Keane to suffer difficult homecoming

On Saturday afternoon Roy Keane makes a poignant return to the stadium where he plied his trade as a high-profile player for 12 years, Old Trafford. However, on this occasion, he will be taking to the grand stage as Sunderland manager, not Manchester United captain. And, for the first time, he will be going head to head with Sir Alex Ferguson.
 
Keane worked wonders in his first season as a coach last term, leading the Black Cats to the summit of the Championship and into the Premier League. But subsequent to a dream start with a 1-0 win against Spurs at home on the first day of the season, the north-east club is already staring down the barrel of a confidence crisis having suffered a crushing 3-0 defeat at the hands of Championship side Luton in the second round of the Carling Cup on Tuesday.
 
The reigning champs are not having a great time of it either, having won only one of their first four league fixtures, scoring just twice in the process. It's not just the results that have been disconcerting - the performances haven't been exactly glowing.

However, Lady Luck hasn't shined on the Red Devils what with Wayne Rooney incurring a broken metatarsal on the first day of the season and Cristiano Ronaldo picking up a three-match ban, which he will have fully served after this match.

On a far brighter note for United, Brazilian new boy Anderson is poised to make his Premiership debut on Saturday, while injury-plagued striker Louis Saha will be available for selection. Carlos Tevez has a couple of games under his belt, so marked improvement should be forthcoming from the Argentina striker. Another positive is fellow new signing Nani, who scored a scorcher to seal victory for United against Spurs last weekend.
 
All in all, despite their tardy start, which has seen their price balloon to a best-priced 3/1 to retain their crown this season, Sir Alex's men have too much strength in depth and collective class to be off colour for too long. And they should quite simply have far too much class for the visitors on Saturday when we might see a United side more akin to that which carried all before them last season.
 
From a betting perspective, this is a tricky game. However, the home side shouldn't concede and it would be a surprise if they don't score at least twice. Consequently, the value option may be to split stakes and opt for a point on both Man Utd to win 2-0 and 3-0 at 11/2 with Betfred and 7/1 with Blue Square respectively. Sunderland will be fired up for this encounter and should make United work in the first half, but as the game progresses class will out.
 
Verdict: 1pt Man Utd to win 2-0 @ 4/1 (SportingBet); 1pt Man Utd to win 3-0 @ 5/1 (SportingBet)

(Editor's Note: If Roy Keane's Sunderland are heaily beaten at Old Trafford, keep an eye on his price to be sacked and Sunderland's relegation odds with SportingBet!)