City Can Add To United Woes With FA Cup Victory

Published January 6, 2012 | By Richard

Without question, the tie of the FA Cup 3^rd round this weekend is the Manchester Derby on Sunday afternoon as the Premier League’s top side, Manchester City take on bitter rivals and the team second behind them in the table, Manchester United, at Eastlands.

City are of course the FA Cup holders having ended their 35 year wait for major silverware last season, defeating United in the semi final in the process. They are now the favourites to win the league this season as well as the FA Cup and Europa League. Meanwhile, United come into Sunday’s game appearing to have had a second bout of lost confidence this season.

Their first bout of lost confidence hit them immediately in the wake of the last game they played against City in October, where they were beaten 1-6 at home. It was their first defeat of the season and very soon after they found themselves eliminated from the Champions League.

It appeared it was crisis time for Sir Alex but typical of the man and typical of the team he manages, confidence was impressively restored and very quickly. Premier League wins throughout December against Aston Villa, Wolves, QPR, Fulham and Bolton soon had United on level points with City at the top of the table.

All of a sudden it was City who were vulnerable, so much so that they were unable to take advantage of United’s desperate 3-2 defeat against bottom of the table Blackburn on New Year’s Eve. City of course went out and lost the following day to Martin O’Neill’s rejuvenated Sunderland 1-0.

However, things got worse for United this week after having witnessed City demolish Liverpool 3-0 on Tuesday evening, they played without any passion or confidence at St James Park on Wednesday, going down by the same 3-0 score to Newcastle United and handing City a three point gap once again at the top of the league.

Sunday’s Man City v Man Utd game at the Etihad Stadium is now far more than a simple FA Cup 3^rd round encounter. Sir Alex will know that defeat in this and any further mistakes in the league then his team might only have the Europa League to go for this season. However, such is the nature of football, that they may have to overcome ‘City’ in that competition too if they are to win any silverware this season.

With one of these sides sure to go out of the competition either on Sunday or a replay, should that event arise, the team who emerges victorious will no doubt have the impious and confidence to go all the way in the competition this season. City got lucky with the draw and home advantage could prove crucial. Of the ten games they have played at home so far this season, they have won all ten, averaged over three goals per game and conceded just four in that time and at odds against (23/20 best price with Victor Chandler) the home win makes plenty of appeal against a United side clearly struggling for confidence.

Posted in FA Cup, Opinion, Premier League | Tagged FA Cup 3rd Round, man city, Man Utd

Anonymous

United are of course suffering a loss of confidence after back to back defeats and I think they will probably lose to City too. However, they are notoriously consistent at winning in the second half of the season and they have Smalling, Evans, Young and Fabio probably fit for the next league game. I fully expect the title race to go to the wire!