With their superior goal difference having knocked the “noisy neighbours” off the top spot on Sunday, Man United are the league leaders once again, despite having played two games less than Roberto Mancini‘s side. United approach Gameweek 24 undoubtedly buoyed by the steely defensive performance that saw them pick up a point at White Hart Lane and now have the chance to take advantage of one of those games in hand, thus stretching their advantage at the Premier League summit.
The Opponents
Last weekend, Harry Redknapp went on record suggesting United won’t go through the season without suffering a loss. The odds are that he’ll be proved right, but it’s doubtful whether the unbeaten run will come to an end over the pair of matches that consitute double Gameweek 24.
First up for Fergie’s side is an Old Trafford showdown against Birmingham City. The Blues’ previous away game -at Blackpool- saw Alex McLeish’s side pick up their first win on the road this season, though their form, both home and away, has been poor, as they sit just one point above the drop zone. They have conceded two or more goals five times away from home and will be big underdogs for this game.
A trip to Bloomfield Road to take on Blackpool is the second game of the double. Goals seem likely for both sides; Ian Holloway’s side have scored and conceded in every home game this season and showed a real fighting spirit to come from behind to defeat Liverpool in their last home match. Holloway’s side have lost three of their last four league games, though, and despite the press plaudits, still have plenty work to do to ensure their top-flight safety.
Current Form
United have drawn just one home match all season, winning the last seven at Old Trafford in a row. Defensively, they’ve chalked up six clean sheets at home but it’s intriguing that they have only scored more than two goals at home once in their last eight attempts, a sure-fire sign that they are not quite the rampaging flat-track bullies of last season.
Away from home, United’s eight draws from ten games means they only have a goal difference of plus two on the road, with just fourteen goals scored. The clean sheet they picked up at Spurs was their first in the last away four games.
Rotation Risk
The last few game weeks have seen plenty of changes to the United starting XI and Fergie seems likely to continue this line of thinking as the games come thick and fast. With that in mind, doubts must be raised against the chances of Edwin Van der Sar and Rio Ferdinand to play both games in defence. In midfield, perhaps only Darren Fletcher and Nani could be considered as likely starters and up front, it seems unlikely that Javier Hernandez will oust either Wayne Rooney or Dimitar Berbatov, though an appearance from the subs bench is pretty much a given.
Potential Targets
United have averaged just under three goals a game at home and with the Blackpool game promising to be an open, attacking affair, it seems reasonable to conclude that they should score around five goals over the two games. The distribution of points, as always, is the trickiest part, though the targets seem fair certainties.
Nemanja Vidic
The top-owned and top scoring defender in the game, Vidic is the likeliest United defender to not only play both games, but also to pick up a goal or Bonus Points on top of any clean sheet. If you’re wildcarding or have the budget, he’s undoubtedly the safest and surest of options at the back.
Predicted Return- 1 Clean Sheet
Nani
He’s twice the player at Old Trafford than he is away; quite literally in the case of FPL. Eighty of Nani’s points have came at home, with thirty nine on the road. The red hot captaincy favourite this Gameweek, Nani has hit double figures five times in his nine home games already, averaging just under nine points per Old Trafford appearance. Fourteen of his 18 Bonus Points have also came at home.
Predicted Return- 1 goal, 2 assists, 5 Bonus Points, 1 Clean Sheet.
Wayne Rooney
United were hardly an attacking force of nature at Spurs, but Rooney’s adaptability saw him shuffled out to the right-wing and away from the danger zone as the game progressed. Perhaps his previous game at West Brom- a goal, an assist and 3 Bonus Points- is more indicative of things to come. He’s not had the best of seasons, but when it comes to assists, only four players have more than Rooney in the league.
Predicted Return 1 goal, 2 assists, 2 Bonus Points.
Dimitar Berbatov
Leading the line has suited him this season; Berbatov has 14 goals to his name already, with 12 coming at home. He’s now failed to score for three games, but as he’s shown already, the Bulgarian could explode into life when least expected. United will have chances aplenty in both games and as the focal point of their attack, Berbatov should reap the rewards, often at Rooney’s expense.
Of the five home games he’s started with Rooney this season, Berbatov has scored a staggering total of 69 points, averaging just under 14 points per game. Rooney has acquired 29 points in those games, just shy of 6 points per game.
Predicted Return– 2 goals, 3 Bonus Points.
Javier Hernandez-
A natural born-goalscorer, Hernandez had two goals in two games before a brief cameo at Spurs, thanks to Rafael‘s red card. Even if he gets half-an-hour or so coming off the bench, his speed and eye for goal should be able to take advantage of any tiring defences.
Predicted Return- 1 goal
