West Brom to arrest slump on TV

For this week's big match, Christian Crowther peruses the Opta stats and adds a little insight to pick out three bets...

West Brom v West Ham (Sunday 16:00, Sky Sports 1)

West Ham have only won two of their last 13 Premier League away fixtures (W2 D3 L8)

West Ham have slipped into the bottom half of the Premier League for the first time following defeat to Liverpool last Sunday. Although this is no time for panic, it won't stop some more pessimistic Hammers' fans wondering if this is the start of a dreaded slide in the opposite direction. Next up for Sam Allardyce's team is a trip to The Hawthorns, where the Baggies have mostly been imperious this season, though the gloss of a remarkable start has been somewhat dulled of late by three successive league defeats, including one at home to Stoke. Steve Clarke's side have beaten Liverpool, Everton and Chelsea there though and will feel they have enough to edge this one in front of the Sky cameras. Mohamed Diame will be a big loss for the visitors too.

 

The Hammers have only managed five goals in their seven Premier League matches on the road since returning to the top flight

Although West Ham have picked up two away wins this season, they clearly haven't found the net regularly enough outside the Boleyn Ground. The latest injury to Andy Carroll will only make the task of improving this dismal record harder and the loss of one of their main creative forces in Diame will further restrict the Irons' attacking capabilities. If scoring away from home has been difficult for the visitors then scoring at all has been just as perplexing for their hosts recently. West Brom have managed just one goal from their last three Premier League outings. An Allardyce team, by default, will be hard to open up, which proved West Brom's undoing in their last home game against Stoke. The margin of victory is likely to be slender.

 

There have been three penalties awarded in the last four Premier League meetings between West Brom and West Ham

Although these clubs share the same geographical prefix, there is no rationale for calling the encounter a derby, although this penalty stat is the kind of figure that you would expect from such an occasion. Both these sides experienced penalties during their last Premier League outings - two in fact in the case of West Brom, who can rightly feel aggrieved by the nature of the first at Arsenal on account of Santi Cazorla's scandalous simulation. Contrastingly, West Ham were the recipients of a hugely fortuitous decision in their favour against Liverpool. It seems spot kicks are the theme of the moment for these clubs, but which one will have the luck on Sunday?

 

Recommended Bets:

Back West Brom to beat West Ham @ 2.04

Back under 2.5 goals @ 2.0

Back there to be a penalty taken @ 3.45

 

Bet HERE

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