The Manchester derby had already been won when United’s Anthony Martial stepped up to take an injury-time penalty. But 250 miles from the Etihad down in Kent, it mattered a great deal, for a new Betfred customer had a £5 bet on the scoreline ending up an improbable 6-3 to the high-riding Blues – at mind-blowing odds of 300/1.
“It’s just ridiculous,” said the 41-year-old office worker who was watching the game with her boyfriend … a Chelsea fan. Triumphant after winning £1,500 she explained how she came to put on such an unusual bet.
“Like football fans all over the world I knew Erling Haaland was on fire and thought with it being a derby reckoned I United would have to do something.
“It was weird but wonderful, especially as City raced into such a lead, but then weakened the team with changes from the bench in the second half – and United did get back into it.
“We were watching the match together when I told my boyfriend about the fiver I had on it ending up 6-3, which he said was ridiculous (which it probably was).
“After United got it back to 6-3 with the Martial penalty we had a very, very long two minutes to wait until the final whistle. Then we had a nice glass of champagne to celebrate. How are we going to spend the winnings? Well we’ve decided to make sure we have the best-ever family Christmas. A win like this is a brilliant little surprise out of the blue.”
Betfred boss Fred Done said: “Sounds like a big Christmas for this customer who has only been with us a couple of years. As a United fan I’m still days later trying to get over the derby mauling … and to be paying out to an Arsenal supporter has added to my misery.
“How she came up with 6-3 final score and got a fiver on is beyond reason! Very well played.”
