English Premier
2012-04-02 - Blackburn Rovers vs Manchester United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Monday 2 April 2012 - Kick Off 8pm
This game is live on TV
Blackburn Rovers
The Blackburn Rovers players must have been settling down to enjoy watching the results come through from the Saturday 3pm games and started to tear their hair out. Bolton Wanderers, QPR and Wigan Athletic all found wins and have dragged Rovers right back into the thick of the relegation dogfight making this game filled with pressure for Steve Kean and the team on Monday night.
The team dropped down to 17th in the table thanks to the results on Saturday and they are now level on points with QPR and Wigan Athletic in the two places below them. Blackburn will know that a defeat on Monday sends them into the relegation zone, but they will think they can improve their 5-1-9 record at Ewood Park, scoring 22 goals and conceding 27.
Blackburn had picked up 7 points in 3 Premier League games, but a 2-1 loss at Bolton Wanderers last Saturday looked like being a poor result, something that has been given greater significance from the results in the Premier League this weekend. They have lost just 2 of their last 6 games in the League, although they have lost just 1 of their last 5 at home, winning 3 of those games.
Gael Givet looks set to miss out again, so Steve Kean will play the same team that has started the last three games.
Manchester United
As much as Blackburn Rovers would not have enjoyed the Saturday afternoon results, Manchester United were at St Andrews on a team bonding exercise and would have loved the fact that Manchester City had failed to win their first home game this season. However, United need to back up that result by winning this game and opening up a lead in the title race.
United are two points clear of City thanks to their rivals drawing 3-3 with Sunderland at home and they could move into a commanding position before City play again. In that time, United have two games and could go 8 points clear with their rivals going to Arsenal in their next game. The team have an impressive 11-3-1 record away from home, scoring 34 goals and conceding 12.
It was a nervy night at Old Trafford last Monday as United beat Fulham 1-0, but the importance of winning games when not at their best is what makes Champions. They have now won 6 Premier League games in a row and have won 9 of their last 10 League games since back to back defeats to Blackburn Rovers and Newcastle United. United have won 4 of their last 5 away games in the League, the only exception being the 3-3 draw at Chelsea when they were trailing 3-0.
Rio Ferdinand should be fit to take his place at the heart of the Manchester United defence alongside Jonny Evans. Nani is likely to be back in the squad for the game against QPR next weekend, while Michael Owen and Anderson are also close to returning to the squad.
Head to Head
Blackburn Rovers stunned Manchester United 2-3 at Old Trafford on the final day of 2011 and they have a very solid record at Ewood Park against them.
They have lost just 2 of their last 9 home games against United in all competitions, although both of those defeats have come in the last 5 games here.
3 of the last 4 games here have ended in draws, including the 1-1 last season. That game was most memorable for the teams strolling through the final 20 minutes of the contest as both sides were happy with the point for their individual needs.
Prediction
This is going to be a really tense game on Monday night as both teams will be desperate for the three points as Blackburn Rovers fight relegation and Manchester United look to open up a 5 point lead over Manchester City with one less game to play this season.
Blackburn will be inspired by the fact that they have won at Old Trafford already this season, but the pressure has increased with three of the bottom four clubs winning on Saturday and knowing that any defeat will put them back into the relegation zone.
Manchester United will also be under pressure, but one that they will look to thrive on as they have a big chance to put the hammer down on the Manchester City title challenge. I expect Sir Alex Ferguson will put an attacking line up out to try and get the momentum early in this game but they will have to perform better than they did against Fulham.
United have been brilliant away from home, earning some very good wins, and they have won at 5 of the bottom 7 already this season and will look to complete the set against Blackburn and Wigan Athletic.
They haven't had the best of times away from home at Ewood Park in recent games, but they have won twice in their last 5 games here, while they were looking the better side here last season before deciding to settle for a point that ensured they finished as Champions.
Blackburn have already lost at home to Manchester City, Tottenham Hotspur, Chelsea and Newcastle United here this season, but they did beat Arsenal. They may only have lost 1 of their last 5 home games, but they were a little fortunate to draw with Aston Villa.
It won't be easy, but backing United to win by exactly 1 goal looks like the best call. I was considering picking Blackburn on the Asian Handicap to avoid defeat by more than 1 goal, but I think the Manchester City result will just give United the mental motivation to win this game and they have been exceptional away from home.
Blackburn have lost 7 of their 9 home games by exactly one goal, while United have won 6 of their 11 away games by that margin, and that looks the way I will play this.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Manchester United
