Latest Relegation Betting

Working on the assumption that Reading and QPR are already relegated (according to the online bookmakers' odds), Wigan's defeat to Manchester City on Wednesday leaves them as 11/8 favourites with the bookies to join them and be the third team to go down this season.

Wigan are now three points behind Aston Villa, Stoke City and Sunderland, but they do have a game in hand on all three. Of the three, only Villa (-24) have a worse goal difference than Wigan (-21), Stoke are -13 and Sunderland -8.

This basically means that Stoke and Sunderland have a one point advantage over Wigan and Villa, as level points would see Stoke and Sunderland safe on goal difference.

The fact that Wigan need to win their game in hand just to achieve parity, and that they need to finish on more points than either Stoke and Sunderland, is probably what is making them favourites for the drop.

Villa's form has picked up a bit lately, but with a young inexperienced side I wouldn't be laying them to go down at odds of 4.4, as they currently are on Betfair.

Stoke City are another side not used to fighting a relegation battle. There is a perception that they are perhaps too good to go down, but I wouldn't be buying into that as they are on such a poor run, they are under serious pressure and as I already said, they are not experienced when it comes to relegation fights.

Norwich are another team who should be looking over their shoulders. For a good few weeks now I've got the impression that Chris Hughton has been trying to draw his way too safety.

Sunderland will be revived by their recent 3-0 win over Newcastle, but they are still in the thick of the relegation fight. I suppose they have a manager with a good fight in him if nothing else.

Latest Relegation Betting

Reading - 1/150
QPR- 1/50
Wigan - 11/8
Aston Villa - 3/1
Stoke City - 9/2
Sunderland - 13/2
Norwich City - 9/1

The 9/1 on Norwich looks like it could be value. As I have already said they have been in a negative mode now for a few weeks. If all of a sudden they find themselves in the bottom three and in need of a win, could they be relied upon to get it?

It all depends on Wigan though. They are currently four points behind the Canaries, so have a bit of work to do to put real pressure on Chris Hughton's men.