Lays of the Weekend: Crowned Cardiff to take foot off

Cardiff owner Vincent Tan is all smiles after his club's promotion

Only an 81st-minute strike for Inter last weekend prevented a three-from-three outcome in this column, as Christian Crowther picks out three more chokers...

Lay Cardiff to beat Bolton @ 2.526/4
Even the most ardent Cardiff fan would have to admit their side have huffed and puffed their way to the title over their last 11 games. The Welsh side have relied on a combination of much more clinical mid-season form and the inability of those below them to pick up maximum points consistently to see them over the line. Although the champions have gone unbeaten in the last six, they've only won twice in that stretch. In Cardiff's last home game as a Championship team, for a season at least, the Bluebirds face a Bolton side still scrapping tooth and nail to make the play-offs, winning nine of their last 12. It's this difference in motivation which could well see Wanderers leave Wales with some points.

Lay Walsall to win at Crewe @ 2.166/5
Walsall remain on a fantastic 15-game unbeaten run as they arrive in the north-west to finish their season at Crewe. However, had the Saddlers managed to convert at least half of the last six draws in seven games into wins then they would be very much in the play-off frame going into the final round of League One fixtures. Instead, they arrive at Gresty Road to face the Railwaymen six points shy of those coveted spots, with the sole motivation of protecting that sizeable unbeaten record. The Alex will naturally have other ideas as they round off their campaign looking to record successive home wins after beating sixth-placed Sheffield United in midweek. Wherever Walsall are concerned, a draw seems a likely result.

Lay Betis to beat Deportivo @ 2.01/1
Betis' bid to break into those magical top-four spots has all but hit the buffers, after showing heaps of promise in the first half of the season. Now the Beticos find themselves seven points off the pace in seventh position, with just six La Liga games to play in order to rescue their European claims. Just one win in their last five outings has done little to suggest that they are revving up to mount a last-gasp surge either. Next up are a Deportivo side who have defied expectation of late, lifting themselves away from the foot of the table with a run of four straight victories before drawing with Athletic Bilbao on Sunday. Deportivo can propel themselves further away from danger by taking advantage of their hosts indifferent form.