Premier League Betting: Fulham v Manchester United

Premier League / Jaymes Monte / 21 August 2010 / Leave a Comment

Rooney will be looking to end his goal drought against Fulham

"Wayne Rooney has now gone 13 games and nearly five months for club and country without a goal. The last time he hit the back of the net being in the opening minutes of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich in Germany. "

United will be looking to avenge last year's 3-0 defeat at Craven Cottage whilst Rooney's search for a goal continues.....

Kick Off: 1600 BST
UK Channel: Sky Sports 1

Fulham have recorded victories over Manchester United on each of the last two occasions that the sides have met at Craven Cottage with an aggregate scoreline of 5-0 in their favour. The flipside of that impressive statistic is that Mark Hughes, during his tenures as Blackburn Rovers and Manchester City manager, has picked up just one point from his last eight games against United.

Match Odds

Last season's 3-0 was as resounding a victory as you are likely to see over Manchester United in the Premier League and perhaps even slightly flattered the visitors. However, the game came at a time when United's defence was decimated. Patrice Evra was the only first-choice defender involved and Michael Carrick and Darren Fletcher deputised in the heart of the defence, so there were plausible excuses for United's ineptitude.

If United can pick up where they left off against Newcastle on Monday night then they will gain revenge this weekend. Dimitar Berbatov and Wayne Rooney look to be striking up a very good understanding and Paul Scholes was sublime in all aspects of his game; as a trio they were unplayable.

Odds of [1.6] on an away win in the Premier League aren't usually altogether tempting, but in this case I don't see any reason why they will be overturned.

Over/Under 2.5 goals

Following their 3-0 victory over Newcastle on Monday, Ferguson alluded to the goal difference gap between themselves and Chelsea. It was more an intimation towards the disparity in this area between the two clubs at the end of last season than any concerns at this stage but his awareness of this factor should be an important consideration to goals backers.

United will go for the jugular in matches this season when the opportunity presents itself. On a different day they could have scored five or six against Newcastle and although Fulham's defence is certain to provide a sterner test I think there is value in the Over 2.5 goals selection at odds of [2.1].

Man Utd Total Goals

Following on from the above assertion it would be logical to also back United to score two or more goals, which is available at the generous odds of [1.8]. Last season they scored two or more goals in 24 of their 38 league games, which equates to a 63% conversion rate for those who would have backed this selection in every game last season.

Regardless of them wanting to improve their goal difference we all know about the risks of relying on a one goal lead in the Premier League. Backing this selection also provides a safety net to the back of Over 2.5 goals as suggested above.

To Score

Wayne Rooney has now gone 13 games and nearly five months for club and country without a goal. The last time he hit the back of the net being in the opening minutes of the Champions League quarter-final against Bayern Munich in Germany. Granted he missed a few games toward the end of the season because of an injury picked up later in that match but odds of [2.1] on him to end that drought this weekend are almost baffling.

If you are looking for someone to back in this market then Dimitar Berbatov at [2.6] represents the real value. He looks to have a new lease of life about him this season, confident enough again to try little flicks and tricks and making darting runs into the box which were rarely seen last season. Ferguson's patience with the Bulgarian could pay off this campaign.

Recommended Bet: Lay Rooney to Score @ [2.1]