Manchester United vs. Tottenham Hotspur - Monday Night Football Preview

By Tom Byrne / August 22, 2011

Man United usually beat Spurs and always beat them at Old Trafford, although sometimes they need a little helping hand - see last season's farce involving Gomes & Nani and Roy Carrol's fumble from Pedro Mendes a few seasons back. United will look to keep the pressure on Man City after their win yesterday. They have a hard run of fixtures up to the Manchester derby in late October and will need to take full points from their home games to stay in touch with an improved Man City. The breaking team news from the Spurs manager is that Luka Modric won't play as his head has been turned (by Chelsea), although I would take anything Harry Redknapp says with a heart attack inducing pinch of salt. Spurs will also be without Palacios, Sandro, Gallas and King (as usual). It is a shame that Spurs will be so depleted from injury as Man Utd's defence looks vulnerable and Tottenham could have a genuine chance of ending their Old Trafford jinx here. Patrice Evra is the only uninjured first choice defender and he will line up with Jones, Evans and Smalling (at right back) in front of an uncertain looking David de Gea. It is a big game for the young Spaniard - his third for Man Utd and first at Old trafford. Should he continue the 'form' shown against Man City and West Brom, the rumblings of discontent will get a little louder. It isn't just the headline grabbing goals that are a problem, but the fact that Man Utd's defnders looked unwilling to pass back to him. Edwin Van der Saar's calmness and accurate distribution allowed Man Utd to hold the ball well and dominate possession, if they cannot do that against the big teams they will struggle. For the visitors Peter Crouch is currently a doubt, but I think Redknapp will play him if at all possible alongside Pavlyuchenko and use their height along with the set piece deliveries of Van der Vaart to trouble the young keeper and centre backs. Gareth Bale will be expected to hug the wing and keep Smalling under pressure while providing a constant supply of crosses for the Spurs strikers. Man Utd have a fully fit midfield and attack and should cause Spurs plenty of trouble without their defensive midfielders and first choice centre backs. The summer break looks to have rejuvenated Wayne Rooney and Ashley Young has fitted in seamlessly. Nani, Cleverly and Valencia offer further creative options for Ferguson. A potentially important factor could be the quality of substitutes. Man Utd will be able to call on three of Berbatov, Giggs, Park and Valencia whilst Spurs were so short of substitutes they were forced to name two keepers on the bench against Hearts on Thursday. I can see a fairly open game with much depending on the fitness of Crouch. With him Spurs could cause united problems, but without I can see it being plain sailing for Man Utd. Prediction: Man Utd 3-1 Spurs The game is live tonight on Sky Sports' Monday Night Football. Look out for our full match report tomorrow.