Premier League Betting: Manchester United v Blackburn Rovers

Premier League / Dan Fitch / 30 October 2009 / Leave a Comment

Will Owen make a rare start after his fine goal in midweek?

Recommended Bets: Back Rooney to score first @ 4.5, Back United to win both halves @ 2.2, back a United clean sheet @ 1.75

Blackburn Rovers face another tough away trip as they take on Manchester United. Dan 'The Betting Man' Fitch expects a United win, but wonders where the goals will come from. Best bet: Back Rooney to score first @ [4.5].

The fixture list can be a cruel mistress. You've just been spanked 5-0 away at Chelsea and your next stop is a trip to Old Trafford.

That is the harsh reality for Blackburn Rovers, who now face a Manchester United side who will have been stung by defeat to Liverpool last weekend and will be anxious to get back to winning ways.

One consolation for Sam Allardyce is that the Ewood Park swine flu epidemic, has now calmed down somewhat. The influential David Dunn will be back and Blackburn give late fitness tests to Christopher Samba, Pascal Chimbonda and Vince Grella.

United will be without the suspended Gary Neville, but it is in midfield where they are really looking light, as the busy Owen Hargreaves, Darren Fletcher and Park Ji-Sung all miss out through injury.

Without these players, Blackburn's best chance of success is to physically bully United's remaining midfielders. Scholes and Carrick lost the battle against Mascherano and Lucas last week, though they should be more comfortable at Old Trafford, where the inclination of most teams is to sit back rather than press.

It is Blackburn's away form that sees them rooted in the bottom half of the table. They have lost their last 9 away games since beating Fulham last March. In contrast, United have not lost at Old Trafford since being beaten 4-1 by Liverpool, also in the March of this year.

Both sides were in Carling Cup action in midweek, with Blackburn beating Peterbrough, whilst United were victorious against Barnsley. Michael Owen scored the second goal in a 2-0 win, to put pressure on the misfiring Dimitar Berbatov.

Wayne Rooney has been in sparkling form this season, but he and Berbatov are still not clicking together. Will Ferguson be tempted to pair Rooney with Owen, after the latter rolled back the years this week, with what was once a typical individual goal?

When the goalscorer markets open on Betfair, expect Rooney to be favourite to score first at [4.5] and [1.9] to score anytime. Owen will be priced around [5.0] and [2.1], with Berbatov at [5.5] and [2.3]. For Blackburn, the on-loan Franco Di Santo should return after being forced to miss the game against his club Chelsea and will be available at [14.0] and [6.0].

With Ronaldo and Tevez departing, the scene was set for Berbatov to establish himself at Old Trafford this season, but he just doesn't look the same player as he was at Spurs.

United certainly aren't as free scoring as they were before Ronaldo departed, but they have still broken the 2.5 goals barrier in 6 of their 10 league games. Blackburn have done likewise in 7 of their 9 games and only Burnley have conceded more away goals this season. Over 2.5 goals is available at [1.59], with unders at [2.62].

There is little value in the match odds, where United are the [1.19] favourites, with the draw at [8.0] and Blackburn [25.0]. Slightly better is the [1.62] for United to win half time/full time, but it still seems as if these prices reflect the United of the past two seasons, rather than the team of this term.

The home side are [2.2] to win both halves and [1.75] to keep a clean sheet. 2-0 can be backed at [6.6], with 2-1 at [12.0] and 3-0 at [8.0].

I expect United to claim all three points, but their days of swashbuckling performances, seem to be at least temporarily behind them.