Carabao Cup – Swansea vs Man United – Match Preview – With a place in the quarter-finals at stake, Manchester United take a trip to Wales to face Swansea City.
After their dramatic 2-1 defeat to Premier League new-boys Huddersfield Town, Jose Mourinho will be hoping his side can return to winning ways. That defeat was United’s first in the league this campaign, which sees them now five points behind neighbours Manchester City.
The defeat at the weekend was far from acceptable. In typical Mourinho fashion, the United boss made no bones about his side’s performance as they struggled at the John Smiths Stadium. Given that result, it wouldn’t surprise me if he named a strong team, as he looks to get them back on track.
One positive from the match was Marcus Rashford. The England youngster has excelled this season and one of a few players who performed well at the weekend. With eight goals this season already, he is enjoying his best spell as a United player and has two goals in his last two. Often played out wide by Mourinho this year, Rashford may get his chance in his preferred central role on Tuesday night.
Rashford has been in great form for Man Utd so far this season Photo Credit: skysports.com
Swansea boss Paul Clement was left with plenty to ponder after his side suffered another home defeat. Leicester City’s victory at the Liberty Stadium means the Swans’ have won just one of their five home games this season. The Swans’ currently sit in 15th place, level on points with third-bottom Everton. With just two wins this season, the pressure is firmly on the former Bayern Munich assistant manager to drag them up the league table.
Goals have been hard to come by for the Swans, with just six this season. That is the joint lowest in the Premier League, with only Bournemouth equalling that total. At the back, Swansea have conceded nine goals at home and only one away from home. That would suggest they are trying to be more offensive but are getting caught at the back as a consequence.
Tammy Abraham will be expected to lead the line against Man Utd Photo Credit: skysports.com
When these two met early in the season, United came away with a 4-0 away victory. Whilst the end score was emphatic, United scored three goals in the last ten minutes to add gloss to the full-time result. In the match, Swansea were more than competitive and had chances to get something from the game. United have won three of the clubs last four meetings, with Swansea’s last victory coming back in 2015.
With United licking their wounds after their humiliation at the weekend, I can only see them progressing in this tie.
Prediction: Swansea City 0-2 Manchester United
SKYBET: MANCHESTER UNITED TO WIN 2-0- 11/2
SKYBET: RASHFORD TO SCORE FIRST AND UNITED TO WIN 3-1- 28/1
SKYBET: BTTS AND OVER 2.5 GOALS- 13/8
SKYBET: ABRAHAM AND MARTIAL TO BOTH SCORE- 6/1
SKYBET: SWANSEA TO WIN 2-1- 22/1
SKYBET: BOTH TEAMS TO SCORE IN BOTH HALVES- 25/1
SKYBET SCORECAST BOOST: MARTIAL TO SCORE FIRST AND UNITED TO WIN 2-0- 22/1
