United set for another away day stalemate
TOTTENHAM vs MANCHESTER UNITED
SUNDAY – 4.10PM SKY SPORTS 1
SOMETHING is going to have to give at White Hart Lane on Sunday afternoon if either Tottenham or Manchester United are going to walk away with a victory. United are still unbeaten in the league this season, while Spurs have lost just once on home turf.
Sir Alex Ferguson will be the first to admit that his side haven’t been at their best this campaign, but they are sitting pretty at the top of the table with games in hand. A win on Sunday would be a major step towards claiming another Premier League title and the Red Devils have a brilliant record against Spurs.
In the last 19 league meetings between the clubs, United have won 15 and drawn the other four, with Tottenham’s last win coming at White Hart Lane in 2001. However, this is a very different Spurs outfit and Harry Redknapp will be confident that his side can take at least a point.
United have been the draw specialists on the road this season with seven of their nine away games ending in a stalemate. They have also gone into the interval level in eight of those contests and the same is true in six of Spurs’ 11 home fixtures this term. Another interesting statistic is that three of United’s last four away visits to top-six sides have been goalless at the break.
At the prices, I’d rather back Spurs at 2/1 than United at 6/4, despite their poor record against the Red Devils, but the draw looks the best option at 23/10 with William Hill. Redknapp would probably be happy with a point and his team have drawn at home against both Manchester City and Chelsea this season.
Ferguson knows his side are in a very strong position and he will be keen that they continue their unbeaten run. This isn’t quite the free-flowing United side that we’ve become accustomed to over the years, so a cagey opening looks on the cards. That may interest buyers of the time of the first match goal at 40 with Sporting Index, but I’ll stick to a sell of goals at 2.5.
I would be surprised if it wasn’t tight in the first half and there is some value in backing the draw / draw double result at 4/1 on Betdaq. I also wouldn’t put anyone off having a small bet on no goalscorer at a general 9/1. There have been a few disappointing, defensive games between the big sides in recent weeks.
POINTERS…
Draw at 23/10 with William Hill
Draw / Draw at 4/1 on Betdaq
Sell total match goals at 2.5 with Sporting Index