Going down…
‘Agueroooooooooooo!’ The elongated scream, celebrating Man. City’s first title win in over a million years, was echoed by the cheer of 47,805 fans at the history-bereft Etihad Stadium.
I was sat at home watching the match on TV and was deflated. My Heineken suddenly lost its fizz; my Liverpool supporting mates (who I hadn’t spoken to for bloody ages) were suddenly dropping me a call, throwing texts my way; and my right foot was in agony from booting the sofa infinitely harder than Joey Barton pushed Tevez. However, all this to one side, I was still proud of United for taking it so close to the wire. I was a little pissed off at their earlier in the season draw with Everton. I even, and don’t shoot me, begrudgingly admired City for winning in such a manner (Come on, we know what it takes to keep going right up the final whistle like that).
Something stuck in my throat though.
The manner in which those QPR fans celebrated. They weren’t celebrating at staying up and never let them convince you of anything to the contrary. They were safe at 2-2. They were celebrating that their loss –yes, their loss – has denied us the title. Well, when United travel to Loftus Road aiming to extend their lead at the top to fifteen points, I’ll be hoping to celebrate twice as loud if we secure victory – fifteen points clear with Chelsea offering opposition to City the day after is a great position to be in. However, I’ll be over-the-fecking-moon to see QPR’s hopes for survival take another massive hit.
Team News
Wayne Rooney, Phil Jones and Paul Scholes are not fit and will not be part of the match day squad. Van Persie, however, is likely to start as he was rested in the FA Cup replay against Reading. Nani may well be afforded a starting berth as Ferguson looks for him to respond to his recent claim that the club ‘wants to keep the boy’. If it is ‘up to him’ and he needs to show some ‘consistency’ then Nani has the perfect platform on Saturday to earn himself a decent run in the run in for the title.
QPR are likely to be without Loic Remy and Bobby Zamora. Hoilett and Diakite are ready to play again for the relegation doomed club.
Match Facts
• Robin Van Persie has scored nineteen goals this season – the same as the entire QPR team put together.
• QPR haven’t beaten United in eleven Premier League meetings.
• United are unbeaten in their last fourteen Premier League matches taking 38 from a possible 42 points.
• There has been only three times that a club has had a better points total at this time of the season – each time these three clubs (Spurs, 60/61; Liverpool, 87/88; Chelsea, 05/06) have won the title.
Match Betting
• United to win @6/10
• United to win 5-0 @66/1
• Robin Van Persie hat-trick @12/1
• Nani to score first in a 3-1 win @80/1
Wherever you watch the match, enjoy it, be safe and sing loud.
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