A quarter of all promotion bets placed in the last two weeks have been on Harry Redknapp’s Blues.
The international break gives fans and teams a chance to take stock of their start to the season and for managers to get any last-minute deals over the line in their quest for promotion. Since the start of the break, bettors have been putting their money where their mouth is and it’s Birmingham City who come top of the pile.
A quarter of bets placed have gone on Harry Redknapp’s side, who currently sit 20th after just one win in five games. However, the last minute signing of Jota from Brentford has given Blues fans a massive lift and they clearly believe that ‘Arry will get them up the table quickly. They can be found at 25/1 for promotion.
Another heavily backed team are Leeds United. Thomas Christensen has made the best start of any Leeds manager in the 21st century and have yet to be beat in the league this season. Over 20 percent of bets placed have gone on the Yorkshire side, who went so close to the play-offs last season and will hope to go one better this time around. They are a best-priced 7/2 to go up.
It’s interesting to note that the two early pacesetters are not being backed by punters. Few would have expected Cardiff and Ipswich to be first and second, but the jobs done by Neil Warnock and Mick McCarthy respectively have been second to none so far. Out of the two, the Bluebirds are a much shorter promotion price of 2/1, however less than five percent of bettors think they can last the distance.
Meanwhile the Tractor Boys, who were amongst the favourites to be relegated at the start of the campaign, can still be backed at 28/1 to reach the Premier League for the first time since 2002. Although with less than two percent of bets going on the Suffolk side, you’d be in the minority!
Oddschecker spokesman George Elek: ‘Although Birmingham haven't had the best of starts this season, they have recruited well and got their man in Jota during the international break. Bettors love potential value and the big price currently on the Blues is tempting a lot of people, as the odds will tumble if the team starts putting together a decent run. And if anyone is going to be able to get them out the Championship, it's that man Harry Redknapp.’
