Wigan and West Ham Shorten For Drop

Neither Wigan nor West Ham could do no wrong last season in the Premiership. Both teams had just been promoted and, although both were installed as odds-on favourites for the drop, neither team were threatened by the spectre of relegation throughout the entire campaign. In fact, both teams managed a top half finish, rewarding all of us antepost punters who had backed them on the handicap markets.However, after a 4-0 thrashing at Stamford Bridge, Wigan are now no bigger than 7/2 with Ladbrokes to make a return to the Championship. Indeed, the Magic Sign are competitive in the Premiership Relegation market and, although you can earn better interest at banks than back 1/25 Watford with them, they also quote a stand-out 5/4 on Sheffield United dropping back to their division of last season.Sandwiched in between the Blades and Latics in this market are the Hammers, who will have their supporters (or should that be opposition?) at 6/4 with VCBet. In truth, West Ham's defending continues to be abysmal and, if Sheffield United were occupying 18th place and playing like the Hammers, you could guarantee that their odds would be 4/6 instead. Since an impressive 1-0 win over Man United, Curbishley's men have turned in some gutless displays, culminating in a 6-0 defeat at Reading and their inability to defend simple set pieces make them a very attractive price at nearly 2/1.Grab the price while you can as the Hammers face Newcastle away and Liverpool at home in their next two matches, which could see the price plummet closer to even money. Neil Warnock's Blades are full of fight and look well equipped for a dogfight, Paul Jewell can get more out of his Wigan team to avoid the drop, while Charlton are still hanging on by a thread and lie just three points behind West Ham at this stage in the season.