LeeDixon

Martin O'Neill has been talked about as a future Manchester United manager for a while. He's been in charge of some pretty big clubs in Celtic and Aston Villa but with all due respect to those two, the United job is in a different league and would surely represent by far the biggest challenge of his career if he were to get it. Personally I don't think he will and the Betfair next Manchester United manager market (for a bit of trivia, it's the oldest market on Betfair by a huge distance) tends to agree, making him only fifth favourite. Goodness knows when that market will be settled by the way, Sir Alex could easily be in charge for another ten years! One thing is for sure: since arriving at Sunderland he's certainly done his chances of getting that job no harm at all.

Match Odds

A match between two good sides who are going through a good period right now.

I've spoken before about my admiration for Norwich City and the way Paul Lambert has got them playing good, positive football. Their reward for that is ninth place in the Premier League table, two points and one place ahead of...Sunderland.

Sunderland start this match as odds-on favourites and that's not something we would have seen if Steve Bruce was still in charge. Home advantage could make a big difference here but I actually think Norwich are good enough to get a draw. After all, according to Opta, it's just one defeat in eight for the Canaries. That's what I'll be backing at 3.7.

Sunderland clean sheet

Norwich's attacking intents have seen them score at least once in 15 of their last 17 matches. Sunderland do look a bit better at the back since O'Neill has been at the club but I think whatever happens, Norwich will keep up their scoring habit. It's worth backing "no" in the Sunderland clean sheet market at odds of 1.52.

Correct Score

Norwich may even get two. Given both sides are comfortably outside the relegation zone, despite pre-season predictions they'd struggle, I think we might get a really open devil-may-care sort of match here. It's adventurous but a bet on 2-2 at 18.0 may bear fruits.

To Score

Grant Holt was the subject of a bid by Rangers on transfer deadline day and I can't blame the Scottish giants for making a polite inquiry. I also can't blame Norwich for telling them what they thought of it. Holt is a real old-fashioned centre-forward but he's a handful and he's in good scoring form, having grabbed another at the weekend in the FA Cup. He's my top choice as a goalscorer in this match at 3.6.

2 pts Back the draw at 3.7
2 pts Back "No" in Sunderland clean sheet market @ 1.52
1 pt Back 2-2 in correct score market at 18.0
2 pts Back Grant Holt to score at anytime at 3.6

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