Surprise Packages Southampton And West Ham Do Battle

Southampton host West Ham United at St. Mary`s tomorrow evening (19:45), the Hampshire club looking to keep pace with their rivals in an attempt to secure a place in the Champions League. Southampton could go to within a point of second place Manchester City, should the Saints win and City lose in their encounter with Stoke. Losing against the Hammers, however, could see any number of Manchester United, Tottenham or Arsenal usurp them.

West Ham, on the other hand, are looking to continue their own decent start, the club sitting in eighth but just eight points behind tomorrow`s opponents. Sam Allardyce`s men are just two points worse off than last season`s Premier league runners-up Liverpool and could go above them with a win against the Saints tomorrow. A loss would likely not see them relinquish their current league standing but might see Swansea, Stoke or Newcastle close up behind them.

The two sides last met back in August, Ronald Koeman`s men forging out a 3-1 victory over the Irons away from home. Mark noble put West Ham in front half way through the opening 45 though Morgan Schneiderlin levelled up for the Saints with the half in its dying embers.

The Frenchman completed his brace in the second half before teammate and top scorer for the Hampshire club Graziano Pelle put the game beyond doubt in the closing ten minutes. Twelve-time goalscorer Pelle is 13/8 with Betbright and betfair to add to his tally at any time tomorrow whilst Schneiderlin is 75/1 to grab another two or more goals in the reverse fixture.

It is the home side who are the favourites for the clash, a quartet of bookmakers (betfred, boylesports, ladbrokes, Totesport) installing them at 3/4. Another correct score prediction of 3-1 to the Saints can be picked up at a price of 14/1 across the board. bet365`s 29/10 says the match will end a draw tomorrow evening with both Betvictor and Coral pricing up a win for Big Sam`s United at 9/2.

This may well be the Claret and Blues` best chance of picking up a result with Koeman`s side currently without a win in any of their last three home games in all competitions. This streak began when they drew 1-1 with Championship side Ipswich in the FA Cup prior to falling to a 3-2 defeat at Crystal Palace in the same competition and a 1-0 loss at home to Swansea in the Premier League.

Contrarily, this latest defeat against the Welsh side was the first time in five matches that they had failed to hit the back of the net at home, and Southampton are 13/20 with Betvictor to get their shooting boots back on and score over 0.5 goals against the Irons.

Schneiderlin grabbed his side`s only home goal against Ipswich and Pelle scored the first against Palace to strengthen the argument for them scoring against West Ham.

The visitors drew with Manchester United at home last time out though are without a win in four away clashes in the Premier League.

Stewart Downing scored the only Hammers goal as they drew against Sunderland back in December before they fell to a 2-0 defeat at the hands of Chelsea away from home. Andy Carroll put the Londoners 1-0 to the good against Swansea at the Liberty Stadium but they could only manage a 1-1 draw before, in their last away game, they fell to a 2-0 defeat at Anfield against Liverpool.

Three of the Irons` last five Premier League clashes have ended tied 1-1. Seven-to-one with Betvictor says that this will be the score tomorrow.

Go To bet365

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10/02/2015     © Frixo 2026