I’ll be presenting Super Sunday from the Stadium of Light on New Year’s Day for Manchester City respond against Sunderland. City have won ten of the last 12 PL meetings between these two but are catching the Black Cats at just the wrong time as they seem to have been transformed by the arrival of Martin O’Neill. It promises to be another tough examination for City.
Much to Roberto Mancini’s annoyance it’s Manchester United who again get to make the first move, kicking off early on New Year’s Eve with the chance to go in to 2012 three points clear at the top. Five of the last seven teams on top of the Premier League on the start of New Year’s Day have gone on to win the title – since 2004, only Arsenal in 2008 and Liverpool in 2009 have begun the year top and not won the League. On Betdaq Man City have drifted to 1.98/2 to win the title, Man Utd are in to 2.38/2.4. The Manchester clubs are flying and previously, all four teams with as good a Premier League record as City and United (2.4-points-per-game or more) going into the New Year have gone on to win the title. After expensive draws for the other contenders only Tottenham (21 on Betdaq) look capable of gatecrashing Manchester’s party.
United are up against Blackburn this weekend, whose spirits will have been lifted by their point at Anfield on Boxing Day. Manchester United’s first ever Football League game actually came against Rovers, losing 4-3 at Ewood Park in September 1892. United won 7-1 in this fixture last season, with Dimitar Berbatov scoring four times, and you’d expect him to start again after his hat-trick on Monday.
I strongly fancy Fulham to win at Norwich on Saturday at 2.82 on Betdaq. These two last met on the final day of the 2004-05 season, when Fulham won 6-0 at Craven Cottage to send Norwich down. Norwich don’t look like going down this time but I do think life will get tougher for the three promoted sides in the New Year. Fulham have won on their last four visits to Carrow Road in all competitions and go there this time in good form having lost just one of their last five away, while Norwich have lost three of their last five at home.
There’s been some brilliant racing over Christmas with Kauto the undoubted star of the show. What an incredible performance that was. Saturday has little of the quality that we saw at Kempton or Leopardstown.
The race of the day is the novice chase at Newbury (2.05pm). Any of the five could win but I fancy Minella Class in receipt of 10lbs from Cue Card and Walkon. Mineral Class was always going to find the track and Peddlers Cross too fast on his reappearance and Newbury’s galloping track will be right up his street. He was an impressive winner here last season and is held in high regard amongst the powerful group of novice chasers at Seven Barrows.
ED’s BETS
Fulham to beat Norwich
Minella Class (Newbury 2.05)
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