Premiership Title and Relegation Betting Update

The midweek Premiership action saw two large gaps appear at the top and bottom of the league. Although choice for punters betting on the outright winner is down to two, the relegation battle offers some very interesting opportunities.

Manchester United and Chelsea continue to fight out their own private Premiership after both teams won their vital midweek games. United were too classy for Everton at Old Trafford despite missing several key names. Eventually United ran out 3-0 winners, pushing their points total up to a huge 38. Chelsea held on to a 1-0 win at Bolton to stay three points adrift on 35.

Following the action, bookmakers kept prices roughly the same with Chelsea still title favourites at 4/6. Manchester United are 6/4. Punters should take into consideration the goal difference advantage Manchester United retain over Chelsea. United have scored 9 goals more. This, in effect, puts the Red Devils 4 points ahead.

The relegation battle continues to heat up at the bottom of the Premiership. Despite being nailed to the foot of the table and after parting company with Iain Dowie, Charlton are only 3rd favourites for the drop with Blue Square at 8/13. Historically teams who are bottom of the Premiership at the turn of the year always go down. However, joining Charlton on 9 points are Watford. Watford faced Sheffield United last Tuesday in what many tipped as a "do or die" match. Sheffield "did" and pulled 4 points ahead of Watford, who are now 1/6 with Blue Square to "die".

Even after this away victory for Sheffield United, Neil Warnock's men are still heavily odds-on to return to the Championship next season. 1/3 at Blue Square is not very inviting.

The Charlton relegation price appears outstanding value right now. Many pundits are churning out the old lines about this side being "too good to go down". Nottingham Forest fans will remember similar talk a few seasons back. Make no mistake, Charlton are in real trouble. With 2 wins from 14 starts and a terrible away record, the Addicks should really be much shorter than 8/13.

The full relegation market from Blue Square, correct at the time of publication, is:

Watford 1/6
Sheffield United 1/3
Charlton Athletic 8/13
West Ham United 11/2
Newcastle United 11/2
Middlesbrough 6/1
Fulham 6/1
Wigan Athletic 7/1
Manchester City 8/1
Blackburn Rovers 10/1
Reading 14/1
Portsmouth 40/1
Bolton Wanderers 40/1
Aston Villa 50/1
Everton 100/1
Tottenham Hotspur 100/1


Ed note: The best prices for all your Premiership bets are at Blue Square

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