A few weeks ago I stated quite categorically that, despite their wobbly form, Manchester United would still go on to win the Premier League title.

Who’s to say the football gods don’t have something up their sleeves? They normally do- James Calvert

I was positive, certain and definite. And also, it transpires, wrong.

With only this afternoon’s games left to play it is actually their city neighbours who are now favourites and just one win away from a quite spectacular triumph.

However, contrary to some of the e-mails I have been receiving over the past few days, my statement about United’s impending glory was not an attempt to jinx them.

Not only did I believe they would win the league but, considering who they were up against, I actually wanted them to. Very much so.

So, to answer your questions and complaints, the answer is no. I did not purposely write about one outcome in the hope that another one would happen.

At least not this time.

And, let’s be honest, it’s not all over yet anyway. The fat lady may be on stage and clutching her microphone provocatively. She may even have gone through her final sound checks. But up to now, she hasn’t started singing.

Yes, the odds are stacked overwhelmingly in Manchester City’s favour – their goal difference is pretty much the equivalent of having an extra point over their Manchester rivals. But football is a strange old game and who’s to say there isn’t one final twist in this particular tale? Who’s to say the football gods don’t have something up their sleeves? They normally do.

While on paper City have more than enough in the locker to overcome their end-of-season opponents, Queens Park Rangers are certainly not going to go to the Etihad just to make up the numbers.

There are so many other factors that need to be taken into consideration.

For a start, and probably most crucially, QPR are battling for their very Premiership lives – they know that only a win will make them certain of avoiding the drop. That should be incentive enough to see them put up a fight.

And then there is the ‘returning heroes’ factor – QPR captain Joey Barton is an ex-City player and Mark Hughes an ex-City manager. Both will have points to prove.

If that wasn’t enough to ensure this match is anything but a foregone conclusion, then you can throw in the element of ‘anxiety’. It will only take a QPR goal for the tension to spread among the City fans and players like wildfire.

Or should the game stay at 0-0 for any length of time it will be squeaky bum time for Roberto Mancini’s men.

Of course, assuming QPR do manage to pull something out of the hat, that still means United need to get some sort of result at Sunderland. And that will not be easy either, especially considering United’s recent average displays.

But whatever happens, whoever is left wearing the crown when the dust settles this afternoon, you have my word that I didn’t purposely try to jinx United.

In fact, if it is of any consolation to Manchester United fans, I feel compelled to point out that I recently also managed to unwittingly jinx my own club too.

I wrote about Sheffield United, saying how much fun it had been to be in League One and that they were on course for automatic promotion with just three games to go.

Well, after two draws and a defeat, the Blades missed out on automatic promotion in dramatic fashion.

Not only that, but it was eternal rivals Sheffield Wednesday who pipped us at the post, to rub outrageous amounts of salt into a very open wound. That condemned SUFC to the play-offs, having been in second place for pretty much most of the past seven months.

A bitter pill to swallow, which becomes even more sour when you consider that in five previous attempts we have never been promoted via the play-offs.

So while you Manchester United fans can at least look forward to another crack at the big time next season, it’s more than likely another season of Yeovil and Walsall for my team. (I know I said I was enjoying life in League One, oh football gods, but not that much).

So Kean he doesn’t know when to quit

I think it’s fair to say that Steve Kean and the plot have now formally parted company.

The Blackburn Rovers boss, despite guiding his team to relegation with a match to spare, is still refusing to quit. Instead, within hours of taking his team down he was already talking about preparations for next season.

This man must be the world’s most stubborn glutton for punishment.

Despite being evidently not very good at his job, despite being possibly the most unpopular manager in the history of football and despite having entirely failed to achieve his only serious objective for the season, he still refuses to do the dignified thing and walk away.

My God, man, just let it go. If not for yourself, the club or the fans, then for your family, who can’t be happy having to watch the wild abuse you have been taking for an entire season.

A few months ago I wondered how he was managing to cling to power amid the rising tide of hatred from the Blackburn fans. And now, with their fear that he is incapable of keeping the team up having been proved right, he is still hanging in there.

In some ways I can understand him wanting to hang around and try to take the team back up. It’s the only way he would ever be able to rescue his managerial career.

But after a season that has been like watching a managerial car crash in slow motion, his position is entirely untenable.

If he thinks the fans have been nasty as they watched him relegate their team, just wait to see what will happen if he is still in charge by the time the next season starts. Chaos. They simply won’t tolerate it.

The chicken farmers who own the club (please note I didn’t use the word ‘run’ as that would be entirely untrue) must act now to save any tiny shred of credibility they may have left.

Kean needs to be swiftly relieved of his duties. For his own sake.

Your say

“I am a proud West Bromwich Albion supporter who was hurt by your comments regarding my team in last Sunday’s newspaper. You were not correct.

“West Bromwich Albion have become a great, strong team in the Premiership.

We are not mid-table mediocrity. With the help of Roy Hodgson, we have moved onwards and upwards.

“Is it mediocrity to beat Chelsea on home soil? Or beating our local rivals Wolverhampton Wanderers 5-1 away or winning 2-0 at home to relegate them?

“Or getting a great 2-2 draw at Old Trafford against Manchester United? Or beating Arsenal at the Emirates 3-2? Or beating Manchester City on our home soil?

“We have become the biggest team in the midlands this year, leaving Aston Villa 10 points adrift.” Maurizio Abela, e-mail.

sportscolumnist@timesofmalta.com
Twitter: @maltablade