Bet on Sunderland keeping a half-time clean sheet with Man Utd

The fact that Sunderland have not won at Old Trafford in 46 years should not be a deterrent to punters fancying them reaching their first major cup final in 22 years when playing their Capital One Cup second leg with Manchester United.

After all, Sunderland only need a draw to seal their spot alongside Manchester City at Wembley and it is 15/8 in the Capital One Cup odds that they qualify for the final.

One defeat in nine games is a good enough reason to favour Sunderland, although the fact that they won the first leg 2-1 is not a great omen.

Of the last nine examples of a team leading 2-1 from a home first leg in the semi finals of this competition, eight have ended up going out.

Man Utd do look a bit short to put total faith in to qualify at 2/5, especially as they have lost four of their last five games in all competitions.

However, if they are to overturn their deficit, it may prove shrewd to back the Red Devils doing their scoring in the second half.

David Moyes’ team have only scored in the opening period in one of their last six games and two of their last seven on their own patch.

Sunderland can be pretty stingy on the road too, keeping four first-half clean sheets in their last five games away from the Stadium of Light.

Patience is likely to be the key for Man Utd then, with 13/8 a nice price on Moyes’ men failing to score in the first half.

With Robin van Persie out and Wayne Rooney also unlikely to be passed fit, the pressure will again fall on the shoulders of Danny Welbeck to score for Man Utd.

Welbeck has scored six goals in his last 10 appearances for Man Utd and having previously played for Sunderland on loan, it would be fate if he was responsible for their League Cup exit.

It is 4/1 that Welbeck scores the opener and 4/5 that he is on target at any point in the 90 minutes.

If Sunderland are to score, there is a strong possibility that Adam Johnson may be involved, after scoring and assisting nine of their last 11 goals.