DE ZERBI goes to Monte Carlo…well, he’s gonna need a bit of luck to keep Tottenham up.
With the prospect of their £1billion home playing host to Stockport or Stevenage in the Championship next term, it was no surprise that when it came to sticking or twisting on Igor Tudor’s short-lived reign Spurs opted to see another card.
And what a card they’ve turned, bringing in the maverick former Brighton and Marseille boss.
He inherits a squad on its knees that hasn’t won a Premier League game in 2026 – a run that’s left the North London giants a point above the drop zone with seven games left.
RELEGATION ODDS (best price): 1-100 Wolves and Burnley; 6-5 West Ham; 2-1 Spurs; 6-1 Forest; 15-2 Leeds
And if it’s luck you’re after, you wouldn’t choose the Black Cats as your first opponents but that’s what the Italian faces tomorrow in his first game in charge.
Promoted Sunderland have defied the odds themselves this season, maintaining an outside chance of securing European football on the back of one of the best home records in the Premier League.
They’ve lost just three times in 15 outings at the Stadium of Light so far, a mark bettered only by Arsenal, Man City and Man United.
BET BALLS
- Arsenal and Bournemouth to draw 2-2 today is 14-1 with BetGoodwin
- Forest-Villa draw tomorrow, BTTS is 3-1 with BetGoodwin
- Sunderland and Spurs to draw 3-3 tomorrow is 50-1 with BetGoodwin
- Man City to win 3-1 at Chelsea tomorrow is 12-1 with BetGoodwin
SUNSPORT’S Kevin Dunne knew where the net was last week, slamming in a couple of FA Cup belters. First he landed an 11-4 winner with Man City beating Liverpool and over 3.5 goals, then left it late to secure a 10-1 payout as West Ham struck twice in injury-time to draw 2-2 with Leeds.
And they come hotfoot from completing a double over bitter north-east rivals Newcastle.
But what Spurs have at least now, in the absence of form, results and confidence, is a manager they can believe in.
De Zerbi took the Seagulls to a best-ever league finish of sixth in the Premier League and delivered European football for the first time. On the Cote d’Azure, he led Marseille to second in Ligue 1 and back into the Champions League.
The right man, at the right time, reckons Coral’s John Hill. He said: “De Zerbi’s a good signing, especially getting him now rather than in the summer. Spurs have eased slightly in the relegation betting following the appointment – and I think they’ll have enough to stay up in the end.
“I’m expecting an improved performance from them tomorrow. But at 8-5, they are far too short for me, so I’m backing the draw at 12-5. It will be a good away point – and a point for Sunderland that will keep them in the hunt for a top-half finish. 5-2, by the way!”
Yes, the new manager bounce should be a factor for Spurs but Sunderland are bedded in under Regis Le Bris and will leave nothing in the dressing room.
Draw and BTTS then is the call, a best-priced 7-2 with BetVictor.
Unsurprisingly, 1-1 heads the correct-score market at 6-1 with Betfred. But with the gloves off tomorrow, 2-2 at 14-1 with bet365 gets the nod.
Whatever happens, at some point, we can look forward to the sequel – De Zerbi goes bananas.
Dark Horse
18-1: Brian Brobbey with six and Richarlison with nine are Sunderland and Tottenham’s top Premier League scorers. Back them both to strike anytime tomorrow and a score draw with William Hill – and get a tidy 18-1 return.
Championship
With upwards of £200 million at stake, the runners and riders in the Championship promotion race are coming round the turn with a circuit to go.
Leaders Coventry are home and hosed under a dream ride from Frank Lampard.
Ipswich are tucked in behind, with games in hand on the rest but the Tractor Boys will desperately fear coming a cropper in today’s Old Farm derby at Norwich.
The form horse in the field is surely Southampton, who’ve had a week they can scarcely have dreamed of. First putting Premier League leaders Arsenal out of the FA Cup, then demolishing promotion rivals Wrexham 5-1 at the Racecourse in midweek.
Saints can put another contender out of the running at St Mary’s today, with Derby on the premises, seeking to end the home side’s 16-game unbeaten run in all competitions.
Middlesbrough, Millwall and Hull all have chances with five fences to jump but calling it now the smart money has to be on Ipswich to nick the automatic spot and Saints to keep coming up the rail and make the frame.
CHAMPIONSHIP PROMOTION OUTRIGHTS (best prices): 1-1000 Coventry; 1-3 Ipswich; 5-4 Middlesbrough; 9-4 Millwall, Southampton; 14-1 Hull; 25-1 Wrexham; 33-1 Derby.
Goodwinners’ Enclosure
Steady Eddie is looking a little unsure on his feet as the curtain comes down on a season where Newcastle haven’t really trained on.
