Three-in-one

Anorak’s Big Game Banker bet – £70 on 1/2 at Coral

Unfortunately I was unable to place, or provide you with, any bets in midweek. However, I have been declared “a reasonably healthy male” and I am determined to make up for lost time. Resultantly, I have gone for a combined three-in-one bet.

To clarify:-

• It tenuously qualifies as an Anorak’s bet because it is not on the match result.
• It is a Banker because it is almost nailed on.
• It hinges somewhat on the Big Game. Therefore… you got it!

Manchester City V Manchester United (Monday 20.00) – United to win the Premier League.

Monday night’s clash between Manchester United and Manchester City is the most significant and toughest-to-call Manchester derby in Premier League history.

The bookies make City clear favourites [best price 5/4 at William Hill]  because of home advantage and, perhaps, a certain 6-1 win at Old Trafford in October. However, Newcastle United are the only English top-flight side in better form than the Red Devils.

I simply cannot call this match. In the past five meetings at the Etihad Stadium, each side has won twice and there has been one draw.

This game has been dubbed a ‘winner takes all’ affair. However, it isn’t.

City, who are three points behind their rivals in the Premier League table, do need to win to keep their title chase alive.

A draw would leave United firmly in the driving seat, while a win will all but mathematically seal their 20th English championship.

However, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men will still have a huge chance of retaining their crown if they lose this titanic tussle.

Roberto Mancini’s men would go top with a win against their enemy, but only on goal difference. That means the Citizens would still have no margin for error.

City’s final two fixtures are away at high-flying Champions League chasers Newcastle and at home to ultra-determined relegation-scrappers Queens Park Rangers.

Conversely, United have comfortable fixtures against two mid-table sides – Swansea City and Sunderland – who have nothing to play for.

Been there, won that, made the shit tee-shirt.

Pray for Muamba

Weekly Review

It was an excellent result in terms of Pie betting this week, with a 100% profit resulting from the £75 staked.

Liverpool 3-0 Everton (Tip: Under 2.5 goals -£10)

Barnsley 0-4 Reading (Tip: Reading to win [banker] +£47.50)

Tottenham Hotspur A-A Bolton Wanderers (Tip: Bolton (+2) to win void)

Wolves 0-5 Manchester United (Tip: Man United (-3) to win +£37.50)

However, the weekend of sport was put into perspective by the awful scenes at White Hart Lane which saw Bolton Wanderers midfielder Fabrice Muamba collapse and suffer a shocking cardiac arrest on the pitch.

The 23-year-old was unable to be resuscitated by medical staff at the stadium and his heart remained stopped for almost two hours before finally being restarted.

He is now in a critical condition in intensive care at the London Chest Hospital’s Heart Attack Centre.

Fabrice Muamba

Backlash

Longshot – £5 on 15/2 at William Hill

Wolverhampton Wanderers V Manchester United (Sunday 13.30) – Man United (-3) to win

Wolves aren’t very good at all. Last week, following their home defeat to Blackburn Rovers (which the Pie predicted), there were more protests from angry fans. The Midlanders sneaked a 2-1 win this fixture last season, on a day where the Molineux fans played a huge part in their team’s success. However, I believe on Sunday that the home fans may contribute to their team’s downfall.

Over the past 25 years, we have learnt that Sir Alex Ferguson’s Man United are at their most dangerous following a humbling defeat. Therefore, history tells us that Athletic Bilbao’s 2-1 Europa League win on Thursday night, which saw the Reds suffer the indignity an early exit from a tournament they were already embarrased to be competing in, is bad bad news for Terry Connor’s men.

United have played the current bottom four on five occasions so far this season and have won comfortably every time. The aggregate of their victories is 19 to one, an average of 3.8-0.2.

Wolves have lost two of their last four by a four-goal margin... I predict another howler.

Them’s the rules

Weekend Review

Courtesy of a little ‘Brucie bonus’ in the form William Hill’s first goalscorer policy, what I perceived to be a minuscule loss this weekend was, in fact, a tidy win.

Liverpool 1-2 Arsenal (Tip: Robin van Persie to score first +£25)

The bookmaker’s goalscorer market rules state: “Own goals do not count in pre-match first goalscorer betting. In the event of an own goal first goalscorer bets are not void but carry forward to the next goal.”

Therefore, despite Laurent Koscielny opening the scoring at Anfield on Saturday afternoon by slicing the ball past his own keeper, the second goal of the game, scored by Robin van Persie, was recognised by William Hill as the first. Winner.

Tottenham Hotspur 1-3 Manchester United (Tip: Both teams to score +£6.15)

As a Spurs fan, I was disappointed by the result, but goals goals goals were promised and delivered. Ronseal.

Newcastle United 1-1 Sunderland (Tip: Newcastle to win -£10)

I predicted a home win and it could have been so but for an inspired display from Simon Mignolet, including superb use of gamesmanship in the build up to Demba Ba’s failed penalty kick. My side-note prediction of a Sunderland red card was proved correct though, as the Tyneside cauldron got the better of Stephane Sessegnon and then the ever-reliable Lee Cattermole.

Manchester City 2-0 Bolton Wanderers (Tip: Manchester City to win [banker] +£8.33)

A genuine cruise for Roberto Mancini’s team, who are now just a win against Chelsea away from breaking the Premier League record for most consecutive home wins (currently 19 [joint with Manchester United]).

Good games

After the rollercoaster of the past fortnight, the Pie will be reducing its weekly output by 50%. A £50 banker, £10 Anorak’s bet, £10 bet on the Big Game and a £5 Longshot will still be featured. However, these tips will be delivered in two instalments throughout the week.

Goals goals goals

Anorak’s bet – £10 on 8/13 BetFred

Tottenham Hotspur V Manchester United (Sunday 16.10) – Both teams to score: Yes 

Harry Redknapp’s Tottenham Hotspur have scored in every Premier League game played at White Hart Lane this season. Their home goal-scoring run stretches over 18 matches. Similarly, visitors Man United have only failed to find the net once in their last 21 away games in all competitions.

On average this season, United have scored 2.42 goals per league game and conceded 1. Spurs have scored 1.96 and conceded 1.15.

Last season, these teams played out a goalless draw in this fixture. However, this will NOT be repeated on Sunday. Barring a Bolton Wanderers miracle on Saturday, the Reds will need three points to keep within touching distance of their neighbouring title rivals.  Meanwhile, Spurs will be seeking redemption from their supporters after shipping five goals in last week’s awful 5-2 defeat to Arsenal.

Expect the onion bag to bulge at both ends.