Champions to round off league campaign in style
THE Premier League season comes to an end on Sunday and there are still some scores to be settled at the bottom of the table. However, MANCHESTER UNITED were crowned champions at Blackburn last weekend and they thoroughly deserve their 19th league title. It couldn’t be described as a vintage United team, but they have ground out results when it mattered and their home form has been outstanding.
There is no doubt that Sir Alex Ferguson will field a weakened team against relegation-threatened Blackpool with the Champions League final less than a week away, but he did the same against Schalke in the semi-final and his side still won 4-1. He has a strong squad at his disposal and the fringe players will want to impress.
United have won 17 of their 18 home league games this season with 15 of them coming by the HT / FT double result. Ian Holloway’s Blackpool will obviously be up for this one, but they don’t have the quality of their counterparts and the United HT / FT result is massive at 6/4 with Paddy Power.
Charles N’Zogbia’s injury time winner against West Ham last Sunday gave WIGAN a lifeline and Roberto Martinez knows that another victory at Stoke this Sunday will more than likely preserve his side’s top flight status. The Potters have an excellent home record, but they have had a tough week, losing out twice to Manchester City.
Tony Pulis’ men have had another strong season, but there is every chance they will still be suffering from an FA Cup hangover and Wigan look decent at 13/10 with William Hill.
If Wigan manage to win at Stoke, or even take a point, then BIRMINGHAM could be doomed and they are the value bet at 7/10 with Victor Chandler to be relegated. Alex McLeish’s outfit are in freefall, having taken just one point from their last five games, and they know that even a win at Tottenham might not be enough to guarantee safety.
Spurs, meanwhile, need a victory to ensure they remain in fifth place and that seems likely considering their strong record at White Hart Lane. However, I’d rather back Blues to go down at 7/10 than Spurs to win the game at 8/15.
Arsenal will be hoping that Bolton can do them a favour against Man City, but I actually think they’ll have problems themselves against FULHAM at Craven Cottage. The Gunners’ confidence has evaporated in recent weeks and although the Cottagers were stuffed by Liverpool recently, they are a strong side on home soil. At 3/1 on Betdaq they are worth backing.
Finally, in the Bolton v Man City game, I can’t resist BUYING TOTAL GOALS at 3.1 with Sporting Index. There have been at least three goals in eight of Bolton’s last nine home matches against top-six sides and a minimum of four in seven of those.