PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue:
Riverside Date:
Saturday, 2 May Kick-off:
1245 BST
Coverage:
Full commentary on BBC Tees 95FM & DAB; Score updates on Final Score, BBC Sport website and BBC Radio 5 Live; live text commentary on BBC Sport website; Highlights on Match of the Day
 Ferguson is far from happy at the fixture arrangement
|
Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson says it is wrong any team should have to play early on a Saturday after a midweek European tie.
United played Arsenal in the Champions League on Wednesday and live television coverage means they face a 1245 BST kick-off at Middlesbrough on Saturday.
"You'd think people in offices think about it but when you shake hands with the devil you pay the price," he said.
The game at Boro is likely to have big implications at both ends of the table.
United, three points clear at the top of the Premier League with five games left, hope to cement their lead before title rivals Liverpool - who host Newcastle - and Chelsea, who face Fulham, play at 1500 BST on Saturday.
Middlesbrough, meanwhile, are three points adrift of safety and fighting to avoid the drop into the Championship.
 |
606: DEBATE
disco-infiltrator
|
Ferguson admitted with so much riding on every game, it was hard for anything to be regarded as a priority.
"Every game is so important and the incentives so great now, whether it is at midnight or 7am, it does not interrupt what we are doing," he said.
After Wednesday's 1-0 first-leg semi-final win over Arsenal, Ferguson is expected to make changes and rest players, but has hinted he may not make as many changes as first thought.
"The funny thing is the players are quite buoyed up and want to play," said Ferguson.
"Our performance on Wednesday helps, although I have to make sure there is the right kind of freshness so we get the balance in the team right.
"I have plenty of fresh players. Ryan Giggs only played for 20 minutes on Wednesday and Paul Scholes is fresh."
Ferguson also has Wes Brown available for the first time since the end of January.
Brown may be required if Jonny Evans, a likely replacement for the injured Rio Ferdinand, fails to shake off a foot problem.
My responsibility if 'Boro go down - Southgate
Boro, meanwhile, are still missing defenders Emanuel Pogatetz (knee) and Chris Riggott (ankle), but French midfielder Didier Digard - who came on during last week's 2-0 defeat by Arsenal - is in contention for a start.
Manager Gareth Southgate has admitted failing to stay in the Premier League would affect a lot more people than just the playing staff.
"What always happens in any club that is relegated, people who aren't earning very much are often the ones who lose their jobs, and that's unsettling for everybody," he said.
"I want to achieve success over the next few games for everybody at the club, not just the players.
"As the manager, you have to prepare for both scenarios. I have to plan budgets and look at the upheaval."
Despite their parlous position, Southgate remains upbeat about causing an upset against United at The Riverside.
"We have got results against Arsenal and Liverpool here this season already, so that fills us with confidence," he added.
"There's nothing to lose because nobody would expect us to get anything from the game - and if we do, that's a huge boost for us."
Middlesbrough (from): Jones, Turnbull, Hoyte, McMahon, Taylor, Grounds, Wheater, Huth, Hines, Aliadiere, Tuncay, Bates, O'Neil, Walker, Shawky, Downing, Johnson, Digard, Alves, King.
Man Utd (from): Van der Sar, Foster, Kuszczak, O'Shea, Rafael, Brown, Vidic, Evans, Evra, Ronaldo, Nani, Scholes, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Park, Giggs, Rooney, Tevez, Berbatov, Macheda, Welbeck.
Quadruple chasing Manchester United must put Tuesday's second leg of the Champions league semi-final against Arsenal at the Emirates on the back burner, as they go to relegation candidates Middlesbrough to collect three of the 10 points required to be guaranteed a second hat-trick of Premier League titles.
United are looking to become the first club to gain 25 Premier League wins this season. Only 21 wins and 75 points were required to win the title in 1996-97. Victory would put Sir Alex Ferguson's side six points ahead of second placed Liverpool. They would then have played the same number of games, ahead of the Merseysiders' home match with Newcastle on Sunday lunchtime.
The fewest points required to stay up in a 20-club Premier League previously has been 34, the most 43. All clubs involved in the relegation scrap have four to play. Middlesbrough are three points below the safety line, with a total of 31 points, and in grave danger of losing their 11-year Premier League status.
This match pits the clubs to have failed to score the most and least in the highest league; 'Boro have not penetrated the defence of the opposition in 16 Premier League games, United in three.
Manchester United have not lost in nine league and cup matches against Middlesbrough.
The Teessiders have won just one of the last nine Premier League matches against the Red Devils; the victory being 4-1 at the Riverside on 29 October 2005.
Distance between the clubs: 123 miles (198 kilometres)
MIDDLESBROUGH
19th 31 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 17th
Lowest could fall: 20th
1. Won one of the last seven Premier League games; 3-1, home to Hull on 11 April.
2. Won two of 22 Premier League games, and failed to score in 12 of the last 17.
3. Own the weakest attack in the highest league. More details
4. The next Premier League defeat will be their 50th under Gareth Southgate.
5. The current total of 31 points after 34 games is their lowest ever return to this stage of a Premier League campaign, and five points down on last season. They have not finished lower than 14th, since their return to the Premier League in 1998. Their average finish from 13 seasons in this league was 13th.
