APRIL 17: PREMIER LEAGUE BETTING TIPS

I'LL put up my thoughts on Man City v Wigan, Fulham v Chelsea and West Ham v Man Utd later but here are Milesey's predictions.

Man City v Wigan

It’s a cliche-ridden accident waiting to happen. Just count the amount of times you hear the words “dress rehearsal” in the coming days.

But perhaps it is a good way to make a statement before the big occasion at Wembley on May 11. More importantly for Wigan Athletic this is their Premier League future on the line.

Roberto Martinez may have only dreamed of leading his side to English football’s famous most romantic final but for now he has bigger fish to fry.

Chairman Dave Whelan has promised his players a trip to Barbados if they stay up this season. The FA Cup Final is a distant second in the priorities for now.

Manchester City have enjoyed a good week. After seeing off Manchester United at Old Trafford, Roberto Mancini’s men edged past Chelsea at Wembley on Sunday thanks to goals from Samir Nasri and Sergio Aguero.

With Arsenal hot on their heels they now have second place to protect with seven games to play. No team has prevented Manchester City from scoring in their last 46 Premier League games on home soil.

Wigan, with two games in hand over their closest rivals, are three points adrift in the bottom three. Victory here would lift them level with Aston Villa, Stoke and Sunderland.

But Ivan Ramis (knee) is still out while Ben Watson (shin) is closing in on a return to contention.

The Latics may have a habit of getting the job done when it matters most but they have their work cut out for a share of the spoils here. In the end they will probably be left sweating.

Verdict: Man City 3-0 Wigan
Man City (-2) on the Asian h’cap at 2.17

Fulham v Chelsea

Fulham are one of few teams where finding something interesting to say is difficult this season.

Ambling along in mid-table, the Cottagers are officially English football’s nicest team.

Hooray for them? No. Where is the knee-sliding manager? The senior star cheating with his best friend’s wife? Or those pre-season mishaps abroad? Pah, we say.

Meanwhile, eight of their last 11 games have produced under 2.5 goals so that's one worth looking at.

Chelsea have work to do in the league after losing third place to Arsenal at the weekend. The Blues have a game in hand but one less competition to think about after crashing out to Manchester City in the FA Cup semi-final on Sunday.

Still, this could be a successful season for Rafael Benitez with Europa League glory a distinct possibility.

But third place is the target for now. The good news? Chelsea are unbeaten in their last six London derbies away from home in the Premier League though they have drawn four of those.

Ashley Cole (hamstring) and Gary Cahill (knock) could return after missing out at Wembley.

Fulham might not light up the top flight on a weekly basis but they usually offer resistance. In the likes of Dimitar Berbatov and Giorgos Karagounis they boast players of causing damage – and Chelsea may well be on the receiving end.

Verdict: Fulham 1-1 Chelsea
Draw at 3.67

West Ham v Man United

This game sees champions-elect Manchester United visit the all-but-safe Hammers for the second time this season and represents the sides’ fourth meeting in 2012-13.

Of course the teams have only met once in the Premier League – a 1-0 win for Man United at Old Trafford – but Robin van Persie’s FA Cup third-round equaliser in the capital ensured a replay where the Red Devils triumphed by the same narrow scoreline.

Taking everything into account, the Irons have performed admirably against their distinguished guests this season and, in particular, will take great encouragement from coming so close to beating them in that dramatic cup encounter.

Back to the present, and after an acceptable stumble against their noisy neighbours, Sir Alex Ferguson’s men restored order to the universe by defeating Stoke on Sunday and in doing so tightened the knot around a 13th Premier League title.

Like so many of their league victories since the turn of the year, Manchester United were competent and controlling rather than fluid and flamboyant as we’ve seen in many a title-winning season gone by.

As the weeks tick by towards their inevitable triumph, their method of victory has owed more to constriction than a venomous bite, typified by 1-0 wins over Reading and Sunderland.

West Ham finally have an in-form Andy Carroll in their ranks, which has contributed to their recent good form, though the leaders’ extra quality and record of eight straight league wins over the Hammers still suggests that an away win is the most likely result.

As Opta inform us, West Ham have failed to score in six of their last seven Premier League games against Man United and, in the one they did net in, both goals came courtesy of the penalty spot.

Ferguson’s men have won 12 of their 16 away games in the Premier League this season and their recipe for road success of late has stemmed from keeping clean sheets. The 2-0 win at Stoke was their fourth straight shutout in the league away from Old Trafford.

Wayne Rooney has scored eight goals in 10 Premier League appearances for Manchester United against the Hammers according to Opta and also netted in their 1-0 FA Cup replay win over West Ham in January. The Red Devils' No.10 relished his deeper role against Stoke but still managed to arrive in threatening positions and clearly relishes a date with the Irons.

Best Bet: Back Man United to win to nil @ 2.7
Other Recommended Bet: Back Wayne Rooney to score @ 2.88

Milesey (Betfair)

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