Saddlers favourites for drop

By OneNil
May 27 2003

Despite comfortably avoiding relegation last season, the Saddlers are once again favourites for relegation amongst the bookmakers. Bet365 make us, along with newly promoted Stoke City and penniless Bradford the longest shots for the First Division title at 100/1.

The other teams to finish below us last season - Coventry and Derby – are both priced at 25/1, whilst Crewe are priced at 66/1. It is hard to see how some of the odds have been decided; for if money and size of stadia won games, then surely Stoke should be higher. Also, if the results from last season’s run in were considered, then surely Coventry – who are in a worse financial position than us – should have a higher price. As usual, unfashionable Walsall seem to have fallen victim to an elitist society.

Favourites for the title are the three relegated clubs – West Ham, Sunderland and Albion – along with play-off losers Forest, Sheffield United and Reading and the East Anglian duo of Ipswich and Norwich.

A full list of the betting odds can be seen below:

West Ham United - 10/3
Sunderland - 7/1
West Bromwich Albion - 8/1
Ipswich Town - 8/1
Sheffield United - 9/1
Nottingham Forest - 12/1
Norwich City - 16/1
Reading - 16/1
Wigan Athletic - 16/1
Cardiff City - 16/1
Crystal Palace - 20/1
Millwall - 25/1
Derby County - 25/1
Wimbledon - 25/1
Coventry City - 25/1
Watford - 33/1
Preston North End - 33/1
Burnley - 33/1
Gillingham - 50/1
Crewe - 66/1
Rotherham United - 80/1
Stoke City - 100/1
Walsall - 100/1
Bradford City - 100/1