Another weekend of football games in the English Premier League is done.
They were probably decidedly more enjoyable for the neutral than many of my betting tips. And at the end of it all, sports betting fans know little new of note.
Man City are cruising to the title while the clock on Arsene Wenger’s Arsenal tenure is surely running down and the bid to beat the drop remains on a knife-edge.
Burnley 2-1 Everton
There is a charm about Burnley’s success.
Here is a town club defying the odds against their rivals from the big cities and doing so in a way which demands instant respect.
It was a deserved victory against the nine times champions of England on a day Sean Dyche marked his 250th game in charge as the proud Lancashire club equalled its points tally of last season with nine matches remaining!
That they remain in the seventh spot despite this being their first victory in the league since mid-December. That speaks volumes for their progress.
Leicester City 1-1 Bournemouth
That’s about as late as it can possibly get!
With the last kick of the game, 2016 player of the year Riyad Mahrez curled in a superb free-kick to rescue a point for the Foxes against the spirited Cherries.
It canceled out Joshua King’s penalty opener and was a point they fully deserved, although Bournemouth boss Eddie Howe was understandably ‘disgusted’ at his side’s failure to see out the dying seconds of the contest.
Southampton 0-0 Stoke City
For the onlooker, this could be considered a drab affair in which both sides were afraid to lose.
In truth, Southampton went for it but were denied by the excellent Jack Butland while Stoke had the consolation of a first clean sheet away from home in 10 matches.
While both sides are in trouble, they know a run of victories will lift them clear of the congested pack.
Swansea City 4-1 West Ham United
The appointment of Carlos Carvalhal is fast proving to be a masterstroke.
A seventh straight home win in all competitions has lifted them to 13th, although still just three points above the drop zone. This for a team that seemed destined for relegation just before the turn of the year.
This for a team which sold their two best players last summer without replacing them and then lost two of their current crop days after the transfer window closed.
The brotherly love of Andre and Jordan Ayew is proof of a happy camp and that was shown in a display against opponents David Moyes branded too ‘embarrassing’ to assess.
Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 Huddersfield Town
This is a routine victory secured by one of Spurs’ unsung heroes.
A goal in each half from Son Heung-Min saw off Huddersfield and prompted the South Korean to describe their year-long sojourn at Wembley as ‘home’.
They now welcome Juventus in the Champions League on the back of their longest unbeaten run since 1967.
Watford FC 1-0 West Bromwich Albion
Cometh the moment, cometh the captain.
Troy Deeney’s importance to Watford cannot be underestimated and he again proved the match-winner with the only goal 13 minutes from time to move the Hornets ever closer to safety.
The goal, on his 300th appearance for Watford, maintained a proud record after he also found the net on his 50th, 100th, 150th, 200th and 250th displays.
The bottom club Baggies seem destined for the drop and manager Alan Pardew may not get much longer after taking just eight points since his appointment in November.
Liverpool 2-0 Newcastle United
Liverpool are back up to second after Mohamed Salah – who scored his 32nd in this superb campaign – and Sadio Mane saw off spirited but limited Newcastle.
Jurgen Klopp’s team were well on top as Rafa Benitez was welcomed back to Anfield.
The Toon Army have a crucial game at home to Southampton next weekend.
Brighton & Hove Albion 2-1 Arsenal
At half-time, the final Arsene Wenger obituaries were being penned. By full-time, they had been printed.
Without taking anything away from Brighton, who sealed their first win against the Gunners since 1982, they will not receive the plaudits they deserve.
The focus, instead, will be on Arsenal and Wenger as they lost a fourth straight match for the first time since 2002.
Manchester City 1-0 Chelsea
The champions-elect in cruise control against the reigning champions.
City thoroughly deserved this win, courtesy of Bernardo Silva 35 seconds after the restart, to move within four victories of English football’s top prize.
For Chelsea, the true test of Antonio Conte’s ability was always going to be this term – but their lack of real penetration in this defeat was inexcusable.
The Italian is being found out!
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