Man City v Man U

 

Man City v Man U
Premier League
4pm, SKY

THE STATS SAY IT CAN’T BE A DRAW

Sometimes the odds and the formbook don’t add up to the same thing.

There’s only been one draw in the Manchester derby in the last 20 encounters – how does that make you feel if you are tempted to back the stalemate at around 5/2 with Star Sports>

Depends how much you like historic stats as a pointer to future events. Certainly they are not everyones cup of tea and it’s a fair question to ask how relevant can a match that took place five years ago be to today’s game ?

If you are looking more at current form, then you might well be tempted by the draw. The early Premier League table says there is nothing between the two Manchester sides. Both played 4 – with 7 points. City are ahead not because of the alphabet – but because of a one goal better goal difference.

One result Sky don’t want is a repeat of the November 2010 game – Man City 0-0 Man Utd.

HEAD TO HEAD RECORD
(Max last 10 only)
Apr 2013 Premier Man Utd 1-2 Man City
Dec 2012 Premier Man City 2-3 Man Utd
Apr 2012 Premier Man City 1-0 Man Utd
Jan 2012 FA Cup Man City 2-3 Man Utd
Oct 2011 Premier Man Utd 1-6 Man City
Aug 2011 Community Shield Man Utd 3-2 Man City
Apr 2011 FA Cup Man City 1-0 Man Utd
Feb 2011 Premier Man Utd 2-1 Man City
Nov 2010 Premier Man City 0-0 Man Utd
Apr 2010 Premier Man City 0-1 Man Utd

Team news:
Manchester City (from): Hart, Pantilimon, Zabaleta, Richards, Kompany, Nastasic, Lescott, Boyata, Kolarov, Silva, Nasri, Milner, Navas, Fernandinho, Toure, Garcia, Rodwell, Aguero, Dzeko, Negredo, Jovetic.

Manchester United (from): De Gea, Lindegaard, Amos, Rafael, Fabio, Jones, Smalling, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Buttner, Valencia, Giggs, Carrick, Cleverley, Fellaini, Anderson, Kagawa, Nani, Young, Welbeck, Van Persie, Rooney, Hernandez.

On balance, and with home advantage I’m taking Man City at around 5/4. It’s a good time for them to be playing their neighbours and although Man U looked good the Champions League midweek for my money they still look a little unsettled and I think the Moyes magic potion may need some more time yet.

Time for City to take advantage

STAR FORECAST
(stake between 0.5 and 10 points)
6 points MAN CITY to win at around 5/4

HONESTY PAYS

A fund established to help a homeless man who returned a lost backpack containing more than $42,000 (£26,000) has raised almost $110,000 (£68,500).

Boston man Glen James, 54, spoke to police after he found the backpack containing $2,400 (£1,500) in cash and nearly $40,000 (£25,000) in traveller’s cheques at the South Bay Mall.

The man who lost the backpack told workers at a nearby store and they called police, who later returned the backpack to him.

Virginia resident Ethan Whittington read media accounts of Mr James’ honesty and started a fund for him on a crowd-funding website.

The fund has since raised more than $100,000, including $182 (£114) of pocket money saved up by two young children.

The Boston Police Department publicly thanked Mr James, saying his actions were “a remarkable tribute to him and his honesty”.

Mr James said in a statement: “Even if I were desperate for money, I would not have kept even a penny of the money I found.

“I am extremely religious. God has always very well looked after me.”