English Premier League – Match Preview: Manchester United versus West Bromwich Albion
Manchester United will be working hard to preserve their hundred percent home record in the 2010-2011 league season as they host West Bromwich Albion on 16th of October, 2010.
It has been a mixed season for United thus, which can be described in a single phrase, impressive at home, woeful away.
The main cause for concern before the match for Sir Alex Ferguson will be his team’s away form but because this matchup is taking place at the Theatre of Dreams, the old Scotsman will be focusing on his team’s chances to make up some ground on Chelsea, who
have a difficult away fixture at Aston Villa on the weekend as well.
Currently third in the English Premier League standings, United are one of the few teams in the Premier League, who have yet to lose a game, despite that record they have dropped a considerable number of points already as far as their away form is concerned.
After beginning their season with a big win over Newcastle United at Old Trafford, Manchester United travelled to London to face Fulham at Craven Cottage. Mark Hughes took over at Fulham in the summer and his side gave Ferguson’s team a run for their money
as drama took place in the dying moments of the match. In the last five minutes of the match, Nani missed a penalty for Manchester United and then the Red Devils conceded a late goal to draw the match two all.
Following this disappointing draw against Fulham at the Craven Cottage, Manchester United played against West Ham United at Old Trafford and won the match by three goals to nil.
In their fourth match of the season, Ferguson’s men drew three all against Everton at the Goodison Park. The match at Goodison Park was filled with controversy and drama as Everton came back from two goals down to score two goals in the dying moments of
a match to grab a draw from the jaws of defeat. Allegedly after the match, David Moyes accused the referee of blowing his whistle before the allotted injury time came to its natural conclusion.
United’s fifth match saw them taking on their arch-rivals Liverpool F.C at Old Trafford, in a match that is best remembered for Dimitar Berbatov’s hat-trick. Manchester United eventually won the encounter by three goals to two after the Reds almost pulled
back a one goal deficit to get a draw at the Theatre of dreams.
Sir Alex Ferguson’s team have failed to win either of their last two matches in the English Premier League as they have drawn against both Bolton Wanderers and Sunderland at the Reebok Stadium and the Stadium of light respectively.
At the moment, Manchester United have thirteen points from seven league matches but that wouldn’t trouble their veteran manager that much because his team have traditionally been slow starters to their league campaigns.
Alternatively, West Bromwich Albion have surpassed all expectations this season, after earning their promotion from the Championship to the English Premiership in the 2009-2010 season, the Baggies have done remarkably well to gather eleven league points
from seven matches so far in the 2010-2011 season.
West Brom’s biggest result this season came against two London clubs, Arsenal and Tottenham. West Brom defeated Hotspurs at the White Hart Lane and then inflicted a surprise defeat on Arsenal at the Emirates stadium. These two wins have propelled Roberto
Di Matteo’s men to sixth in the league table but these are still early days in the present league season and West Brom will be looking to gain advantage of such a magnificent start.
There is no doubt that Manchester United are favourites to win this match, anything but all three points from their encounter against West Bromwich Albion will be seen as a failure on Ferguson’s part.
With the league champions, Chelsea already on fire and drifting further into the lead, this match can be termed as absolutely must win for the Red Devils who will be striving to keep in touch with the Blues.
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