Premier League Televised Game Preview: Manchester United v Middlesborough

Premier League / Richard Walker / 29 December 2008 / Leave a Comment

They are average, says Richard Walker, but Middlesborough are still capable of springing the type of shock results which provide exceptional value. Can they do it again at Old Trafford?

Middlesborough have that annoying factor for me. Nothing against the club, the most loyal chairman in British football, the fans, anything - it's just they retain the ability to pull of the weirdest good results ever.

Then you get media types punditing on about how they're "well capable of that" and are "just about to go ona run". No they're not. They'll be 12th, 13th or 14th this season, guaranteed. They are average.

However it's that nuisance value which stops me suggesting a landslide victory for Manchester United at home to Boro this Monday evening live on Sentanta Sports. With an extra day to have rested from their Boxing Day efforts, this should have a bit of life about it.

It's not my job in these columns to state the obvious; Match Odds of [1.22] for a Sir Alex Ferguson smile at 90 minutes do that just fine. For games like this, it's about what will probably happen and finding some value therein. I should mention that The Draw is [6.8] to back and Boro a ludicrous [25.0] - that warrants a minimum Betfair stake just to acknowledge its outlandishness!

My top selection for an Old Trafford night under lights is United To Win Both Halves. It's priced at [2.32] to back.

With United/United (Half-Time/Full-Time) at [1.66] and United leading at Half-Time [1.55] short enough if you enjoy those more standard sort of plays, it's my stand-out choice for this particular Premier League encounter.

There's obviously layers out there assuming it'll be a less than white-hot start or, if ahead at half-time, Fergie's boys might relax a little. However, I take the view that if they are two or three up, he lets some eager substitutes try to impress for future inclusion. [2.32] might look a steal early on in-play?

I don't see Boro holding out until the break. Never mind their ordinary defenders, keeper Ross Turnbull is still very much a rookie and, while he's enjoyed the odd great display, in general he's not an inspirational or dominating figure. I fancy this game will prove too much for him.

Correct Score action is a fun place to try and call it correctly. Layers are taking few chances with Any Unquoted (that's a score involving the figure 4 or higher) at just [3.85] to back. I think 3-0 to the hosts, [7.2], gets the job done quite nicely, with [6.6] cover on 2-0.

I suggested the United clean sheet should be supported for the Stoke game however, while I don't see Boro scoring, it's just like them (see opening gambit of preview) to mess things up and take the lead or something so I'll leave that one alone this time.

First Goalscorer odds for a United game always have the look of being almost unfair to backers. You'll often find as many as four of their likely goal-getters weighing in at under the [8.0] mark to back, a point I consider a bit of a watershed number in that market.

With Cristiano Ronaldo, Wayne Rooney, Dimitar Berbatov and Carols Tevez likely to fill those four berths as usual, have a go with Michael Carrick, at around [18.0]. Rested at Stoke, he's an almost certain starter and just might get the room to let fly from the edge of the box. Just in case they provide that nuisance value, Boro's Tuncay Sanli is worth a cover at [14.0].

A lot depends on the tempo of United's opening to this match. For the sake of the both halves banker, I'm hoping it's bright and lively. Now Middlesbrough, don't get in the way.