Premiership Matches - Review of this weekend`s games

Both Man Utd and Chelsea posted performances worthy of centre stage at the Theatre Of Dreams on Sunday. But the only anti-climactic aspect of the fixture was that there was no winner - the 1-1 scoreline simply didn't befit a match of such intensity, which lasted from the first to the very final whistle. The reaction of bookmakers was minimal, generally their respective prices for the title remain unchanged - Chelsea a best-priced 4/6 with Ladbrokes and the Red Devils can be backed at 6/4 with William Hill. If anything, the result was probably seen as a particularly good one for Chelsea. Perhaps the one major conclusion to draw from this match is that the race looks set to go to the wire this season. The second instalment of this clash between north and south, which takes place at Stamford Bridge on April 14, could end up being the title race decider. Let's not wish our lives away but what a prospect. As things stand, Sir Alex Ferguson's men have the advantage, with both a three-point cushion and a superior goal difference. In terms of impending fixtures, United have a run of nine matches which you would expect them to win leading up to their trip to the Emirates on January 20. Meanwhile, the Blues' next two games look tricky. They visit the Reebok Stadium to face a dogged and tenacious Bolton side, fresh from a 3-1 victory over Arsenal at the weekend. Then the Gunners themselves will be stopping by at 'The Bridge' for anything but afternoon tea on December 10. Chelsea cannot afford to drop points from the fixtures. Arsenal's inconsistency continues to hamper their progress, and the north London side are now 13 points adrift of the pace-setting Man Utd. Despite having a game in hand, the task facing Arsene Wenger's men looks an insurmountable one now, in terms of the Premiership title, and their priority must now be to secure Champions League football for next season by achieving a top-four finish. However, just seven points separate third-placed Bolton and Fulham, who currently occupy 12th spot in the table. Arsenal lie in sixth place at the time of writing, two points adrift of The Trotters but with a game in hand, therefore their destiny is very much in their own hands. Three London derbies are now on the menu for Arsenal - Fulham, Spurs and Chelsea, in that order. Bolton, generally 500/1 for the Premiership and available at 4/1 in the winner without the 'Big 4' betting, would find themselves just five points adrift of reigning champions Chelsea if they can beat Jose Mouinho's charges in Lancashire on in midweek. However, Chelsea have beaten Sam Allardyce's men by two goals to nil in this fixture in each of the last three seasons. At the other end, Watford are long odds-on to prove that what goes up, must come down, by being relegated. Sheff Utd are not far behind them in the relegation betting, also odds-on, while Charlton's plight continues and they are now generally 4/6 to be playing Championship football next season.