North-East duo boost top-flight survival hopes

THE Premier League’s relegation betting was blown wide open by north-east duo Sunderland and Newcastle who gave themselves a serious chance of survival with vital victories.

Norwich were the big losers and have been slashed to 1-2 from 15-8 to be relegated following a 3-0 home defeat to Sunderland, who in turn have taken a huge drift in the betting from 1-4 to 8-11.

Fabio Borini’s penalty broke the deadlock and second-half goals from Jermain Defoe and Duncan Watmore moved Sunderland to within one point of 17th-placed Norwich, while the Black Cats have a goal difference seven superior and a game in hand on Norwich.

Newcastle, three points back on Norwich and also with a game in hand, boosted their hopes of staying up with a 3-0 victory at home to Swansea.

Jamaal Lascelles, Moussa Sissoko and Andros Townsend were on target for the Toon Army, but Rafael Benitez’s side remain relegation favourites even though they drifted to 1-3 for the drop.

Newcastle play their spare match against Manchester City on Tyneside on Tuesday, while Sunderland’s game in hand is not until May 11 against Everton at the Stadium of Light.

Aston Villa’s fate was finally sealed with their relegation confirmed with a 1-0 defeat at Manchester United.

Villa, who had been 3-1 to go down ante-post, are 10-1 with bet365 to win next season’s Sky Bet Championship and 3-1 for promotion, while they are 20-1 for successive relegations.

Marcus Rashford was once again United’s goalscoring hero and Hills make the striker only 5-1 to be in England’s Euro 2016 squad but Betfair still offer 14-1.

Manchester City moved up to third, four points clear of fifth-placed United, thanks to a 3-0 win at Chelsea. Sergio Aguero scored a hat-trick for the Citizens.

Coral rate City 1-8 to finish the season in the top four and United can be backed at 100-30.

Everton and Southampton played out a 1-1 draw at Goodison Park, while West Brom’s Saido Berahino missed two penalties in a 1-0 defeat to Watford.

Northampton, 16-1 to win Sky Bet League Two ante-post, were crowned champions despite a 0-0 draw at Exeter but Dagenham were demoted after losing 3-2 at Leyton Orient.

Cheltenham outperformed ante-post odds of 12-1 to win the National League title.

Hibernian are in the William Hill Scottish Cup final following a penalty shootout success against Dundee United.