English Premier
2012-05-13 - Sunderland vs Manchester United
A Sports Betting Pick by Auls
Football: English Premier League
Sunday 13 May 2012 - Kick Off 3pm
This game is live on TV
Sunderland
Sunderland, like Swansea before them, have been extremely upset by suggestions from Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini that they are nothing but an easy game for Manchester United. Martin O'Neill has openly been critical of those comments, even pointing to the fact that the Black Cats took 4 points from City in this campaign.
Rather than it being an 'easy' game, it is hard to work out what the real motivation for Sunderland will be in this game. They can finish in the top half of the table with a win and West Brom failing to beat Arsenal in their game and that is something to work towards. The side are currently 11th in the table and they have a 7-7-4 record at the Stadium of Light, scoring 26 goals and conceding 16 in those games.
They have failed to win any of their last 8 games in all competitions, although can point to a 3-3 draw at Manchester City in that run of games. In fact, Sunderland have only lost 3 of their last 8 games, while their home form remains solid. The team have actually lost just 2 of their last 14 home games in all competitions, although they have failed to win any of their last 4 here and only scored 2 goals in that time.
Wes Brown is back in training but he won't be back in the side until next season. Kieran Richardson and Sebastian Larsson have been ruled out, but Titus Bramble is in the squad.
Manchester United
Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted that Manchester United blew their chance of being in control of their own destiny when they let a 4-2 lead against Everton slip into a 4-4 draw with only ten minutes remaining in that game. Now all United fans can only hope for a 'stupid result' in the Manchester City game while taking care of their own business at the Stadium of Light.
United are 2nd in the Premier League table on goal difference and need to better the result Manchester City obtain in their home game against QPR. If they can only match the City result, United need to overturn an 8 goal difference, which is really clutching at straws. The team will expect to at least force City to win their game as they bring a 12-3-3 away record to Sunderland, scoring 36 goals and conceding 14 in those games.
Just 2 wins from their last 5 Premier League games has cost United their commanding position and that has been a real surprise considering the experience they have in the squad. They have actually lost back to back away League games, both 1-0, since winning 5 of their last 6 before that.
Chris Smalling, Jonny Evans and Danny Welbeck have been ruled out for this game so Phil Jones is likely to come into the back four and Javier Hernandez will keep his place up front.
Head to Head
Manchester United beat Sunderland 1-0 at Old Trafford earlier this season and they have a decent record at the Stadium of Light in recent years.
These two teams drew 0-0 here last season, but United had won on their previous 4 visits to this Stadium.
Predicition
Anyone backing Manchester United at very short odds may need their head testing as no one can be sure how they will react if news comes through that City are winning comfortably in their game at home against QPR.
No one wants to end the season with a loss, so Sunderland should be plenty motivated, and it is no stretch to think the United players go through the motions if the title is already gone.
So with no way of gauging with 100% knowledge of how the game at City is developing in reality, I am going to avoid the win-draw-win market and also avoid the handicap markets.
Instead, I am going to take the play that United are at least winning once 30 minutes have gone through on the clock.
My reasoning for that is the sounds coming out from the United side that they want to make a fast start and try and force some pressure on City by sending them the news that they are winning early and hoping that will put some doubts in their rivals minds.
United would actually have been leading by that mark in their last 3 wins at the Stadium of Light and it looks the best way to play this game. It is being offered at 2.63 by Ladbrokes and that looks a decent price considering how important it is for United to get ahead early and also means we don't have to worry about motivations later in the game depending on how the City game is going.
The Statistics :
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The Pick :
Sunderland 0-2 Manchester United
BEST BETTING TIP :
I'll back Manchester United to be leading after 30 minutes @ 2.63 (Ladbrokes)
