Televised Match Previews / James Eastham / 11 September 2009 / Leave a comment

It's impossible to justify Manchester United's short price to win away against one of the Premier League's most resolute home sides - so make the most of a rare opportunity to oppose the faltering champions at favourable odds, writes James Eastham. Best bet: Tottenham Draw No Bet @ [2.42].

Recommended bets: Tottenham Draw No Bet v Manchester United @ 2.42; 0-0 and 1-1 correct scorelines @ 13.0 and 7.4 respectively (split your stakes).

This week's World Cup qualifiers may have dimmed your memory of the opening month of Premier League action, but cast your mind back a couple of weeks and ask yourself: just how bad were Manchester United against Arsenal?

I've watched plenty of Big Four clashes down the years, but rarely have I seen a team play so poorly and come away with all three points. Arsenal outplayed their Old Trafford hosts for great swathes of the game on August 29 before handing victory to United on a plate when Manuel Almunia brought down Wayne Rooney in the box (it was clearly a penalty, no matter what the Rooney-baiters say) and Abou Diaby headed into his own net.

Once the euphoria of victory died down, Sir Alex Ferguson and his players will have privately admitted they're going to have to play an awful lot better than that if they're to challenge Chelsea for the title (Carlo Ancelotti's Blues are [2.4] favourites at the moment, while United are [4.1]). In the wake of that faltering performance I was shocked to find United as short as [2.34] to win at White Hart Lane this Saturday evening, particularly given Spurs' stunning home form since Harry Redknapp took over.

Tottenham are unbeaten in 13 matches on their own patch since last December (nine wins, four draws) and go into this match on the back of an eight-game winning streak at home that stretches back to last March. That sort of form would give you a chance against any opposition, so I'm more than happy to oppose United at a short price.

The hosts are available at [3.35], or you can back various correct scorelines, such as 1-0 ([11.5]), 2-0 ([20.0] or 2-1 ([13.5]) - but my view is that the absence of Luka Modric, who has started the season in fine form, has tipped the balance from Tottenham towards the draw. Without their Croatia playmaker, the home side will find it more difficult to unpick United's defence, and the impact of a week of international travelling will affect Spurs as much as it does United, as Benoit Assou-Ekotto and Wilson Palacios have endured return intercontinental journeys while others, such as Peter Crouch, Robbie Keane and Jermain Defoe, have been equally occupied by national team duties.

I favour Tottenham Draw No Bet at [2.42] over Tottenham winning the game, because the safety net of getting your stakes back if the game finishes all-square makes a lot more sense after such a hectic round of international matches. My route to trying to earn a profit from the stalemate would be to back 0-0 [13.0] and 1-1 [7.4] correct scorelines, which are appealing prices considering a draw would probably suit both managers.

United backers can point to historic stats as evidence of the away team's chances. The visitors are unbeaten on their last eight visits to White Hart Lane, having won six times before drawing in each of the last two seasons. And I know from first-hand experience just how imperiously United can perform in this particular part of north London - I was lucky enough to be there in September 2001 when Sir Alex Ferguson's side came back majestically from a 3-0 half-time deficit to earn a 5-3 full-time victory (including goals from Laurent Blanc and Juan Sebastian Veron).

That was one of the greatest comebacks in Premier League history. I expect a much closer match, and a more pleasing outcome for Spurs, this time.

Tags: football betting, Harry Redknapp, Jermain Defoe, Manchester United, Peter Crouch, Premier League, Sir Alex Ferguson, Spurs, Tottenham Hotspur