Latics duo 40-1 to top charts

SPORTS BETTING: WITH two wins in four games, Athletic have made a solid enough start to their Sky Bet League One campaign.

Currently eighth, they are already doing better than the bookies anticipated — originally Johnson’s young side was among the favourites for relegation.

Now they have drifted out to 5-1 for such an unlikely scenario, and have 10 teams ahead of them in the reluctant queue for the trapdoor.

Looking the other way, Athletic can still be backed at 16-1 for promotion, which might just be tempting for their ambitious and confident manager – if he were a betting man.

Athletic have a couple of lively outsiders in the betting for the division’s top goalscorer.

Jose Baxter and Adam Rooney both have two goals and can be backed at 40-1 despite being much shorter elsewhere.

Athletic’s next match is at home to Tranmere on Saturday - more betting news in Friday’s Evening Chronicle - and most bookies have tentatively chalked up odds for the game.

The best price for Latics is 11-10, with 5-2 a draw and 14-5 a Tranmere win.


JOSE Mourinho has made a sound start as manager of Chelsea for a second time and his side, who looked compact in Monday’s goalless draw at Manchester United, are 9-4 favourites to win the league title.
Despite their shock defeat at Cardiff on Sunday, Manchester City are a best-priced 23-10, while United – somewhat surprisingly – can be punted at 3-1.

Arsenal are 18-1, while Tottenham - with two wins from as many games under their belts – are 20-1.