England - Premier League
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Played
December 15, 2012 3:00 PM GMT
Old Trafford — Manchester
Referee:‬ C. Foy‎
Attendance:‬ 75582‎
 

Manchester United - Sunderland Preview: Sir Alex Ferguson looking to extend six-point gap with Black Cats victory

The Red Devils increased their advantage over Premier League champions Manchester City with a 3-2 derby win last Sunday, but will have to be wary of Martin O'Neill's wounded side

By Tom J Doyle

More On :  Man Utd., Sunderland, Man Utd. vs Sunderland
Alex Ferguson
Getty
  PROBABLE LINEUPS

MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United
De Gea
Rafael, Vidic, Ferdinand, Evra
Scholes, Carrick, Cleverley
Welbeck, Van Persie, Young
SUNDERLAND
  Sunderland
Mignolet
Gardner, O'Shea, Cuellar, Rose
Johnson, Larsson, Colback, McClean
Sessegnon
Fletcher

Manchester United captain Nemanja Vidic returns to the squad after two months out with a knee injury, although Sir Alex Ferguson has admitted he is not sure whether the centre-back will start the game.

Jonny Evans, meanwhile, (hamstring) will miss out after being substituted against Manchester City last Sunday.

Nani and Anderson (both hamstring) are set to miss first-team action until the end of December, while this match may come too soon for Shinji Kagawa (knee), although the midfielder is due to return to first-team training on Monday.

Wayne Rooney (illness) could be rested by Sir Alex Ferguson with either Chicharito or Danny Welbeck taking his place in the team.

Antonio Valencia may also be given a break after making a surprise comeback for the Manchester City game after a spell on the sidelines following a hip injury.

Sunderland defender Wes Brown (knee) is out until the end of January, so will miss a return to his former club. Lee Cattermole (knee) has no set return date but will be a big miss for Martin O'Neill's men.

Danny Rose, Adam Johnson (both knocks) and Phil Bardsley (knee) were substituted in the midweek win over Reading, with the Scottish full-back expected to miss the next few weeks of action, although the left-sided pair could be fit for this game.


  DID YOU KNOW?
  • Manchester United have won 14 of their last 16 games at Old Trafford, losing just once.
  • United are undefeated against Sunderland in their last 17 meetings in all competitions.
  • Sunderland have just one win from their last 15 Premier League away games, losing seven and drawing seven.
  • The Black Cats have also failed to score in 14 of those 15 away matches.
  • Wayne Rooney scored his 150th Premier League goal during the 3-2 victory over Manchester City last Sunday.
  • United have only scored seven goals against Sunderland in their last three meetings - three of which were own goals by Black Cats players.
  • The Wearside club have conceded two fewer goals than United in the league this season, but trail them by 23 points after 16 games.

