Premier League betting – Birmingham vs Man Utd

Birmingham vs Man Utd betting preview

Birmingham League Position: 17th League Form: DWDDL

Birmingham are a tough unit to break down at home, Sir Alex has recognised this. However things are turning out a little different than they did last term for the Blues, the strength in between the posts of Joe Hart last season meant that defensively they were solid. Summer signing Ben Foster has done his best to fill those boots, but as of yet he has fallen short, the other big summer signing was Nikola Zigic and when I say big I mean big. The tallest player at the world cup hasn’t been firing on all cylinders since his £6 million move from cash strapped Valencia, scoring only twice in 16 appearances for the club.

Birmingham’s biggest threat in this fixture is most notably Cameron Jerome, who is priced at 10/1 on Bet 365 to open the scoring. He shares these odds with the enormous Serbian, so for those of you who believe that Zigic can best his international team mate Nemanja Vidic in front of goal he is also 10/1 on Bet365 to open the scoring. United aren’t ones to give away a soft goal of late, so these bets may be for the Birmingham fans out there and no one else.

Manchester United League Position: 1st League Form: DWWWWW

Manchester United are still on an unbeaten in the league, a sign that while their performances, bar the 7-1 against Blackburn, are a little lacklustre, they can still deliver the goods where it matters. This weekend’s showing against Sunderland was one of efficiency, and definitely sent out a warning to other sides that while Wayne Rooney is still suffering a dramatic dip in form, the Red Devils goals can come from anywhere.

It’s a strange sight that the player who was ridiculed as lazy and useless last season is now undoubtedly the in form striker in the Premiership this season. Dimitar Berbatov was even seen to make a 40 yard run for the ball, something that many United fans hadn’t expected to see in a million years. Berbatov therefore looks like the smart man’s bet to score anytime in this fixture, prices at 7/5 on BWIN, he is given more handsome odds to score first though at 5/1 on BWIN.

United now have their first team defence back and fit, so with Ferdinand and Vidic patrolling the back a bet on United to clean sheet looks like a promising one against a team who are struggling to find goals of late. The best odds for this are on Boylesports at 6/5 that United will win a keep a clean sheet in this match.

It would be difficult not to tip United to win this game and extend their lead at the top of the league and with their best players, again bar Rooney, hitting form at the right time of the season Birmingham could be on the end of a thrashing if they aren’t careful.

Highlighted Bets:

First goalscorer Nikola Zigic 10/1Bet 365
First goalscorer Cammeron Jerome10/1Bet 365
Anytime goalscorer Dimitar Berbatov 7/5 BWIN
First goalscorer Dimitar Berbatov 5/1 BWIN
Manchester United win with a clean sheet 6/5 Boylesport

By John Fernandez

Click here to view all free bets from online bookmakers