Can Sunderland Grab A Much Needed Hammers Win?

Sunderland fans will get a glimpse of their new regime with the Black Cats` playing their first game under Dick Advocaat tomorrow. The Dutchman has been hired with the North East club on the precipice of relegation with nine Premier League games left to contest. An away victory at tomorrow`s rivals West Ham United would see Sunderland move above both Hull and Aston Villa, these clubs both two points to the good of the Wearside team.

Failure to secure all three points against the Hammers would leave Advocaat`s side liable to be usurped by Burnley, the Clarets occupying the final spot in the drop zone. Burnley would only need a draw to move out of the bottom three should Sunderland lose by two or more goals away from home.

West Ham are all but safe for another season, the club sat in 10th position and just one point off the magical 40 mark. Indeed, a win could see them move to as high as eighth depending on other results, the Hammers having a superior goal difference to that of Stoke who currently sit in that position. With 11th placed Newcastle four points from the Iron, West Ham will not slide down the table even with a defeat.

The sides have only met once previously this season, that being the reverse fixture of this one at the Stadium of Light. That encounter ended as a 1-1 draw, two first half goals seeing the spoils shared. The hosts` Jordi Gomez opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, converting a penalty following James Tomkins` foul on Adam Johnson. This lead didn`t last for long, however, with Stewart Downing equalising seven minutes later.

A trio of bookmakers (Betvictor, betway, william hill) have priced up another 1-1 tie at 13/2 whilst it is 9/2 with most bookmakers should you think that the game will be tied both at the end of half-time and full-time. Gomez is a 16/1 (betfair, boylesports, paddy Power) shout to score the first goal of the match with Downing available at 12/1 (paddy Power) to close the scoring once again.

Despite not being able to grab the win last time out, the Hammers` home advantage and superior league position means that it is they who are the favourites to take away all three points from the encounter. Betvictor currently have the best price on this outcome at 9/10. Otherwise it is 4/1 (betfred, Totesport, william hill) should you think that Advocaat`s Sunderland career will begin with a much needed victory. A draw can be backed at 13/5 at most bookmakers.

The positive for the visitors is that West Ham are currently on a three match run without a win at home and have only scooped one home victory in their last five games at the Boleyn Ground. Furthermore, their 3-0 victory over Hull at Upton Park was the only time in this period that Sam Allardyce`s men have been able to score more than one goal in a match. Betvictor`s 2/1 says that the East End club will score exactly one goal tomorrow.

In a similar tale of woe, Sunderland have failed to secure an away win in the Premier League since beating local rivals Newcastle at St James Park back in December. They had picked up only two points in their last five matches on their travels under former manager Gus Poyet.

Having scored two goals in these five away games, Jack Rodwell is his club`s top scorer during this period. He can be backed at a price of 11/1 (32red, 888sport, unibet) to add to his tally at any time against the Hammers.

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20/03/2015     © Frixo 2024