Weekend Review: Sonsational Spurs sink lacklustre Leicester as buoyant Bournemouth hold Howe’s Toon boys

As football returned in the UK, it was a decent weekend for the bookies with no real shocks in the Premier League, but the continent was a different story.

Tottenham (1/2) ran out rampant 6-2 winners over a spirited Leicester City (5/1) side still looking for their first win of the season.

The Foxes did take the lead in this one after just six minutes. Normally sound Spurs defender Davinson Sanchez was adjudged to have fouled flying full-back James Justin in the opening moments.

The Colombian thought his blushes were spared when Hugo Lloris saved Youri Tielemans’ spot-kick, but the penalty had to be retaken due to the Frenchman encroaching into the box.

Tielemans made no mistake at the second time of asking. However, Foxes fans’ thoughts of a change in their sides’ fortunes were short-lived as Dejan Kulsevski picked out Harry Kane at the back post two minutes later to bring the game level. Eric Dier celebrated his return to the England team with his second goal of the season to put Spurs ahead after 21 minutes.

James Maddison brought the scores back level just before the break.

Leicester’s hopes of getting something from the game took a huge dent when two minutes into the second half, when Wilfried Ndidi was caught in possession by Rodrigo Bentancur and the Uruguayan slotted past Danny Ward to net his first Spurs goal.

Son Heung-Min entered the field just shy of the hour mark and then proceeded to show why form is temporary and class is permanent.

Son started his 14-minute salvo with an exquisite right-footed effort into the top corner from outside the box. The South Korean then produced a carbon copy of his goal from last season’s 3-1 victory over Leicester to net his second. His third needed a helping hand from VAR as it was originally ruled out for offside, but Son was rewarded for his efforts on the day.

13 minutes 21 seconds. pic.twitter.com/Q7dvNjUWRx

— Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) September 17, 2022

The result leaves Spurs in third, still unbeaten in the league this season heading into the international break with a trip to archrivals Arsenal awaiting them on their return.

This thrashing leaves Leicester bottom of the league without a win and only a solitary point to their name. The Foxes have also conceded the most goals so far this season, a stat that may force the axe down on Brendan Rodgers’ tenure as Leicester boss.

Bet365’s Steve Freeth commented that some punters’ faith was rewarded with a big win thanks to the exploits Son.

He said: “Well done to the handful of customers who stuck with Son and backed him at 200/1 in-play to score a hat-trick when he came on against leaky Leicester. Another 20 bets were placed at 80/1 after he scored his first one in a game where there were too many goals for our liking. In fairness, I think even I could test that Foxes back-line these days.

Elsewhere, Newcastle United’s (2/5) stumbling start to the season continued as boss Eddie Howe’s former side Bournemouth (13/2) held them to a 1-1 draw at St James’ Park. The visitors took the lead through Philip Billing on the hour mark before record signing Alexander Isak levelled things from the spot less than 10 minutes later.

There was also a stunning fightback in the East Midlands as Fulham (8/5) clawed back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 against Nottingham Forest (7/4).

There were also wins for Manchester City (3/10), Arsenal (3/4), Everton (19/10) and Aston Villa (11/10).

Betfred’s Alan Firkins remarked: “By far the most important aspect of the weekend’s slightly truncated Premier League programme was that supporters got the opportunity to pay their respects to Her Majesty. On the field, an astonishing comeback from Fulham at Forest, and a battling point for Bournemouth at Newcastle were obvious highlights.”

The continent provided another shock as Bayern Munich’s (3/20) stuttering start continued as they followed up their midweek win over Barcelona with a 1-0 loss in the Bavaria derby to Augsburg (14/1).

👑 Kings of Bavaria 👑 pic.twitter.com/1aQcNQpyDE

— FC Augsburg (@FCA_World) September 17, 2022

The Madrid derby lived up to the billing, with Real (7/5) seeing off Atletico (2/1), 2-1, in a fiery encounter at the Wanda Metropolitano. Mario Hermoso was also sent off right at the end of this one for an apparent shove on Dani Ceballos.

Freeth added: “It was all looking so good until we encountered our worst result of the weekend late on Sunday in the Madrid derby. A Real Madrid win with goals and cards is never a good ingredient and that proved to be our undoing on Sunday night with high-flying Real Betis’ 2-1 win over Girona also costly just a few hours earlier.”

Meanwhile, one Ladbrokes punter turned £2 into £29,828 after predicting eight draws across the 3pm kick-offs on Saturday in the Championship, League One and the Scottish Premiership. Reeco Hackett-Fairchild’s ’s 94th minute equaliser for Portsmouth landed the incredible accumulator.

Absolute scenes 🤪#Pompey pic.twitter.com/kAvDz5A2ml

— Portsmouth F(C) 🏆 (@Pompey) September 20, 2022

Firkins looked ahead to this weekend’s action as the Betfred Super League Grand Final stage has been set as St Helens and Leeds Rhinos are set to battle it out for the coveted trophy.

He said: “St Helens and Leeds Rhinos battled their way into the Betfred Super League Grand Final this coming Saturday at Old Trafford, and it’s no surprise to see Saints firm favourites to lift the trophy again at 1/2. It’s 17/10 Leeds, and 18/1 the tie.”

Finally, you have to feel for golfer Danny Willett after the Englishman three-putted on the 18th hole at the Fortinet Championship in California and lost the tournament by one shot to eventual winner Max Homa.

With his ball three feet from the hole, Willett had been a stroke ahead of Homa who faced a difficult chip. However, the American chipped in to birdie before Willett suffered a putting meltdown.

At total of £14,000 was matched on Willett at 1.01 (1/100) on the Betfair Exchange while someone bet Homa at 1000 (999/1). That punter will be feeling cock-a-hoop, unlike Willett backers on the final hole.