Manchester United (2nd) play Wigan Athletic (15th) at Old Trafford. 30 December 2009, 8pm.
With the pressure increasing, this it the time of the year where Manchester United typically up their game and go on a long run. They need to as well having lost five Premier league games already this season. The thrashing by Fulham at Craven Cottage will have hurt them immensely, more so because there was little they could do about with so many defensive players out injured. Those players are gradually coming back to fitness and it will coincide with an upturn in Manchester United’s forum and consistency.
Still, they have problems, most notably that their last three campaigns were based on that defence and their one world class player – Christiano Ronaldo – who has not been replaced. Dimitar Berbatov is a pale shadow of the player he was at Tottenham Hotspur, Nani is United’s Babel and Sir Alex Ferguson’s increasing reliance on Ryan Giggs and Paul Scholes shows how little the players bought in in the last few years have mitigated their decline.
Wigan are dropping down the table, haven’t won in four matches and are beginning to settle into their fate along with half a dozen other relegation-threatened teams. Their defence is porous and the only players of real value are Hugo Rodallega (seven goals, five assists) and Charles N’Zogbia (three goals, four assists).
Manchester United will be motivated and better tooled in defence. Don’t expect them to lose for some time and expect those 0-0 and 1-1’s to turn into 1-0 and 2-0’s.
A goal, draw or better for Wigan will force more of a reassessment of Manchester United than it would Wigan and the ultimate result will hinge on an early goal ranging from 2-0 to 5-0.
Best bet - Manchester United to keep a clean sheet
First scorer - Wayne Rooney of course, although in a tight match, Nemanja Vidic and Luis Antonio Valencia are good bets
The weather could have an effect on the game. Snow and wind and expect a tight 1-0 or 2-0 for Manchester United.
Prediction:
Manchester United 4 – 0 Wigan Athletic
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Almost spot on, although the clean sheet and first goalscorer are pretty standard