Derby County VS Manchester United Match Prediction
2020-03-05
19:45:00
Derby County
VS
Manchester United
Our Prediction Tip
Manchester United will win this match.
2020-03-0519:45:00 Manchester United will win this match.
Since Derby County’s most recent relegation from the Premier League in 2008, they have faced Manchester United on six occasions in the domestic cups. The most recent of those FA Cup matches was in January 2018, when Jesse Lingard and Romelu Lukaku struck late to earn United a 2-0 home win, but Derby won on penalties after their most recent meeting, in last season’s Carabao Cup, ended in a 2-2 draw.
After looking firmly back on track with dominant wins at Watford and Club Brugge, Manchester United were off their game again as they drew 1-1 with Everton at the weekend.
Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s side have been wildly inconsistent this season and that curse looks set to remain – but it does not stop them being big favourites for this one.
Wayne Rooney facing Manchester United is the big headline, but the former England captain will know he is stepping out for some big underdogs in this game.
A 3-1 win at Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend got them back on track as Tom Lawrence scored twice and Chris Martin set all three Derby goals up.
But the Rams’ form before that had dipped, whereas United overall have been on a resurgent run lately.
The draw at Everton – courtesy of some late help from the VAR official – was still a point gained, another match unbeaten and kept them on course for European qualification.
Cup success would ease some pressure on Ole Gunnar Solskjaer too, and an away match against a Championship side should be a match that, while potentially tricky, poses little problem to United.
Manchester United are odds-on favourites to beat EFL Championship side Derby County, with Betway offering a best price of 11/20 on a United win.
Six of United’s last eight matches have seen them keep clean sheets, and you can bet against both teams to score in this match at 11/10 with Betfair.
Odion Ighalo could lead the United line and he is a best price of 7/5 with Bet365 to score at any time. Mason Greenwood is 7/5 with 888sport, meanwhile.
Manchester United nearly lost their unbeaten run at the weekend, but a professional performance against Derby County should prove the gulf between these two sides.
Wayne Rooney will lead Derby against his former team, in a team which will feature another ex-United player in former youth prospect Tom Lawrence. Curtis Davies is back to line up in defence, but Tom Huddlestone, Duane Holmes and Krystian Bielik are definitely out.
Wayne Rooney – Who else? The headlines will be all about the 34-year-old former United star, who has scored four times since returning to England.
Tom Lawrence – The Welsh winger did not make the grade at United, but has become a firm favourite at Derby and scored twice in Saturday’s win at Sheffield Wednesday.
Chris Martin – The big striker will be a menace physically up front, and set up all three goals in the win at Hillsborough to prove his value.
After starting the year in good form, Derby ended their recent blip – a run of four games without a win – by beating Sheffield Wednesday at the weekend. Martyn Waghorn’s goal could not prevent a 2-1 defeat to QPR just four days earlier, but Tom Lawrence scored twice and Jason Knight added a third – all inside 30 minutes – as Derby beat Sheffield Wednesday 3-1 last time out.
After his error in the draw with Everton at the weekend, David de Gea is likely to be watching from the sidelines for this one as Sergio Romero comes into the team. Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has plenty of options if he wishes to rotate – Odion Ighalo, Brandon Williams and Juan Mata all featured from the bench at the weekend, for example.
Mason Greenwood – The striker has taken his opportunity to shine in a breakthrough season at Old Trafford this season, with the cups providing plenty of playing time and goals.
Odion Ighalo – Scored his first United goal in the win against Club Brugge last week and will be looking to add to his tally as he bids to nail down a regular starting spot.
Juan Mata – Scored the winner against Wolves in the third-round replay and the Spanish playmaker will be one of the more senior players in this game.
A late VAR reprieve ensured Manchester United are now unbeaten in their last eight competitive matches in all competitions, though they could not add to their six clean sheets in that time when they drew 1-1 with Everton. Bruno Fernandes goal at least earned the point, however, following back-to-back wins – 3-0 against Watford and 5-0 against Club Brugge.
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