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Field Report
Reader's Predictions
Top 3 Predictions
  • Man Utd. 3-1 Sunderland
    18.96 %
  • Man Utd. 3-0 Sunderland
    18.78 %
  • Man Utd. 4-1 Sunderland
    8.12 %
Head to Head
England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Mar 30, 2013 Sunderland 0 - Man Utd. 1
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Dec 15, 2012 Man Utd. 3 - Sunderland 1
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ May 13, 2012 Sunderland 0 - Man Utd. 1
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Nov 5, 2011 Man Utd. 1 - Sunderland 0
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England - Premier League ‎(EPL)‎ Dec 26, 2010 Man Utd. 2 - Sunderland 0
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Last Five Matches
Man Utd.
May 19, 2013West Bromwich Albion 5 - Man Utd. 5EPL
May 12, 2013Man Utd. 2 - Swansea 1EPL
May 5, 2013Man Utd. 0 - Chelsea FC 1EPL
Apr 28, 2013Arsenal 1 - Man Utd. 1EPL
Apr 22, 2013Man Utd. 3 - Aston Villa 0EPL
Sunderland
May 19, 2013Tottenham 1 - Sunderland 0EPL
May 12, 2013Sunderland 1 - Southampton 1EPL
May 6, 2013Sunderland 1 - Stoke 1EPL
Apr 29, 2013Aston Villa 6 - Sunderland 1EPL
Apr 20, 2013Sunderland 1 - Everton 0EPL
Odds
Returns: Man Utd. £12.00 PaddyPower Sign up to Paddy Power for £250 in free bets
Returns: Draw £560.00 WilliamHill Sign up with William Hill for a free bet up to £25
Returns: Sunderland £3510.00 Bet365 Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200
Team News
Available Squads
1David de GeaGoalkeeper
3Patrice EvraDefender
4Phil JonesDefender
5Rio FerdinandDefender
12Chris SmallingDefender
7Antonio ValenciaMidfielder
16Michael CarrickMidfielder
18Ashley YoungMidfielder
23Tom CleverleyMidfielder
10Wayne RooneyStriker
20Robin van PersieStriker
13Anders LindegaardGoalkeeper
15Nemanja VidicDefender
11Ryan GiggsMidfielder
22Paul ScholesMidfielder
24Darren FletcherMidfielder
14Javier 'Chicharito' HernandezStriker
19Danny WelbeckStriker
22Simon MignoletGoalkeeper
16John O'SheaDefender
19Titus BrambleDefender
24Carlos Javier CuéllarDefender
7Sebastian LarssonMidfielder
8Craig GardnerMidfielder
14Jack ColbackMidfielder
11Adam JohnsonMidfielder
23James McCleanMidfielder
28Stéphane SessegnonMidfielder
26Steven FletcherStriker
20Keiren WestwoodGoalkeeper
27Matthew Kilgallon Defender
15David VaughanMidfielder
25Fraizer CampbellStriker
10Connor WickhamStriker
16James McFaddenStriker
8Louis SahaStriker
Players to Watch
Nemanja Vidic
Nemanja Vidic
Position: Defender
Squad Number: 15
Games Goals YC RC
19 1 2 0
If the Serbian centre-back is handed a starting place by Sir Alex Ferguson and comes through the match unscathed, Saturday's match could signal the start of a real trophy charge by the Red Devils. Their attacking play has been outstanding this season, but the defence has been especially brittle in the absence of their captain. Dominant in the air and confident on the floor, Vidic could add the steel to the back line which United will need if they are to maintain their title challenge and progress in Europe.
Stéphane Sessegnon
Stéphane Sessegnon
Position: Midfielder
Squad Number: 28
Games Goals YC RC
35 7 1 1
The Gabon international is a joy to watch in full flow, and could well cause United's back line serious problems if he is allowed time and space on the ball in the final third. The 28-year-old has great vision and a ferocious shot, and his man-of-the-match display against Reading proved how important he is to Martin O'Neill's side. David de Gea will have to be alert at all times on Saturday as Sessegnon has great accuracy in his long-range shooting, and his partnership with Steven Fletcher could be the difference between Sunderland staying in the division and facing a bleak future.
Prediction
Although Sir Alex Ferguson could be taking a gamble at introducing Nemanja Vidic back into a defence that is shaky enough as it is, Manchester United have simply been in irresistible form of late. An astonishing 40 goals scored and 23 conceded after just 16 games shows there could well be goals at both ends, but Martin O'Neill's men have done little of either, netting 17 and letting in 21. O'Neill has a good recent record against United and his side will need to keep the game tight and hit United on the break if they are to get anything from this match. However, it it is difficult to look beyond the home side for the three points, especially after the morale-boosting 3-2 win at Manchester City last weekend.
Editor's Prediction
Man Utd. 3
Sunderland 1
Results
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Top Scorers
Player   Goals Penalties
Robin van Persie Robin van Persie
Striker
Man Utd. 		26 3
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Gareth Bale Gareth Bale
Midfielder
Tottenham 		21 0
C. Benteke C. Benteke
Striker
Aston Villa 		19 3
Michu Michu
Midfielder
Swansea City 		19 0