All the footprints you've ever left and fear expecting ahead (Burnley)

Tricky fixture tonight, newly promoted Burnley's first home game, and against us, they could be well up for the game. My other concern is the referee - Phil Dowd, who lest we forget, was in charge of our defeat away to Fulham last year where he sent Scholes (correctly) and Rooney (incorrectly) off, and missed a foul in the build up to Fulham's second. Here's a report from just after the game, where it notes that this was the second time that Dowd has sent 2 of our players off in a game and has this quote from Paddy Crerand, inspired by Dowd's performance:

"We have a situation in England where we have the worst referees God ever created."

So perhaps this fixture, where the crowd are going to be really going for it and trying their hardest to influence the ref, isn't the best place for Phil Dowd to be in charge of us.
Onto the team and defensive injuries are rife, so the starting back four could have an unfamiliar look to it. There's talk in the papers of rushing Vidic and/or Neville back, with Evans, who went off during the Birmingham game a major doubt. It's possible that the back 4 will be - Fabio, O'Shea, Brown, Evra. Which should still hopefully have enough to control Burnley's strike force. Onto Midfield and with Carrick rested on Sunday, I expect to see him back in there, possibly with Fletcher, though some papers are tipping Anderson for the place and it could be a good game for him to get going. See Valencia and Nani starting on the wings again after both looked good against Birmingham. Up front, why change things? Start with Rooney and Berba who looked like they were linking up well last game.
Match facts from the BBC: Interesting one on our power against the smaller teams

Man Utd took maximum points against the promoted clubs last season, scoring 20 goals against Hull, Stoke and West Brom. They were similarly ruthless in 2007/08, winning all six games against Sunderland, Birmingham and Derby.

Another interesting one highlighting the importance of Phil Dowd's appointment

The champions have also won nine of their last 10 away games in the top flight, a run stretching back to last December. Their only slip-up since then was the 2-0 loss at Fulham on 18 February.

And like Birmingham last game, it's been a while since Burnley beat us

Burnley's last win against the Red Devils was 1-0 at Turf Moor on 14 September 1968.

Prediction: Haven't seen the highlights of Burnley's loss at Stoke so not really sure what they'll bring to the game, and the unknown element of how they'll react to their first home game against such a big club makes it harder to predict what they'll perform like. Fully expect a tough game but a tough game that our extra class and experience will give us the edge in. Hopefully kill them off with an early goal and then get our passing game on to quiet it further. Going for 2-0 to us. That's assuming that Phil Dowd doesn't fancy making headlines again...