Can Wayne Rooney’s Derby County derail Manchester United’s FA Cup hunt?
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Odds, preview and betting tips for FA Cup fifth-round tie
After 13 years at ManchesterUnited, Wayne Rooney is set to face his former side as a Derby County playertonight.
Rooney won 16 major honoursduring his time at United and this will be only the sixth time he’s faced themas an opponent.
Phillip Cocu’s side havestruggled in the league so far this campaign, sitting in 13th place, eightpoints off the play-off spots. They’ll be buoyed by a win last time out againstSheffield Wednesday and could see an FA Cup run as valuable respite from theirleague form.
As for the hosts, Ole Gunnar Solskjaer could view the FA Cup as their best chance of picking up silverware this campaign despite currently being joint-fourth in the betting at 9/1.
Manchester United are overwhelming 8/15 favourites towin in 90 minutes. They’re 1/4 to qualify. Derby County are underdogs at11/2 to win in 90 minutes, or 14/5 to qualify. The draw is availableat 13/4.
Martyn Waghorn is favourite to score first for Derbyat 7/1. You can find 9/1 on Wayne Rooney haunting his former clubwith the opening goal, or 7/2 anytime.
Anthony Martial and OdionIghalo are the favourites to open the scoring for United at 3/1. There’s6/5 on Mason Greenwood scoring anytime, or 8/5 on BrunoFernandes goal in the tie.
At the start of 2020, Solskjaer’s job seemed to be underthreat after poor performances left them ten points off fourth spot in theleague. A few months later, the signing of Bruno Fernandes appears to haverejuvenated the Red Devils squad.
Solskjaer’s side now sit fifth in the league, only three points behind fourth-placed Chelsea, and are 7/2 favourites for success in the ever-unpredictable Europa League, despite having their own minor injury crisis.
The Red Devils boss will be without Aaron Wan-Bissaka andDaniel James, as Paul Pogba remains a long-term absentee alongside MarcusRashford
Solskjaer’s unlikely to take any risks ahead of Sunday’sManchester Derby, which could see some of United’s fringe players like JesseLingard, Andreas Pereira and Diogo Dalot get a runout.
Axel Tuanzebe and Timothy Fosu-Mensah recently made theirreturn from injury in an under-23 game and could use this as a vital step up toget full match fitness.
As for the home side, they’ll be without one of their moreexperienced heads in the middle of the park, as Tom Huddlestone misses outthrough injury.
Duane Holmes and Krystian Bielik are also facing a spell onthe sidelines, with Rushian Hepburn-Murphy ineligible to play after featuringfor Tranmere Rovers in the earlier rounds.
Cocu will hope that the experience of Chris Martin, MartynWaghorn or Rooney can take advantage of any United defensive errors, orgoalkeeping slips like we’ve seen in recent weeks.
Whether we see a cupset from Rooney’s side, or Manchester United show their Premier League quality, we could be in for an FA Cup thriller at Pride Park. A trip to Carrow Road to face Daniel Farke’s Norwich City side awaits the winners in the quarter-finals.
View the latest Derby v Man Utd odds.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of date ofpublication.
