Man Utd vs. West Ham Betting Tips: Back the hosts to win in a low scoring game at Old Trafford

Scott Thornton is on tipping duty for Man Utd vs West Ham in the FA Cup on Wednesday. Find his betting preview along with two data-driven tips below. 

The games keep coming thick and fast for Manchester United as they continue to fight on all fronts this season. Erik ten Hag’s side lifted the first piece of silverware of the season on Sunday but there was no time to celebrate. The Dutchman was keen to get his squad back to Manchester in order to prepare for this one.

Talk of a quadruple is a little outlandish but there has been huge progress made at Old Trafford this season. United have already played a staggering 16 matches in 2023; winning 12 and losing just one. The relentless schedule shows no signs of stopping with United through to the next round of the Europa League. It remains to be seen whether ten Hag can manage squad fitness as the team’s pursuit of success continues. He may need to make wholesale changes on Wednesday night.

West Ham secured a morale boosting 4-0 victory over Nottingham Forest at the weekend. They will be looking to carry that momentum into the trip to Old Trafford in order to take advantage of any fatigue that has took hold in the Manchester United ranks.

The Hammers beat Manchester United when they met in a domestic cup last season.

The last three matches between these sides have finished 1-0 with Manchester United winning two and West Ham winning one. There has been an average of 1.8 goals per game across the last 10 matches between these teams; only one of those matches has seen four goals or more.

There was evidence of Man United taking their foot off the gas in Sunday’s final. They allowed Newcastle to have more possession than you might expect and there was definitely an element of game management creeping in. It seems unlikely that the home side will play at full tilt for the full 90 minutes here. They face a difficult trip to Anfield on Sunday and Ten Hag will want his players fit enough to get the team’s first win there since 2015.

Manchester United’s home matches this season are averaging 2.88 goals per game. West Ham’s away matches are averaging just 2.11 goals per game. A heavily rotated eleven for the Red Devils is likely to have more difficulty in breaking down this stern Hammers defence. Despite being in a relegation battle, West Ham are only conceding an average of one goal per game on the road in all competitions this season.

Ten Hag’s men have won 19 of their 23 home matches in all competitions and will be confident of getting the job done again. The manager was keen to shift the focus onto Wednesday’s match after the Carabao Cup final and his team are unlikely to be complacent here.

For our longer odds bet, we are going to back the home side to come out on top but with even fewer goals in the match. 

Five of the last six matches between Manchester United and West Ham United have seen one goal or less. Rashford is the main goal threat for the home side and it seems unlikely that he will start this one. The absence of a prolific scorer for ten Hag should mean they have to wear visitors down over a longer period. However, it’s hard to look past the home side given their form at Old Trafford.