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Sunderland v West Ham
By Simon Hopper
Last updated: 15:09 Sunday, November 23, 2008
With all of the big four in action this weekend it seems strange that this one has been chosen as a live Sunday game – but both Sunderland & West Ham will be absolutely desperate for the points in front of the Sky cameras at the Stadium of Light.
Both of these clubs are well and truly caught up in the mass relegation dog-fight – with the hosts in 11th place just 2 points clear of the bottom three! Roy Keane’s side could have been in the drop zone were it not for a timely 2-1 win at Blackburn last weekend stopping a run of 4 successive defeats and another victory here could buy them valuable breathing space heading into the hectic Christmas period. Strangely, the Black Cats have actually picked up more points on the road than on Wearside this season, with a 1-2 reverse against Portsmouth in their last home game evidence perhaps that this is not yet the fortress Keane would like it to be.
But Gianfranco Zola has bigger problems at West Ham as his side seek their first Premiership win in 8 games after a dreadful run that sees them just one point above the drop zone and 3 off the foot of the table. The Hammers are 19th in the form table after 5 defeats in their last 7, though the Italian may take heart from a first clean sheet of the season against Portsmouth (0-0) last time out.
Zola did oversee his side inflict Fulham’s only home defeat of the season to date but there are several reasons to think that the Hammers aren’t capable of repeating that feat in the North-East. For starters, that was their only away win of the season (back in September) and have suffered defeats at Hull (0-1), Man United (0-2) and drawn at Middlesbrough (1-1) since then. Zola’s overall record at the club is a disappointing P10 W2 D2 L6 F8 A15, and his away record reflects this: P4 W1 D1 L2 F3 A5. Just 5 goals scored in 6 away games to date is worrying enough, but the Hammers have found the net just twice in their last 6 fixtures which is relegation scoring form for sure. Furthermore, the Londoners do traditionally struggle when making the long trip to the North-East: in games at Middlesbrough, Newcastle & Sunderland since their re-promotion in 2004/05, they have won just 1 of 9 encounters and were turned over 2-1 on this ground last season.
Though Sunderland were looking vulnerable after 4 successive defeats, the victory at Blackburn was a vast improvement on recent performances and at home, where they have held Arsenal (1-1) and seen off Boro (2-0) & Newcastle (2-1) in 3 of their last 4, we feel they have a great chance of taking another three points here. West Ham are in all sorts of bother and though they took a point from Portsmouth last time out, just 2 goals scored in 6 games is truly woeful; coupled with 1 away win all season and their poor record in this neck of the woods and they are hard to support at 5/2. The 6/5 on the hosts is tempting but laying the visitors at around 3.55 would be a better insurance policy just in case Keane’s low scoring Cats (just 12 in 13 games) cant break down the Hammers back line.
With both sides having atrocious scoring records this season, under 2.5 goals at 5/6 is also backable: 5 of West Ham’s last 6 games have filled the unders and no Sunderland home game has seen more than 3 goals this term: another low scoring game is expected.
Recommended Bets - 4 pts - Lay West Ham, Around 3.55 Betfair
Recommended Bets - 3 pts - Under 2.5 Goals, 5/6 Blue Square