After ending their 56-year trophy drought by winning the Carabao last season, the wheels look to have fallen off for the Toon this term.
Out of all the Cups, with Europe a pipe dream, and victims of a shock double at the hands of local rivals Sunderland, Howe is now 8-1 to be the next manager to be sacked.
And we think that the Saudi-backed Northerners could look “close to home” for their next boss.
The Magpies love pinching managers and players from Bournemouth – and we’ve got Andoni Iraola at 3-1 to be the next one to make the long trip to St James’.
The big result for us over here at BetGoodwin Towers last weekend was the misfiring Gunners falling to Southampton in the FA Cup.
The Saints marching on ruined plenty of accas, although big wins for Chelsea and City helped punters cop their handicap bets!
Man City are our clear jollies for the competition at 1-2, with Chelsea in the other semi priced at 11-4. Leeds have pulled off great results against both Chelsea and City in the league already this season, and at 9-1, we think they could be a great pick outside the two favourites.
Southampton’s heroics earned them a place at Wembley against Pep’s machine, and they are 20-1.
When it comes to the Champions League, Arsenal still head the market at 2-1, with Bayern second in the betting at 9-4 following their huge win in Madrid.
PSG are third in the book at 11-4, whilst Atletico, 2-0 winners at Barcelona, are the outsiders of the midweek winners at 10s.
Atletico, though, remain our picks to lift the trophy – we had them out at 33s at the end of February!
Something we’re not so sure about is the Roberto De Zerbi appointment at Spurs, especially as he has a history of slow starts.
West Ham remain favourites to face the drop at 10-11, with Spurs next at 5-4. With a tricky set of fixtures coming up, we’re not convinced Spurs will have enough to beat the drop.
And we reckon Sunderland can spoil De Zerbi’s welcome party tomorrow. Black Cats to win and Brian Brobbey to score anytime could be bet of the weekend material at 100-30.
This weekend’s Nap Acca is: Arsenal, Brighton, Liverpool, Coventry and Middlesbrough all to win for a bumper 6-1!
TV Previews
Arsenal v Bournemouth
Alarm bells will be ringing if Arsenal fail to make a winning return to the Prem this lunchtime.
The leaders signed off with a 2–0 win over Everton last month but have lost the Carabao Cup final and gone out of the FA Cup since.
Bournemouth won at the Emirates last term, and have drawn 15 this term. This can be another. Cherries’ Junior Kroupi has nine Prem goals, he’s 7-2 with MGM to make it 10.
FORECAST: 2-2
Nottingham Forest vs Aston Villa
One-time title contenders Villa have seriously lost their way since New Year’s Day.
Unai Emery’s side have won just four Prem games in that time but still have a healthy cushion on the sides chasing their Champions League spot.
Tomorrow’s hosts Forest are not out of the relegation woods and desperately need something here.
They are unbeaten in three, can take a point, with 11-goal Morgan Gibbs-White the 7-2 pick to score anytime with Sky Bet.
FORECAST: 1-1
Chelsea v Manchester City
It’s Chelsea’s misfortune to host a Man City side tomorrow in their best form of the season by some distance.
Pep Guardiola’s boys arrive having humiliated Liverpool 4-0 in the FA Cup last weekend and burying Arsenal in the Carabao Cup final.
They’ve won on four of five visits to the Bridge and can maintain their pursuit of Arsenal here.
Electric Estevao, though, is a fine 17-4 shot to score anytime with Betway.
FORECAST: 1-3
Top Tips
Pro bet
Southampton to beat Derby, Plymouth to beat Exeter, Bristol Rovers to beat Crawley, Barnet to beat Barrow, Salford to beat Gillingham. Acca pays 14-1 with Coral.
Retirement bet
Hull to win at Sheff United, Bolton to win at Cardiff, Wimbledon to win at Burton, Reading to win at Doncaster, Stevenage to win at Bradford, Bromley to win at MK Dons, Notts Co to win at Cambridge, Crewe to win at Grimsby. Perm 1 x Acca, 8 x 7-folds, 28 x 6-folds. Acca pays 97,558-1 with bet365.
Away day
Brighton to win at Burnley, Ipswich at Norwich, Wrexham at Birmingham, Oldham at Shrewsbury. Acca pays 28-1 with Ladbrokes.
Top draw
Brentford v Everton, Charlton v Preston, Leicester v Swansea, Huddersfield v Wycombe. Acca pays 124-1 with Betfair.
TV Special
Arsenal v Bournemouth draw, Forest v Villa draw, Sunderland v Tottenham draw, Man City to win at Chelsea. Acca pays 122-1 with Betfred.
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