Cardiff City Stadium, Cardiff
Sunday 24th November 2013 – KO 4:00pm – live on Super Sports
Referee: Neil Swarbrick, Assistants: S Bennett, S Child, Fourth Official: J Moss
Just two weeks ago Moyes had what has to be recognized as the biggest
result in his tenure as Manchester United manager. A 1-0 win over league
leaders Arsenal was a result that will do a great deal for the
confidence of the United players. It was a very important win for Moyes
to dispel a somewhat ludicrous idea that he can’t beat the big teams in
the big games.
This isn’t an attempt at making Moyes into some sort of
savior after the departure of Sir Alex, it’s just a statement that Moyes
is a good manager and has done nothing to prove he isn’t going be a
success at Manchester United.
This weekends match away to Cardiff may not be as easy as everyone
expects, this is a team that took all three points when City came to
visit and may not just roll over for the defending champions.
David Moyes has a good record in the
Barclays Premier League at this stage of the season with the club on a
five match unbeaten run since the defeat at Old Trafford to West
Bromwich Albion. United have actually gone nine matches unbeaten in all
competitions and will be looking to extend that towards the end of this
month, in which United play Cardiff City and Bayer Leverkusen, both away
from home.
Malky Mackay’s Cardiff City started off
their debut Barclays Premier League season with a defeat to West Ham
United away from home, but a home match against Manchester City changed
their fortunes, beating City 3-2, which was a shock for them. They drew
the following two matches, winning the next, but more recently are on a
bit of a slump, winning two matches in their last six. Cardiff City
currently sit in 14th place with 12 points, just one place below fierce
Welsh rivals Swansea City, who have the same amount of points.
Moyes’ United have an injury crisis to
contend with right now with Robin van Persie, Nemanja Vidic and Rafael
da Silva all subject to fitness tests to be in line to face Cardiff
City. Phil Jones, Michael Carrick, Danny Welbeck and Darren Fletcher
have already been ruled out of the match. Mackay’s Cardiff will be
without Rudy Gestede, but Aron Gunnarsson, Peter Odemwingie and Andreas
Cornelius could all be available for this important match.
United and Cardiff City have faced each
other 27 times in all domestic competitions, with United winning 13
times, drawing 7 and losing 7. United have scored 51 goals and conceded
41 goals, keeping a clean sheet six times. The odds are with United to
carry on their unbeaten form, but with the way Cardiff City broke down
Manchester City at the start of the season, and with United suffering a
midfield injury crisis, you have to keep it in the back of your mind
that the home side could take advantage of the situation. Former United
striker Frazier Campbell could come back to haunt his former club.
Players to watch:
Wayne Rooney: The
England striker has had an off week on international duty with England,
losing both matches to Chile and Germany at Wembley. With no supply from
the midfield, Rooney is effectively left on his own, which is something
the absence of Michael Carrick could create for him on Sunday. I am
sure Rooney will play better for his club than he did with his country,
but you have to wonder what the pointless international break did for
his form. This will be the first time Rooney has faced Cardiff City, but
has some well-known faces in the opposition team, with Steven Caulker
likely to line up in the centre of the defence.
Craig Bellamy: The
Welsh striker has yet to score for his side this season, after making
nine appearances in the Barclays Premier League. Bellamy was always
lively as a striker on the opposition team, but with age has lost his
form, so should be relatively easy for United’s defence to deal with
him, should he play. Bellamy is a familiar face to United, having played
for Newcastle United, Blackburn Rovers, Liverpool and Manchester City,
before moving to Cardiff City on a free from Liverpool the summer before
last.
De Gea;
Smalling Vidic Evans Evra;
Nani Fellaini Cleverley Januzaj;
Rooney;
Van Persie.
This is a game that most United fans will be expecting three points from and that should be what they get. With an away day against Leverkusen this Wednesday, three points against Cardiff and a continued unbeaten run will be exactly what Moyes and co. will be hoping for.
Who do you think will be in Manchester United’s starting XI against Cardiff City? Comment in the section below.
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