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Premier League Betting: Downing the key man

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Richard Walker looks ahead to Sunday's Middlesbrough v Manchester United clash

Thirty-six goals for the season - and 26 in 26 Premier League starts - is reason enough to again make Cristiano Ronaldo my headline selection in the goalscoring markets.

I say again because I suggested ensuring he was part of punting plans for United's home win against Villa last weekend - and the Portuguese obliged us then. So taking the same tack, he's around [2.0] in the To Score list to register at any time on Teesside during this Sunday early afternoon kick-off, and about [4.2] to back to be the first player on target. With bald facts so impressive as his, for me it's hard to imagine at least one of the two above scenarios not taking place.

If Gareth Southgate's were watching the Red Devils in Champions League action midweek, they may have been heartened by Nemanja Vidic's injury (he's set to miss three weeks), but this joy will have been short-lived once Sir Alex Ferguson named fit-again duo Mikael Silvestre and Gary Neville in his squad for The Riverside. And it kind of tempers the lower-key news on Teesside that Brazilian Fabio Rochemback returns from suspension, even if Mido has now been ruled out for the season.

United are priced up at [1.45] and, even at [1.46] to lay you'd be a braver man than I. But I mentioned last weekend - as I also previewed Chelsea v Boro - that Southgate's mob have the ability to frustrate and even surprise. If that is to happen, it's more likely to be in their north-east home so I'm just highlighting the draw price of [4.8] to you. I can't see past a United win but it would be wrong not to at least consider a stalemate or low-scoring equilibrium. The hosts are around the [9.0] mark to prevail if you've got a funny feeling they can do it.

Compared to United's 24 league wins, Boro have registered just eight - five at home. Birmingham, Fulham, Wigan and Derby make up a less than illustrious quartert of the vanquished five, with Arsenal completing the list. And it's that victory folk will point to in alluding there's a chance of a surprise. However that was back in December. Manchester United are flying now and extended their clean sheet run to eight with the midweek win in Rome.
Derby aside, Middlesbrough - with 15 - have scored fewer home goals than any side this season so back the United clean sheet at [1.97] if their win odds of [1.45] seem a little short to you.

To be fair to Boro, though, they've only shipped 19 at The Riverside - by no means disastrous. However I have this feeling they might be on the end of a hiding if the game opens up should the Red Devils take an early lead. While not in immediate danger of relegation, Southgate knows he has to keep his side picking up points, particularly at home. So they might chase the game, and that's why I'm suggesting an interest in the Any Unquoted price of [7.4] to back in the Correct Score market. That takes in anything with a four or above in the scoreline and I reckon it might be on. Three-nil United - at around [11.0] - and 2-0 [6.8] are decent cover options for my money.

If you disagree with my musings and think, for example, that Middlesbrough might at least trouble the scorers once then the To Score market sees Stewart Downing backable at [6.8]. With a whopping six, he's the club's top Premiership scorer. The likely set-piece merchant is the best shout in this regard.

The [7.2] to back about the first goal coming between 31-40 minutes - in the First Goal Odds market - is the last of my price-related suggestions for while Southgate might proclaim he's going to attack they're not going to open the game up too soon.