By J Bateman
December 3 2002

Previews of tonights Worthington Cup Ties involving First Division Clubs , Burnley v Man Utd , Palace v Oldham & Sheff Utd v Sunderland. Burnley v Man Utd
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Burnley will be hoping to dump Utd out as they did Spurs in the last round of the cup , Boss Stan Ternant has a fully fit squad to choose from but had to sweat over Steve Davis not making it , but the handy defender came through and will be fit to face the English giants.

Alex Ferguson definetly misses long term injuried David Beckham , Rio Ferdinand & Roy Keane and will also miss Laurent Blanc (calf) , Jaun Veron (flu).
Barthez will be rested and that gives Ricardo the chance to shine again.

C Palace v Oldham
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As well has Dougie Freedman and Steve Thomson missing through long term injuries , Palace will be without Julian Gray who has a bout of Tonsillitis and is a very big doubt for the game.
Trevor Francis will hope the game goes well for him after todays FA charge and fine for allegdely striking keeper Alex Kolinko.

Oldham Boss Ian Dowie will hope London continues being a happy place in this competition for him , the Latics have already dumped West Ham out at Upton Park and they are trying for the same at Selhurst Park tonight.
Ian Dowie has no injurys to worry about and hopes another giant killing is on the cards tonight.

Sheff Utd v Sunderland
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Can Sheff Utd send Sunderland packing as they did Leeds in the last round , Sheff Utd boss Neil Warnock has his Blades team playing well at the moment and sitting nicely in 6th place of Division One.
Dean Windass and Steve Kabba are both ruled out due to being cuptied so Warnock will choose between Carl Asaba, Wayne Allison and Paul Peschisolido , John Harley will play after being allowed to by Fulham.

Sunderland will make changes bigtime as does all the Premier sides in this competition , Emerson Thome will start after being out from knee surgery in the summer , Marcus Stewart and Kevin Kyle may be in the starting 11 in place of regular front pair Kevin Phillips and Tore Andre Flo.


Predictions
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Burnley 1 Man Utd 4
Palace 2 Oldham 1 (after 90 mins)
Sheff Utd 2 Sunderland 0