Birmingham take significant step to safety
We didn't foresee Tottenham versus AC Milan finishing goalless but one match that did prove fairly easy to call was the Premier League collision between Everton and Birmingham, in which we recommended laying the hosts, backing the draw, under 2.5 goals and a final score of 1-1.
It was the sixth time in 14 meetings between the two clubs have settled for one goal apiece and it could prove to be one of the biggest points of Birmingham's season as it takes them above West Ham on goal difference and out of the relegation zone ahead of their weekend FA Cup match.
With the Blues unlikely to get anything in their other game in hand away to Chelsea, it was vital that they didn't leave Goodison Park empty-handed and the slowly settling Chilean international Jean Beausejour nodded in the opener for the visitors to ensure that was the case.
The Carling Cup winners are far from sure of securing survival yet with three of the top six still to visit, however being out of the bottom three is a huge morale boost and a draw against improving Everton on Merseyside indicates that they are suffering no hangover to their Wembley success.
The West Ham side taking their place must be wondering if it's destined not to be their year though, as after the comeback from 3-0 down at West Brom and victories over Liverpool and Stoke took them out of immediate peril for only the second time all season, they've been plunged straight back in again.
Avram Grant's team's next three fixtures are away to Tottenham, at home to Manchester United and up at Bolton - and they have never won at the Reebok Stadium - so by the time they face Aston Villa on April 16, there's a realistic chance that they will have another points deficit to recover.
Neither are among the three favourites for the drop though, with West Ham priced at [2.58] and Birmingham [4.1]. Will either go down? Tell us below...
Published: 10 Mar 2011
Leave a comment