please log in to view this image please log in to view this image VS please log in to view this image Saturday 5th November 2011 3.00pm Manchester United host Sunderland on Saturday, hoping to keep the pressure on English Premier League table toppers and rivals Manchester City. Since succumbing to a 6-1 belting at the hands of City on October 23, Sir Alex Ferguson's men have recorded three straight wins in all competitions. Striker Wayne Rooney was pushed into an unfamiliar midfield role in their 2-0 win over Romanian outfit Otelul Galati in the Champions League on Wednesday. Whether Ferguson persists with his goalscorer in the role at Old Trafford remains to be seen, even against a team United have had no trouble disposing of in the recent past. Rooney, who has already netted nine times in the league, could resume up front if midfielder Tom Cleverley is fit to return from an ankle injury. Winger Ashley Young (toe) and fullback Chris Smalling (foot) will both miss with Darren Fletcher possibly partnering Cleverley in the middle. They will be favourites to get three points against Steve Bruce's side, who have struggled to get anything out of meetings against teams in the top half of the table. They have lost to both Arsenal and Chelsea, while also tasting defeat at the hands of third-placed Newcastle and Norwich City, who sit eighth. Sunderland did manage to record draws against Aston Villa, Swansea City and Liverpool - all teams who sit in the top 10. Since Bruce felt the pressure of their slow start to the season, Sunderland have taken four points from their last two outings. He has a near full strength squad to choose from, but goalkeeper Steve Mignolet has been ruled out for up to two months after fracturing his nose and eye socket in an aerial challenge in the 2-2 draw with Aston Villa on Saturday. Keiren Westwood will be called to step in, and Bruce believes the Irishman is ready for his first Premier League start. Of their past 18 meetings, United have won 13 and five have ended in draws. United have not lost at home to the Black Cats since 1968, whilst Steve Bruce has never recorded a victory as a manager against his old club. Bruce will hope to put that right this Saturday and will be joined by former Manchester United players Kieran Richardson and Wes Brown on his latest return to Old Trafford. Sunderland are currently 14th in the table, four points clear of the relegation zone, after going two games unbeaten for the first time this season. Such a statistic highlights their lack of consistency but, having beaten Bolton 2-0 away from home and then drawn 2-2 with Aston Villa, Bruce's troops are at least showing signs of progress. Bruce will make a late decision on midfielder David Vaughan ahead of the trip to Manchester United. The 28-year-old is struggling with a groin injury, which could hand a chance to skipper Lee Cattermole to force his way back into the team. Goalkeeper Simon Mignolet is out for at least eight weeks with a fractured nose and eye socket - Trevor Carson has been recalled from his loan spell at Bury to provide back-up to Keiren Westwood - while John O'Shea (hamstring) will miss out against his former club. Last Meeting please log in to view this image United defeated the Black Cats 2-0 on Boxing Day last year with Dimitar Berbatov claiming both but having one taken away from him by the dubious goals panel. The Bulgarian's deflected drive went down as an Anton Ferdinand own-goal instead. In the fixture at the Stadium of Light, a goalless draw was played out. Confirmed Lineups Man Utd: Lindegaard, Jones, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Nani, Fletcher, Rooney, Park, Welbeck, Hernandez. Subs: De Gea, Evans, Berbatov, Carrick, Fabio Da Silva, Valencia, Diouf. Sunderland: Westwood, Bardsley, Brown, Turner, Richardson, Larsson, Cattermole, Colback, Sessegnon, Bendtner, Wickham. Subs: Carson, Gardner, Ji, Meyler, McClean, Elmohamady, Egan. Referee: Lee Mason (Lancashire) Odds Man Utd 1/4 Draw 9/2 Sunderland 12/1 Latest score Man Utd 1 0 Sunderland, FT Live stream - http://www.firstrowsports.tv/watch/90106/1/watch-manchester-united-vs-sunderland.html ________________________________________ Premier League table Team P GD PTS 1 Man City 10 28 28 2 Man Utd 11 16 26 3 Newcastle 11 9 25 4 Chelsea 11 9 22 ------------------------------------------------ 5 Tottenham 9 4 19 ------------------------------------------------ 6 Liverpool 11 4 19 7 Arsenal 11 2 19 8 Aston Villa 11 1 15 9 Norwich 11 -2 13 10 Swansea 11 -3 13 11 Stoke 10 -6 12 12 QPR 10 -9 12 13 West Brom 11 -7 11 14 Sunderland 11 1 10 15 Fulham 10 1 10 16 Everton 10 -4 10 17 Wolves 10 -8 8 ------------------------------------------------ 18 Blackburn 11 -11 6 19 Bolton 10 -14 6 20 Wigan 10 -11 5 ________________________________________ Other Premier League fixtures Saturday, 5 November 2011 Newcastle 2 1 Everton, FT Arsenal 3 0 West Brom, FT Aston Villa 3 2 Norwich, FT Blackburn 0 1 Chelsea, FT Liverpool 0 0 Swansea, FT Man Utd 0 0 Sunderland, FT QPR 2 2 Man City, L Sunday, 6 November 2011 Wolverhampton v Wigan, 13:30 Bolton v Stoke, 15:00 Fulham v Tottenham, 16:00 ________________________________________ Live Videprinter GOAL: QPR 2-2 Man City : Helguson (69) GOAL: QPR 1-2 Man City : Silva (52) GOAL: QPR 1-1 Man City : Dzeko (43) GOAL: QPR 1-0 Man City : Bothroyd (28) GOAL: Aston Villa 3-2 Norwich : Morison (77) GOAL: Arsenal 3-0 West Brom : Arteta (74) GOAL: Aston Villa 3-1 Norwich : Bent (62) GOAL: Blackburn 0-1 Chelsea : Lampard (51) GOAL: Aston Villa 2-1 Norwich : Agbonlahor (48) GOAL: Man Utd 1-0 Sunderland : Brown (45+1 og) GOAL: Arsenal 2-0 West Brom : Vermaelen (39) GOAL: Aston Villa 1-1 Norwich : Bent (30) GOAL: Aston Villa 0-1 Norwich : Pilkington (25) GOAL: Arsenal 1-0 West Brom : van Persie (22) FT Newcastle 2-1 Everton GOAL: Newcastle 2-1 Everton : Rodwell (45+2) GOAL: Newcastle 2-0 Everton : Taylor (29) GOAL: Newcastle 1-0 Everton : Heitinga (12 og)
Good thread again Berb. I'm going to go for a 2-1 win for us. What are the chances of Clev being fit for this one ?
Not going to be many fireworks its football. Lets face it even the "hardmen" are pompous soft spoilt gayboys
There not exactly tough guys are they lol Whats the worst that happens in a football match with people like rooney, they SWEAR oooo maybe a little shove lol, pathetic really
I'm hopeful that it won't be a cricket score tomorrow, because Utd will be out to prove something in front of their own fans at OT after the City drubbing. Looks like Steve Bruce will go 4-5-1. Expect to see Connor Wickham playing on the left wing tomorrow and Bendtner up front ahead of Sess.
Could be a tough game. The injury situation is a joke again. I really do worry about our medical staff. Take Cleverley. The manager tells us he's fine, it's scar tissue and he'll be fit for the weekend. Yet our medical staff get a hold of him and suddenly he's out for weeks! This is a recurring theme.