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Is it a Bridge to far for Manchester United?

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"John Terry will miss Sundays clash with Champions Manchester United due to injury" is the talk of the town and not the title decider of seasons past.

Noone will be more please than the Football Association because now they do not have to worry whether or not they have to declare this match a "No Shake Hands" one as well.

Chelsea are barely hanging on to fourth place with Newcastle breathing down their necks only three points adrift and Tottemham in thrid 7 points ahead.  One would be forgiven if you claim the pressure is firmly on the London club especially since this clash is  at the Bridge, even though they one point better off than they were at the same time last season. The most telling fact for the Manchester club having lost the last two times away to Chelsea in the English Premier League (EPL) and as Sir Alex alluded to this week 'very unluckily'.

Manchester United would be buoyed by the fact that they find themselves level on points with their "noisey neighbours" going into a title and season deciding month of February (Chelsea away with Liverpool at home and Ajax away and home squeezed inbetween) and United would hope to keep on winning, with City playing Saturday even more so.

The last time Manchester United won at Stamford Bridge in the EPL interestingly or some might say ominously enough was 10 years ago, when the likes of Blanc, Bathez and Beckham still donned the Red Devils apparel.

United fans look back to the last two times at the Bridge in the EPL feeling rightfully aggrieved, I remember Drogba scoring a goal after clearly being offside and a fortunate David Luis to not be issued a second yellow card and then besides Vidic being sent off, a penalty was awarded for a questionable Smalling foul.

Team news is that Gary Cahill is likely to make his debut for the club in a reshuffled defence also missing the suspended Ashley Cole, and Frank Lampard (calf) could return, not to mention Bois latest loanee Pizarro might debut.

David de Gea is set to return in goal for Manchester United as Anders Lindegaard (ankle) faces six weeks out. Tom Cleverley is available for the first time since October (Sir Alex claims he will travel but will most probably only play monday in the reserves), while Ashley Young, Wayne Rooney and Nani are fit.

Some stats
Chelsea
Are unbeaten in their last nine home league games against Manchester United.
United have only scored three goals in their last eight Premier League visits to Stamford Bridge.
more than a point per game on average.
It is now 1,076 minutes (17hrs 56 mins) - spanning 17 matches - since Fernando Torres scored for Chelsea. Seven Chelsea players have a better minutes per goal record than Fernando Torres (593) since he joined the club.
According to Opta, Juan Mata had created the most chances in the Premier League this season (67) prior to this weekend's fixtures.

Manchester United


United have the best away record in the top flight, earning 26 points from 11 matches and losing only once.
They have yet to lose after opening the scoring this season (W17, D2), but they are winless in the four games in which they conceded the first goal.
The Red Devils have kept a clean sheet in 12 of their 23 league matches, more than any other top-flight side.
United only had two shots on target - both penalties - against Stoke in midweek.
Antonio Valencia has provided nine assists in his last nine league appearances.

My prediction is an obvious Manchester United win and it might well be by more than a single goal margin.

To add a nice touch to this weeks post I've added a You Tube Preview as well http:/a/bit.ly/Ad5nSY

Stats I got from BBC.
Jade Christopher Bentley Adams (JCBA)

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