Wednesday 25 February 2015 10:21, UK
Tuesday was a night to forget for Football League sponsors Sky Bet as 13 well-backed favourites came good for punters up and down the country.
The online bookmaker's trademark Price Boost was accountable for around a fifth of the company's losses on the night, as Juventus and Barcelona duly won at an enhanced double price of 5/1.
One customer used Sky Bet's 'cash out' service on a £10 correct score treble, banking almost £5,000 moments before Barcelona were awarded a late penalty in their 2-1 win at Manchester City.
Lionel Messi then had the spot-kick saved by Joe Hart, meaning the punter, in hindsight, would have been over £2,000 better off without the ‘cash out’.
Meanwhile, a Doncaster-based customer won over £52,000 from a £2 stake on a seven-fold 'Match Result and Both Teams to Score' accumulator.
The punter's slip included Millwall’s 3-1 home defeat to Sheffield Wednesday, with the Lions' 93rd-minute consolation goal proving decisive.
Elsewhere, a Birmingham-based punter collected over £31,000 from a £5 stake on 15 match results, including Portsmouth's 3-2 win over Tranmere after going two goals down.
Sky Bet’s Chris Spicer said: "It goes without saying that we have had a bad night, but there are some great stories on the back of these results.
"As Football League sponsors, it's great to see so many lower league fans betting with us, even if they are taking us to the cleaners at the minute!"
