SUNDERLAND MAY EDGE A STEP CLOSER TO SAFETY

This will be a fascinating weekend when it comes to the title race and relegation from the Premier League.
I shall be in a small minority here but I not considet the former a two-horse race between Leicester and Tottenham – not just yet, anyway. Both face awkward games, Spurs away to Liverpool, who looked to be coming good before losing their way at Southampton, and Leicester at home to the Saints, who are very good indeed on their day and have a very good chance of European football again next season.
I doubt that Tottenham will achieve more than a draw at Anfield, which means Leicester would go into Sunday’s match with a fair chance of establishing a seven-point lead.
Maybe both games will be draws, leaving ARSENAL, principally, with a slim chance of overhauling the leaders if they can keep winning from now on. I believe they will make a fist of it and, although the 4/11 against Watford is terribly skinny, it looks a decent starting point. How the Gunners lost the FA Cup-tie against the same opponents they will probably never know and they may well knock in a few in here.
Sunderland looked well organised at St Mary’s, where only a very smart move in the dying seconds denied them all three points. They led Newcastle for a long time and have enough about them to account for West Brom, who look more dangerous now that Berahino is in the mood but who remain, essentially, an ordinary outfit. In a way the situation is similar to the one at the top, because Norwich v Newcastle may well be a draw, leaving Sunderland with the chance to make two points on both.
Crystal Palace are better than they lowly position suggests but who would want to go to West Ham at present? The Eagles are not out of this dogfight by any means and things may look even more precarious by Saturday evening.
I thought Swansea were very fortunate to come up against Watford (hard-working and very well coached but still somewhat overrated) at a crucial time and their 1-0 win was achieved in one of the worst Premier League games of the season. The Swans really ought to be out of it but STOKE away is very tricky and they will do well to share the spoils. As I say, this whole relation struggle is a little more complicated than many are claiming.
BRISTOL ROVERS are simply on fire at present and should cement a play-off place at home to Crawley.
ARSENAL 60 units at 4/11 to beat Watford
SUNDERLAND 15 units at 23/20 (Coral) to beat West Brom
STOKE 15 units at 23/20 (four firms) to beat Swansea
BRISTOL ROVERS 20 units at 8/15 to beat Crawley
10 units win accumulator