It’s derby day in Manchester on Sunday afternoon …and just this once I’m sitting on the fence.
It should be a cracker at the Etihad with my prediction being a draw with both teams scoring.
That’s 6/1 at Betfred – and if you want to be specific we are 18/1 that the most eagerly awaited derby for years ends up 2-2.
Betfred make City 6/4 to win to nil and pick up all three points and maintain their lead over Liverpool, who have a relatively straight-forward game against West Ham at Anfield on Saturday evening.
But remember, it’s a one-off game and United still well in the frame for a top four finish look a sound 8/1 bet to win.
Incidentally, the most common scoreline bet with us is 3-1 to the Blues which is available at 11/1.
City players dominate the first goalscorer betting, with Raheem Sterling and Phil Foden both 11/2 – while Riyad Mahrez and Kevin De Bruyne are 5/1 and 6/1 respectively.
Ronaldo, despite his dip in form, is 9/1 to score the opener, with Bruno Fernandes 12/1 and Jadon Sancho a 16/1 shot.
He may be one of the greatest players to ever wear the red of United but Ronaldo is past his best as far as I’m concerned and I just can’t understand why he isn’t substituted more often.
Ronaldo really does get on my nerves like his compatriot Bruno Fernandes forever arguing with the ref.
They should be told to get on with it and concentrate on getting their form back. Having said that Ronaldo is clearly a big game player and here’s hoping he has his A Game on Sunday and dents City’s Premier League title hopes.
As a big Red it was heart breaking to pay out to the tune of £750,000 on City retaining the title before Christmas but despite the Blues slight dip in form and Liverpool going on a run I remain supremely confident City will be champions.
TURNING to Betfred Super League, Warrington are odds-on at Betfred to do as coach Daryl Powell has urged and find a few more gears when they take on last year’s Grand Final runners-up Catalans Dragons on Friday.
Despite the 32-18 victory over struggling Toulouse, Powell was far from happy, complaining that his team were way off the standard needed.
Powell was talking tough after the Toulouse win, but refused to blame injuries to key players Gareth Widdop, Ben Currie and Connor Wrench.
The Wire are one of three clubs unbeaten so far this season, with the Betfred Super League looking like a blast from the past as Wolves, Saints and Wigan fight it out at the top.
It’s likely to stay that way for at least another week too, with Warrington taking on the Dragons, Saints at Hull KR and Wigan against new boys Toulouse who are finding life in the top flight extremely tough.
Saints, who Powell admits are the team to beat this season, are our clear 13/8 favourites for Grand Final glory this season, with Wigan second-favourites at 4/1 – while Catalans and Warrington are both not far behind at 9/2.
Wire are 4/9 to pick up two more points against Catalans, who were impressive in their 10-4 victory at Leeds in the last round.
My home town club Salford have drifted out to 50/1 to win the Grand Final at Old Trafford on September 24 after their morale-sapping 48-16 defeat at Hull FC. And it doesn’t get any easier for the Red Devils with them at Huddersfield Giants on Sunday where they are 5/2 to triumph.
As Oldham born Betfred TV pundit Paul Sculthorpe says nothing much is likely to change after the coming round of fixtures?
Here’s RL legend Paul’s viewpoint: “Saints face another trip to Humberside to face Tony Smiths Hull KR. Never an easy game, but on current form I can’t see past another Saints win. Wigan face Super League new boys Toulouse, and again going off performances so far it will be a convincing win for the Warriors.
“The other game is a tough call- I’m still to be convinced Warrington have the quality to win silverware despite being so far 3 from 3. Darryl Powell seems to be pretty happy the way things are going for the Wolves so far in his first season in charge…so suppose we’ll wait and see!
“They face the Catalans Dragons, who we know as proven last year are capable of toppling anyone in the league. They themselves have yet to hit the form of 2021, but feel this might be the game they do that.
“The top three sides have had some stand out performers in the opening month of the Betfred Super League.
