Fulham travel to Old Trafford this afternoon and the full weight of history is against them. The facts that accompany this fixture are so heavily stacked in Manchester United's favour you could almost be excused for dismissing them as fiction. The Cottagers have lost 19 of 23 visits to Old Trafford, with their only win coming in 1993 in a 0-2 victory in the old First Division. United have since won eight home League games on the trot against Fulham - ten in all competitions - and hold a 100pc home Premiership record over the Cottagers (two wins out of two). Not only have Fulham to overcome history if they are to emerge winners in this clash but the choice of referee for this match would seem to be against them as well! Mike Riley's recent record when officiating games at Old Trafford also almost beggars belief - he's awarded seven penalties in five games for United and none for their opponents; three Red Devil players have been cautioned as opposed to 12 visiting players; three visiting players have received red cards, while no United player has been sent off; and Manchester United have gone on to win all five of those games, scoring 16 goals and conceding just one. This remarkable sequence is part of the reason Bet365 offer 16-1 for Riley to award United two penalties today - something he has done on his last two visits to Old Trafford! Given what Fulham are up against even before they step out on to the field of play, you could be forgiven for immediately marking this game down as a home banker. I would agree that United should be favourites for today's game and the Cottagers underdogs - and most bookies price the visitors around about the 9-1 mark. However, Blue Square are offering a standout 12-1 on an away win and despite the evidence presented above, I think this price is too good to miss. While Fulham had a forgettable campaign last season, Chris Coleman has confounded his critics by completely exorcising the ghost of his predecessor and getting Fulham off to a solid start this season. What makes Fulham a punting proposition for me today is their style of play. Most sides will go to Old Trafford with a defensive mindset but I don't believe Fulham will. Louis Saha returns to the side after missing two games through injury and aided by the Frenchman's pace and trickery, I honestly think they have a chance of running the Champions close today. The West Londoners are one of three clubs to have scored in all but one of their Premiership matches and I don't think a win in Manchester is as unlikely as Blue Square's oddsmakers believe it to be. For my spreads selection, I'm concentrating on a game which could very likely be contested in the First Division next season. Wolves entertain Leicester at Molineux this afternoon and with both sides requiring points, goals could be on the agenda here. Both sides will be familiar with each other having contested three games last season, with eight goals scored. Both will think they can win and that is usually the recipe for goals, so a buy of total goals at 2.5 is the call. Fixed odds bet of the weekend Fulham to beat Man Utd at 12-1 (Blue Square) Spread bet of the weekend Buy Wolves-Leicester total goals at 2.5 (Sporting Index) | 
