7-2 Pompey heading for trap door

Sports and showbiz betting

IF any further proof were needed, Liverpool’s failure to beat Everton on Monday night confirmed what we already knew . . . Manchester United will retain their Premier League title.

United have made a habit of winning key games 1-0, but Liverpool can’t seem to match them and blew their chance against the Toffees so second place looks the best Rafa’s boys can hope for.

This column recommended United for the title when they were 7-4 so where else can we go in the search for Premier League profit?

Well, the scramble to avoid relegation is becoming more fascinating by the day with no less than five teams on 21 points at the bottom and at least seven others hovering above the dreaded trap door.

The bottom two on goal average are Stoke and West Brom and it’s clear the bookies think last year’s promoted clubs are doomed.

They are both 4-9 to be relegated, but I don’t think it’s as straightforward as that and would not be surprised if one of these spirited teams survived.

There are so many clubs in turmoil that the opportunity to climb away from the drop zone is there for any team which can string together three or four good results.

Middlesbrough and Hull are 3-1 third favourites to go down, but both strike me as having enough to survive.

The same applies to a dogged Bolton outfit, but Newcastle (9-2) and Sunderland (4-1) are by no means safe and could easily find themselves sucked into the relegation quicksand.

However, the stand-out bet for me has to be Portsmouth at 7-2.

Pompey’s fortunes have plummeted since Harry Redknapp left for Spurs who, incidentally, are 9-1 to be relegated, and post-match interviews by new boss Tony Adams do nothing to inspire confidence.

Adams was a terrific centre-half and great captain, but his record as a manager is poor and the loss of Jermaine Defoe and possibly others during the transfer window will hardly help Pompey’s cause.

Take the 7-2 available about Portsmouth being relegated because I suspect they are on a one-way ticket to the Coca-Cola Championship.

A STELLAR field has been assembled for the Qatar Masters, which gets under way at the Doha Golf Club tomorrow.

Adam Scott, who shot an amazing final round of 61 to win last year’s event, returns to defend his title and has a formidable record of played two, won two in this event, having been crowned champion in 2002.

Scott is the 10-1 joint favourite with Sergio Garcia, followed by Henrik Stenson (14-1), Ernie Els (16-1), 2008 Order of Merit winner Robert Karlsson (18-1), Lee Westwood (20-1) and last weekend’s Abu Dhabi hero Paul Casey (25-1).

There are lots of potential winners, but I am going to nominate little-known Englishman Danny Willett as a speculative each-way bet at 90-1.

This 21-year-old won’t be an unfamiliar name for very long.

The Rotherham-based golfer turned professional in May last year and, in his first full season on the European Tour, is already making his presence felt.

He is 28th on the money list after competing in only four events and his last two starts have seen him finished tied fourth in Johannesburg and tied eighth in Abu Dhabi.

That’s seriously good play and entitles him to be shorter than his current price for the Qatar event.

And if you are worried about his lack of experience, think again as this guy was a regular winner in the amateur game and was the top-rated amateur in the world last season.

Even if he fails to make an impact this weekend, make sure you keep a close eye on Willett for the rest of the season.


RONNIE O’Sullivan has been trimmed to 5-2 to retain his World Snooker crown after beating Mark Selby in a thrilling Masters final on Sunday.

Selby is 13-2 to win in Sheffield, with Stephen Maguire at 10-1, John Higgins and Sean Murphy on 14s, Ding Junhui at 16-1 and my each-way fancy, Ali Carter, on 25s.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Portsmouth to be relegated from Premier League, 7-2 (bet365, VC Bet); Danny Willett, each-way, Qatar Masters, 90-1 (bet365).