United v Wolves Preview!

Fresh from their victory in Turkey, against Bursaspor, United will be hoping to continue their current unbeaten run when Wolves visit Old Trafford this weekend for the second time this month. With the leaders, Chelsea not playing until Sunday, Sir Alex Ferguson will be hoping to close the gap, at the top, to two points.

Despite not having won away from home this season and not having won at Old Trafford since February 1980, Mick McCarthy seems pretty confident of getting something from the fixture this Saturday, remarking to the media,

"I think we can go to United with more confidence about things because of the way we played last week and hopefully we can score again."

Score again! Nothing about winning though!

Sir Alex Ferguson will be without several of his squad. Antonio Valencia is, off course, out for the foreseeable future whilst Nani and Darren Fletcher picked up knocks in Turkey which rate them as doubtful. Wayne Rooney is also not available but Sir Alex will be hoping that Ryan Giggs might have recovered enough from his recent injury to be considered for selection.

Rio Ferdinand, who was rested for the Turkish excursion is likely to return and Sir Alex will be hoping that Gibson, Macheda and Anderson, who all missed the trip due to illness will also be available.

Who`d have believed, not that long ago, that the Bulgarian would be the focal point of out attacking options? In the form of his life and looking worth every penny of the fee paid to Spurs two summers ago.

Wolves travel to Old Trafford with the same crop of injuries they`ve been struggling for several weeks, Craddock, Gueioura, Kightly and Zubar are all out.

But on the bright side for Mick McCarthy, he has no fresh injury concerns after the victory over Manchester City last time out.

Tipped by many pundits as being capable of making the full international squad and going on to star for England. Will need a watchful eye cast in his direction if we`re to keep Wolves under control this Saturday.

United squeezed past Wolves 3-2 only a matter of a week or so ago in the Carling Cup, although the personnel fielded that night may well be vastly different this time out.

United will be looking to extend their current unbeaten, in all competitions, to 23 games whilst Wolves will be looking for their first away win this season and their second win on the trot after seeing off the challenge of our near-neighbours, Manchester City last time out!

In fixtures between the two sides, it`s 30 years since Wolves won at Old Trafford, Wolves are the only Premier League to concede in every Premier League game they`ve played so far this season and haven`t won on the road in their last 8 matches.

Phil Dowd is the man in charge ably assisted by Stephen Child, Billy Smallwood and the fourth official, Mike Jones.

This just has to be a game that United have to win. The last time Wolves visited Old Trafford in a Premier League game, Mick McCarthy opted to field a side made up of fringe players and subsequently incurred the wrath of the authorities. We`re quite sure that will not be the case this time out. As for a result, United will skate this one, we`re coming into form and we could quite easily emerge winners by two or three goals. I`ll opt for 3-1!

Those wannabes from across the city pose our next challenge, a clash against a side that has been expensively assembled and a side that has only won five out of its ten Premier League games this season (at the time of writing)! The world awaits, well Manchester at least, for City v United at the Athletics Stadium!

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