Luckily for Bolton Wanderers, their triumph in the six-pointer, their first win in six games since stomping all over Stoke in a 5-0 destruction of Pulis’ men, puts the form books well and truly onside, for no club of the last eight occupying 19th place on the 25th December have suffered relegation. This Coyle-pleasing fact, includes Bolton Wanderers of 2009 and extends to the teams 18th-placed at Christmas too, meaning Roberto Martinez’ recent return of only one loss in six games and 9 points picked up from an available 18, is as important as it is timely. For Bolton, a chance to string back-to-back victories provides itself, as they face Newcastle United on Boxing Day, as aforementioned, the team with the worst 6-game form in the Premier League.
Looking towards the right end of the table, and there is still hope for Tottenham Hotspurs: in 2008, eventual winners Manchester United were sat in 4th place and 7 points adrift of Christmas chart toppers Liverpool, who went on to finish runners-up. Tottenham sit in 3rd and a victory in their game in hand would cut the gap between them and top to six points. However, no team more than 7 points away from the top at Christmas has gone on to win the Premier League since the turn of the century, thus ruling out Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and the rest of the Premier League.
As for Manchester City, the team top at Christmas the past two seasons, Manchester United and Chelsea, have gone on to win the title; United’s lead was one point smaller than Mancini’s City and Chelsea’s was double the Italian’s at four. However, fans and betters alike should be aware that their closest rivals, in terms of position and locality, have come from behind the Christmas leaders three times to win the title and that equates for half of Ferguson’s Premier League titles since the turn of the century.
If Manchester City are to win the title, however, they’ll have to break a trend that has seen the Premier League titles dominated by Manchester United, Arsenal and Chelsea in the past 16 campaigns and there has only been one other winner of the Premier League, Blackburn in the 1994/95 season.
Have a Merry Christmas, whoever you support, and a Happy New Year!
Written by Jordan Florit for www.maycauseoffence.com/ For more articles like this visit my website or my Twitter @JordanFlorit
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