
Hang on to your hats folks, there’s a wild ride coming up. Nine critical matches in 28 days to be exact with the home, fourth round Carling Cup clash with Wolves the only one in which the pressure may not be quite as great. Mind you, although that competition is admittedly not the highest of priorities, the prospect of winning it three successive times is quite a tasty one. It will be a month that may well define the whole season but as we have seen many times before, Sir Alex Ferguson has been there and done it time and time again.
This is the schedule that Manchester United face in the next 28 days. It’s not easy but qualification for the knockout stages of the Champions League depends on it and if the title hopes are to stay alive, enough points must be obtained in order to remain at the top, or at least within reach, of the league leaders.
16 Oct v WBA – Home
20 Oct v Bursaspor – Home
24 Oct v Stoke City – Away
26 Oct v Wolves Carling Cup – Home
30 Oct v Tottenham Hotspur – Home
02 Nov v Bursaspor – Away
06 Nov v Wolves – Home
10 Nov v Manchester City – Away
13 Nov v Aston Villa – Away
Five home matches from the first seven should make the task just that little bit easier but the clash at Eastlands and an awkward visit to Villa Park will really set the cat amongst the pigeons. One point from the derby and three at Villa will set up United for a new year assault on the title.
Without wishing to overestimate the four weeks ahead, United’s entire season may well hinge upon them.
How many points does United need to obtain from these fixtures?