Premiership Betting Review - 26 February 2006
Manchester United are the 2005/06 Carling Cup winners following
a 4-0 demolition of Wigan Athletic at the Millennium Stadium.
United, as short as 8/13 on the day, took the lead after 32
minutes through Wayne Rooney but it was a three goals in six
minutes salvo in the second half that devastated outsiders
Wigan. Louis Saha netted after 54 minutes, Cristiano Ronaldo on
58 and Rooney again on the hour to win the Cup in emphatic
fashion.
With United not playing in the Premiership this weekend, Chelsea
extended their lead at the top to 15 points with an expected
victory over Portsmouth. The Blues were overwhelming favourites
at 1/6 and did not disappoint short-odds backers with second
half goals from Frank Lampard and Arjen Robben to win the match
2-0.
Liverpool drew level on points with Manchester United but remain
third after a 1-0 win against Manchester City on Sunday. Harry
Kewell's goal five minutes before the break was enough to secure
all three points for the 8/15 Reds.
Arsenal's dire away form in the Premiership continued as they
lost 1-0 at Blackburn Rovers. The 5/4 Gunners will have
attracted a lot of punting interest, however, it was 21/10
Rovers that took the points after Morten Gamst Pedersen's
decisive goal. The result saw Blackburn leapfrog Arsenal into
fifth place while condemning them to their eighth away defeat of
the season.
Birmingham City are within touching distance of safety after a
vital win against Sunderland. Even though prior to the match the
Blues had won just three games all season at St. Andrews, plenty
will have ploughed into the 7/10 odds and Emile Heskey headed in
the winner after 39 minutes.
In another crunch relegation battle, Middlesbrough edged
themselves closer to safety but piled on more pressure on West
Bromwich Albion after winning 2-0 at the Hawthorns. Jimmy Floyd
Hasselbaink's goals on 17 and 44 was enough to seal victory at
tasty 9/5 odds.
Caretaker manager Glenn Roeder made it three wins in four
matches for 11/10 Newcastle with a 2-0 victory against Everton.
Two goals from Nolberto Solano after 64 and 76 minutes saw
Everton lose their first match since December 28.