Manchester United Vs Blackburn Rovers Betting – Saturday 31st October

 

Manchester United V Blackburn Rovers

 

 

Kick-off: Saturday 31st October – 17:30 GMT

Venue: Old Trafford

 

 

Manchester United

 

League Position: 2nd

Recent Form: WWDWL

  

The question now is how will United respond to that bitter defeat at the weekend? The Red Devils are starting to come under a bit of fire now after more than just a few bad performances in the league. Fortunately for United fans, they have still got the right result more times then not but this wasn’t the case on Sunday as Liverpool comfortably saw of the Red Devils in a game where United were the hot favourites to win the clash between the two most successful sides in the land.

  

It may have been just United’s second defeat of the season on Sunday against Liverpool but the manner in which they played, played being a debatable word, was far from the standard we come to expect of side more than accomplished when it comes to the big games. Quite simply, United weren’t at the races and they were poor in every aspect, from defending simple through balls to ultimately winning the midfield battles, an area which Liverpool dominated at the weekend. However, it was their abysmal showing in the final third which disappointed me the most. United rarely ventured into the Liverpool half so we can’t really criticise their finishing but the fact that they did struggle to find some creativity and carve out some openings is a big concern for any United fan or backer. 

 

Improvements are definitely needed but Sir Alex Ferguson has been handed a gift wrapped fixture to guide his side back to winning ways. The Red Devils have a very good record against Blackburn at Old Trafford and, with Rovers struggling on the road this season, United are heavily fancied to take all three points despite their poor showing on Sunday. The so called ‘Big Names’ at the club will need to step up though; Wayne Rooney, Ryan Giggs, Michael Carrick & Dimitar Berbatov, were all well below par on Sunday, especially the latter who spent the vast majority of the game flat on his backside.

  

There wasn’t a single positive to take from the game with Liverpool but United do have some plus points heading into this fixture, one being their good start to the season at home. The Red Devils have only dropped points at home once this season, Sunderland holding Man Utd to a thrilling 2-2 draw at the very beginning of the month. With the exception of that game with Sunderland, United have been very impressive at home boasting victories over Arsenal & Manchester City. However, United have been shipping goals of late at home, keeping just the one clean sheet in five home fixtures, that being a 1-0 win over Birmingham City Birmingham, a team who struggle to score goals on their travels. United have conceded five goals in their previous two outings at Old Trafford so maybe there is a glimmer of hope that Sam Allardyce’s side can make more of a game of this then many anticipate.

 

 

 

Blackburn Rovers

 

League Position: 16th

Recent Form: LWLWL

  

Sam Allardyce won’t be in the best of moods this weekend and it’s not just because he and his Rovers outfit face a daunting trip to Old Trafford to face the current champions of England. Nope, it’s swine flu that has gotten under the collar of the Blackburn manager and the FA’s decision not to postpone this game due to Rovers being hit with the sometimes fatal disease. So far, Big Sam has mentioned that as many as three players have a confirmed case of Swine flu while several more have been under the weather for the past week or so, including himself. This will not only affect Sam Allardyce’s team selection on Saturday but also his preparation ahead of the trip to Manchester as he doesn’t know in his heart of hearts who will actually be fit in time.

  

Enough about the flu as we move onto Blackburn chances in this fixture, or lack of it shall we say. Rovers may enter this game with three wins from their last six outings in the league but their away form has been diabolical. In four away outings thus far, Blackburn have yet to pick up a single away point, losing four away games on the spin. However, they were tough away encounters to be brutally honest; Sunderland, Everton, Arsenal & Chelsea are the sides Rovers have played on the road this season and lost to.

 

However, it’s not really the defeats that concern us but more about the manner of which they were beaten that raises a few eyebrows. They were somewhat unfortunate not to have taken at least a share of the spoils against Sunderland in their first away outing of the season but they were convincingly beaten by the remaining three teams listed above. Rovers have conceded a chilling amount of goals; 16, whilst managing to score just the three. Their away woes won’t get any better as another trouncing could be on the cards as they make their way into the stadium of dreams, formerly known as Old Trafford.

  

Blackburn’s away misfortunes haven’t suddenly rose from out of the blue as they were having difficulties on the road last season, as well. Their away record in the league last year stood at 4-4-11, but they ended their campaign in dire fashion when travelling, losing their remaining five away fixtures before the season finally came to an end, much to the relief of the Blackburn fans. If you combine Blackburn’s poor away finish of last season to their dreadful away start this season then Blackburn Rovers have lost nine away games on the bounce. A recipe for disaster as Saturday approaches.

 

 

 

 

Head-to-Head (Last 10):

 

Manchester United W: 5 Blackburn Rovers W: 2 Draws: 3

 

United may have won the previous three meetings at Old Trafford but Blackburn have been a thorn in United’s side on occasions. However, Blackburn’s better performances against the Red Devils have tended to come at Ewood Park with United winning six of the previous eight meetings at Old Trafford. United have scored two goals in their last two league clashes with Rovers at home so maybe there is a pattern forming there.

 

 

 

 

Key Player:- Michael Owen

 

Something tells me that Owen could get a rare starting berth on the United front-hold against Blackburn. Dimitar Berbatov put in a pathetic display and effort at Anfield on Sunday while Michael Owen did show brief signs of what footballers like to call ‘movements’. Something Berbatov rarely achieves. It does appear that Fergie is trying to keep Owen sweet be playing him against the weaker opponents from the off and he does look a likely started against Rovers. He has lost a few yards and a his pacey sharpness we have all come to love but Fergie still eyes something in the England wannabe and this could be his chance to shine with Fabio Capello possibly watching on.

 

 

 

Match Verdict:- Manchester United to WIN – 1.18 Expekt

 

Anything but would be a catastrophe! It’s vital that The Red Devils fight back after their poor showing on Sunday and they couldn’t of wished for an easier fixture to do just that. Blackburn have lost every away game in the league thus far, four in total, and that will stretch to five by the end of the weekend. Rarely do you see United giving points away in two consecutive games and we don’t expect that to happen on Saturday. Manchester United to claim all three points in what should be a one-sided contest at Old Trafford.

 

 

 

Match Odds:

 

Manchester United – 1.18 Expekt

 

Draw – 7.00 Bet365

 

Blackburn Rovers – 21.0 Boylesports

 

 

 

 

SoccerBetting Value Tip: Over 3.5 Goals – 2.50 VCbet

 

 

 Update: The result of Man United vs Blackburn was 2-0 (goals by Berbatov and Rooney)