English FA CUP
2012-01-08 - Manchester City vs Manchester United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: FA Cup 3rd Round
Sunday 8 January 2012 - Kick Off 1pm
This game is live on TV
Manchester City
Manchester City come into this game on the back of a morale boosting 3-0 win over Liverpool, a result that put aside a tough Christmas schedule in which they had failed to win their previous 2 games while failing to score. This is a big game for them as they can put another dagger into a struggling Manchester United side that have lost back to back games.
City are top of the Premier League with a 3 point lead over Manchester United, while they also saw their goal difference improve to an 11 goal advantage. They have been imperious at the Etihad Stadium, winning all 10 Premier League games this season while scoring 31 goals and only conceding 4.
The team actually come into this one having won 10 in a row at home in all competitions, a run stretching back to September when they could only draw 1-1 with Napoli in the Champions League. City have kept a clean sheet in their last 4 home games, while Arsenal are the only team since that Napoli game that have conceded less than 2 goals at this stadium.
Yaya and Kolo Toure are both expected to miss out due to travelling to meet the Ivory Coast squad for the African Cup of Nations, although there are still some rumours that both have been granted an extension to play in this one. Mario Balotelli looks set to miss out, while Nigel de Jong could come in if Yaya Toure is absent. Gareth Barry is suspended after being sent off against Liverpool.
Manchester United
Manchester United were considered to be in 'crisis' when they were knocked out by Basel in the Champions League, but they seemed to have bounced back despite the injuries that have been crippling the squad. However, that has all come back to bite them in recent games as Sir Alex Ferguson attempts to avoid seeing his side lose for a third game in succession.
Losses to Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United mean United have lost a little bit of ground on rivals Manchester City and now trail them by 3 points in the Premier League while their goal difference is now 11 goals behind them. The Red Devils had been very effective away from home in the Premier League before the game against Newcastle and they are now 7-2-1 away from home, scoring 19 goals and conceding 6.
Back to back League defeats is an exception for this team under Sir Alex Ferguson in the last 20 seasons and they will want to make a point here. The goals conceded at Newcastle were the first United had conceded to an English team away from home in 6 games in all competitions.
There are still many injuries for United to contend with coming into this one as the likes of Jonny Evans, Ashley Young, Tom Cleverley and Chris Smalling look set to miss out. Nemanja Vidic and Darren Fletcher are long-term absentees, while Michael Owen is still missing. Anders Lindegaard could be replaced by David De Gea in goal after conceding his first goals in the League this season at Newcastle.
Head to Head
This is the first game between the teams since Manchester City's famous win at Old Trafford earlier this season.
Games at Old Trafford have generally been the much more high-scoring ones when the teams meet- 5 of the last 6 meetings at this Stadium has seen 2 or less goals scored.
Manchester City also beat United when they last met in the FA Cup last season in the Semi Final at Wembley.
Prediction
I can totally understand why Manchester City are being tipped to win this game, especially at the prices, but I think it's easy to underestimate this Manchester United side on recent performances.
Firstly, City could have a few problems in midfield themselves this week and not hold the distinct advantage that they would have if their entire squad was available. Yaya Toure is one of the top midfielders in the country, in my opinion, and if he is absent, that could be very tough to overcome.
I think United themselves will look to be much more solid than they were in the game against Newcastle and I think they will look to nullify the City attack and then take advantage of any chances they may create.
The one thing I do know about these teams is that their meetings at this stadium have been tight affairs with neither willing to give too much away. I can't see either manager being overly attacking in this one, especially with the squads stretched after a hectic festive period.
With that in mind, I like the look of the 'Under 2.5 Goals' market which has been set as odds against. I also have a sneaky feeling United may get away with a 1-1 draw, but the Unders has been the positive play in games between the teams here and that will be my pick.
The Pick :
Manchester City 1-1 Manchester United
