After a comprehensive 4-0 tonking of Milan on Wednesday, Sir Alex Ferguson has called on his team not to get carried away by such a comfortable victory, with nothing more than a place in the quarter final gained at this stage. The Red Devils must now turn their attention to the small matter of Fulham on Sunday, although the manager will be pleased that the Cottagers were also involved in European action this week.
Teams often struggle domestically following midweek encounters in the Champions League and Europa Leagues, although it’s the champions who might hold an advantage having played a game earlier than their opponents and Manchester United are a best price 1/4 (Coral) to record victory on Sunday. They have won their past six games at Old Trafford and it’s worth noting that they haven’t conceded a goal in any of these matches, so the 5/6 (Sky Bet) that they win to nil looks very appetising.
After all, Fulham are bound to be feeling the burn after being given the run around by Juventus, losing 3-1 in Turin to leave their Europa League hopes dangling by a thread. The Cottagers have got more than enough points to survive this season, although they did beat the Red Devils 3-0 back in December and are 14/1 (Blue Square) for a repeat success this weekend.
Bobby Zamora was the thorn in the side of a makeshift Manchester United defence that day and the England hopeful is 12/1 (bet365) to put his team into a surprise lead. However, while the Fulham forward might have to feed off scraps, especially if Danny Murphy and Clint Dempsey are missing, Wayne Rooney is sure to get service fit for a king.
The striker has now passed the thirty-goal mark for his club this season and could easily overtake Cristiano Ronaldo’s tally of 42 goals recorded last term. The bookies are running scared of the United number ten, offering no bigger than 11/4 (bet365) that he’s the first name on the scoresheet as he was against Milan on Wednesday. With some tired legs in the visitors’ team, it’s hard not to resist a small wager on him scoring a hat-trick (12/1 Ladbrokes).