Source: SKY_Sports
Red rebound
Tony Gale told Sky Sports News he expects Manchester United to bounce back from their disappointing display against Porto at Old Trafford on Tuesday night and defeat Sunderland this weekend before conquering the Portuguese club next week.
Sir Alex Ferguson's men conceded late-on against the champions of Portugal to draw 2-2 at home in their Champions League quarter-final but were fortunate not to lose the tie after a poor performance in front of their own fans.
Gale, though, believes the Porto result suffered after the energy-sapping win over Aston Villa last weekend and he told Sky Sports News the Premier League holders will bounce back in style, starting with a trip to the Stadium of Light on Saturday.
"I would expect Manchester United to pick it up again," he said. "I would put the Porto result down to tiredness. It came two days after playing a big game against Aston villa, which they won 3-2 and I think they've got an excuse there. The rest time between games is so important.
"Without enough rest you get a lot of players dropping out and players playing with niggles, and that is costing them.
"Also the likes of Johnny Evans, who were playing without any pressure earlier in the season, are now playing right at the business end of the season where little mistakes seem to get punished and that really hurts you, especially as a young player.
"It's a vital time to have your experienced players playing and United have got to get Rio Ferdinand and Nemanja Vidic back as the centre two because their back four has looked very shaky.
"However, I really think they're going to win in Porto. The brilliance and individual talent of their players going forward will always get them out of jail."
United's title rivals, Liverpool, were also left disappointed after their Champions League first leg, which they lost 3-1 at home to Chelsea.
They face Blackburn this weekend and Gale believes they will have to be alert to Sam Allardyce's sides' attempts to exploit their defence from free-kicks and corners, as Chelsea did on Wednesday night.
"For the first fifteen minutes against Chelsea Liverpool were flying and I was thinking 'they're going to do the Champions League and Premier League double'," said Gale. "Then all of a sudden it goes.
"I thought Chelsea got on top in the midfield area and that Steven Gerrard was carrying an injury. I do think his groin was affecting him but that's taking nothing away from Michael Essien, who I thought was excellent.
"Now they face Blackburn, who everyone knows will be very direct at set pieces.
"We've seen the frailties of Liverpool at set pieces against Chelsea in midweek so Blackburn will try to exploit that at every opportunity -they're one of the best teams in the league at it, so it won't be an easy game for Liverpool."
At the other end of the table Alan Shearer will take his Newcastle side to Stoke City for a vital bottom-of-the-table clash at the Britannia Stadium.
Gale predicted the former Newcastle captain will guide the Magpies to safety, starting with a draw against Stoke on Saturday. "He will get out of it," said Gale. "It may start here - I fancy them to get a point from it.
"The bombs are going to be coming in from Stoke from throw-ins and corners and the Newcastle defenders and midfield players will have to take the responsibility to head the ball clear. When they get the ball, they also have to be brave enough to play.
"They'll be relying on the likes of Obafemi Martins and Michael Owen to get them a goal, but they will have to be really brave in this game. I'm sure Alan Shearer and Iain Dowie will be really pumping them up and getting them up for it."
