Opta Big Match Stats: Man United captain to slay PNE

Louis van Gaal is often accused of misusing Wayne Rooney

Wayne Rooney has a superb scoring record in the FA Cup, though Man United must be wary of Paul Gallagher...

Preston v Man United
Monday, 19:45
Live on BBC One

Match Odds: Preston 7.26/1, Man Utd 1.511/2, The Draw 4.67/2

Man United have lost just one of their last 42 FA Cup matches against lower-league teams (W34 D7)

This solitary loss came at the hands of sworn enemies Leeds back in 2009/10, engineered by Preston boss Simon Grayson, but the Red Devils' record around that unforeseen defeat is a formidable one, as detailed above.

While Louis van Gaal's troops have been heavily criticised recently, they have won 12 of their last 18 games in all competitions, only being beaten once, and were ahead by half time in their past three triumphs.

Preston's last league loss complied with this trend, while their sole home league defeat to date also saw them trailing at the Vitamin C intake break.

Recommended Bet: Back Man United to lead at half time and full time @ 2.285/4

Wayne Rooney has scored six goals in his last seven FA Cup matches

Though he is still awaiting his first strike in the competition this season, Rooney is among the frontrunners to score first at Deepdale.

Of the six goals in question in the bolded stat above, only two were registered before any of his on-pitch peers, meaning punters will be better served backing him to nudge the scoreboard operator into action at any point of the contest at the still-enticing price of 2.47/5.

Likewise, just five of his 14 goals for club and country this term were the first of the encounters that they came in, and two of those were 1-0 England victories.

Recommended Bet: Back Rooney to score @ 2.47/5

Paul Gallagher has scored five goals in his last three FA Cup appearances

Preston owe the Scottish forward who they have loaned in from Leicester plenty for their run to the fifth round. The 30-year-old has struck in each FA Cup outing since the turn of the year, including twice in the fourth-round replay at Sheffield United to set up this Man United meeting.

There is a case for backing Gallagher to break the deadlock as the first goal in Preston's third and fourth-round proper matches were scored by him and he started their comeback against the Blades in the replay, but he is such an attractive price to net at any time that it isn't a necessity.

Recommended Bet: Back Gallagher to score @ 5.59/2

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