Premier League / Richard Walker / 05 December 2008 / Leave a comment

Roy Keane's dramatic exit from the Stadium of Light this week has left Sunderland in disarray and a trip to the European Champions is the last thing anyone at the club would have wanted. Richard Walker is wondering not if Man United will win, but by how much.

Well that's one way of avoiding watching your team pummelled by that of your old Lord and Master, isn't it?

Yes, we're off to Old Trafford this Saturday tea-time for third-top versus third-bottom, but without the bearded fella, Roy Keane.

On his way out of Wearside, he's one of the few recent departures being billed as a resignation rather than the pseudo-cosy 'mutual consent' (a veiled sacking). He seems a strong-willed, principled man who would put others (the club) before himself. Good on him - there's not too many like that left.

Departures these days are all too commonplace for players to be particularly bothered and I fancy the north-east men to put a kind of gallant losers type of display.

Indeed, like the usual dose of beginner's luck afforded a new manager - caretaker - or otherwise, assuming control at a club, I can't really see Ricky Sbragia getting The Lads to pull off what would have to register as a shock of near Hull-at-Arsenal proportions.

Unsurprisingly, neither can Betfair layers, since you'll get what must be a season's record pre-game low for the Premier League of just [1.16] when backing the hosts. The Draw is [9.2] while the Black Cats are even longer than Hull were pre-match at Arsenal, a fantastical [28.0}!

So it's hunt the value time, folks, because while I may side with the favourites once too often, [1.16] isn't my sort of play. But, I'm wondering, are United really certain to hammer the visiting Wearsiders.

Sure it all points to a mauling - and the omens are fresh with a five-goal salvo against Blackburn behind them in the week - but again I can't get excited about [1.57] to back Over 2.5 goals. It's not that concrete in my mind. It's [2.7] about Unders which might tempt value hawks who consider that on the large side.

So a home win for me? Sure, yes, but I'm not certain of the margin. The [1.69] about a Man U clean sheet appeals more - and the investment you might have had ear-marked for Match Odds or Overs could wisely be steered there. Just four in six conceded in six home games for United, over three hours without letting in a goal and Sunderland's sic goals on the road in seven matches stack up nicely.

The other less-clicked section worth an interest for me would be United to win both halves, currently rewarding backers with odds of [2.0]. Have a dabble there, I can see them scoring once either side of the break.

I'm going to take a bit of a flyer in the goalscoring market and suggest you take a chance on Michael Carrick. An almost certain starter, he's a Geordie lad who won't mind putting the boot in on the Mackems. Back him either roughly [18.0] for First Goalscorer or around [7.0] in the To Score list.

The Correct Score list sees Any Unquoted as short as [3.3] so there's plenty of folk out there looking to either make that their main selection or have a wise saver. Of course United could go mad - but I prefer the [6.4] about 2-0 with a 1-0 cover at [9.8]. I'll refuse to get too upset if the score gets to four (or more) that I haven't made my fortune at just over 2-1.

Like I say, there'll probably be no middle ground with this game...and 30 minutes in will be a good indication for those looking to hedge in-play.