Carling Cup betting preview - Barnsley vs Manchester United

Championship Barnsley host Carling Cup holders and Premier League champions Manchester United this weekend in the Carling Cup fourth round. The hosts have won three of their last home games but go into this match trying to rediscover that form after losing their most recent contest 3-2 to Bristol City. The famous visitors have also just tasted defeat, falling 2-0 at Anfield to bitter rivals Liverpool on Sunday.

United are favourites for the game as expected and are priced at 1/2 (bet $20 to win $10 profit). Barnsley are long-shots even on their own turf at 13/2 and the draw is 10/3. The two sides have not met since the 1997 season, when United won twice, 2-0 away and 7-0 at Old Trafford.

A 2-0 win for Manchester United has been made the favourite score tonight at 6/1, with 1-0 next at 13/2. A 1-1 draw is priced at 8/1, along with 2-1 to the visitors. The Red Devils to run away with a 3-0 win is at 10/1 and 4-0 is 20/1. A 1-0 home upset is at 14/1.

Former Liverpool, Real Madrid and England star Michael Owen is favourite to score the first goal of the match at 7/2, ahead of teenage Italian sensation Federico Macheda who is 4/1. Wayne Rooney and Dimitar Berbatov, United`s first-choice strikers, are also available at 4/1 but may play little or no part in the fixture as they could be rested. Daniel Bogdanovic and Ian Hume are Barnsley`s best chance to open the scoring, both at 10/1.

Manchester United are priced at 6/5 to be winning at both half-time and full-time and are 7/2 to win after drawing at half-time. Both halves to be drawn can be found at 6/1 and lowly Barnsley to be winning at both half-time and full-time is 14/1.

Alex Ferguson`s men are third-favourites to successfully defend the Carling Cup this season at 5/1. Barnsley are not seen as real contenders at 125/1.

Barnsley vs Manchester United betting odds

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