Man Utd host Blackburn in the early kick off on Saturday and despite Sir Alex Ferguson making an encouraging phone call to his opposite number here during the week it seems likely that Steve Kean will be under even more pressure after this game assuming that Blackburn get nothing from the match. Man Utd are on a role at the moment and a win here would take them top of the league for 24 hours at least and with Man Utd often improving in the second half of the season Sir Alex Ferguson will be delighted to be on level pegging with Man City at this stage in the season.
Early reports suggested Sir Alex Ferguson was hopeful that Chris Smalling would be fit to face Blackburn but reports in Friday's papers suggest that the defender could be out for up to three months because of glandular fever so a return here would seem doubtful. There is more optimisitic news about Rio Ferdinand and Phil Jones who seem likely to recover from back and illness complaints. Man Utd's stand in centre half Jonny Evans is definitely out with a calf injury picked up in the game against Wigan, he will be out for around two weeks so if Rio Ferdinand doesn't recover Michael Carrick or Patrice Evra may have to cover at centre half.
The last thing Steve Kean needs at a time like this is an injury crisis but with up to ten senior players ruled out of this match and Blackburn could certainly be down to the bare bones for this game. Steve Kean is hopeful that he will be able to call upon Junior Hoilett, David Dunn and Martin Olsson who all have slight hamstring complaints. Junior Hoilett is being linked with a move away from the club in January with his contract set to expire in the summer so this could even be the forward's last game for Blackburn.
Man Utd have been in great scoring form recently, they have won their last two games 5-0 and have scored a total of sixteen goals in their last four games. One of the reasons they may be in such good scoring form is the current form of Nani who has been very important for United in recent seasons, the Man Utd Valuechecker Wikis show that Nani was involved in twenty seven Premiership goals for United last season. Only Bolton have a worse defence that Blackburn this season in the league and it is difficult to see anything other than another high scoring win for the home side so backing Man Utd -2 in the handicap betting could be the best value bet for this match.
For more betting pointers on these two teams, such as why Dimitar Berbabtov might be a good goalscorer bet in this match at Old Trafford, click in the green 'W' next to the teams in the odds matrix. Feel free to add your own wikis, registration is quick and easy, just supply an email address and password.