I MADE an early call on West Ham simply because Betfred's 7-5 on them to win at Sunderland looks too big.
I accept there’s no such thing as an away banker in the Premier League but the Hammers have a 100 per cent record on the road having defeated big guns Arsenal, Liverpool and Man City.
A trip to Sunderland will hold no fears but will represent a different challenge. Slaven Bilic’s men go there as favourites so how do they handle that and they should have more possession so less counter-attacking which they like?
On the upside for the Hammers is the fact Sunderland are rank rotten and rock bottom and boss Dick Advocaat must be wishing he’d quit in the summer.
Fabio Borini, Jermain Lens, Younes Kaboul and Yann M’Vila looked decent buys but haven’t gelled and the defence is as solid as Celtic's featuring Efe Ambrose.
Dimitri Payet has been exceptional for the Hammers and Diafra Sakhko continues to bang in the goals. They’ve got pace to burn and I’m on the away as well as West Ham -1 Asian Handicap at 29-20 with 888sport. That’s void if the Hammers win by one.
If goals bets are your preference the match to target is Norwich v Leicester. The Foxes are the only side in England whose matches have featured both scoring in every game.
Last week’s 5-2 home loss to Arsenal could have been 8-5 but that’s the way they play and Claudio Ranieri’s offer of pizza for a clean sheet is likely to go begging another week.
Norwich have settled well into life in the Premier League and also score and concede. Back both teams to score at 8-13 with McBookie and over 2.5 goals at 3-4 with bet365. A 2-2 draw has a nice feel to it so try over 3.5 goals at 21-10 with McBookie.
Man City will be lifted by their first Champions League win in midweek and should take care of a Newcastle outfit they’ve beaten 5-0, 4-0 and 4-0 in the last three seasons at the Etihad. City minus two pays 13-8 at Paddy Power.
Chelsea are no gimmes at home to Southampton and I’m on both to score for the fourth season running at 4-5 (bet365).
I'd have backed Bournemouth if they hadn't lost star man Callum Wilson to injury. Glenn Murray's a ready-made replacement but isn't as good and I can see them drawing with a Watford side who lost 2-0 at Dean Court last season and drew 1-1 the year before.
In December 2020 we sadly 
As a West Ham fan myself, it would be so like us to lose today. All the stats and logic point to a win, but having lost to AFCB and Leicester at home and drawn with Norwich, we really do struggle when teams challenge us to come onto them which is exactly what Sunderland will do today.
Obviously we should go there and win after our incredible start to the season away from home, but a Sunderland win would not surprise me one jot!
Alex, as you say stats and form suggest a West Ham win but I hope my write-up has installed a note of caution.