Premier League Preview: Manchester United Vs Birmingham

>

Premier League match time returns to Old Trafford as Manchester United host Birmingham on January 22, in match week 24, in the second of a two-leg contest.

The initial leg game among the sides, hosted by Birmingham at St Andrews' Ground on December 28, 2010, was a 1-1 draw. Berbatov put St Alex's wards ahead on the hour, fed by a Gibson cross from the perfect.

But United would really feel justifiably aggrieved with the referee immediately after having to concede a point on the back of Bowyer's equaliser in the 89th minute. As it transpired, Johnson's corner kick went off Zigic's arm to fall perfectly in location for Berbatov to score.

Birmingham have been tough to beat at St Andrews, and such as the game with Man United, they have conceded defeat at property just when in 28 games. Larrson was very industrious during the game for Birmingham, but was substituted by Hleb in the last 20 minutes. That stated, it is difficult to fathom why McLeish chose not to give a player of Hleb's obvious skill a location in his starting eleven.

Perhaps in deference to Birmingham's beneficial house record, United played with an overly defensive four-3-3 formation. The contrast between United's property and away records is startling. That apart, Sir Alex's squad have uncharacteristically thrown away leads in 3 other games this season, against Everton, Fulham and West Brom.

Head to head, in 9 league games between the sides, Man United have established a dominant 5- advantage over Birmingham.

The Old Trafford squad have won four of their final five league games, in the existing season, although Birmingham have won just as soon as in their last 5 games, when drawing and losing twice every single.

Sir Alex Fergusson's squad have enjoyed the most impressive house record of all teams this season, with 10 wins in 11 games hosted, with a draw in the remaining 1. Birmingham have not had a good away record, winning just 1 of 10 games ion the road, whilst drawing 5 and losing 4.

On existing form, it would be extremely tough for Birmingham to stop Man United from banking full points from this game.

Man United had the following men in their beginning eleven against West Brom in match week 21: Kuszczak, Neville, Ferdinand, Vidic, Evra, Obertan, Fletcher, Carrick, Anderson, Berbatov and Rooney. Da Silva, Hernandez and Gibson played as substitutes.

Birmingham's starting eleven against Arsenal in match week 21 had Foster, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Gardner, Bowyer, Beausejour and Jerome. Zigic, Derbyshire and Hleb were employed as substitutes.