Manchester United’s game against Blackburn at Old Trafford on New Year’s Eve was meant to be all about how many the home team would put past relegation-threatened Rovers.
Amidst talk of a third consecutive 5-0 victory, few people gave Steve Kean’s men much of a chance and, judging by his team selection, Sir Alex Ferguson was apparently among the doubters.
With Wayne Rooney absent for disciplinary reasons – would he have missed the game if it had been against Manchester City? – and Anderson deemed fit enough only for a place on the bench, it was a ramshackle United side which took to the field at Old Trafford.
And while the defending champions are odds-on favourites at 7/10 to return to winning ways against Newcastle tomorrow, their chances of success may well depend on their ability to send out a side without so many square pegs in round holes.
For while Newcastle’s form might have tailed off alarmingly since they lost their unbeaten league record at the Etihad Stadium in November, their attack remains strong enough to re-expose the defensive weaknesses so ruthlessly exploited by Blackburn last week.
In particular, Demba Ba has continued to appear on the scoresheet even if this has not been enough to secure a positive result for his team.
The Senegalese striker has scored 14 times in 18 Premier League matches this season, including six in his last seven appearances.
Ba therefore looks well-placed to follow in the footsteps of Yakubu, who scored twice on Saturday, and record further goalscoring success against the Red Devils at odds of 9/5.
However, the apparent availability of Rooney and Anderson should ensure that United are more competitive on Wednesday than they were on Saturday, meaning they are unlikely to fall to a second successive defeat even if Ba scores.
Anderson’s return in particular will be a boost as it should allow part-time midfielder Rafael to revert to his preferred position of right back, while the possible availability of Rio Ferdinand could allow emergency defender Michael Carrick to reclaim
his rightful place alongside Anderson in the midfield engine room.
This should help to stem the attacking tide more effectively than proved possible against Blackburn, suggesting another instance of the United backline being breached more than twice is highly unlikely at St James’ Park.
The good news for United is that they appear to be in good shape to win the match as long as they can prevent Newcastle from scoring more than twice.
For not only are the Red Devils in good form in front of goal, with 18 scored in their last five outings, but Newcastle have proved defensively suspect in recent times.
The Magpies have conceded 13 times in their last six matches, with Chelsea, Norwich, West Brom and Liverpool all putting at least three past them in this time.
This makes it worth getting on Man Utd to score over 1.5 goals at odds of 18/25, while odds of 4/5 are also there for the taking for over 2.5 goals in the game.
With Ba on form, United’s attack in good nick and Newcastle vulnerable defensively, a bet on there being at least three goals looks an extremely wise choice.
And with United reinforced in attack, midfield and defence, the Red Devils should come out on top of a game with at least three goals at odds of 8/5.
A successful £25 free bet on an away success with over 2.5 goals would return £65, with the free bet available to new customers who sign up for a bwin account.
After all, even allowing for United’s shock 3-2 defeat to Rovers, it should not be forgotten that Newcastle are on a run of just one win from eight games.
Nevertheless, those who wish to back Newcastle to beat Man United tomorrow can do so at odds of 4/1 in bwin’s 3Way football betting market, with a repeat of the draw between the two sides at Old Trafford earlier this season priced at 5/2.
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