Thursday 10 December 2015 2:39 pm

Wavering Manchester United ripe to be picked off by Cherries

Sports Editor

When Eddie Howe’s Bournemouth sealed promotion to the Premier League in May, the visit of Manchester United would have been one of the first fixtures Cherries fans looked out for.

Howe’s men come into Saturday's clash full of belief that they can beat the drop, especially after their eye-catching victory at Chelsea last time out.

United, on the other hand, are low on confidence after a difficult few weeks.

Defeat to Wolfsburg on Tuesday saw them crash out of the Champions League and, after five goalless draws in their last 10 matches, the knives are sharpening for Louis van Gaal.

Even so, a win for United and other results going their way could see the Red Devils move to the top of the table by the evening.

It’s a sign of just how unpredictable this Premier League season has been.

I’m not sure that will happen, though. With Matteo Darmian forced off on Tuesday, and Chris Smalling struggling with injury, Van Gaal’s side are low on cover, especially at the back.

For that reason I’m seriously tempted by Betway’s odds of 23/10 for a Bournemouth victory.

The Cherries have rediscovered the scoring touch that saw them blitz the Championship last year, with their attacking swagger evident when they put three past Everton in their last home match.

United were also a lot more expansive in their five-goal thriller against Wolfsburg, and I think this one will be far more open than some might expect.

It’s a general 10/11 for both teams to score and I think that is a strong bet.

While the hosts will fancy their chances of nicking at least one, they’ve only managed to keep one clean sheet in their 15 Premier League games and, despite United’s attacking woes, I can’t see them adding another tomorrow.

It might go against the grain of United’s recent domestic snooze-fests, but I think buying goals at 2.6 with Sporting Index could offer a good return.