Can Swansea Do The Double Over United?

Swansea play host to Manchester United tomorrow, the Welsh club slowly drifting into mid-table mediocrity after a solid start that saw them flirt with the European places. Gary Monk`s side currently sit in ninth place in the table with 34 points. They will not be able to topple West Ham in eighth place even if they successfully see off United, though could reduce the gap between themselves and the Hammers to one point.

Contrarily, the Swans could fall to as low as 11th should they taste defeat at home and Stoke and Newcastle both record wins.

Manchester United have climbed to third position following a well-documented slow start. Failing to beat Swansea would see them liable to lose this Champions League position and be superseded by either Arsenal or Southampton or both. A win, on the other hand, could see Louis van Gaal`s Reds close up the gap on local rivals Manchester City to one point. City would have to lose in their evening kick-off with Newcastle for this to happen.

United hosted Swansea in their first Premier League match of the season, falling to a surprise 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford. The deadlock was broken by Swansea`s Ki Sung-Yueng almost half an hour into the match, the score remaining 1-0 to the Whites well into the second half.

Wayne Rooney managed to equalise for his side eight minutes into the second 45 but Gylfi Sigurdsson was on hand to restore the Swans` one goal advantage with just over 15 minutes left on the clock.

In spite of this, the subsequent traction Manchester United have picked up means that it is they who are the 21/20 favourites for success in the weekend`s match-up. This price is available at both Betvictor and paddy Power.

A number of bookmakers are offering the draw at 13/5, they being bet365, betfred, boylesports and Totesport, whilst a Swansea win is on offer at 31/10 (betfred, Totesport). A second consecutive 2-1 win for the Whites against United can be backed at 14/1 with bet365 whilst Monk`s men are 5/1 with Skybet to pick up a win by a one goal margin of victory.

The Liberty Stadium outfit`s home record leaves a lot to be desired at the minute, having only picked up one win in their last five at home. This came in a 1-0 triumph over Aston Villa. Two draws have also been recorded in this time though so has a 2-1 defeat at the hands of Tottenham and a 5-0 thrashing by league leaders Chelsea.

That Chelsea result was the first time since September that the Swans had failed to score at home and they are 1/2 with betfred and Betvictor to score over 0.5 times tomorrow. No man has scored twice for their side in the team`s last five home games though previous scorers against United, Ki and Sigurdsson have both hit the back of the net in this period. Ki is 20/1 with a number of bookmakers to open the scoring once again whilst the Icelander is 41/10 (888sport, unibet) to add to his seasonal tally at any time.

`Could do better` is also the comment made about United`s away form, van Gaal`s Champions League contenders accumulating just seven points from a maximum of 15 in their last five away from home. With two goals in these five clashes, Radamel Falcao is showing some sign of improvement following a slow start to his life in the Premier League. The Colombian is 15/8 to find the back of the onion bag at any time.

Interested punters can back both teams to score at 10/11 with william hill.

Go To bet365

#Ad

20/02/2015     © Frixo 2026