VYDRA the value bet in lunchtime game at West Ham

West Ham boss Sam Allardyce received the dreaded vote of confidence from owners David Gold and David Sullivan following their 3-1 defeat at home to Arsenal on Boxing Day. Losing to the Gunners is no disgrace though what might put the Hammers boss over the edge is a loss to managerless West Brom on Saturday (12:45, SKY SPORTS).

Bookmakers make West Ham the 7/5 (BETVICTOR/william hill) favourites as they look to register only their second victory in their last 12 Premier League games. The Hammers badly need three points as the form of other sides around them has seen them drop to 19th. The London side are playing some decent stuff though are struggling to convert their chances having netted just three times in their last five Premier League games.

West Brom are without win in their last eight Premier League matches and are available at 23/10 (paddy Power) to grab all three points here. The Baggies have drawn their last two under caretaker boss Keith Downing while four of the last five meeting between the pair have ended drawn so the game to end all square at 12/5 (GENERAL) is an option.

Carlton Cole has been the main goal threat for West Ham recently with three goals since his return and two in his last two though odds of 13/2 (888 SPORT/unibet) on him to score first or 11/5 with the same firms to score at anytime look about right. The player I like the look of in this market though is West Brom frontman Matej Vydra who was handed the start at White Hart Lane. The Czech forward had a couple of efforts at goal against Tottenham and was a nuisance through out the game. Odds of 11/1 (BETVICTOR/william hill/WINNER) that he grabs the opener or 4/1 (william hill) he scores anytime looks worth taking against a Hammers defence that has shipped ten in their last four league games.

The evening game is also a crucial battle at the bottom of the table (17:30, SKY SPORTS) and is between Cardiff and Sunderland at the Cardiff City Stadium. As I was writing this (Friday 27th) Cardiff owner Vincent Tan finally completed what he had been threatening to do for a long time and sacked Malky Mackay. It is easy from the outside to criticise the eccentric owner though when it is your millions of pounds of investment at stake it is a different decision to make. It was clear though from the Southampton game that saw the Saints go 3-0 up in the first 27 minutes that a change was needed for the Bluebirds.

This then has made predicting their next game with Sunderland very difficult and bookmakers are going 11/8 (bet365/BETVICTOR) a home win for the Welsh side while Sunderland are 12/5 (bet365/WINNER/betway) chances. The Black Cats will take huge confidence from a massive three points at Everton on though they were helped by the sending-off of Tim Howard early in the game. The Black Cats though deserved a bit of luck after being unlucky against the Canaries last weekend in a game they should and could have won.. I was leaning towards Sunderland though the manager sacking for Cardiff has shaken my thinking so I will look at the side markets for a suitable bet.

The bet in this game has to be in the time of the first goal market which I think will come later than sooner. Cardiff will be keen to keep things tight under their caretaker boss while the penalty against Everton was the first time in seven games that Sunderland had scored an away goal. My advice is to take the 11/10 (BETVICTOR) that the goal comes after the 27th minute.

BEST OF THE BETS

GOLD: Matej Vydra to score anytime v West Ham, 4/1 (william hill)
SILVER: Matej Vydra to score first v West Ham, 11/1 (BETVICTOR/WILLIAM HILL/WINNER)
BRONZE: Time of first goal after 27th minute in Cardiff v Sunderland, 11/10 (BETVICTOR)

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28/12/2013     © Frixo 2026