Hammers to make if FOUR as Spurs stumble again?

Aug 16, 2014

We’ve teamed up with BetFuze to bring you the best West Ham odds and bookie offers over the course of the season, and today we get things started with the big season opener against Spurs at the Boleyn Ground.

Three wins against Tottenham in one season was always going to be a pretty special moment in recent history for us Hammers fans.

But all good things come to an end at some point, which I think we’re all expecting at some stage this season. This hold we have over Tottenham won’t last much longer. Or will it?

Spurs have a new manager in Mauricio Pochettino, which by all accounts will prove to be a good appointment for them. However, the former Southampton boss hasn’t been able to topple West Ham since arriving in England in January 2013. That’s two draws and a loss as Saints boss. Southampton arguably had a better side than the Hammers on all those occasions, particularly with the likes of Adam Lallana, Jay Rodriguez and Rickie Lambert.

Yet Pochettino’s stylish football couldn’t overcome the ugly side of Sam Allardyce’s philosophy, which could be the case again today when the sides meet at the Boleyn Ground.

And it’s the goalless draw that looks fairly tempting with Coral, who are offering a tasty 10/1 for both sides to get off to a goalless start this term.

Why 0-0? Well, the Hammers have struggled for goals from open play in pre-season and are without record signing Andy Carroll, new signings Enner Valencia and Diafra Sakho and winger Matt Jarvis.

Spurs look like they’ll be going with Emmanuel Adebayor and Roberto Soldado up front which, if last season was anything to go by, isn’t going to strike fear in to many defences.

West Ham’s defence is arguably their strongest asset. The defensive pairing of Winston Reid and James Tomkins proved to be a tough nut to crack last season, as was the introduction of James Collins during Reid’s stint on the sidelines through injury.

But, if you want goals, then it’s hard not to look past Mauro Zarate to get off the mark on his Hammers debut, while captain Kevin Nolan is always worth looking at for goals and assists.

Mauro Zarate to score anytime and for West Ham to win is a decent 9/1 with BetFred, while they’re also pricing Kevin Nolan to score anytime and the Hammers to collect all three points at an even better 10/1.

This won’t be a high-scoring game, but it’s one that can go either way. One or two goals will be the difference if there are any, but the bore draw is my tip of the day.

That said, if you want to back a correct score then you get West Ham to snatch a 1-0 victory at a huge 11/1 with Coral, which is better value than the goalless draw. You just can’t turn a blind eye at that, surely?