WEST BROM welcome Swansea to The Hawthorns on Monday night and Sam Ingram (@SamIngram_) is on-hand to share his best bet.
West Brom vs Swansea | Monday 28th February, 20:00 | Sky Sports
West Brom limp into Monday night’s Championship fixture propping up the division’s form table as the 24th-worst side on paper. West Brom mustered just one point from six fixtures, scoring a solitary goal and shipping ten at the other end.
During this time, Steve Bruce was handpicked to guide this beleaguered outfit, replacing the outgoing Valérien Ismaël after only 29 games at the helm. Taking charge at the beginning of February, the former-Newcastle gaffer has overseen one point from four games – far from a perfect start to life in the midlands.
It’s not exactly plain sailing over in Wales for Russell Martin’s Swansea side, with the 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Sheffield United last weekend is testament to that. Close to, but not quite as poor as West Brom, The Swans find themselves 19th (from six games) in the form table.
Taking the bottom three sides out of the equation, Swansea has picked up the fewest points on their travels this campaign.
So, on the menu is a troubled Baggies side that can’t buy a win at present, up against a lightweight Swansea outfit hopeless on the road. Unfortunately, they can’t both lose, as that would offer a handy angle into the game.
Unders and Cards for Championship's strugglers
Given my hesitance to get either team on side amidst two dismal runs of form, an ‘unders' angle appeals in the goal markets, coupled with at least one card shown to either side. Under 4 Goals and for Dean Whitestone to brandish a card to both teams is priced at 4/5 on Bet365.
At The Hawthorns this season, only 2/15 Championship matches have come in at Over 4 goals. On Swansea's travels, Over 4 has occurred a touch more frequently at 5/16.
With either side not exactly blessed in lethality in front of goal at present, there to be no more than three goals in the match feels like a safe bet. In addition, Under 4 goals has landed in the previous 24 West Brom matches in all competitions, easing any concerns of a potential goal-fest.
Dean Whitestone isn't the most prolific for cards shown in the Championship, but here we have two struggling teams desperate for points. Under the lights, in a pressurised atmosphere on Monday Night Football, I'm expecting tempers to flare.
West Brom comes into tonight's match-up with a cards per90 average of 1.67, with Swansea outdoing their hosts with a 2.13 per90 average. Either side's opponent card figures appeal too, as West Brom's opponents average 1.87 per90, and Swansea's hit 2.00.
Whitestone's yellow card per game average of 2.32 isn't exactly head-turning, but I wouldn't be surprised if he reaches into his pocket more than usual this evening.
In what should be a frantic and scrappy affair, I'm more than happy to play it somewhat safer with an odds-on shout in a game that could go either way.
Best Bets
West Brom vs Swansea – Under 4 Goals and Both Teams Over 0 Cards (4/5 Bet365)
