Sports Blog 03/02/2015: Match Preview – Manchester United vs Cambridge United, Tuesday 3rd February 2015

In what traditionally would have been an unlikely sight, Manchester United are to host League Two’s Cambridge United in an FA Cup 4th round replay on BT Sport 1 at 19.45pm.

Whilst not as bad as the shocks suffered by Chelsea and Manchester City, United’s 0-0 draw at Abbey Stadium at the end of January set the tone for one of the most surprising FA Cup weekends in recent memory. On that rainy night van Gaal’s side looked lifeless, and despite having 75.2% of the possession failed to translate this dominance into anything substantial as Cambridge put in a spirited performance and weren’t cowed by the bigger side.

With it increasingly unlikely United will be able to catch up with Chelsea in the League, out of the League Cup, and absent from Europe, it is vital van Gaal sees his side through to a 5th round meeting with either Preston or Sheffield United. Man U haven’t won the cup in 11 years, and it remains the only domestic title Wayne Rooney hasn’t held. Rooney was absent for United’s first attempt to dispose of the mighty Cambridge, but should be back to try and give them the edge at Old Trafford tonight.



Manchester United had a quiet transfer period, with the free signing of Victor Valdes the most noticeable acquisition, as rumours persist that de Gea will be on a plane to Real Madrid by the summer. In the opposite direction, vice-captain and (no longer) United-lifer Darren Fletcher left to join West Brom. However neither of these moves is likely to affect United in the short term. Regardless of the lack of (perhaps sorely needed) new blood, there is a feeling in the air that the Manchester side will go for the jugular when Cambridge visit the Theatre of Dreams. United have scored 2 goals or more in 8 of their last 11 home games, and with this in mind Spreadex is offering a Total Goals spread betting quote 3.75-3.95.

Cambridge had a similarly uneventful transfer window, and will face a battle not to be intimidated when they travel to Old Trafford tonight. It is a very different scenario to try and breach the fortress that can be United’s home stadium when compared to holding off a side on a rainy Friday night at home. Cambridge lost 3-2 away to Luton at the weekend, itself not great preparation for the biggest night of many of the Cambridge players’ lives, and if the U’s are to stand any chance tonight they will have to rise to the occasion and not be swallowed whole by the event.

After a 0-0 draw in the first game, the pressure is on for Manchester United’s very expensive frontline to perform. Robin van Persie is on 9 goals at 12/5 fixed odds to score first, whilst a returning Wayne Rooney is on 8 goals at 13/5, the same odds as the inconsistent Colombian Falcao on 4 goals. Juan Mata is at 5/1 with 5 goals, with the most expensive player in British history, Angel Di Maria, at 11/2 on 4 goals. Unsurprisingly, the significantly lesser-known names at Cambridge have much higher odds: Ryan Donaldson is at 25/1 with 6 goals, with both Tom Elliott and Robbie Simpson at 20/1 with 5 goals apiece.

In the match at Abbey Stadium van Gaal complained about the pitch; there can be no such lame excuses tonight if United fail to perform at Old Trafford. Whilst it appears that the deck is stacked against them, with a Manchester United/Cambridge United Goal Supremacy spread betting quote of 2.8-3, Cambridge have surprised everyone before, and there is no reason they can’t do it again. That’s the magic of the FA Cup.