6. Won one of the last 12 against the 'Big Four' (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Manchester United ); that being 2-0, home to Liverpool in their most recent fixture against such opposition on 28 February. That victory over the Merseysiders was also their only maximum in nine Premier League games against North-West opposition.
7. Unbeaten in seven home league games; won two and drawn five since the 0-1 defeat to Everton on Boxing Day - their only loss in 10 league games at the Riverside.
8. Conceded a goal a game on average in home matches; 17 in 17.
9. Already lost home and away to Chelsea, Bolton and West Brom. Manchester United could also do the double over them.
10. A vital North-East derby against Newcastle at St James' Park follows this on 11 May. Thereafter Aston Villa (h) and West Ham (a) have to be played.
MANCHESTER UNITED
1st 77 points
Highest achievable after Saturday's matches: 1st
Lowest could fall: 1st
1. Won 13 Premier League matches in 2009, including the last four; no other club is even in double figures.
2. Lost two of 22 top-flight matches, and failed to score in one of the last 17. Since losing 2-0, away to Fulham on 21 March, 12 goals have been scored in four outings.
3. Kept one clean sheet in eight league games, after managing 14 shut-outs in a row.
4. This is their 60th match of the season; more than any other top-flight club. Arsenal's will be their 57th - the next nearest.
5. The current total of 77 points after 33 games is the same mark as last season, when top of the table.
6. Gone 17 league games since a goalless draw; the last being away to Spurs on 13 December. Also, on the longest current sequence of 25 matches in the Premier League without a score draw; the 1-1 stalemate at Everton on 25 October being the most recent.
7. Not lost to any club outside the top seven.
8. Unbeaten in 18 Premier League games against North-East clubs, since Middlesbrough's 4-1 home win on 29 October 2005, and picked up 17 of the last 21 points available in the North-East.
9. Already done the double over seven clubs; West Ham, Stoke, Bolton, Portsmouth, Blackburn, Sunderland and West Brom. Manchester City, Wigan, Hull and Middlesbrough could still be added to that list.
10. The second leg of the Champions League semi-final with Arsenal at the Emirates Stadium follows this game on Tuesday, before the Manchester derby with City at Old Trafford on Sunday, 10 May. Thereafter the league run-in is:- Wigan (a), Arsenal (h) and Hull (a).
MIDDLESBROUGH
TUNCAY Sanli is Middlesbrough's top Premier League scorer with six goals.
Stewart DOWNING is the only remaining player to have started every one of Middlesbrough's Premier League matches this season.
If on the field from the outset:-
Gary O'NEIL will be making his 50th Premier League start for Middlesbrough.
MANCHESTER UNITED
Edwin VAN DER SAR is leading the race for the Barclays Golden Glove with 19 clean sheets.
Cristiano RONALDO is the highest scoring Premier League player with 23 goals in all club competitions this season.
The 24 year old Portugal international is also the top scorer in the Premier League with 17 goals, leading the race for the Barclays Golden Boot by two from Chelsea's Nicolas ANELKA.
Paul SCHOLES needs a double to reach 100 Premier League goals - all for United.
Ryan GIGGS is a hat-trick shy of 150 goals for Manchester United.
Wayne ROONEY needs a hat-trick to total 100 goals for Manchester United.
If selected:-
Rio FERDINAND will be making his 400th career league appearance (West Ham, Bournemouth, Leeds and Manchester United).
Tomasz KUSZCZAK will be making his 50th career Premier League appearance (West Brom and Manchester United).
These clubs are meeting for the third time this season. The first was at Old Trafford on 23 September when United won a third round Carling Cup tie 3-1 with goals from Cristiano Ronaldo, Ryan Giggs and Nani. The second was on the same ground, in the reverse league fixture in which Dimitar Berbatov scored the only goal.
Last season's corresponding fixture was the 100th league match between these clubs. This season's reverse fixture secured Manchester United's 50th league victory over Middlesbrough.
'Boro are hunting only their third home Premier League victory over United, while a win for the Red Devils will secure a fourth Premier League double over Middlesbrough, and first since 2000-01.
Home and away
League (inc PL): Middlesbrough 29 wins, Man Utd 50, Draws 22
Prem: Middlesbrough 5 wins, Man Utd 15, Draws 7
at Middlesbrough only
League (inc PL): Middlesbrough 18 wins, Man Utd 20, Draws 12
Prem: Middlesbrough 2 wins, Man Utd 8, Draws 3
Middlesbrough 2-2 Manchester United
6 April 2008 - Ref: Mike Riley
Middlesbrough scorers: Alves 35, 56
Man Utd scorers: Ronaldo 10, Rooney 74
Manchester United 1-0 Middlesbrough
29 December 2008 - Ref: Martin Atkinson
Man Utd scorer: Berbatov 69
Mark Halsey (Lancashire)
No comments:
Post a Comment