THEY are one and two in the betting for next manager to leave but there's no doubt Mark Hughes is under more pressure than Jose Mourinho.
So when Southampton welcome Man United today which boss will leave holding the hammer and nails?
My money's on Sparky's fate being sealed by one of his former clubs – no matter how ordinary the Red Devils look.
Mourinho, 10-1 at McBookie to win the Premier League sack race, insisted after last week's 0-0 draw with Crystal Palace his players don't fear playing at Old Trafford.
He was spared having to repeat those words after Marouane Fellaini's injury-time strike earned a 1-0 win against Young Boys in the Champions League.
The atmosphere was more tepid than toxic but there's no doubt players will be more relaxed at St Mary's against a side with just one win this season.
Last week's 3-2 defeat at Fulham means tonight could be Hughes's last chance and it's difficult to ignore United at a price of 10-11 at 10BET. Saints have just one win all season and four points from six outings at home.
If Man City were heading there they'd be something like 1-3 or 1-4 – and that sums up the gulf between the rivals just now.
United don't have City's firepower but Saints have been leaking goals – conceding three to Fulham was worrying.
Consider United and over 2.5 match goals at 2-1 or United and both to score at 3-1 with bet365.
Saints have netted in their last three – including a 6-1 loss at Man City – and it was Stuart Armstrong who hit both last week. The Scotland midfielder is 6-1 with sporting bet to net again.
City, meanwhile, entertain Bournemouth on the back of a battling 2-2 draw against Lyon in the Champions League and Eddie Howe's men are one of their favourite opponents.
The Cherries head to the Etihad on a run of three defeats and knowing their three league visits have ended in four-goal thrashings each time – 4-0, 4-0, and 5-1.
City are improving all the time and have netted 22 goals in their last five at home. All the stats point to a Bournemouth battering and to again cover the -3 handicap Pep Guardiola's men are 12-5 at Paddy Power. If you want to play safer with -2 that pays evens with betfair.
Elsewhere in the Premier League the matches look pretty tight but I'm happy to take a chance on Newcastle to beat West Ham at 6-4 with bet365.
I tipped them not to lose at Burnley on Monday and despite Matt Ritchie's miss of the season they held on to make it three wins in a row.
The Hammers sit on the same 12-point mark as Newcastle and have lost on their last three visits to St James' Park.
In the Championship there was some thrilling midweek action including a 5-5 draw between Aston Villa and Nottm Forest.
There have been 16 goals in Villa's last two and while Middlesbrough have conceded just in four under Tony Pulis you have to fancy both to score at 10-11 with Betfred.
Forest are 17-25 with Marathonbet to beat Ipswich who have lost two in a row under Paul Lambert.
Unfortunately there are no League One and Two matches with FA Cup second-round matches taking place. Today best bets could be Oldham at Maidstone, Plymouth at home to Oxford and maybe Sunderland at Walsall although the sides drew 2-2 last weekend.
Recommended Bets
- Man United (10-11, 10BET)
- Man City -2 (Evens, betfair)
- Newcastle (6-4, bet365)
- Middlesbrough v Aston Villa btts (10-11, Betfred)
- Sunderland (6-5, bet365)
Resident football tipster at Scotland's most read newspaper, the Daily Record, for over 20 years and proud host of one the best betting communities on the web with daily betting tips.
