Man Utd v Crystal Palace: Cricket score unlikely to materialise

David Moyes has still never won at Old Trafford as either a home or a visiting manager, but many will be expecting this unwanted tag to be kicked into touch when Crystal Palace are the next visitors.

After all, Palace only reached the Premier League by winning last season’s Championship play-offs and their away record was far from scintillating in the second tier, averaging just a shade over a point a game.

Manchester United’s odds are 1/5 to beat Crystal Palace, with 2/1 on offer that they score four or more goals and 13/10 that they collect the three points despite giving up a two-goal handicap.

However, it may be relevant that the Red Devils were rather nice to Premier League newcomers last season.

They triumphed in five of their six games against them, but all by just the odd goal. It is 10/3 that the norm is continued and Man Utd prevail by a single-goal margin again.

Not many will give Palace much of a chance of making it back-to-back victories at Old Trafford, after a 2011 League Cup success in extra time and Middlesbrough were the last newly-promoted team to win at the ground in the top-flight in the 1998/99 season.

Ian Holloway’s men are 12/1 to build on their latest success over Sunderland with another three points, which would pile more early pressure on Moyes. Meanwhile, 100/1 is available that they repeat Middlesbrough’s antics and win 3-2.

Another popular bet may prove the 11/4 that Robin van Persie scores first, especially after netting for Holland in midweek and the fact Wayne Rooney will be missing through injury.

But, Van Persie has only scored the opener in two of Man Utd’s last 18 Premier League games, so could be worth swerving in this market. Danny Welbeck is a viable alternative at 5/1.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.

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