Manchester United V Fulham Betting: Sunday, 14th March (Sky Sports)

Manchester United V Fulham

Sunday 14^th March – 13:30 GMT

TV Coverage: Sky Sports 1

Manchester United

League Position: 1st

Recent Form: WDLWW

We aren’t quite sure how the United ranks will be feeling after their emphatic and humiliating victory over one of Europe’s most prestigious clubs, AC Milan. Probably the same as before kick-off, just a run-of-the-mill win for Fergie as United go from strength to strength under the spearhead of arguably the greatest forward in the game at present in Wayne Rooney. While this is debatable, we think it’s not, although I’m going to be biased for England’s sake, but there is no doubting just how important Rooney has become to United, almost a one-man team dare I say it, and the lethal frontman, whom has now scored five in his last six competitive fixtures, could be the man who single handily decimates another team this Sunday, only this time an English one.

Revenge will be on the minds of the Red Devil’s this Sunday as lingering memories of their 3-0 humbling at Craven Cottage still hurt. United were made to look like right muppets that day, with Fulham turning the champions of England into an ordinary outfit within 90 minutes, but Alex Ferguson will pinpoint a reversal of fortunes on Sunday and who would back against them not only achieving that, but doing it with authority. After all, Man Utd have won the previous five encounters at Old Trafford with Fulham, so the omens are in their favour, not that they should need them. 

Whereas Fulham’s form is patchy, a compliment if you glance at their away form this season, United’s is near enough immaculate, at least at home anyway. In fourteen home fixtures thus far, United have lost only once, that famous 1-0 defeat to Aston Villa. While that bitter defeat didn’t go down too well with the locals at the time, United gave the response of true champions, not only winning their very next encounter at Old Trafford but going on to boast a 100% record there ever since, with United winning their last six home games. However, do you want to know what the scary part is? – United haven’t conceded a single goal during this sublime winning run of theirs, with the United goal not being breached in over 540 minutes of home action – Incredible!

United just look too strong on paper for us, on the pitch as well if they somehow replicate their performance at home to AC Milan last Tuesday in which they never looked like losing. There were a few glimmers of bad defending mind, although that was to be expected with Rio Ferdinand still gelling back into the United defence, but there were positives to take from that game, especially in the first 45 minutes, if you’re an opposing manager, more over a Mr. Roy Hodgeson or even a Mr. Rafael Benitez, whom takes his Liverpool side to Manchester next week. However, a home fixture with Fulham is the ideal time to iron out any exposed defensive flaws so by the time Liverpool pay them a visit, a team who beat them 4-1 at Old Trafford last season, United could be in immaculate form.

Fulham

League Position: 10th

Recent Form: WDWWD

While Fulham maybe enjoying their fair bit of success back at Craven Cottage, their away fortunes have taken a big hit ever since their opening day victory at Portsmouth. 15^th August, 2009 the last time Fulham were seen winning an away encounter in the Premiership, although we had to double check as even we didn’t believe they had done so, nearly half-a-year ago and thirteen away games later without a win. It’s drastic form to say the least, atrocious if you like, so surely they are classed in the category of ‘no-hopers’ this weekend as they travel up northwards to take on Manchester United at the Theatre of Dreams.

If it wasn’t for all these draws, six in all, Fulham’s away record for the season would be up there with the very worst in the league. Fortunately, though, their hard-working qualities has still got them through some sticky encounters, although these many draws do little to hide Fulham apparent away flaws, having lost exactly half of their away fixtures up until this point. They are, however, unbeaten in their last two after draws at Bolton and Sunderland, but the concern now is more about their luck in front of goal, or severe lack of it, with both those draws being 0-0 and Fulham now having gone 420 minutes without an away goal – Shocking stuff! 

I feel like a boxer in this moment in time, jabbing away at Fulham’s lack of credentials heading up to Old Trafford. However, I’m about to go for the killer blow and say Fulham won’t have a chance as they would need a side fit, fresh and raring to go just to stand a chance in Manchester – Something they won’t have the luxury of unfortunately. On Thursday night, Fulham will have been involved in some Europa League action, as to which we have no idea how they got on as this a Thursday morning we’re writing on, but we’ll give you a brief idea of how they’ll be feeling on Sunday – Groggy, perhaps a tad tetchy and blooming knackered after 90 minutes in Italy against a former Italian giant. Juventus.

If Fulham could somehow snatch a result in Turin then perhaps the confidence they would get from that would cancel out their lack of fitness, or at least sharpness. However, that’s still a pretty big ask, although not impossible by any stretch of the imagination, but the question still remains as to what shape Fulham will arrive back in England in. If it’s anything less than 100% conditioning then Roy Hodgeson has a problem as his Fulham players, for whatever reason, just don’t do away games.

Match Verdict: Manchester United to WIN – 1.25 Boylesports

While Fulham boast a 3-0 win back at Craven Cottage, United could quite easily reverse that scoreline and then some on Sunday as they are the in form team right now, as opposed to Fulham who are just plain awful on the road. We wouldn’t have a whole lot of confidence in some of England’s fines halting the United express at this moment in time after their euphoric victory over Milan in midweek, so we don’t rate Fulham’s chances of doing so in the slightest, and believe me, we so wanted to. Straightforward will probably ring around the pundit boards by the time MOTD2 arrives on our doorsteps at something like 22:20 on a Sunday night.

Match Odds:

Manchester United – 1.25 Boylesports

Draw – 6.00 Bet365

Fulham – 16.00 PaddyPower

SoccerBetting Value Pick: Manchester United to WIN to NIL – 1.80 888sport