Manchester United v Sunderland: Can the Black Cats rewrite history at Old Trafford?
Manchester United opened up a six-point gap over Manchester City last weekend with their last-gasp win at the Etihad and they are now strong favourites to go on and reclaim what they feel is rightfully theirs.
This afternoon they take on a struggling Sunderland side, but one that will be buoyed following their 3-0 win over Reading in midweek. Can the Black Cats do something that they haven't managed since 1968 and win at Old Trafford?
There was a period just after the war when Sunderland loved playing at United. They won seven out of eight visits, but then it stopped and since United lifted the European Cup in 68 Sunderland have failed to taste victory at the Theatre of Dreams. But could this be the weekend they rewrite history?
Manchester United's defence has been very suspect this season and visiting teams have thrown everything at United's back four. They have conceded first in an alarming number of games this season, but they have enough firepower in Rooney, RVP, Welbeck and Hernandez to get their defence out of trouble.
Sunderland almost broke their duck against United in 2009 but for a late Anton Ferdinand own goal which gave United a share of the spoils. They need to put a run of games together in order to move away from the drop zone. Unfrotunately there's not a lot of love around for them to win today.
Man United v Sunderland; Kick Off 3pm December 15 2012
Prediction Panel
|
Arsenal |
Josh Ben Moshe |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Aston Villa |
Frank Pattison |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Chelsea |
Joe Tyler |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Everton |
Chris Goodwin |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Fulham |
Neil Springate |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Liverpool |
Dave Disciascio |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Man City |
Callum Rothwell |
4 |
V |
0 |
|
Man United |
Alex Richert |
4 |
V |
0 |
|
Newcastle |
Greg Hall |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Norwich |
Sue Read |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
QPR |
John Jaycock |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Reading |
Jon Keen |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Southampton |
Andy Saunders |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Stoke City |
Jack Heaney |
TBA |
V |
TBA |
|
Sunderland |
Tony Ratton |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Swansea |
Jim Barry |
2 |
V |
2 |
|
Spurs |
Adam Crawford |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
West Brom |
Andy Wakeman |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
West Ham |
Matt Beeby |
4 |
V |
0 |
|
Wigan |
Jimmy Shine |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
OUR EXPERTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Writer |
Colin Illingworth |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Steve Coulter |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Hugh Larkin |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Mitch Waddon |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Writer |
Chris Pettitt |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Writer |
Sarshar Hosseinnia |
1 |
V |
1 |
|
Blackburn fan |
Terry Kennedy |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Bolton fan |
David Blackburn |
3 |
V |
0 |
|
Boro fan |
Sue Gardener |
4 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Dan Taylor |
3 |
V |
1 |
|
Pompey fan |
Peter Rendle |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
West Ham fan |
Nigel Telfer |
2 |
V |
0 |
|
Wolves fan |
Chris Cox |
4 |
V |
0 |
|
Editor |
Antony Melvin |
3 |
V |
1 |
Panel Verdict
Home win.
Home: 30; Draw: 2; Away: 0. TBA 2.
* Do we have it right or do you know better? We’d love to hear from you.
