SWANSEA STILL IN ACUTE DANGER

SWANSEA STILL IN ACUTE DANGER

Southampton and Newcastle both won narrowly last week and I think we’ve reached the stage where I should concentrate on that sort of analysis and leave the both teams to score bet alone. The problem is that you need three or four matches to supply goals in order to make a handy profit and the bookies have it all worked out. Most of the games I fancy are 8/11 or thereabouts and it doesn’t take a genius to work out that one will probably let you down. So, that’ll do.

I still think the most significant transfer between Bristol clubs in January was Jonjo Shelvey’s move from Swansea to Newcastle. He is obviously a tricky character but he drives teams on from midfield and has the front-runners to capitalise on his service at St James’s Park.

Swansea could ill afford to sell him and face a difficult run-in. They meet a Southampton team full of confidence on Saturday and will do well to take even a point. The Saints have not conceded for the last five matches and represent a solid bet at 6/4, with Coral offering an exotic-looking 31/20, although these things can soon change, as we know.

West Brom inched past Peterborough in the FA Cup on Wednesday but have injury worries and look almost as vulnerable as Swansea, though in Tony Pulis they have a man who has never been in charge of a team relegated from the Premier League. Even so, Everton are on a high at present and can take all three points at Goodison.

The title race is fascinating and many neutrals will be wishing Leicester all the best. Of course, where betting is concerned value is everything and those who fancy the Foxes needed to be on at 9/1 a couple of weeks ago and the current 7/4 is way too short.

They show no signs of weakening but the simple truth is that Arsenal beat them 5-2 earlier in the season and can close the gap with a narrower win at the Emirates. I wouldn’t care to bet on the final outcome but I think Arsenal should just about be favourites with Spurs the main dangers. The vital thing for Leicester will be to stay calm if a couple of defeats check their progress because they should certainly qualify for the Champions League, though I wouldn’t take a short price with Manchester United possibly winning most of their games from now on and Southampton staging the sort of late run that no one can envisage at present. I watch them most weeks and there is plenty of self-belief about them under Ronald Koeman.

From one end of the spectrum to the other. Eastleigh should beat Barrow in the Conference and I certainly wouldn’t quote them at 3 to 4 as Ladbrokes are doing, while out and out professionals will fancy the 4/9 about Grimsby at home to Boreham Wood.

EVERTON 20 units at 4/7 to beat West Brom

SOUTHAMPTON 20 units at 6/4 to beat Swansea

EASTLEIGH 19 units at 3 to 4 to beat Barrow

GRIMSBY 45 units at 4/9 to beat Boreham Wood