BILLY BUNTER

Weblog: The football punter

Hammers may not be happy after day of smiles

DAVID MOYES was fairly happy on Sunday.

Roberto Mancini has every right to be pretty chipper too.

But I'd wager Bunter's millions that neither of them was happier than the person who picks out Sky Sports' live games.

Whoever that is must have been fearing an awkward trip to his boss's office when Southampton went 1-0 up in the first minute at Middlesbrough on Saturday because if the Saints had won then Sky's big Monday night game between Leicester and West Ham would have counted for diddly squat in the grand scheme of things.

And I imagine he or she went out and bought themselves a lifesize cut-out ofTony Mowbray when Boro came back to win.

As it is West Ham can further delay their inevitable invite to the play-offs by winning at the Theatre of Crisps.

Bookmakers can't see much difference between the teams and neither can I, so the draw looks the best bet to me as the biggest price of the three main outcomes.

Of course, a man whose smile might match that of the Sky Sports planner is Mr Roy Hodgson, who might just have enjoyed winning 1-0 at Anfield with his expensively assembled West Brom side.

Kenny Dalglish of course, took the squad Hodgson left behind, spent £100m or so improving it and has rocketed Liverpool a whole one point ahead of the Baggies (with one game in hand to boot!) in this season's standings. Quite an achievement.

If Liverpool's owners are thinking of making a similar managerial upgrade this summer I have it on good advice that Terry Connor might be available.