later after the disorder spread across England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
.
Second Round
The draw for the Second Round took place on 11 August 2011. The thirteen Premier League2011–12 Premier League
The 2011–12 Premier League is the twentieth season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2011–12 fixtures were announced on 17 June 2011 at 9:00 BST. The season began on 13 August 2011 and is due to end on 13 May 2012...
teams not involved in European competition entered the competition at this stage.
The Second Round took place in the week commencing 22 August 2011.
Third Round
The draw for the Third Round took place on 27 August 2011. The eight EnglishEnglish clubs in European football
English football clubs have entered European association football competitions since 1955, when Birmingham City and London XI took part in the inaugural Inter-Cities Fairs Cup...
clubs who qualified for European competition in the 2010–11 season – Arsenal
Arsenal F.C.
Arsenal Football Club is a professional English Premier League football club based in North London. One of the most successful clubs in English football, it has won 13 First Division and Premier League titles and 10 FA Cups...
, Birmingham City
Birmingham City F.C.
Birmingham City Football Club is a professional association football club based in the city of Birmingham, England. Formed in 1875 as Small Heath Alliance, they became Small Heath in 1888, then Birmingham in 1905, finally becoming Birmingham City in 1943.They were relegated at the end of the...
, Chelsea
Chelsea F.C.
Chelsea Football Club are an English football club based in West London. Founded in 1905, they play in the Premier League and have spent most of their history in the top tier of English football. Chelsea have been English champions four times, FA Cup winners six times and League Cup winners four...
, Fulham
Fulham F.C.
Fulham Football Club is a professional English Premier League club based in southwest London Fulham, in the London Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. Founded in 1879, they play in the Premier League, their 11th current season...
, Manchester City
Manchester City F.C.
Manchester City Football Club is an English Premier League football club based in Manchester. Founded in 1880 as St. Mark's , they became Ardwick Association Football Club in 1887 and Manchester City in 1894...
, Manchester United
Manchester United F.C.
Manchester United Football Club is an English professional football club, based in Old Trafford, Greater Manchester, that plays in the Premier League. Founded as Newton Heath LYR Football Club in 1878, the club changed its name to Manchester United in 1902 and moved to Old Trafford in 1910.The 1958...
, Stoke City
Stoke City F.C.
Stoke City Football Club is an English professional football club based in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire that plays in the Premier League. Founded in 1863, it is the oldest club in the Premier League, and considered to be the second oldest professional football club in the world, after Notts...
and Tottenham Hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur F.C.
Tottenham Hotspur Football Club , commonly referred to as Spurs, is an English Premier League football club based in Tottenham, north London. The club's home stadium is White Hart Lane....
– entered the competition at this stage. Only two teams from League Two
2011–12 Football League Two
The 2011–12 Football League Two is the eighth season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format.-From League Two:...
remained at this stage: Aldershot Town
Aldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
and Shrewsbury Town
Shrewsbury Town F.C.
Shrewsbury Town Football Club is an English Association football club based in Shrewsbury, Shropshire, who play in League Two, the fourth tier of English football. The club was formed in 1886 and has played in all the bottom three divisions in various guises since being elected into the Football...
.
The Third Round took place in the week commencing 19 September 2011.
Fourth Round
The draw for the Fourth Round took place on 24 September 2011. Aldershot TownAldershot Town F.C.
Aldershot Town Football Club is an association football club based in Aldershot, Hampshire, England, founded in the spring of 1992 just after the closure of debt-ridden Fourth Division club Aldershot Football Club...
were the lowest ranked team remaining in the competition and the only team representing League Two
2011–12 Football League Two
The 2011–12 Football League Two is the eighth season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format.-From League Two:...
at this stage. No teams from League One remained.
The Fourth Round took place in the week commencing 24 October 2011.
Quarter-finals
The draw for the quarter-finals took place on 29 October 2011. Cardiff CityCardiff City F.C.
Cardiff City Football Club are a Welsh professional football club based in Cardiff, Wales. The club competes in the English football pyramid and is currently playing in the Football League Championship. Cardiff City is the best supported football club in Wales, averaging approximately 22,500 for...
and Crystal Palace
Crystal Palace F.C.
