Right Said Fred: Rashford 7/1 to score first at Palace

Erik Ten Hag’s little joke about tomato ketchup has resonated with a few of us Reds...and definitely with Marcus Rashford!

Our Dutch coach smiled for once when he said after the out of form Rashford had scored at Southampton that the goals would quickly flow just like when you first get  ketchup out of the bottle.

And so it proved with the Wythenshawe-born  academy product netting twice in the Carabao Cup 7-0 rout of hapless Barnsley on Tuesday.

And Betfred have Rashford 7/1 to keep his new found form going by scoring the opener at Crystal Palace on Saturday with Eze, who is on United's transfer radar, a 6/1 shot to do likewise for the home side.

In the corresponding fixture last season, the Eagles won 4-0 - and the odds on that nightmare result happening again are 66/1.

Turning to the big one at the Etihad on Sunday when first play second.

Betfred have the Blues  odds on to win with Erling Haaland 11/4 for the opener. And for any non Blues looking for mischief well the returning Raheem Sterling is 80/1 to score first in a one nil win for the Gunners.

Meanwhile what a fascinating finale in Betfred Super League with none of the top clubs knowing for sure where they will finish the regular season.

To be fair it is looking as if Wigan will pick up the league leaders Shield as they host Salford on Thursday - and are already two points clear which means they are 10/11 favourites with us for Grand Final glory at Old Trafford on October 12.

Leeds at 100/1 with Betfred have an extremely tough task to win at second place Hull KR on Friday if the Rhinos are to sneak into a top six play off place.

HKR are the surprise package this year and are 5/2 second favourites to be champs especially as they have the excellent Mikey Lewis -top of the points chart with 210 this season- in their ranks.

Warrington entertain London, who until recently were rock bottom of the table, but unless HKR slip up will have to settle for a highly creditable third place finish.

The Wire with Matty Ashton in rip roaring form on 20 tries this season are 9/2 shots at Betfred for Grand Final glory.

Salford and Leigh are both on 28/1 to be champions but the Leopards will be looking over their shoulder on Saturday at Catalans who are at  out of form Hull FC, the Betfred Super League bottom club hammered 58-4 by Salford in the last round.

Then there the big movers in the market St Helens. There is a saying in the game that you should never write off the Saints well I'm not - and that's why bolstered by the return of talisman Jack Welsby they are in at 10/1 to win the RL showpiece game on October 12. They have a tricky game at Leigh on Friday who were defeated 24-0 by HKR at home last time out.

So it's all gearing up to a dramatic final three days of the regular season as the top eight jostle for position knowing every place will determine whether the players get a break or have to play an away or home eliminator.

Here Oldham born Betfred TV pundit Paul Sculthorpe gives his view of the final round of the Betfred Super League season. The RL legend writes:

"Well, for all RL neutrals out there the finale of the Betfred Super League regular season is definitely going to be a fascinating watch over the next few days.

"The top six play-off places are still not decided, as we enter the final round of this dramatic headline grabbing season 2024.

"Last weekend's results however, showed there are several clubs who have absolutely nothing to play for except pride….and I’m not sure they showed even  that.

"Huddersfield, albeit fielding a number of kids amongst plenty of experience, were embarrassed by a visiting Warrington side by 66 points to NIL. This giving Warrington that slight hope of a top two finish, should Hull KR lose to Leeds in their final game.

"The aforementioned Rhinos well and truly put an end to their play-off hopes as they too were demolished 38-0 by league leaders Wigan. They can still mathematically qualify if they beat Hull KR in Hull, and all other fixtures go their way. A very long shot and truthfully something they don’t warrant.

"Hull FC, by far the worst team in the Betfred Super League this year, managed to drop to the foot of the table before the London Broncos had eaten their pre-match meal in the south of France. The Black and Whites were torn apart 58-4 against an in-form, play-off secured Salford.

"The huge deficit in points meant the Broncos climbed to 11th, and stayed there after a gutsy narrow defeat to the Catalans Dragons.

"More importantly, the Saints climbed to fifth having also confirmed their place in the knockout stages with a much improved performance against the Castleford Tigers.

"This could be further boosted to fourth  and a home quarter final if we can defeat Leigh at the LSV on Friday - and of course our arch rivals Wigan doing us a favour and get over the Red Devils of Salford.

