Manchester United look to hit sickly Blackburn

After defeat at Anfield, Manchester United look to regain top spot against a swine flu weakened Blackburn.

Manchester United's other first eleven progressed in the League Cup in the week to ease some of the pain of losing 2-0 against Liverpool. Obertan, Welbeck and Owen caught the eye on Tuesday and one or two of them might force themselves into this game. Even if Ferdinand and Vidic are unfit, Brown and Evans make fine reserves. United have a good recent record against Blackburn (5 wins and a draw in 6) and will expect to pressure Chelsea for top spot.

Blackburn have been tentatively asking for postponements in the past week as Chris Samba, for one, lost 10 pounds in weight due to swine flu. But to be honest Blackburn have been so abject away from home that its unclear whether a fully fit side would win this game.

Manchester United vs Blackburn Rovers; Kick Off 5:30pm 31 Oct 2009

Prediction Panel
Our panel contains both Squarefootball writers and readers, the writers are marked: (sqf).

Dave Blackburn : TBC
Chris Cox : 3 - 0
Graham Enwright : 2 - 1
Sue Gardener : 2 - 0
Chris Goodwin : 4 - 1
Paul Grech (sqf) : TBC
Colin Illingworth (sqf) : 4 - 1
Hugh Larkin (sqf) : 3 - 0
Peter Lee : 2 - 2
Don McMahon : 2 - 0
Antony Melvin (sqf) : 2 - 1
Paul O'Meara (sqf) : 3 - 1
Dave Nash : 2 - 2
Stephen Orford (sqf) : 3 - 0
Tony Ratton : 2 - 1
Peter Rendle : 2 - 0
Dan Taylor : 3 - 0
Nick Tomkins : TBC
Bill Urban (sqf) : TBC
Andy Wakeman : 2 - 0
Isaac Williams : TBC
Mark Williams : 2 - 1

Panel Verdict
The panel is expecting a 2-0 Manchester United win.

Home: 15; Draw: 2; Away: 0; TBC: 3.

* Do we have it right, or do you know better? Please don't bother with derisory comments on the predictions after the match - unless you also pulled us up before it!