A huge game today with Sunderland vs Man United and Man United looking for 3 points to keep the pressure on City. If United win here and City don’t beat QPR then the Premier League will be heading to Old Trafford again, but if City win then United can’t overtake them in the league unless they are to amazingly beat Sunderland by 8 or 9 goals, unfortunately this is unlikely to happen for the club.
If Man United had convincingly beaten Swansea City in their previous match, which I feel that they should have done as Swansea were there for the taking, perhaps by scoring 5 or 6, then a 3 or 4 nil win versus Sunderland would have put their goal difference within touching difference of City’s. As it stands though City have a far better goal difference total of 8 or 9+, ironically if City do win the league on goal difference it will all stem from the match at Old Trafford when City won 6-1, as this was gave the club a +10 goal advantage over the reds – effectively winning them the league.
Sunderland meanwhile don’t really have anything to play for, apart from a higher position in the league, which would mean a little more prize money awarded by the FA/Sky. Mancini’s comments in the week didn’t go down well with some Sunderland players, with John O’Shea stating that the club will still want to beat United despite Mancini inferring that Sunderland will let United win – much in the way Ferguson stated that Keegan’s Newcastle would get an easy ride against some sides when they were competing with United for the title many years ago.
Manchester United have looked pretty poor going forward recently, with the games against City and Swansea pretty poor showings from their front men. Hernandez has looked out of sorts, perhaps he is burned out from his efforts over the past year with club and country, and a few of the midfielders seem to be playing within themselves. Ashley Young is probably in the best form for United, and if they can start with Young and Valencia against Sunderland then they should get a result from the game. Its sure to be an open, exciting match between Sunderland vs Man United, but I’m sure even United fans will have an eye on the City QPR game throughout.
