Punters pay the price as Premier favourites flop
PUNTERS had a field day on Friday but is was payback time on Sunday as the Premier League’s top two were held to draws.
Manchester City fluffed a fantastic opportunity to make up ground in the title race by throwing away a two-goal lead in a 2-2 draw at home to 20-1 shots Burnley, who bagged their first point in three games.
City appeared destined to climb to within a point of leaders Chelsea, who were held to a 1-1 draw at Southampton earlier in the day, but second-half goals from George Boyd and Ashley Barnes rescued a point for the Clarets and torpedoed a large number of accumulators.
Goals from David Silva and Fernandinho had put City in command and the draw was matched at 120 in-play with Betfair, while £448,000 was matched on a City win at 1.01 before Sean Dyche’s men launched their remarkable fightback which leaves them second bottom.
Jessica Bridge of Ladbrokes said: “Punters piled into all the favourites again in the hope of lightning striking twice.”
Another side who failed to take advantage were Manchester United, who drew 0-0 at Tottenham. United are unbeaten in nine but as big as 18-1 for the title, with Chelsea 4-9 favourites and City 11-4.
None of the morning’s top five were victorious and it was a good day for Arsenal, who climbed from sixth to fifth with a 2-1 win at West Ham.
Keith Millen got his latest spell as Crystal Palace caretaker-manager off to a steady start by with a 0-0 draw at QPR. However, Palace chairman Steve Parish wants a new man installed as quickly as possible and Newcastle boss Alan Pardew has emerged as the surprise market leader – shortening from 10-1 to 7-4.
Basement boys Leicester shook up the relegation betting after a goal from Riyad Mahrez handed them a precious 1-0 win at fellow strugglers Hull, ending a 13-match winless sequence.
Nigel Pearson’s side are 8-13 from 2-5 for the drop, while Hull have shortened from 3-1 to 15-8.
West Brom’s lost 2-0 defeat at Stoke – increasing the pressure on Baggies boss Alan Irvine.
Bet365 punters who place a pre-match bet of up to £50 on Monday night’s Premier League game between Liverpool and Swansea will receive a free in-play bet to the same stake.
