The Sack Race has ended with Gibson backing Southgate

A round-up of all the long-standing football markets

There’s not much football taking place this week so chickendinner decided to take a look at how some of the season-long betting markets are shaping up as the season reaches its climax:

Next Manager to Go
It looks like there will be no more sackings this season after Middlesbrough chairman Steve Gibson pledged his support to Gareth Southgate. Sky Bet now offer 2/5 on nobody else losing their job while Southgate is 4/1 and Tony Mowbray 6/1.

Top Goalscorer
Cristiano Ronaldo and Steven Gerrard trail Nicolas Anelka by two goals but news of the Frenchman’s toe injury has seen them both over him in Paddy Power’s market. Ronaldo is 13/8, Gerrard 15/8 and Anelka 9/4.

To Avoid Relegation
In 2004-05 it was West Brom, in 2005-06 it was Portsmouth. 2006-07 was West Ham’s turn and last year Bolton and Fulham were breathing huge sighs of relief. One team recovers from almost certain relegation to survive almost every season. West Brom are 7/1 with Paddy Power to perform another Great Escape but it looks like being too big an ask. Middlesbrough may be four points from safety but with Hull, Fulham and Aston Villa yet to visit the Riverside and away games with off-form Bolton and Newcastle, they are not dead and buried yet.

Posted: March 24th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

West Brom need to repeat their Arsenal heroics of 2005

Previews of tonight’s other two Premier League matches

Sky Sports chose to televise Liverpool’s clash with Sunderland tonight, probably under the misguided belief that the Reds would still be in the title race come March, but there are two other big Premier League games tonight. One match sees a struggling team incapable of scoring goals and without a league win in five travel to West Brom while the other sees Guus Hiddink’s Chelsea visit relegation-threatened Portsmouth:

Portsmouth v Chelsea
Chelsea have won their two previous meetings with Portsmouth this season 4-0 and consequently that scoreline is priced as low as 22/1 with Paddy Power. Pompey have taken just one point from their last fourteen meetings with the Blues and that came at Fratton Park last season when Jermain Defoe equalised on his debut. Hiddink’s side are the second best away side in the league, with nine wins from thirteen. Portsmouth have won just one of their last seven domestic home games and haven’t won consecutive games at Fratton Park since Harry Redknapp left.

West Brom v Arsenal

Posted: March 3rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Everton are 5/4 to beat West Brom to nil with Paddy Power

Everton/WBA, Saturday 12.45pm, Sky S1, Free Bets, Best Odds

Everton aren’t losing at home and West Brom aren’t winning away so it’s hard to see why this game has been televised. The home win is rather short at 1/2 so the best value bet on offer is the Paddy Power’s 5/4 on Tim Howard and co shutting the visitors out. Here’s why that should happen:

» Everton are unbeaten in five Premier League home games and over that period they have conceded just one goal, a last-gasp equaliser scored by Arsenal striker Robin van Persie.

» The Toffees have won three of their last four league games at Goodison Park while keeping clean sheets.

» All three of those wins have come against teams in the bottom-half of the table too: Sunderland (3-0), Hull (2-0) and Bolton (3-0).

Posted: February 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Manchester Utd and Fulham should both win at home

Man Utd/Blackburn, Sat 5.30pm, Setanta S1, Free Bets, Best Odds
Fulham/WBA, Sunday 1.30pm, Sky Sports 1, Free Bets, Best Odds

It’s not often that we group together two televised Premier League games but with Manchester United facing Blackburn and Fulham hosting West Brom, both sides have a strong chance of winning. A double comprising of the Red Devils winning to nil and the Cottagers taking three points is generally available at 2/1 and here’s why that looks like good value:

Why the champions should fulfil their half of the bargain…

» Manchester United have won eleven successive league games, and have won 16 and drawn one of their 17 since losing to Man City last February.

» Sir Alex Ferguson’s side have kept clean sheets in ten of their twelve home Premier League games this season, winning to nil in each of the last seven.

» Blackburn haven’t won any of their last eight away league games and they have failed to score in each of their last three.

Posted: February 20th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Burnley go into FA Cup replay with West Brom as favourites

Click here for the latest odds on tonight’s fourth round replay

Burnley have triumphed in all five of their cup matches at Turf Moor this season (one after extra time) and picked up results against four Premier League teams in the Carling Cup. The bookmakers aren’t risking another loss so 888sport and Paddy Power have chalked the hosts up at 13/10 favourites.

West Brom reached the semi-finals last year but have won just two of their fourteen away games this season and are 23/10 with Bet365 to triumph. Of last year’s other semi-finalists, Portsmouth and Barnsley have already bowed out while Cardiff need to beat Arsenal at the Emirates to progress.

Prior to the 2-2 draw at the Hawthorns in the initial tie, the hosts had won four straight meetings between the teams, again offering Burnley an edge.

Posted: February 3rd, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment

Statistics on tonight’s other three Premier League games

Tottenham and Stoke will contest a “relegation six-pointer”

Tottenham v Stoke
Spurs may be winless in six league games but Stoke haven’t won in eight (ten in all competitions) and Tony Pulis was beaten 2-1 by his former Bournemouth colleague Harry Redknapp at Portsmouth earlier this season. The Potters beat Spurs earlier this season in Juande Ramos’ last league game but haven’t won away all season and have lost 2-1 twice in London (to West Ham and Chelsea) over the last month. Spurs have lost just one of their twelve home games under Redknapp and are 15/2 with 888sport to win 2-1, the scoreline in half of Stoke’s away league defeats.

West Brom v Manchester United

Posted: January 27th, 2009 by Michael Lintorn | Add Comment