Premier League Betting: Manchester City v West Ham

Premier League / Dan Fitch / 27 September 2009 / Leave a Comment

A visual warning as to why West Ham fans would be foolhardy to run onto the pitch against Manchester City.

Recommended Bets: Back Manchester City to keep a clean sheet @ 2.22; Back Manchester City at half time/full time @ 2.22; Back 2-0 Manchester City @ 7.8.

Having suffered their first defeat of the season last weekend, Dan 'The Betting Man' Fitch thinks that Manchester City should return to winning ways against struggling West Ham. Best Bet: Manchester City clean sheet @ [2.22].

If Manchester City are to fulfil the undoubted potential of their squad, then they need to bounce back with a win when they face West Ham on Monday night.

Having suffered the pain of an injury time defeat at the hands of their arch rivals Manchester United, City's character will be put to the test by how well they respond to it. The best teams shrug off disappointment and quickly get back on track, but are City in that category yet?

They face a West Ham side that have just a solitary win in the Premier League this season, which came on the opening game against Wolves. It's early days, but West Ham are already mired in the relegation zone and we all know how quickly a poor run of form can escalate into 'a crisis'.

Their novice manager Gianfranco Zola surprised many by successfully turning West Ham's form around, after replacing Alan Curbishly last season. He now has to prove that it wasn't beginner's luck and his immediate challenge is to address his side's problems in attack.

Carlton Cole has cut an isolated figure and Zola has swooped to sign the Mexican striker Guillermo Franco on a free transfer to give the England forward some much needed support. Franco looks likely to make his debut against City, but West Ham supporters expecting immediate results should be warned that Franco has been more prolific in picking up injuries than in front of goal.

This leaves the bulk of claret and blue expectations resting on the broad shoulders of Carlton Cole, who looks unplayable on his day. Cole will be available at around [11.0] to score first and [4.5] to score anytime, with the debutant Franco at [15.0] and [6.5].

There was much talk before the season of how Mark Hughes would juggle his array of forwards, but injuries and suspension are currently making his job very easy. The starting partnership of Craig Bellamy and Carlos Tevez will be a cruel reminder of the attacking talent that has passed through West Ham in recent seasons.

Bellamy will be around [5.5] to score first and [2.2] anytime, with Tevez at [6.0] and [2.4]. Gareth Barry will be at [15.0] and [6.5] following his goal against United last week, while defender Joleon Lescott is appealing at [21.0] and [8.0] having proved to have an eye for goal whilst at Everton.

It's not just in attack where Hughes' large squad is being stretched. Along with the suspended Adebayor, City will also be without Robinho, Onuoha and Kompany, whilst Richards and Ireland remain doubts. It is possible though that Roque Santa Cruz will start on the bench, having played in a friendly game this week.

West Ham's decidedly thinner looking squad will find it far more difficult to find cover for their defensive lynchpin Matthew Upson, while Collison and Jiminez will also be missing.

If Upson is out there could be grave repercussions for a West Ham defence already struggling following the transfer of James Collins. Over 2.5 goals can be backed at [1.8], with unders at [2.2].

West Ham last won an away match at City back in 2006, but we all know that there is not much resemblance between the Eastlands' outfit of that vintage and the side that graces the stadium today.

Once clubs of a similar status, there is now something of a chasm between the qualities of the two sides and I can't see past a Manchester City victory. This is reflected in the [1.45] available for a City win, with the draw at [4.9] and West Ham at [9.2]. The better value lies in the [2.22] for City to be winning at half time/full time.

A 1-0 City win is at [8.0], with 2-0 at [7.8] and 3-0 at [12.5]. I think that the home side are great value at [2.22] to keep a clean sheet against West Ham's toothless attack, with the visitors a more distant [8.4] to do likewise.