THE battle for the Top 4 is hotting up. Can Manchester United win in Newcastle? We asked Chris Graham (@chrisgraham79).
Newcastle v Manchester United | Wednesday 19:45 | BT Sport 1
The curious case of Manchester United eh? Playing indifferently all season, square pegs in round holes throughout the team, a misfiring expensive frontman. Yet, yet…glance at the table and they sit in fourth place, just five points off second place. It reminds me of the Oasis album ‘Be Here Now'. The whole thing stinks, but it's effective and successful.
Time hasn't been kind on ‘Be Here Now' and time certainly won't be kind on the Man Utd 2014/15 season if they fail to hit the Top 4. That looks a possibility at the moment with Arsenal being Arsenal and Liverpool playing like they've ingested performance-enhancing drugs.
For what it's worth, I think Louis Van Gaal's side will finish Top 4. They'll get the job done in a very unflattering way, like they have all season.
On Wednesday they travel to St James Park to take on Newcastle, and they'll be plenty of takers of Coral's Evens quote. As much as Newcastle leave me dead to the world, I can't avail myself at that price.
The reason? Well it's United's ghastly away record to be honest. They lie 9th in the Away Table with just three road wins in their 13 Premier League matches this season.
Their win at Loftus Road against QPR was probably their only convincing away win. You'll recall they were flat against Arsenal in November, and their sneaky win over Southampton in December prompted Gary Neville to compare them to a pub side.
As explained though, Newcastle leave me cold. I backed them to go down at 33/1 last month, and while that slip has been flushed down the toilet, I can't be backing them here. Three wins in their last 14 matches, they haven't beaten a top-half side in three months.
So for me, this is a fairly underwhelming tie. Newcastle have scored more than one goal in just one of their last eight games, and it's a single Over 1.5 Team Goals performance in Man Utd last six away league games.
I'll jump into 888 Sport's 8/5 on Under 2 Goals. This comes from their Asian Handicap Goal Line, so I get my cash back if exactly two are scored.
Best Bet
Newcastle v Manchester United – Under 2 Goals Asian Handicap Goal Line (8/5 888 Sport)
14/1 Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Man Utd Acca
This acca should be 5/1, but those who open new accounts with Paddy Power tonight get a huge 14/1. Keen?
Any questions get us on Twitter (@WeLoveBettingUK) or in the comments box below.
