Some Manchester United fans are planning a protest (Picture: AP Photo)

Manchester United head into tomorrow’s match against Aston Villa with morale at a record low.

There is the slightest inkling that sections of supporters are turning against manager David Moyes, with the prospect of an fly-over plane banner showing supporters’ discontent with the former Everton and Preston North End boss’s appointment only likely to place further scrutiny on an already disappointing season.

In Aston Villa, United face an opponent who sit in 12th position, nine points way from the relegation zone with manager Paul Lambert appearing to have guided the Midlands club to Premier League safety for a second season running. On paper it is a matchup Manchester United should come out of with three points, however, with United’s home form taken into consideration as well as Villa’s obvious qualities in midfield it may not be the routine victory it really should be.



Fabian Delph has enjoyed a fantastic season at the heart of Villa’s midfield with his energy proving a key element to the high tempo pressing game Paul Lambert has introduced at Villa Park. Delph’s movement off the ball in terms of closing his opposite number down will be crucial tomorrow afternoon with Michael Carrick likely to be the holding midfielder who Delph targets.


If we look back to Liverpool’s 2-2 draw with Villa at Anfield just after the turn of the year, Steven Gerrard was lambasted in all quarters for ‘not having the legs’ to play as an unprotected holding midfielder.

Gerrard has since gone on to prove this as nonsense, but it was Delph’s individual man-marking on Gerrard which caused the Liverpool captain to be so ineffective when put under such pressure. Manchester United will have to guard against that tomorrow which may see Darren Fletcher return to the starting line-up to provide an energy boost and to possibly look after Delph to give Carrick a lot more time on the ball.

Manchester United’s manager David Moyes could do with a win (Picture: Reuters)

It is difficult to predict the starting line-up David Moyes will select tomorrow simply because of the home fixture against Bayern Munich on Tuesday evening. With Manchester United’s Premier League matches taking on less importance in terms of possible achievement as this campaign reaches its close, it is certain that the more important fixture for the club is the European Cup quarter-final.

It would be a surprise to me if United played too many of the team that is set to start against the German champions from the start against Aston Villa.

Manchester United must bounce back from the mid-week defeat to Manchester City, if to just raise morale and confidence heading into Tuesday and the quality is certainly there to do so.

Aston Villa head into the match on the back of a poor result in which Paul Lambert’s men conceded four goals against Stoke City at home and United already know from the reverse fixture this season that Villa’s weakness is at the back.

If Juan Mata and Wayne Rooney can continue their positive link-up play from late February there is no reason why United can’t record a morale boosting win ahead of the visit of Bayern Munich.

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