You’re never Gunner derail United’s title bid
MANCHESTER UNITED VS ARSENAL
AFTER a few worries in March, Manchester United are cantering towards an incredible 11th Premier League title and it looks like Sir Alex Ferguson will be lifting the trophy in front of his oldest adversary, Arsene Wenger. The win against Wigan on Wednesday night means that United now only require one point from their last two games and it would be one of the biggest shocks sport has ever seen if they blew it. Arsenal have gone off the boil in recent weeks and have been well and truly put to the sword by both United and Chelsea. There is no doubt that Wenger will want to right a few of those wrongs, which could make for an intriguing clash tomorrow. The bookmakers are taking no chances with United, who are a best-priced 8/13 – the shortest price they have been in this fixture for well over 10 years. That is too short for me against a side who can beat anyone on their day and when a draw is enough for United. We must therefore look to other betting options and Bettorlogic analysis reveals that Arsenal’s opening goal at Anfield last month was the first time they have scored in the opening period at the Big Four since 2003/04. In fact, eight of their last nine Premier League away games at Big Four sides have seen more goals scored in the second half. It may just be that the first half could be a little nervy and eight of the last 14 Big Four Premier League contests at Old Trafford have produced more goals in the second half. This is even more apparent with recent Big Four games, as seven of the nine all-Big Four league encounters in 2009 have been higher scoring after the interval, as have 11 of 15 since last November. Sporting Index have launched their new website this week and the in-play functionality has improved massively. If this game is low-scoring at the break, I’d advise in-play spread punters to buy total goals, as the floodgates really could open up late on.
POINTERS…
Second-half to be highest scoring half at EVS general Buy total match goals at half-time with Sporting Index (if one or fewer goals scored in opening period)
BOLTON WANDERERS VS HULL CITY
PHIL Brown travels to his old club knowing that a win is vital if his side are to avoid sliding straight back down to the Championship. It all looked so good for the Tigers back in December, having taken 23 points from their first 15 matches and lying in a European spot. However, if they don’t manage to escape relegation they will have suffered the biggest fall from grace in Premier League history. The most number of points any club has had after 15 games and gone down was Crystal Palace’s 19 in 1997/98, whilst no other side has been relegated having collected more than 16 points from their first 15 games. Hull have never played at the Reebok, but you have to go back to 1935 for the last time they won at Bolton (12 defeats since then), whilst the Trotters have now kept a clean sheet in 14 of their last 19 home games against the bottom-six. They have also won to nil on ten (53 per cent) occasions, which fits in nicely with Hull failing to find the net in six of their last eight away games and losing five of those to nil. Gary Megson’s side also have a habit of half-time draws against the lower sides, with 16 of their last 20 against bottom-six sides at the Reebok going into the interval level. The Tigers have been level at the break in their last two visits to middle-third sides and have only picked up seven points from their last 39 on the road.
POINTERS…
HT draw / FT Bolton at 9/2 on Betdaq Bolton to win with a clean sheet at 11/4 with Boylesports Sell total match goals at 2.4 with Sporting Index
CHELSEA VS BLACKBURN ROVERS
THIS is something of a dead rubber with Chelsea assured of at least third spot and Blackburn safe from the dreaded drop. Guus Hiddink will want his side to end the season on a high and they have to be commended for the way they came out and played against Arsenal last weekend. They still have an outside chance of claiming second place if Liverpool slip up at West Brom and a good win here would give them added momentum going into the FA Cup Final against Everton. Chelsea have a brilliant record at home against bottom-half sides, going W44-D11-L0 in 55 since Christmas 2003. They have won 27 (49 per cent) of those by at least two goals, while Blackburn have gone W0-D2-L11 away to the Big Four since October 2005 and ten of those defeats were by at least two goals.
POINTER…
Buy Chelsea supremacy at 1.7 with Sporting Index