"Paul Rowley’s side currently sit in fourth position, two points ahead of the Saints, but with a far inferior points difference. Wigan will obviously still be going full throttle themselves to confirm the league leaders shield, so fingers crossed.

"Going back to Friday's game against Cas, and as I predicted here last week it was a vastly improved display from Paul Wellens’ team as they mauled the Tigers 40-4.

"It was no surprise to see a lot more strike on attack with the likes of Mark Percival, Daryl Clark, a fully-fit Jack Welsby and the outstanding Morgan Knowles returning to the 17.

"As disappointing and frustrating this season has been, the stars might be aligning for Wello at this all important time of the season. With only Konrad Hurrell and Curtis Sironen still missing from his strongest 17, last Friday could signal the start of a big few weeks.

"Let’s be honest, despite some very indifferent displays this season there remains a lot of big game experience in this Saints squad -  players who know what it takes to win big games.

"One of those is a player I hugely admire Tommy Makinson. On Friday, Tommy potentially bid farewell to the Totally Wicked Stadium before he leaves for the Catalans Dragons in 2025, and how fitting it was he got to cross the whitewash in front of the Saints faithful West Standers. There would be nobody more deserving to bow out at a Grand Final.

"Special mention also to Jon Bennison, who crossed for his first ever hat-trick at the club. All three needed finishing, but unsurprisingly all three coming via great service from his centre partner Mark Percival who looks like he means business.

"So, prediction time...

"I’m going to say Wigan wrap up the Shield by beating Salford. Consistently the best team in the Betfred Super League, Hull KR will have far too much for the Rhinos. That secures the top two who will enjoy a week off. 

"Warrington, who can’t really go anywhere but third  will have too much for the London Broncos, in what sadly could be their last game in Super League even if they don’t finish last. Saints will build on Friday's win and tame the Leopards, confirming fourth place. Finally, with the easiest fixture of the week against Hull FC, the Dragons will sneak into sixth spot.

"If FC, do finally show some grit and determination to not finish rock bottom and defeat Catalan, this would keep Leigh in the play-offs. So many permutations!

"So, my top six come Saturday afternoon would look like this-

1. Wigan, 2. Hull KR, 3. Warrington, 4. Saints, 5. Salford and 6. Catalans"

And finally five hundred mourners are expected at the funeral of the self-styled Ginger Beer Man George Powell who has died aged 97.

He became  a legend in the Moss Side and Old Trafford areas of Manchester in the sixties and seventies selling bottles of home made ginger beer from his bike.

And his son Glen is going to ensure he will get the send off the big family man deserves after his perfectly timed win at bookies Betfred.

Self employed handyman Glen won £20,000 from a £4 wager playing Bonus King Bingo at his local Betfred shop on Chester Road, Stretford.

He's immediately  booked himself a trip to George's home country Jamaica from where he travelled to a new life in the UK as part of the Windrush Generation.

But much if his winning will be spent of the funeral at the Church of God of Prophesy in Moss Side, burial at Southern Cemetery followed by the wake at Bowden Rugby Club on September 26.

Glen,aged 59 said: "George was a father of five with 17 grandchildren and 28 great grandchildren so you can imagine the funeral will be quite an event - and that’s not to mention all his old customers on his home made ginger beer round that he operated for more than ten years from a bag on his bike.

"It will be expensive for the 500 people from all over including Jamaica and America all coming here on September 26 to pay their respects.

"Now thanks to my Betfred win we can do my dad proud and give him a brilliant send off with lots more  flowers and a wake with plenty of food which will be a special celebration of his life."

Excited Glen, himself a father of six with eight grandchildren, said he "did a little jig" by way of celebration when his numbers 20,21 27,28, 34 and 35 were drawn at the bookies where he's a popular customer.

When I was told of Glen's heart warming plan to splash out on his father's funeral I quickly  decided to hand over another £1,000.

They can put the money behind the bar at the rugby club and sort out a toast to George on me...never mind rum but a glass of ginger beer for everyone would be most appropriate!

This story has brought a tear to my eye and I feel so privileged to help remember in my little way a Manchester character who lived a long and rewarding life. RIP the Ginger Beer Man.