Crystal Palace Football Club are an English Football league club based in South Norwood, London. The team plays its home matches at Selhurst Park, where they have been based since 1924. The club currently competes in the second tier of English Football, The Championship.Crystal Palace was formed in...
of the Championship
2011–12 Football League Championship
The 2011–12 Football League Championship is the eighth season of the league under its current title and nineteenth season under its current league division format....
were the only non-Premier League
2011–12 Premier League
The 2011–12 Premier League is the twentieth season of the Premier League since its establishment in 1992. The 2011–12 fixtures were announced on 17 June 2011 at 9:00 BST. The season began on 13 August 2011 and is due to end on 13 May 2012...
clubs left at this stage, which also saw last season's top four Premier League clubs competing.
The quarter-finals took place in the week commencing 28 November 2011.
Semi-finals
The draw for the semi-finals took place on 30 November 2011. Unlike the rest of the tournament, the semi-finals will be played over two legs, with the aggregate score after the second leg determining the winners. In the event of the aggregate scores being level after the second legs, 30 minutes of extra time will be played, with the away goals ruleAway goals rule
The away goals rule is a method of breaking ties in association football and other sports when teams play each other twice, once at each team's home ground. By the away goals rule, the team that has scored more goals "away from home" will win if scores are otherwise equal...
applied.
The first legs will take place in the week commencing 9 January 2012, with the second legs a fortnight
Fortnight
The fortnight is a unit of time equal to fourteen days, or two weeks. The word derives from the Old English fēowertyne niht, meaning "fourteen nights"....
later in the week commencing 23 January 2012.
First leg
Second leg
Final
The Final will be played on 26 February 2012 at WembleyWembley Stadium
The original Wembley Stadium, officially known as the Empire Stadium, was a football stadium in Wembley, a suburb of north-west London, standing on the site now occupied by the new Wembley Stadium that opened in 2007...
. It will be a Premier League club vs a Championship club.
Top scorers
Players in bold are still active in the competition.| Rank | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Jay RodriguezJay Rodriguez Jay Enrique Rodriguez is an English footballer who plays as a Striker . He currently plays for Burnley.-Early life:Rodríguez, of Spanish descent, was born in Burnley, Lancashire, the son of Enrique and Carol Rodríguez . He attended Heasandford Primary School and Barden High School in the town... |
Burnley | 5 |
| 2 |  Ramón NúñezRamón Núñez Ramón Núñez is a Honduran international footballer, currently playing for Leeds United. Núñez plays primarily as an attacking central midfielder playmaker. He can also play as a Winger or as a second striker. In his homeland he is nicknamed El Principito meaning The Little Prince... |
Leeds United | 4 |
 Jeffrey SchluppJeffrey Schlupp Jeffrey Schlupp is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for English club Leicester City and the Ghana national team as a striker. He holds a Ghanaian passport, a British passport and a German passport.-Early life:... |
Leicester City | 4 | |
 Rubén RochinaRubén Rochina Rubén Rochina Naixes is a Spanish footballer who plays for Blackburn Rovers in the Premier League, as a striker.-Barcelona:... |
Blackburn Rovers | 4 | |
| 5 | Ryan Lowe Ryan Lowe Ryan Thomas Lowe is an English footballer who plays as a striker for Football League One side Sheffield Wednesday.-Playing career:... |
Bury | 3 |
 Don Cowie |
Cardiff City | 3 | |
| Marvin Morgan Marvin Morgan Marvin Morgan is an English footballer, who plays for Shrewsbury Town in League Two.-Non-League:... |
Shrewsbury Town | 3 | |
| Michael Owen Michael Owen Michael James Owen is an English professional footballer who plays as a striker for Manchester United.The son of former footballer Terry Owen, Owen began his senior career at Liverpool in 1996. He progressed through the Liverpool youth team and scored on his debut in May 1997... |
Manchester United | 3 | |
| Ashley Grimes Ashley Grimes Ashley Grimes can refer to:*Ashley Grimes , former Irish footballer*Ashley Grimes , English footballer... |
Rochdale | 3 | |
 Robbie FindleyRobbie Findley Robert "Robbie" Findley is an American international soccer player who plays professionally for English club Nottingham Forest... |
Nottingham Forest | 3 | |
 Wilfred Zaha |
Crystal Palace | 3 | |
 Luis SuárezLuis Suárez (Uruguayan footballer) Luis Alberto Suárez Díaz , commonly known as Luis Suárez and nicknamed "El Pistolero" , is a Uruguayan footballer who plays for Liverpool and the Uruguayan national team... |
Liverpool | 3 | |
 Peter LøvenkrandsPeter Løvenkrands Peter Rosenkrands Løvenkrands is a Danish footballer who plays for Newcastle United in the Premier League, and for the Danish national team. He is a striker who can also play as a left winger and is known for his pace.... |
Newcastle | 3 |