Cardiff vs Manchester United betting preview - Solskjaer in for nervy return

It’s the beginning of a new era at Manchester United following the dismissal of Jose Mourinho, and no doubt Neil Warnock would have hoped that were a decision taken after Christmas, rather than before. Instead Saturday’s travellers acted fasted to appoint a replacement, albeit on a short term basis, with former striker Ole Gunnar Solskjaer taking the reins both at and against ex-employers.

The Norwegian made a name for himself as the ‘baby-faced assassin’ during his playing days at Old Trafford but was unable to kill off the threat of relegation as Cardiff boss in 2014. In what was only his second job in management, and first and only coaching role in one of Europe’s major leagues to date, Solskjaer picked up just three wins in 18 games as the Welsh side slid back down into the Championship.

His appointment at United is certainly a gamble then, though expectations are low given the gap that the club would need to bridge to attain a Champions League finish. However, with defeat to rivals Liverpool leaving them just three points off the bottom half, the risk of falling further than ever before in the Premier League is still present.

Warnock will no doubt look to ensure his opposite number gets off to the worst possible start this weekend, and knows that a win would guarantee they go into Christmas outside of the bottom three. The hosts are, of course, huge outsiders to pick up all three points but have won four of their last five at home, with only Liverpool and Manchester City picking up more points on their own patch over as many matches.

Cardiff also picked up an unlikely point in the only Premier League meeting between the two in Wales back in 2013, so their price - heightened by the expected new manager bounce for their visitors - is appealing. However, it’s worth breaking this match down into halves in what could prove a nervy first 45 minutes for Solskjaer.

Eight matches and almost three months have past in all competitions since Manchester United last led at half-time in an away game. The visitors will take solace from the fact that, despite their hosts impressive run on home soil of late, the Bluebirds haven’t been ahead themselves in a single home game all season.

Seven of the underdogs’ nine matches at the Cardiff City Stadium have been all square at the interval, however, and given that neither side have been strong starters, they may cancel one another out here. With odds ranging from 2.20 to 2.35 on the scores being tied at half-time, that is our tip for Solskjaer’s first game in charge of the Red Devils.

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