Sports Blog 17/05/2016: Premier League Preview – Manchester United vs Bournemouth, Tuesday 16th May 2016

Following all of Sunday’s rather scary drama how will Manchester United fare in the final match of the Premier League season against Bournemouth at 8pm on Sky Sports 1?

It will be interesting to see what kind of atmosphere greets both teams on Tuesday night. It is likely that, given the last minute nature of the change, the away stands may be near enough empty, with a reduced number of home fans also inevitable. Yet beyond the crowds there will be a distinct air of deflation about Old Trafford, with precious little to play for unless United can pull off an 18-0 victory.

Manchester City’s draw against Swansea, whilst an ignoble result at any other point in the season, nevertheless saw the club effectively ensure Champions League football next year. The most Louis van Gaal’s side can hope for, then, is to take 5th place off of Southampton, with a draw enough to leapfrog the Saints and guarantee the Europa League group stages. Even if they lose against the Cherries United are already in competition’s qualifying round, plus have an extra chance to reach the group stages with the FA Cup final on Saturday.



Due to that fixture at the weekend, potentially Louis van Gaal’s final chance to win a piece of silverware at the club, United may well send out a second tier side on Tuesday evening. If not, however, then Anthony Martial and Wayne Rooney, at Super Mega PGMs of 36-42, and England Euro 2016 squad wildcard Marcus Rashford, at a 32-38, will be looking to add to their final tallies against the worst defence left in the league (now that Newcastle, Norwich and Aston Villa have been shuffled out of the top flight).

If Manchester United have very little to play for than the stakes involved for Bournemouth are non-existent. Bar the schadenfreude that comes with beating United a win would see the Cherries jump from 16th to 14th place, whilst a draw would see them edge up to 15th. In other words, nothing special, though Eddie Howe should be praised in navigating his side away from the relegation fate of promotion peers Norwich.

Last time the two sides met Bournemouth managed a surprise 2-1 victory thanks to Junior Stanislas and Joshua King. Our Spreadex traders aren’t expecting a similar shock this Tuesday, however, offering a Manchester United/Bournemouth Goal Supremacy spread of 0.95-1.15 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.85-3.05.

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