And so this is it - Swansea City become the latest Welsh side to play at the Millennium Stadium as in excess of 28,000 Jacks prepare to invade the capital for a feast of football against free scoring Carlisle.

Who would have predicted that when this competition got underway early on in the season that the final of the English Football League Trophy would give a match up between Welsh and Scottish opposition. Indeed, the prospect of such to the sponsors was so bad that they went bust to avoid the inevitable jokes but this is what it has come down to.

Not a week passes by where we don't get some wisecrack (usually from somoene like JXNeutron) on the message board telling us that there is no place for the Welsh in an English league but now a Celtic club will take their football league trophy home for twelve months. With respect to the competition I really hope that we are not around next year to defend the title but lets go all out to win our second cup in a five day period - more cups than Man Utd will win this year - bigger than Man Utd on that basis? Alan Tate had a point........

And with over 50,000 fans expected to cram into the Millennium Stadium for the game it promises to be a cracking atmosphere and a rare chance for the city of Cardiff to see a real football team in action. (Bait, thrown, fish, caught - I'll lay money on it) And with the Swans still occupying a play off place could this be the first visit of two in an eight week period? I wouldn't bet against it the way that the good ship Swansea City normally sails.

Both sides as well are looking at the prospect of a second successive promotion with Carlisle riding high at the top of league one following their return from non league last season making for what should be a great spectacle between two of the in form sides over the past two seasons.

The M4 will be some sight tomorrow as a sea of black and white which could make for fun on the buses as I am not sure if they can swim or not but there are no trains running between Swansea and Bridgend - a decision that gained much publicity - meaning more and more traffic on the road so leave plenty of time for the journey.

Team news wise. Kenny Jackett will field a team of unknowns and reserves for the game tomorrow, electing to leave most of his expected next league starting XI on the bench which means no room for Lee Trundle, Andy Robinson et al but starts for Huw Jenkins, David Morgan, Myra Powles (back from retirement) and Doris the tea lady. Sorry? April Fools ends at 12 o'clock? Really? Damn. You know the score - the Swans will field their strongest XI tomorrow just to ensure the best chance of success.

For Carlisle they will be boosted by the performance of their fellow Scottish neighbours Gretna in the Scottish Cup today, indeed a glance at their message board sees it full of messages of goodwill and congratulations. April Foo.........oh bugger.

But that is as far as we go - from the road that started at Torqway, through Rushin and Diamond White, Petersandleeboro, Warsaw and Colinchester it will end at the Millennium Stadium hopefully with Roberto Martinez once again holding the silverware.

Onwards, Upwards and Eastwards.

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