SATURDAY night football on Sky Sports is at Upton Park as West Ham host Man City. Chris Graham (@chrisgraham79) previews the action.
West Ham v Manchester City | Saturday 17:30 | Sky Sports 1
West Ham let me down badly last Saturday when succumbing to Newcastle but I simply have to be on their side again here as they host Manchester City.
What's the most important thing in betting? The price, stupid! Man City are odds on across the board for this match but on 2015/16 form that's simply too short.
Remarkably their away league fixtures this season have produced just 19 goals, that's the lowest tally amongst all 20 teams in the division. A shocking figure for the title favourites.
Head of the title betting they may be but they sit down in 9th in the Away Table with just four wins from their 10 road trips, averaging exactly just one goal per game.
They kicked off their season in style with three consecutive away wins but as soon as autumn followed summer their away form has fallen off a cliff.
Convincing defeats by Tottenham, Stoke and Arsenal have been supplemented by draws at Aston Villa, Leicester and Manchester United. A recent win at Watford has stopped the rot but the Hornets seem to have hit a mid-season blip.
West Ham sit eight points below Man City in sixth place and arrive at this game boasting a brilliant home record. In a reverse pattern of Man City they started the season poorly with two straight home defeats but have now gone nine unbeaten at Upton Park.
Wins over Chelsea, Liverpool and Southampton have been very impressive and on paper Slaven Bilic's side have every right to win this match against this uninspiring outfit.
Yes, we all know the perils of taking on Man City. They can flick the switch and tear apart sides with gusto but there's no chance I can possibly entertain them at odds on here. I'll have a small interest on West Ham winning at decent odds.
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