Cardiff v Man Utd: Bluebirds to keep improving in Wales

PREMIER LEAGUE expert Ross Casey (@RossCasey24) is back to attack Saturday evening's showdown between Cardiff and Man Utd at the Cardiff City Stadium.

Cardiff v Man Utd | Saturday 22nd December 2018, 17:30 | BT Sport

This is another big game for struggling Cardiff, who despite winning four of their last five home matches, are just two points ahead of the relegation zone heading into this Premier League gameweek.

Neil Warnock's side have beaten Brighton, Wolves, Southampton and Fulham at home, but are yet to cause a stir against a ‘big six' side. That is probably why they are as big as 11/2 best price (BetVictor).

Man Utd sensationally sacked Jose Mourinho this week and have replaced him with former Cardiff boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer until the end of the season. You just couldn't write it, could you.

There remains question marks over how the squad will respond to this change, but with just two wins in their last eight away games this season, there has to be question marks about backing an away win here… The Red Devils are as short as 3/5 best price with Sportingbet!

Cardiff City

Cardiff appear to have sorted out their woeful defensive issues, conceding just three goals in their last four home matches and that could well prove fruitful for them here – especially as only Fulham have conceded more on home soil than The Bluebirds.

Cardiff have been finding the net of late too, scoring 10 goals in their last six at home and even netting in four of their last six on the road too, where they have really struggled this season.

Considering the statistics that they are on a very good home run of late and have found their scoring boots, I will be looking at two angles of attack in this one. Both teams to score looks a decent shout at 10/11 thanks to the added bonus that Man Utd have kept just two clean sheets in their last 11 games.

The other I will go into below…

Man Utd

We keep on hearing that Man Utd have a great squad on paper and that they should be performing much better. Many argued that having a pragmatic manager such as Jose Mourinho was stifling them and this is now going to get played out under Solskjaer. Were the players hamstrung by The Special One? Let's find out!

Will we see a positive reaction to Mourinho leaving? This is a tough match for any side under the lights at the Cardiff City Stadium and almost a year to the day of their defeat to Bristol City on their travels, this match poses the same potential threat to Man Utd.

I think that 3/5 on a Man Utd win is far too short here, two wins in eight on the road is nothing to shout about and those wins came by just a single goal.

Therefore, my other angle is to back Cardiff with at 77/50 in the double chance market with Marathon.

Betting Angle

This match is a difficult one to call, but I do think that Cardiff, under the lights at the Cardiff City Stadium, represent the best value here at 77/50 in the double chance market.

The Bluebirds have been scoring plenty of goals at home (10 in six) and Man Utd have kept just two clean sheets in 11, so both teams to score also appeals at 10/11.

Best Bets

Cardiff v Man Utd – Cardiff Double Chance (77/50 Marathon)

Cardiff v Man Utd – Both Teams To Score (10/11 BetVictor)