BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

Baggies look a penalty kick against hapless Villa

THOSE who say the first rule of betting is to have no rules must surely be looking to change that stance after Bayern Munich beat Real Madrid on penalties on Wednesday to set up a home Champions League final against Chelsea.

When it went to the shootout I had no doubt (after-timing alert I hear you say) that backing Munich was Bayern money simply because they are Germans. It’s a well known fact and a golden rule of betting on penalties - back the team with the most Germans in it.

Now though I have another golden rule, oppose Aston Villa. They are the second-worst side in the Premier League right now behind Wolves, who barely count, and Alex McLeish is fast looking to land a not-so-magnificent double of landing successive relegations.

The old Bluenoses down the road must be cracking up with laughter and Agent Alex and the rest of the Villa lot are on the fast train to Championshipville.

Given the fact the Villa supporters will be barracking McLeish more than the home end at the Hawthorns must make life even more difficult and I am all over West Brom on Saturday.

Roy Hodgson continues to do a steady job with the Baggies and the win at Liverpool will no doubt have boosted confidence further. They might only have to turn in a half-decent performance to land maximum points and send McLeish further into the Villa bad books.