Why Man Utd clean sheet is worth backing at Crystal Palace

Manchester United may have only kept three away clean sheets in the Premier League this season, which is the same as Norwich and fewer than Sunderland. But, they should be backed to improve this miserable total when visiting Crystal Palace next.

David Moyes may not be emulating Sir Alex Ferguson in too many departments, but in terms of away clean sheets, he is not lagging too far behind. Under Sir Alex, Man Utd only shut out the opposition in 11 away games across the last two Premier League seasons.

It is 1/1 that Man Utd prevent Crystal Palace from scoring at Selhurst Park and if this is achieved, it will mark the first time under Moyes that the Red Devils have kept successive Premier League away clean sheets.

Having kept Arsenal out at the Emirates, confidence should be reasonable, but the bet is based more on Palace’s attacking deficiencies, rather than the strength of the Man Utd rear-guard.

In 12 games previously this season against opposition currently in the top half of the Premier League standings, Crystal Palace have mustered just two goals and none of these were in the five fixtures at Selhurst Park.

Only Cardiff and Stoke average fewer shots on their own patch than Crystal Palace this season too, while they are bottom of the table when it comes to possession at home and pass success rate.

Palace haven’t scored in four of their five Selhurst Park meetings with Man Utd since the start of the Premier League either.

Meanwhile, Palace may have kept four clean sheets in Tony Pulis’ seven home league games in charge, but there could be some mileage in backing a Red Devils victory to nil at 6/4, given the raft of attacking options at Moyes’ disposal.

Furthermore, Man Utd haven’t failed to score in successive away games since November 2012, when losing at Norwich and then Galatasaray in the Champions League.