Premiership Betting Review – April 2, 2006
Manchester United closed the gap with leaders Chelsea to seven points after a hard-fought victory at Bolton. Kevin Davies gave the Trotters the lead in the 26th minute, but Louis Saha tied for the Reds in the 33rd minute. Ruud van Nistelrooy scored his 150th goal for 9/10 United with 11 minutes to go.
Birmingham salvaged a precious point at St Andrews against 1/3 (Gamebookers) Chelsea in the biggest coupon game of the weekend. Hernán Crespo wasted a good opportunity at the end and the match ended in a 0-0 draw with odds of a tie at a tasty 4/1.
Robbie Fowler topped Kenny Dalglish on Liverpool’s all-time goal table when the Reds beat the WBA 2-0 at the Hawthorns. Fowler needed just seven minutes for his record goal, while Djibril Cisse seven minutes before the break sealed the Reds’ victory 4/7.
Tottenham’s control in fourth place was loosened when they crashed 3-1 at Newcastle. Lee Bowyer put Magpies ahead at 8/13 in the second minute, but Robbie Keane tied things at 19. Shola Ameobi in the 25th minute and an Alan Shearer penalty in the half hour ended a three-game losing streak in the league.
Arsenal closed the gap with fourth-placed Tottenham to just two points after giving Aston Villa a soccer lesson at Highbury. Emmanuale Adebayor scored in the 19th minute and Thierry Henry doubled the lead in the 25th minute. Henry scored a second moment after the break, while Robin van Persie in the 71st and Vassiriki Diaby in the 80th made the 3/10 Gunners the biggest bet. safe in the afternoon.
Portsmouth was given a chance to survive with a third consecutive victory. Gary O’Neill broke the stalemate at Craven Cottage in one minute, but Fulham tied through Steed Malbranque after 10. Pompey took the lead through Lomano LuaLua at 24 and O’Neill’s second secured an unexpected 31 / win. 10.
Sunderland survived a stay of execution with a 2-2 draw at Goodison Park. Everton took the lead in the fifth minute through Leon Osman, but forward John Stead scored his first goal of the season to equalize at 16. James McFadden put the Toffees in front 10 minutes later, but Rory Delap secured a tie 7 / 2 to 10 minutes from the end.
Middlesbrough banished their relegation fears and are 10 points away from the drop zone after a 1-0 win at Manchester City. Lee Cattermole scored his first senior goal for the club four minutes before half-time to seal a major away win by 11/4.
West Ham forward Teddy Sheringham was denied a late win on his 40th birthday thanks to an instinctive save by Charlton goalkeeper Thomas Myhre during the 0-0 draw. Sheringham had one last chance to score an 11/10 win, but Myhre denied him.