Weekend Review: Low-scoring League Cup final leaves layers ahead as City make it four in a row
Pep Guardiola makes it 30 trophies and counting as a manager as Liverpool and Manchester United stutter in Premier League
A low-scoring League Cup final and a flurry of draws in the Premier League left bookies totting up their totals in the aftermath of an unfriendly weekend for football bettors.
Manchester City squeezed past Tottenham 1-0 in front of 8,000 fans at Wembley thanks to a fine header from Aymeric Laporte to lift the trophy for the fourth consecutive season.
The tight result was an unexpected one, given City’s dominance this season and upheaval at Spurs following the sacking of Jose Mourinho, but it was enough to earn Pep Guardiola the 30th trophy of his managerial career.
4️⃣ in a row! ?
? #ManCity | https://t.co/axa0klD5re pic.twitter.com/JtpnWBUFI4
— Manchester City (@ManCity) April 25, 2021
In league action, bitter foes Manchester United and Leeds United ground out a 0-0 draw at Elland Road while Liverpool lost pace in the race for Champions League football after Joe Willock scored a 95th minute equaliser for Newcastle at Anfield following further VAR controversy.
Elsewhere, Aston Villa could only muster a 2-2 draw with relegation-threatened West Brom as Burnley ran out 4-0 winners against Wolves.
Kindred Group’s Ali Gill said: “With just the one goal in the Carabao Cup final, although punters got the result they were after in the form of a City win, all told we were comfortably ahead as the goals related markets all fell our way.
“A few shocks in the Premier League also left us nicely in the black as the season of inconsistency continues. Winning accas were almost non-existent as Manchester United, Liverpool and Villa all failed to win what looked like winnable games,” he added.
BHJCKJNSJKNSCJKNOKSCKJBBHJCSABJKHAHJSBBHIJLULASHUISCBLJKSLKJNCD
YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/AAkj3pwVRp
— Newcastle United FC (@NUFC) April 24, 2021
Betfred’s Alan Firkins commented: “City lifting the Carabao Cup wasn’t the best result of course, but elsewhere there was plenty to like – especially the alleged goal-fest that never materialised at Elland Road, Newcastle’s late-show at Anfield, and Burnley’s demolition of Wolves.”
Elsewhere, in horseracing, Hollie Doyle recorded a 136/1 four-fold at Leicester as one of the leading ladies in racing continued to show her class.
The 24-year-old started out with a win on Bellarena Lady, before following up with victories on Dancinginthewoods, Jeanette May and Jaramillo. Doyle was close to a third career five-timer but came up short against eventual winner Kingmania.
Great to have ridden 4 winners today @LeicesterRaces. Many thanks to all connections involved! @varianstable @EdDunlopRacing
William Stone & Dean Ivory. ? https://t.co/RlM67AM3wm— Hollie Doyle (@HollieDoyle1) April 24, 2021
Firkins said: “Hollie Doyle fans were in clover at Leicester, as the pocket rocket rode a four-timer; while champion trainer Paul Nicholls appropriately dominated at Sandown’s grand finale. Results generally were tough, and racing punters were most definitely on good terms with themselves.”
William Hill’s Rupert Adams told EGR the punters edged ahead at the weekend, but was looking forward to this week’s five-day Punchestown Festival which starts on Tuesday with three Grade 1 races. And later this week is the first of flat season’s Classics with the 2000 Guineas on Saturday and the 1,000 Guineas the following day.
Adams said: “Racing did not deliver for us this weekend with a number of strong fancies coming good for our customers but it is a busy week for racing and it is a good thing that punters will have money in their pockets for Punchestown.”