Premier League on Betfair: Reading pull off 54-1 win as Newcastle sink towards relegation

19Jan 2013

England - Premier League

The crisis continues at St James' Park as Newcastle are shocked by relegation rivals Reading. Joe Dyer rounds up the highlights of the 3pm kick-offs after a dramatic day in the Premier League

Newcastle are 3.8 to be relegated after a shock home defeat to Reading today.

The Toon took a first-half lead through Yohan Cabaye and were trading at 1.18 to win, but saw Adam Le Fondre score twice in the space of six minutes as the Royals pulled off a victory that was backed at 55.0 on Betfair's exchange.

Nevertheless, Reading, despite pulling clear of the relegation places, are still favourites to go down at 1.48.

Close behind in the betting are Harry Redknapp's QPR after the league's bottom-placed club drew 1-1 at West Ham.

Rangers' new £8m signing Loic Remy controversially chose the west Londoners over Newcastle earlier this week and the Frenchman scored the first goal as QPR's good run of recent form continued. But West Ham have put together a strong home record this year and equalised midway through the second-half.

QPR remain four points from safety ahead of the 17:30 kick-off between West Brom and Aston Villa and are 1.66 to be playing Championship football next year.

Wigan are perennial favourites in Betfair's relegation market and they look set for another battle against the drop after going down to a 3-2 defeat at home to Sunderland. The Latics are in the bottom three and can be backed at 2.42 to go down.

At the top of the table, Manchester City produced their second 2-0 win in the space of a week to take a three point nibble out of leaders Manchester United's advantage. Spanish wizard David Silva struck a double - and was backed at 12.5 to score two or more - as City tightened to 3.85 to win the league.

Anfield was the place to be for goals as Liverpool helped themselves to five - Norwich on the receiving end - to reward backers of the final score at 55.0. Jordan Henderson was a winner for first goalscorer backers at 28.0.

In Wales, Swansea continued their run of good form with a 3-1 win over Stoke; Michael Owen scoring the consolation.