Betting.Betfair

[u]Crystal Palace v Cardiff, 20:00, Sky Sports 1[/u] Every year at this time, you can bank on this writer dragging out his Carling Cup semi-final party piece, one that seems to grow in stature rather than diminish with each passing season, about how home advantage is everything in these ties. More so than in title deciders, season-defining play-off games and epic Champions League clashes, it is at this stage of this competition that playing in front of your fans lends an air of invincibility. The stat proving so is that 11 of the last 12 Carling Cup semi-final matches have been won by the hosts. In just two of the last 24 by contrast have the visiting team triumphed, so it is quite a shock despite their superior performance in the Championship to see Cardiff rated 2.42 favourites,...