Manchester United v Sunderland - 17:15 (live on Setanta Sports)

Premier League / Editor / 31 August 2007 / Leave a Comment

Can Keane cause Fergie concern?

Roy Keane may one day be sitting in Sir Alex Ferguson's seat in the Old Trafford dugout but, for now, the former United hero is intent on helping to make this his mentor's worst ever start to the Premiership.

A victory for Sunderland would break unwanted new ground for the champions who have never achieved less than six points from the opening five games. However, Keane must also get his team back on track following three straight defeats, the latest an embarrassing 3-0 exit from the Carling Cup at the hands of League One Luton Town.

Keane's Premier League honeymoon could already be over and Betfair punters clearly do not believe that there is much chance of the Black Cats taking the three points from the defending champions. Sunderland are on offer at a huge 22 to win and 6.6 even to take a point, just as they did last time they were in the Premiership in 2005/6 from a 0-0 draw.

Defensive problems have haunted Sunderland over the last two games, making a trip to face Sir Alex's side (1.22) as hard as it comes, despite the Red Devils' disappointing start to the season - they are now as long as 4.4 third favourites behind Chelsea and Liverpool to defend their title.

Early quotes of 1.72 for more than 2.5 goals in the game suggest punters are ready to back United to finally get the goals their forward play has deserved.

They have surprisingly only scored twice in four top-flight games this season and will still miss the suspended Cristiano Ronaldo, but a quote of only 2.88 for four goals or more in the game shows punter confidence.

United have lost just one of the last 11 meetings between the sides, and that came when they fielded an under-strength line-up in the 2000/1 League Cup, and Sunderland have not won a league game at Old Trafford since the 1967/8 season.

The Reds have also kept four clean sheets in the last six meetings and are bidding to become the first side to accumulate a total of 250 clean sheets in the Premier League.

Their defensive prowess is reflected in the Man Utd Clean Sheet market where they are available at just 1.72 (Sunderland 12.5) to make it five in seven and keep their former favourites Dwight Yorke and Andy Cole at bay (if they play). Long-term injury victim Gary Neville is still a doubt after picking up a thigh injury last week.

Both Yorke and Cole feature in Betfair's First Goalscorer market, which is dominated by United's dangermen, with Carlos Tevez, Louis Saha, Nani and Paul Scholes (scorers of United's two league goals) bound to attract plenty of interest.

A 2-0 victory for United is the favourite at 6.4 but anyone having a bet can be sure that there will be some strong words ringing in the Sunderland players' ears after the humbling Kenilworth Road defeat, ahead of what will most likely be Keane's most eagerly-awaited game of the season.