Tonge’s Tips: Sunderland

In partnership with SetantaBet, 7Cantonas.com brings you “Tonge’s Tips”, a look ahead to the Premier League games in the 2012/13 season with a bit of a twist. Just like last season, Alan, the 7Cantonas team and the good fellows over at GGMU and United Rant are going head to head in their predictions, and want you, our readers, to join in.

We’re almost halfway through the season and last years winner Mart is on 22 points, Alan and Ed both tied at 15.

Alan After a last gasp, heart stopping victory against the noisy neighbours, we now focus on another side we have a score to settle with. After the dramatic events last season, this lot celebrated and did the Poznan etc. What brass neck! Who are they? What have they ever done? Montgomery’s save against Leeds is still the best seller in the club shop! Anyway, let’s hope SAF uses this to our advantage and we put these to the sword. Man Utd 4 Sunderland 0 (10/1 with Setanta Bet)

For the bonus tip, I’ll head to the early Saturday kick off and go with Newcastle to put a further dent in City’s trophy ambitions; Newcastle 2 Man City 1 (14/1 with Setanta Bet)

Mart After last weeks fantastic late victory over our fierce rivals at the Eithad, United host Sunderland at Old Trafford. Let us not forget that Sunderland’s fans reacted with such glee at news that City had scored a third against QPR, thus sealing the league title. Certainly Ferguson didn’t as he said that we’d remember that this season and Rooney has come out this week and said that he looked for the Sunderland fixture this season. Certainly it’ll be the easiest team talk of Ferguson’s season!

Injury wise, we should see Nemanja Vidic return to defence after being out since September, I can see him getting 45 minutes from the bench but it will be a boost to have him back. Jonny Evans has been ruled out so I’d expect it to be Ferdinand and Smalling at centre back. We’ll see changes to the side as we enter the busy Christmas period but we’ll have enough to beat Sunderland.

I’m backing us to win 2-0 (5/1 with Setanta Bet)

For my other prediction, I’m going to back Man City to beat Newcastle with ease at St James Park in the early kick off. In recent years I’d have said that this would be a tough game but Newcastle aren’t at all impressive this season and City will win 2-0 (7/1 with Setanta Bet)

Fino When ‘AFC Sunderland’ arrive tomorrow (looking like ‘Poundland-United’ packed with former Reds purchased at knockdown prices) they’re going to find out exactly what a Penguins arse feels like!
Upon visiting Old Trafford in the past ‘The Black Cats’ have been afforded a warmer reception than most clubs (because of various player/manager connections) but thanks to their fans actions on ‘that day’ in May, we’re putting the niceties on the back-burner and looking for something from the humiliation department.

When I say ‘We’ I’m usually only referring to our fans (the hardcore of which were openly mocked at ‘The Stadium of Light’ as their world crumbled around their ears). But this time we know that the manager and his players also want to give those fans who chose to celebrate ‘that goal’, a taste of their own medicine.

The chances are, that if we select our strongest side and perform anywhere near the level that we achieved against Manchester City on Sunday, then that’s exactly what they’ll get. With no game until the 23rd, I can see no reason for Sir Alex to approach this game tentatively, in fact I can see him picking an attacking line-up in an attempt to redress the balance in the ‘GD’ column.

Sunderland have struggled for form so far this season. Summer acquisition Steven Fletcher has shouldered the responsibility of scoring almost all of their goals (and gone some way to silencing those who scoffed at his £14m fee) but a lack of support in the striking department & injuries to key players has seen them loitering close the relegation zone. They may arrive buoyed by their 3-0 home win against Reading this week, but anyone who bets against them leaving Manchester with their tails between their legs,must be allergic to money.

My Prediction 6-1 (28/1 with Setanta Bet)

Thanks so much to Fino for standing in for Ed this week. I highly recommend you follow him on Twitter at (@Fino76)

Setanta Bet are offering a £5 free bet to the first person who posts a prediction that beats the team, and the scoring is as follows :

*One point for a correct score

*One point for a correct result

*One point for a correct bonus prediction (the bonus prediction cannot be just a result)

The first reader, weekly, to post a set of predictions that score higher than Alan or the bloggers will win the £5 free bet with SetantaBet.

Terms and conditions below – we are not responsible for any loss made on the below predictions, they’re just for fun!

Tonge’s Tips, presented by Setanta Bet & 7 Cantonas

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