Manchester United V Hull City – English Premiership
Saturday, 23rd January – 15:00 GMT
Matt’s Tip: Hull City to score 1 or more goals – 2.10 PaddyPower
Alternative: Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink Anytime Scorer – 7.00 Coral
United now have a distinct lack of height in defence, as well as quality, and so a player like Hesselink, or even Altidore (7.00 Coral), could prove to be a thorn in United’s side on Saturday from set-plays and crosses. United will welcome back Rio Ferdinand from injury but the last time he made his eagerly awaited return from injury he was given a torrid time at Anfield by Fernando Torres so his return doesn’t scare us in the slightest.
Most punters will probably just laugh at this selection, but if I could show you clips of United’s last two defensive displays then you won’t just be laughing a whole lot harder, you’ll actually be in hysterics for days. The Red Devils haven’t been helped with injuries to key defensive players but their displays at the back of late have been woeful… just dreadful! Against Man City in midweek, of whom are a very good attacking side lets be said, United’s defence was nowhere to be seen at times, with Tevez’s second almost gift-wrapped from two yards out, with the closest United defender about three miles away, and that was Gary Neville wagging a cursing finger from the sidelines… naughty-naughty!
However, what was more disturbing than Neville’s campish face-fluff was United’s shamble of a defence at home to Burnley last weekend, although the 3-0 victory would have covered the cracks if you didn’t actually watch the game nor see the highlights. At Old Trafford, against the poorest away side in the league in Burnley, United’s defence was carved open on three occasions, of which Burnley wasted three glorious opportunities. Moreover, two of those were sitters, chances my Gran would have struggled to miss… but yet jammy old United were let off the hook once again by some lacklustre finishing from their opponents.
Now, Hull have been equally as poor up front but if they get presented with similar opportunities to those that Burnley had then surely lightening won’t strike twice for a fortunate United. Also, Hull did put three past United last season, albeit losing 4-3 at Old Trafford, but the omens are good, sort of, until you hear that Hull have managed to score in just one of their previous four away outings in the league. However, all three were at tough and intimidating arenas; Villa Park (3-0 to Aston Villa), The Emirates (3-0 to Arsenal) and White Hart Lane (0-0 with Tottenham Hotspur), the latter being a fantastic result, so they can be excused, although it doesn’t get any easier than a trip to Old Trafford.
Hull were immense in their last league outing, rather Boaz Myhill was, but that draw in a game they seemingly had no chance whatsoever in should give them the world of confidence heading to Old Trafford, and we think this new found confidence could equate into a goal at Old Trafford. After all, it’s harder not to score against United’s defence nowadays.
