Betting Update; Man Utd v Portsmouth with the bookmakers making Man Utd their 4/11 favourites

Added: (Thu Mar 06 2008)

Pressbox (Press Release) - FA Cup sixth round

This may be bottom priority in Manchester United’s list of three trophies this season but there’s no chance of Sir Alex Ferguson’s side treating this match lightly.

Fergie wants to win every piece of silverware he can, and the prospect of a historic second Treble will be enough to motivate everyone at the club. Portsmouth might well suffer as a result.

These two sides met at this stage of last year’s competition, with United winning 2-1. All three goals came in the final quarter-hour, Wayne Rooney netting a brace before Kanu pulled a goal back for Portsmouth. But United’s supremacy over Pompey extends back further than that – the home side have won all seven meetings in league and cup since 2002-03, which is why United will be confident here.

Anybody looking for reasons to back the visitors at a tempting 11/1 will be left feeling disappointed. Aside from United’s 100% record at home to Pompey in recent seasons, the hosts have won 18 of 21 games at Old Trafford this season, with their only defeats coming to Coventry City (0-2) in the League Cup and Manchester City (1-2) in last month’s emotional derby. Even more ominously for Harry Redknapp’s visitors, the only sides United have lost to in this competition in the last five seasons are Big Four members – Chelsea in the final last year, Liverpool in 2005-06, Arsenal on penalties in the 2005 and Arsenal in the fifth round in 2002-03. United’s last home FA Cup defeat to a non-Big Four club came when Fabien Barthez’s failed offside attempt allowed Paolo Di Canio to net the winner for West Ham United seven years ago.

Prices as short as 3/10 on United have little appeal so for better value you should back them on the Asian handicap. Five of those seven head-to-head wins over Portsmouth have been by two goals or more and eight of United’s 12 Old Trafford wins in the Premiership this season have also come by a two-goal margin or bigger. On that basis the 51/50 on United with a -1.5-goal start looks worth taking.

Rooney (6/5) and Cristiano Ronaldo (6/5) head up the anytime scorers market as usual, but we suggest focusing on two other United strikers. Carlos Tevez (13/8) has started only two of the last four matches so is likely to play from the kick-off, and has an excellent record of 15 goals in 34 appearances in his debut United season. Louis Saha (7/4) is champing at the bit after regaining full fitness and Sir Alex Ferguson has already stressed the France international has a major part to play in the coming weeks. The pair have plenty to prove so if selected consider backing either or both.

Recommended bets:
1.5pts Man Utd -1.5-goal start on the Asian handicap 51/50
1pt Tevez to score anytime 13/8
1pt Saha to score anytime 7/4

• All prices correct at time of writing.

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