Can Blackpool stop Manchester United and Dimitar Berbatov?

Blackpool v Manchester United, Premier League, January 25, 2011

Blackpool 8.450; Draw 5.200; Manchester United 1.408

Bet on the Premier League with Pinnacle Sports.

Ive heard one or two of our lads describe it as a free game because no one expects us to win. Wrong. I expect us to. We need the points and there isnt a mountain in the world that hasnt been climbed. Well have a go and see what we can do. Im not stupid and I know well need a bit of luck along the way because they are formidable. To end their unbeaten run would be quite something but thats a massive if. Ian Holloway.

This rearranged match from December looks very attractive for fans of both sides, neutrals and of course punters. There will undoubtedly be goals between two free-scoring sides, Blackpool have a real chance of an upset whilst Manchester Uniteds 5-0 victory over Birmingham could have signalled the start of their push for the Premier League title.

Much of the talk going into almost every Manchester United match at the moment centres on the possibility they could go the whole campaign unbeaten, thereby matching the great Arsenal Invincibles side of 2003/2004. Ominously for much of the Premier League, United have been far from their best leading to their nickname as the unconvincing invincibles with perhaps the 5-0 demolition of Birmingham on Saturday a turning point.

Crucially, aside from all the talk of staying unbeaten, Sir Alex Fergusons side are still only two points clear of second placed Arsenal. With the trip to Blackpool being their game in hand, a five point gap and superior goal difference come Wednesday could be an important psy! chologic al boost going into February.

Sir Alex Ferguson already appeared to have one eye on this fixture midway through the win over Birmingham, as he replaced both Patrice Evra and Ryan Giggs with a view to playing them from the start at Blackpool. Rafael Da Silva returns from suspension and will likely start at right back, Paul Scholes is also available again and Rio Ferdinand will be looking to get over the injury that kept him out on Saturday.

The front three of Dimitar Berbatov, Wayne Rooney and Nani should all start again. Although they start as heavy favourites, Berbatov scores most of his goals at Old Trafford, Rooney is still to start scoring goals regularly and Uniteds away form is not that great. Their last four away games have seen them win just once and that three points, at West Brom, had an element of fortune about it.

So, can Blackpool cause one of the biggest shocks in Premier League history?

In their favour, Bloomfield Road is a difficult place to go and it is likely to be too welcoming to the Manchester United stars. Blackpool can also play. They have beaten Liverpool twice this season and are currently eleventh in the table. A win in this match would take them closer to the European places than the relegation zone, an unthinkable position compared to expectations at the start of the season.

Ian Holloways side are starting to show signs of strain though, losing 3-2 to West Brom and then 2-1 to Sunderland on Saturday in consecutive games. Due to the fact that their home ground does not have undersoil heating they have also played a lot of games in recent weeks and this could well be catching up with the Tangerines.

The big story over the past few days surrounding Blackpool has been the intense interest in midfield playmaker Charlie Adam. Liverpool and Aston Villa are favourites and there is a possibility he may well have moved before United come to town. But, one would imagine that Blackpool will play hard to get until the end of the transfer window and besid! es the S cot, the likes of DJ Campbell (who missed the Sunderland defeat through illness), Gary Taylor-Fletcher and Luke Varney have all impressed.

With United having performed so well against the top sides in the Premier League, it is this sort of fixture that could see them finally defeated. But, with Dimitar Berbatov in great form and Sir Alex Fergusons side beginning to really turn it on, this match only looks like going one way.

101gg predicts: Blackpool 1 Manchester United 3

Blackpool 8.450; Draw 5.200; Manchester United 1.408

Bet on the Premier League with Pinnacle Sports.


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