Manchester United

It is the day of the 52nd anniversary since the Munich Air Disaster that Manchester United will have the chance to take over at the top of the Premier League. Their ruthless crushing of Arsenal last week was by far the best performance United have put in this season and Chelsea dropping points at Hull on Wednesday was a bonus.

United find themselves only 2 points behind Chelsea coming into this game and will feel more than confident of picking up the 3 points and shift the pressure onto the Blues who play Arsenal on Sunday. Old Trafford has proven a happy hunting ground for United who are 10-1-1 there this season, scoring 31 goals and only conceding 8. This is the 2nd best home record in the country, with only Chelsea having more success on their own turf.

After a bit of sticky patch in terms of performance and results, United have won 4 of their last 5 games in all competitions. Their last 3 wins have seen them score 10 goals and only concede 2. The Red Devils have won 4 straight Premier League games at Old Trafford and have scored 15 goals in those games without conceding. Ominously for Portsmouth, all of those are against sides in the bottom half of the table.

Nemanja Vidic is likely to return to the side this week after missing 7 games while Rio Ferdinand is still suspended. There may be a little squad rotation here as United play Aston Villa on Wednesday.

Portsmouth

Portsmouth have once again found themselves a new owner and there is hope that they can at least extend the life of the club and find yet another investor in the Summer. The transfer window closed meaning the players left are the ones that need to help this club find its way to safety in the Premier League.

Pompey remain bottom of the Premier League after losing 1-0 at Fulham on Wednesday night but are still only 6 points from safety. They have a 1-2-9 away record, scoring 5 goals and conceding 19 in those games. Only Stoke City have scored less away from home so far this season.

Results did pick up when Avram Grant was first appointed as the new manager of the club, but they have now gone 4 Premier League games without a win, and have lost all 4 games. It is also 8 Premier League away games without a win, and they have failed to score in their last 3.

Avram Grant has lost a number of key players recently with Younes Kaboul and Asmir Begovic both being sold without his consent. Ricardo Rocha was brought in on a free and could start here.

Head to Head

Manchester United have won all 6 home games against Portsmouth in the Premier League although Pompey did record a FA Cup win here 2 seasons ago.

Portsmouth have only scored 1 league goal at Old Trafford.

The two sides met earlier this season at Fratton Park and it was United who came out on top 1-4.

Prediction

Manchester United have one of the form players in the country in Wayne Rooney, who should be chomping at the bit to play against this backline of Portsmouth. United have looked strong at home, putting teams to the sword from the bottom half and I do expect that to continue with the incentive of going top of the table.

Portsmouth have struggled away from home, while keeping the scoreline at a respectable level. They have real problems scoring away from home and this could be a long day for their suffering fans with a long trip home to follow what could be a hammering.

I cant see beyond the United win and will play them with a 2 goal deficit which would have been covered in their last 4 homes games. Portsmouth fight hard, but this may be too much for their players against an in-form United.

The Pick :

Manchester United 4-0 Portsmouth

FIXED ODDS BETTING :

Manchester United WIN

HANDICAP BETTING :

Manchester United -2 Asian Handicap