Sports betting: United should have the run of the Park

MANCHESTER UNITED, who are 5-4 with William Hill and Ladbrokes for the championship, can keep up the pressure on Arsenal by winning at Blackburn tonight. United have six players available after injury and suspension for the trip to Ewood Park. Peter Schmeichel (hamstring), Gary Pallister (back), Ryan Giggs (hamstring) and Nicky Butt (calf) are all fit, while Teddy Sheringham is back after a one-match ban. Jordi Cruyff may also make the squad.

A glance at United's results since Giggs and Pallister have been out of action shows how important they have been this season. United have won just two of the eight games since Giggs limped off with his hamstring problem against Derby on 21 February. In the intervening weeks, United have been dumped out of Europe, the FA Cup and seen Arsenal claw their way back into the title race. Pallister's last match before being sidelined with his back complaint was the 1-0 victory at Chelsea a week later, which extended their lead at the top of the Premiership to 11 points.

The news coming out of the Blackburn camp is not so rosy. England goalkeeper Tim Flowers had keyhole surgery on Friday on his shoulder injury and will be out for weeks. Northern Ireland international Alan Fettis will continue to deputise for him, but has not had much luck for Blackburn. Within minutes of replacing Flowers against Barnsley in midweek he was picking the ball out of the net and he has conceded nine goals in his five appearances.

On Wednesday Chelsea look a fair bet at 11-4 with Ladbrokes to win at Leeds.

Team C H L T

Blackburn 2-1 7-4 7-4 15-8

Draw 9-4 9-4 9-4 11-5

Man Utd 11-10 5-4 5-4 6-5

Leeds evens evens 4-5 10-11

Draw 9-4 9-4 12-5 9-4

Chelsea 9-4 9-4 11-4 5-2

C- Coral, H - William Hill, L - Ladbrokes, T - Tote