Weekend Review: Bookies boosted ahead of international break as ten Hag left teetering 

A goalless draw at Villa Park on Sunday afternoon between Aston Villa (11/10) and Manchester United (21/10) has left Erik ten Hag fearing for his future but kept the bookmakers happy in the Midlands.

Enduring the club’s worst start to a season, the Dutchman has United sitting in 14^th position heading into the international break.

After barely holding onto his job in the summer, the ex-Ajax boss is now 4/5 to be the first manager sacked in England’s top-flight.

OLBG’s Jake Ashton said the odds on Ten Hag being in the role by Christmas have disappeared, with the Dutchman seemingly clinging on to his position.

Ashton remarked: “It’s no surprise to see the 1/2 offered for Ten Hag to be sacked before Christmas have now long gone, with all eyes on the Old Trafford board during the international break and the Dutch manager still 4/5 to be the first to leave his role in the Premier League this season.

“United now sit in 14th in the Premier League table and have shortened into just 4/1 to finish in the bottom half of the league at the end of the season after their miserable start.”

Everton (3/1) and Newcastle (17/20) also played out a 0-0 draw on Merseyside, with Toffees’ keeper Jordan Pickford saving a penalty from former Everton forward Anthony Gordon, much to the delight on the Goodison Park crowd.

Other positive games for the bookies saw Brighton (19/10) overturn a 2-0 halftime deficit to run out 3-2 winners against Spurs (23/20) at the Amex, while Arsenal, Liverpool and Manchester City all recorded wins as the season’s title challengers remained in close contention.

The stalemates were a good result for Livescore, with head of trading Francisco Cano noting the results gave a strong boost to the bookie’s margin.

Cano said: “It was a great weekend of footballing action with strong overall turnover figures and favourable results, including two goalless draws in the Aston Villa versus United and Everton versus Newcastle games.

“Our highest single-game activity across the weekend was that aforementioned stalemate at Villa Park, which now leaves the Red Devils in 14th place in what has been a dismal start to the season for Erik ten Hag’s side.

“It also gave us a very good margin, as did the Saturday evening game at Goodison Park, which proved to be our highest turnover fixture over the weekend.”

Betfred’s Alan Firkins added: “A half-decent Saturday despite Arsenal, Liverpool and City all winning gave way to an even better Sunday with United in a drab, goalless affair at the Villa; and then we had the travails of Tottenham at Brighton.

“We were top-price Spurs beforehand so giving up a two-goal lead to get turned over in a thriller was a cracking result.

“With Forest gamely taking a point from Chelsea at the Bridge we’ve certainly had worse days. International break time now, yet again – you can imagine how that goes down here at Betfred Towers.”

Meanwhile, in horseracing, Ralph Beckett-trained Bluestsocking took the Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe on Sunday, having been entered only days prior.

The eventual victor had been backed down from 12/1 overnight to 5/1 and went off behind 10/3 favourite Sosie in Europe’s richest race.

Winning by a length-and-a-quarter in front of Adventure (17/2), jockey Rossa Ryan rode an excellent race in the flagship contest.

Firkins added: “Sunday’s Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe was won decisively by the heavily backed, Hampshire-trained, four-year-old Camelot filly, Bluestocking.

“I saw Ralph Beckett’s gem on seasonal reappearance win York’s Middleton Stakes imperiously, little thinking she’d be emulating Dancing Brave and the like in those famous Juddmonte silks by the season’s end.

“Not many really got into the contest in the testing conditions and her gifted 24-year-old jockey Rossa Ryan had her prominent throughout, kicking for home at the two-pole for a cosy success.

“She evidently loves Longchamp having taken the Vermeille there just three weeks ago, and was subsequently supplemented for the big one after that. What a brilliant, bold move that paid off handsomely.”

Finally,  the Betfred Super League Grand Final will be contested between Wigan Warriors (4/11) and Hull KR (2/1) on 12 October after Wigan shut out Leigh Leopards 38-0 and Hull won a tightly fought contest 10-8 against Warrington Wolves.

Firkins added: “Hull have enjoyed a wonderful season, pressing the very best, and will hope they can turn all that into silverware. Big ask – should be a cracker.”