Sports Blog 20/05/2016: FA Cup Final Preview – Crystal Palace vs Manchester United, Saturday 21st May 2016

Can Manchester United finally win their first major trophy of the post-Fergie era when they face Crystal Palace in the FA Cup Final on Saturday?

A healthy, delayed, 3-1 win over Bournemouth capped off Manchester United’s second, and likely last, Premier League season under the leadership of Louis van Gaal. This saw United finish in 5th place, on equal points with their City rivals but lagging far, far behind in terms of goal different; in fact, out of the sides in the top 10 only Stoke scored fewer goals than United, at 41 to the latter’s 49. It’s the kind of stat that illustrates why many fans want van Gaal out; another is the £250 million the Dutchman has spent since he took the reins at Old Trafford, with all that money yielding (so far, at least) 0 additions to the trophy cabinet.



At least they reached the FA Cup final, their best performance in the competition in nearly a decade (they lost to Chelsea in 2006/07, and last won it in 2003/04 against Millwall). Not that their route to Wembley was a smooth one, despite a relatively easy draw. It took a 93rd minute penalty to see of Sheffield United in the 3rd round, and whilst 3-1 and 3-0 wins in the 4th and 5th rounds sound impressive they were over Derby and Shrewsbury Town respectively. United were then forced into a replay following a late Antony Martial (who heads into the weekend at a Super Mega PGM of 22-27) equaliser against West Ham at Old Trafford, before eventually winning in the final ever FA Cup tie at Upton Park. They even made a meal of their semi-final against Everton, with Martial saving the side’s bacon once again with a 93rd minute winner.



Although they collapsed in the second half of the Premier League season (with just 2 wins from their final 19 games) Crystal Palace veritably breezed through the FA Cup. The 3rd round saw a 2-1 win over Southampton, followed up by a tight 1-0 victory over Stoke. Their best result came in the 5th round, knocking out a then-rampant Tottenham thanks to a first half strike from Martin Kelly. A ten man Reading were then dispatched with ease in the quarter-finals, before goals from Connor Wickham (who heads to Wembley with a Super Mega PGM of 11-15) and Yannick Bolasie gave them a semi-final win over Watford. That sent Palace through to their first FA Cup final since 1990, where, interestingly, they lost the replay(!) 1-0 having drawn 3-3 against Manchester United in the initial attempt.

Given the respective forms in the back end of the season this should be a lock for Louis, with Spreadex offering a Manchester United/Crystal Palace Goal Supremacy spread of 0.65-0.85 alongside a Total Goals spread of 2.25-2.45. Yet, of course, the magic of the Cup is that anything can happen, so it isn’t beyond Alan Pardew to rescue Palace’s season from the rubbish heap before the football year comes to a close.

Recent Posts: