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Man Utd must beat lowly Shrews in FA Cup fifth round clash

| 22.02.2016
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Sam Barnard, Assistant Sports Editor | February 21, 2016

Shrewsbury Town v Man Utd

  • FA Cup fifth round
  • Monday, February 22nd
  • Kick-off: 19:45 GMT
  • New Meadow, Shrewsbury
  • Live on BT Sport 2

Man Utd in must-win FA Cup clash

Remarkably, in Shrewsbury Town (15/2 match chances with Coral) and Manchester United’s (2/5) respective 130 and 138-year histories, they have never faced each other in a competitive meeting, despite being just geographically 60 miles apart.

But, on Monday evening the duo lock horns in the FA Cup fifth round, with both looking to put poor form in their leagues behind them.

Britain Soccer Premier League

League One side Shrewsbury are the lowest ranked team left in this year’s FA Cup, but couldn’t face the Red Devils at a better time following some terrible results and increasing pile-up of injuries.

Injury-hit United still too much for Shrews

The latest United star to see himself on the sidelines is perhaps the side’s only consistent shining light this season, David de Gea, who suffered a knee injury warming up before the midweek 2-1 Europa League loss away to FC Midtjylland.

It just goes to show how poor that result was, given that the Danish club only beat Gibraltarian outfit Lincoln Red Imps 1-0 at the same ground in Champions League qualifying.

However, while Louis van Gaal is increasingly becoming a dead man walking at Old Trafford, the Dutchman can at least try and make up his rapidly declining reputation before he eventually retires.

Sunderland v Manchester United - Barclays Premier League - Stadium of Light

Victory at Shrewsbury will almost certainly not save his job, but Van Gaal will be hoping to rely on his young-guns in a bid to leave with some silverware during his spell.

Young Red Devils’ time to shine

With the likes of experienced players Wayne Rooney, Bastian Schweinsteiger, Marcos Rojo and Ashley Young all on the sidelines, Anthony Martial, Memphis Depay and William Keane all have a chance to impress.

France wonderkid Martial has made a promising start to his Man Utd career, and tops the anytime scoring market at evens, while Depay (5/4) and Keane (7/4) still have a lot to prove for their next potential manager.

For the hosts, who knocked out Championship clubs Cardiff City and Sheffield Wednesday to get to this stage, meanwhile, Andrew Mangan (10/3), Shaun Whalley (7/2) and Nathaniel Knight-Percival (9/1) have been their main men in front of net this season.

Blackpool v Shrewsbury Town - Sky Bet League One - Bloomfield Road

While, could there be a happy return for Larnell Cole against his former club? The current loanee from Fulham came through United’s youth academy, and with two goals already for the Shrews this term in the league, is 6/1 to fire home once more.

Man Utd’s results have varied in the Premier League in recent weeks, but a 3-1 away win is a tempting 10/1 price.

Related

Check out more FA Cup content in our archive.

Coral’s top tip: Will Keane is an enticing 7/4 to score anytime.

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Author

Sam Barnard

Sam has been writing for Coral since January 2014, and is the assistant editor of the news site. As well as the main betting sports, football, tennis and cricket, he covers the likes of golf, F1 and darts too, the latter of which has become a particular favourite. Sam enjoys playing as much as writing about sports, but niggling injuries have limited his participation in recent years, so is happy to mainly watch the pros such as Manchester United, Yorkshire CCC, Raymond van Barneveld and even Gibraltar national football team instead.