Man Utd vs Crystal Palace: hosts should coast to Carling Cup semis
Published:It may not be top of their list of priorities, but Manchester United have a fantastic record in the Carling Cup over recent years.
They have won the competition three times in the previous six years and are the 2/1 favourites to win it this term.
Those odds have shortened thanks to their very kind quarter final draw against Championship side Crystal Palace who are massive 80/1 outsiders.
However, with United set to name a much-changed line-up for this game, there are still plenty of brilliant markets available to have a punt on…
Match odds
Needless to say, United are massive favourites at 2/9 to win this game and an even shorter 1/16 to qualify.
United haven’t lost at home against Palace in the Premier League era and have only failed to win one of their previous nine Carling Cup home games – and that was a draw against Tottenham Hotspur back in 2009 that saw United progress on penalties.
However, if you fancy an upset, then Palace can be backed at 12/1 to win and there is some evidence to suggest this may not be a bad punt.
United lost against Coventry City at Old Trafford in 2007 and were humbled 4-0 by West Ham United in the competition last year.
If you want to play things a little safer then you can back Palace to make it to the semi-finals at 7/1.
Goal markets
The last encounter between these sides – a 2005 Premier League clash – ended goalless and the same score in this game can be backed at 14/1.
However, United haven’t failed to score at home since a goalless draw with Rangers over a year ago, while Palace have shipped five in their previous two away games and have failed to score in those clashes.
Backing United to win to nil at 4/6, while a punt on over 2.5 goals at 1/1 looks well worth consideration.
