Tottenham v West Ham: Sherwood to steer Spurs to easy win

Tottenham v West Ham, Wednesday 19:45, Match Odds: Tottenham 1.501/2, West Ham 8.007/1, The Draw 4.77/2.

Life for Tottenham without Andre Villas-Boas begins in with this potentially spicy Capital One Cup quarter-final clash. Both teams have questions to answer as West Ham and Sam Allardyce have had little to be merry about since disposing of Spurs 3-0 in the Premier League fixture at White Hart Lane, winning just one of their nine league games since, whilst interim Tottenham coach Tim Sherwood will want to put some pride back in the Spurs shirt after that abysmal 5-0 drubbing by Liverpool.

To Win To Nil

Tottenham were a very odd team under Villas-Boas. Although they suffered humiliating defeats, it's hard to ignore that Spurs are unbeaten this season in all competitions when they've scored. That's 17 wins and three draws. All of their losses have been to nil.

Before the Liverpool debacle, Villas-Boas' side had won four of their last five and a draw in the midst of that run with Manchester United was hardly a disaster either. With an eager to impress Sherwood in charge, it's easy to see the hosts coming out all guns blazing. West Ham look ripe to be on the end of a hiding from a full-strength Spurs side.

If you take West Ham's freak 3-0 win at White Hart Lane out of the equation, they've only scored two goals in the league away from home in seven attempts and continue to be without the hugely influential Andy Carroll. Allardyce's infatuation with Modibo Maiga, who has failed to score in 13 appearances for the club, is baffling and you get the feeling the Spurs back four will have a quieter time than they faced at the weekend. Spurs haters will be very quick to slate the north Londoner's defensive discipline and organisation after their recent tonkings; however, in all competitions the Lilywhites have kept 14 clean sheets this season. The 2.588/5 for a home win to nil looks dripping with potential.

Correct Score

Combining the strong likelihood of Spurs to enforce a ferocious intensity with West Ham's inability to score also looks the way to play this game from a correct score perspective.

Along with backing Tottenham to win to nil, go for a classic brucie bonus play and dutch stakes between 3-0 and 4-0 correct scorelines.

Best Bet: Tottenham to win to nil @ 2.588/5

Other Recommended Bet: Tottenham to win 3-0 12.011/1 or 4-0 22.021/1