Why Man United should win the Manchester derby

Man Utd/Man City, Sun 1.30pm, Sky Spts 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Photo Credit: Dave Thompson/PA Wire

There are plenty of stats which suggest that an upset could be in order on Sunday. Manchester United have won just one of their last four home games against City and just five of their last 14 league clashes with them while the visitors have won three straight league games for the first time all season and have started to remember how to win away from home. But while the pro-City stats show that the bookmakers are being stingy with odds on the home win, here are five reasons why the league leaders should triumph:

1. Manchester United have won 32 of their last 36 home league games, including 15 of the last 16.

2. Manchester City haven’t won four straight top-flight matches since November 1992. On the last two occasions that they have managed three in a row they have lost the fourth. They have also gone 14 games in all competitions without a draw.

3. The Red Devils have won 16 of their last 18 Premier League matches including each of the five since their stumbles against Liverpool and Fulham.

4. Prior to being beaten at home by Manchester City last season, Sir Alex Ferguson’s side had lost eight league matches at Old Trafford since the start of the 2002-03 campaign. They won seven and drew one of their eight home games against those sides the following season.

5. Mark Hughes’ side won their first domestic away match in almost eight months against Everton a fortnight ago but they have followed their last six league wins on the road with defeat in their next away game.

If Manchester United win this weekend and Liverpool fail to beat West Ham then victory at Wigan on Wednesday will hand them the title.

Posted: May 8th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn |