Two clubs at the wrong end of the Premier League table meet at Molineux on Saturday afternoon as rock-bottom Wolves host 18th-placed West Ham United.
Wolves recorded a rare highlight last time out, drawing 1-1 away at Old Trafford against Manchester United, on an evening when one of my two selections landed.
Nevertheless, Rob Edwards’s men are still to win in the Premier League this season, picking up a measly three points from their opening 19 clashes (W0-D3-L16), and already look destined to be playing Championship football next season.
West Ham managed to put a halt to their three-match losing streak on Tuesday as they played out a 2-2 draw at home to Brighton & Hove Albion in a match they had led twice.
However, the Hammers are now winless in each of their previous eight Premier League contests (W0-D4-L4), and are four points adrift of safety.
How the bookies view it: Wolves slight favourites
Despite failing to win any of their opening 19 Premier League fixtures this season, Wolves have been installed as slight favourites for this clash, with bet365 pricing a home success at 6/4.
Bet365 have West Ham at 15/8 to snap their eight-match winless streak in the Premier League, whilst the draw is 23/10.
Head to head: Not much between the two in recent years
There has not been a draw in each of the previous 17 meetings between these two clubs, with West Ham winning nine of them, whilst Wolves have won eight, including each of the last two.
Players to watch: Bowen to bag again?
Jarrod Bowen continues to be West Ham’s talisman, with his strike against Brighton last time out being his sixth in the Premier League this season.
The ex-Hull City attacker has now scored in three of the Hammers’ last five Premier League encounters, and the 1/1 on offer at bet365 for him to Score or Assist on Saturday appeals to me.
Backed a player to find the net? Check our Goalscorer Betting guide to see how the markets work and where to find value.
Predicted line-ups:
Wolves will be without the injured Dan Bentley, Toti Gomes Jean-Ricner Bellgarde, Rodrigo Gomes and Marshall Munetsi, whilst Emmanuel Agbadou and Tawanda Chirewa are away at AFCON duty, but Andre is available following suspension
West Ham will be without full-backs Aaron Wan-Bissaka and El Hadji Malick Diouf who are away at the Africa Cup of Nations.
Wolverhampton Wanderers: Sa, Mosquera, Krejci, Bueno, Doherty, Andre, Gomes, Tchatchoua, Mane, Hwang, Arokodare
West Ham United: Areola, Walker-Peters, Todibo, Kidman, Scarles, Potts, Magassa, Fernandes, Bowen, Paqueta, Wilson
Anything else catch the eye?
Given their positions in the table, both of these clubs will be targeting a win here, and that should lead to an open encounter.
Eight of West Ham’s previous 11 Premier League clashes have delivered goals at both ends, and given the same has landed in four of Wolves’ last five, I like the 8/11 on offer at William Hill.
Over 2.5 Goals has also paid out in three of the Hammers’ last four Premier League outings, and a repeat pays an appealing 10/11 at bet365.
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