A week ago Manchester City fan John Howarth broke the habit of a life time and won more than £1000. This Easter he switched back to his usual routine and hit the jackpot again.
John, 58, has a bet on the Blues winning 4-1 with whoever the star striker is at the time – be it Uwe Rosler, Sergio Aguero or Erling Haaland – to open the scoring as his regular punt. But for the first time he broke his routine for the Liverpool game at the Etihad.
For the April 1st clash with Liverpool he put £5.25 on Salah to score first with City winning 4-1 at 225/1. He won £1,186 at Betfred. The father of three from Moston has been quick to treat Lisa with some of his windfall - he has bought her a brand new lawnmower.
For City's game away at Southampton yesterday he reverted to his traditional bet. Luckily Erling Haaland played after recovering from a groin injury which had ruled him out of the Liverpool game. John's flutter was, as ever, 4-1 to City and Haaland to score first.
This time he placed a £10 bet at 34-1. After picking up £340, John said: “I’m in dreamland. I just can’t stop winning. I never bet against my own team, except I did go for Mo Salah to score first last time as a one-off and was quids in.
“This time I went back to my regular bet, which is City to win 4-1 with our Norwegian top-scorer to bag the opener, which of course he did.
“The odds aren’t as great on Haaland scoring first, and of course we were a short price to beat bottom club Southampton, but it’s amazing to have won again – and this time I’ll be buying a children’s slide for the newly-mowed lawn for my grandchildren to use when they visit. Note – I am not spending any of my winnings on myself!”
The Premier League champions host managerless Leicester this coming weekend, and Betfred boss Fred Done thinks it could well be 4-1 once again – and who could possibly bet against Haaland adding to his 30-goal tally for the season.
Big United fan Fred said: “To predict 4-1 in successive weekends is extraordinary. I don’t mind paying out to a Blue, honestly, especially as he seems to be a man after my own heart in the way he’s spending his winnings.
“It wouldn’t surprise me at all if we get that same scoreline when the Foxes come to town on Saturday as Pep Guardiola’s side close in on league leaders Arsenal.
“City are now our odds-on favourites for the title with Arsenal facing a trip to West Ham on Sunday – and of course the Gunners have to come to the Etihad on April 26.”
Fred added: "Haaland was injured against Liverpool but back for the Southampton game which of course helped John. If he's thinking of going for a hat-trick on Saturday and why wouldn't he? Well we are 28/1 it will be 4-1 again with Haaland first on the scoresheet."
