Premier League Preview: Manchester United Vs Birmingham

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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 initially leg game between 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 proper.

But United would feel justifiably aggrieved with the referee immediately after getting 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 difficult to beat at St Andrews, and which includes the game with Man United, they have conceded defeat at home just when in 28 games. Larrson was particularly industrious throughout the game for Birmingham, but was substituted by Hleb in the last 20 minutes. That said, it is tough to fathom why McLeish chose not to give a player of Hleb's obvious skill a spot in his starting eleven.

Possibly in deference to Birmingham's very good residence record, United played with an overly defensive 4-3-3 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- benefit more than Birmingham.

The Old Trafford squad have won four of their last five league games, in the present season, though Birmingham have won just as soon as in their last five games, though 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 superb away record, winning just 1 of 10 games ion the road, when drawing five and losing four.

On present form, it would be extremely difficult for Birmingham to avoid Man United from banking full points from this game.

Man United had the following males 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 beginning eleven against Arsenal in match week 21 had Foster, Carr, Johnson, Dann, Ridgewell, Larsson, Ferguson, Gardner, Bowyer, Beausejour and Jerome. Zigic, Derbyshire and Hleb had been made use of as substitutes.