Newcastle V Manchester United
Date & Kick-Off: Tuesday, 19 April 2011 (19:45)
Competition: Barclay’s Premier League
These two go way back, but whereas Newcastle have fallen by the wayside since the days when Kevin Keegan was manager and pushing United right to the wire for the championship, Sir Alex’s Red Devils have been ultra consistent and victory for them at St James’ on Tuesday would be yet another stride in the direction of regaining the Barclay’s Premier League.
From a Win-Draw-Win betting perspective, I cannot see past an away win for the visitors, Man Utd. So they were beaten in the semi-final of the FA Cup on Sunday… lets not forget who this is, a club renowned for responding better than anybody to adversity, setbacks and disappointment and they should have no problems whatsoever dispatching of a Newcastle outfit which has lost three of its last four league games and whose season has rapidly come to a standstill right before the finishing line.
Complacency has definitely crept into the Newcastle dressing room in recent weeks, though it’s hardly surprising when you consider that the Magpies are positioned in 10th heading in this fixture and within one more victory of assuring themselves of Premier League football next season. United, on the other hand, don’t do complacency. It’s as simple as that. They’re even more formidable when they have the bit between their teeth, as they do now with their lead at the summit a healthy six-points courtesy of Arsenal’s costly slip-up on Sunday.
Furthermore, Ferguson will also welcome back a red-hot Wayne Rooney, who has been without a doubt United’s stand-out player in recent weeks but also their most prolific of outlets in previous visits to Tyneside, with the temperamental striker having scored six of his nine goals against Newcastle for United at St James’ Park. Throw in the eye-catching form of Edwin van der Saar, Rio Ferdinand, Ryan Giggs and Javier Hernandez and what we should have is a United team far too strong for Tuesday night’s opposition.
Newcastle, meanwhile, will welcome back the combative Chiek Tiote from suspension although captain Kevin Nolan, the club’s leading scorer in the league this season, will serve the final leg of his two-match ban. Tim Krul is also set to replace the injured Steve Harper in goal, with the Dutch shot-stopper literally being thrown in at the deep end, with his last game for the Magpies way back in January during that embarrassing 3-1 defeat away to Stevenage in the Third Round of the FA Cup.
Oh, and did I forget to mention that Manchester United have won thirteen of the previous sixteen encounters?
Betting Selections:
Manchester United to WIN – 1.70 PaddyPower
Wayne Rooney First Goalscorer – 5.00 StanJames
Insurance Policy: Both Teams to Score @ 1.83 SkyBet
Man Utd should be good for at least one goal, if not a couple, however Newcastle have scored on at least one occasion in each of their last nine league games at home.
