Man Utd v Fulham : Betting Preview & Tips

Man Utd v Fulham

Betfair’s Richard Walker predicts this one will go to form and end up with a home win with that man Wayne Rooney opening the scoring once again, but don’t expect it to be mauling against Roy Hodgson’s ever-organised Fulham.

In their respective last six league games, Manchester United have scored 15 goals while Fulham have lost just once.

You can, of course, carve up statistics and trends any way you want to produce a variety of outcomes. One thing’s for certain, this is the meeting of two good sides managed by two respected elder statesmen of the game.

United shrugged off that defeat at Everton a month ago by rattling off four successive victories. The Old Trafford visitors this Sunday, meantime, have had their manager Roy Hodgson and goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer named as February’s Manager and Player of the Month in the Barclays Premier League.

The Whites’ miserly 29 goals against this term – only one of which was scored during five February league games – means they’re only behind four other sides (Manchester United, with 24, included) in terms of defensive prowess. Crucially though, 20 of those 29 have come away from Craven Cottage, and therein lies their story.

Well as they’ve done, to suggest they’re about to record another shut-out against Wayne Rooney and co. is a leap of misguided faith from a point where one rightly acknowledges just how good a job Hodgson has executed once again this season.

Let’s talk about Rooney for a start, shall we. Unplayably superior in midweek Champions League action, he’s as short as 1.55 to back in the to score market.

Now while I can understand it looks a stone-cold certainty that he’ll register at least one versus Fulham, to be tipping 1-2 shots isn’t really my game. The 3.55 in the first goalscorer market looks more palatable, and I suggest that’s the route you take with the balding hitman.

That said, it might just be worth diverting 10 per cent of your intended stake in the direction of Fulham’s Bobby Zamora, who, while not as prolific as Rooney, is still playing very well and at 14.0 represents a good cover opportunity should the unlikely occur and United go one behind.

With Ryan Giggs and Michael Owen injured, and Paul Scholes likely to be sub at best after two games in five days, other home team goal-getting options point to Dimitar Berbatov 2.02 TS 5.1 FG or maybe Antonio Valencia 3.5 TS 8.6 FG.

For Fulham, I find it unlikely enough to be considering that they’ll score, let alone who might get the goal(s). The last time they scored on the road was over six hours ago at Stoke, back in January! If not Zamora then who? Well perhaps centre-half Brede Hangeland from a corner or something. He’ll be about 15.0 to score and more than treble that for it to be the game’s opener.

Man United are 1.24 to take this one. Perfectly reasonable for a heavyweight staker, I’d suggest. Fulham’s home and away form differs massively. Nine they’ve won at home and just one away to leave them sitting a comfortable tenth right now. I actually expect Sir Alex Ferguson’s side to be shorter than that.

The Draw is 6.6 and Fulham are out at 19.5. You’d need to be a Cottagers fan to get too involved there!

I’m drawn to both the goal and HT/FT-related markets. The initial reaction here might be to say well, there’s bound to be hatfuls of goals. Not necessarily. Fulham’s most common scoreline away from home is 0-2 (three times).

I’m making my chief play the backing of Under 2.5 goals at 2.38 (Overs is a 1.71 chance). Hodgson will set up defensively for this, hoping against hope that by playing a deep line and two banks of four or even 4-5-1, that they might be able to fashion a goalless draw for example.

However…they’ve let in over half their goals before the break. So, although it might appear contrary, I do believe they’ll be one down at half-time and then two behind come full-time. That leads me to suggest laying Draw (HT) to a 2.92 liability – also covering the outrageous suggestion that the Whites might find themselves in a shock lead after the first 45 minutes.

Perhaps I might be getting too intricate here but I just don’t see this as a match which will deviate too far from the script.

• Best Bets: Back Under 2.5 goals @ 2.38;
• Lay The Draw (HT) @ 2.92;
• Back Rooney first goalscorer @ 3.55.

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