Top-flight Tigers 8-11 to survive next season

A STUNNING long-range strike from Mo Diame proved the difference as Hull justified 4-6 favouritism to seal a return to the top flight of English football with a 1-0 win against Sheffield Wednesday in the Sky Bet Championship playoff final.

The Tigers, 10-3 shots to earn promotion to the Premier League at the beginning of the campaign following last season’s relegation, are now 8-11 with Ladbrokes to avoid the drop next term.

The Tigers threatened to breach the Owls’ defence on several occasions but their backers were made to wait until the 72nd-minute when Diame – an 8-1 chance to break the deadlock – fired in the winner to propel the Tigers back into the Premier League.

Ladbrokes say they took several bets  within seconds of the final whistle from punters keen to back Hull to win the Premier League next season as their fans look to emulate Leicester’s fairytale success.

They are 1,000-1 to lift the trophy and 100-1 to finish in the Champions League places.

Beaten finalists Wednesday can be backed at 9-2 to seal a long-awaited return to the top flight next season and are 16-1 to claim the Championship title.

Marcus Rashford is 1-4 with Sky Bet to make Roy Hodgson’s England squad for the European Championship after his goalscoring debut against Australia on Friday night.

Daniel Sturridge, who was a 1-5 shot with the same firm yesterday, has drifted to 11-8 after sitting out the 2-1 win with a calf injury.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, who completed the first half at the Stadium of Light, has shortened into 1-2 from even-money to make the squad while there has also been money for Newcastle winger Andros Townsend.

Hodgson has until Tuesday night to submit his final 23-man squad.

Belgium warmed up for Euro 2016 with a 2-1 win against Switzerland in Geneva.

Premier League stars Romelu Lukaku and Kevin De Bruyne both notched for the Red Devils who remain unchanged 11-1 shots to lift the trophy in Paris on July 10.