“Saints- Alex Walmsley and Mark Percival are two that jump out for me. Great to see Percy back to full fitness and getting over the tryline with some outstanding attacking play. Big Al just doing what he does- running through and over people! He has been devastating, carrying on from where he left off last year.
“At Wigan, Jai Field has lit up the Warriors attack which last year looked flat and predictable. Although playing for the arch rivals- he is the kind of player we want to see in the Betfred Super League.
“At Wire, albeit in my opinion not fully firing at the moment, it is clear that marquee signing George Williams will be key for Warrington if they are to have success in 2022. He was their stand-out performer last week against basement boys Toulouse, scoring a try, creating one, as well as collecting the most running metres gained. That is something I’d like to see him continue…as his run threat is his biggest asset.
“Unfortunately, one major talking point in RL at the moment is the RFL disciplinary and even more so the appeals process.
“Catalan boss Steve McNamara has been particularly vocal on this, asking for leeway for coaches to adapt to the new agendas set by officials following a flurry of both yellow and red cards in the opening three games.
“He has further commented about the RFL’s ruthlessness of increasing sentences on appeal, citing ‘frivolous appeals’. He just asks for a bit more relaxed approach to these as everyone tries to get their heads around the new guidelines.
“I 100% get why these laws have been clamped down on, as player welfare is rightly priority…but also the Governing Body having to protect its own integrity and legal position. This has no doubt followed a number of ex-players instigating legal action against the RFL for head injuries they claim received while playing.
“There is such a fine balance on this, as we certainly don’t want to see some of the stars of the games sat in the stands for weeks on end, but I don’t see anything changing so players and coaches MUST learn to adapt and be smarter with their actions.”
MEANWHILE my congratulations to a great grandad from Glossop who was so determined to get his bet on that he went on a 10-mile round trip because Betfred had run out of coupons.
The 73-year-old retired engineer was feeling gloomy during stormy weather and, despite protests from his partner, went to his local Betfred shop on High Street West, Glossop, only to be told they had run out of his favourite Irish Lotto Cash Ball coupons.
But that didn’t stop him, as he then travelled to our shop on Beech Street, Hyde, where he picked out numbers 4, 10, 18, 27 and 39 – with the booster ball number 23.
All but number four were drawn out, and his £2 wager thanks to Betfred turned into a healthy £25,000 windfall.
He said: “It was absolutely chucking it down and my partner said I shouldn’t go out, but I ignored her as I kept thinking this would be the day my numbers come in.
“When I got to my local shop in Glossop they told me they’d run out of my favourite coupon, but I just knew I had to get this bet on.
“I was born in Gorton, and what does an international playboy from Gorton do when he’s won so much? Rent a caravan in Skegness for the family for a week in July, that’s what – and then a trip to Wetherspoons with his family for some fish and chips to celebrate.
“Most of the money will go on recarpeting every room in our home. It’s great to win so much from such a small bet.”
The father-of-two credits a long-time fishing pal with selecting three of his numbers – 18, 27 and 10.
He opted for 4 because it’s the age of his granddaughter – and she won’t be getting any sweets as a treat this week as that number didn’t come out.
Thirty-nine was picked because it’s his son’s birthday – and 23 he’s always regarded as a lucky number as that’s when he changed jobs having completed his apprenticeship.
This jovial regular has proved once again that you can win big from a tiny stake at Betfred.
Well done to him, and I hope he enjoys his week in Skegness when hopefully there is a big change for the better in the weather.
A goal in the first five minutes and another one six minutes from time were enough to see Ashton safely into the second qualifying round of this year's FA Cup and a home tie against Scarborough.
After squandering a two-goal lead at home to Prescot Cables on Saturday, Hyde United spared their FA Cup blushes with a 1-0 win in Tuesday’s First Qualifying Round replay.
Tameside clubs discover their FA Cup fate
Robins through after replay
Curzon seal first home win
Hyde spare their blushes
