Premier League on Betfair: Joy for Di Canio and Sunderland while United march on

15Apr 2013

Betfair

Di Canio's Sunderland blew local rivals Newcastle United away in the Tyne-Wear derby and Manchester United took another step closer to their 20th title...

In a result not even entertained by football pundits and experts before the kick off, Paolo Di Canio's Sunderland blew Newcastle off the face of St James' Park this afternoon, romping to a scoreline of 0-3 and giving themselves every chance of retaining their Premier League status come May. Before the game, the Black Cats were trading as low as 2.4 for the drop, and the convincing win, Di Canio's first in charge, has seen their price move right out to 7.4.

Stephane Sessegnon opened the scoring with less than half an hour on the clock, before Adam Johnson and David Vaughan added to the tally in the second half with two superb strikes from distance. It all conspired to give Sunderland their biggest win in the derby for 34 years and there were jubilant scenes among the away section at St James' Park.

The Mackems are now just two points behind their north east rivals and Alan Pardew will be looking over his shoulder, realising that Newcastle don't yet have enough points themselves to ensure safety from relegation. They are currently five points above the bottom three and available at 23.0 to be relegated.

Another team who will be genuinely worried about relegation are Stoke City. Tony Pulis' charges were outclassed 0-2 (a scoreline matched at 9.4 on Betfair) by Manchester United at the Britannia Stadium and have now recorded just one win in their last 11 games. Having not seriously been considered for the drop before this run of terrible form, they are now available at just 5.0 for relegation and their next league fixture, against fellow strugglers QPR at Loftus Road, now takes on extra significance.

An unlikely source in the shape of Michael Carrick opened the scoring for United, something that was matched at 22.0 on Betfair, before Robin Van Persie doubled the lead in the second half and ended a personal barren spell that stretched back to ten games without a goal. Man United are now 1.01 to win their 20th title and know that as little as two more wins could secure their crown.