More Moyes pressure

Man U v v Shakhtar Donetsk

Champions League
7.45pm, ITV

There’s a little bit of a dilemma for increasingly beleaguered David Moyes at Old Trafford tonight.

He desperately needs a win to calm the Old Trafford critics but this is a match that Man U don’t desperately need to win with a draw enough to progress to the last 16 of the Champions League.

That presents a quandary for punters especially when you consider that Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk need a win to progress, Man U have injury worries and Moyes will probably see the Premier League clash on Sunday at Villa Park as a more immediate priority.

Defenders Nemanja Vidic, Patrice Evra and Chris Smalling are all doubts for tonight’s match (live on ITV) and the trio, as well as Marouane Fellaini, missed training on Monday.

In response to whether he would rest players for the tie, Moyes said: “There’s a little bit of that in my thinking but we’ve also got one or two injuries that I’ll need to look after and that comes into my consideration.”

Back to back defeats at Old Trafford haven’t happened since 2002 – until last weekend when Newcastle stunned the home crowd and back to back three losses haven’t happened since 1962 – before Moyes was born !

A defeat tonight would see Man U pitched into a knock-out round clash and possibly exit the competition and (as it stands) looking unlikely to get into next season’s Champions League too. Almost unthinkable and you would imagine unimaginable for the money men at Old Trafford.

Shakhtar come into this game having recently signed off for their domestic winter break on the back of a 1-0 win at Chornomorets, a result which sees them go into Christmas with a five-point lead at the top of the table. However, they have failed to ever win on their trips to England.

I’m hitting the sell on the supremacy at around 0.3 with Star Spreads.

ADVICE

SELL Manchester Utd/Shakhtar Donestsk at around 0.3

• Any spread prices quoted are indicative and as always prices are subject to fluctuation.
• Please note the opinion, views and forecasts above are of the author and not of Star Spreads.