Manchester City V West Ham United – Monday 28th September

 

Manchester City V West Ham United

 

 

Kick-Off: Monday 28^th September – 20:00 GMT

Venue: The City of Manchester stadium

 

 

Manchester City

 

League Position: 4th

Recent Form: WWWWL

 

  

After a morale sapping defeat away at local rivals Manchester United, Mark Hughes takes his City side back to a happy hunting ground – The City of Manchester Stadium, a venue where City have won all their home fixtures thus far, two in total. Victories over Wolves and Arsenal have given them a perfect home record and a win over West Ham on Monday night would not only maintain their winning start on home soil this season but also stretch their winning streak at The City of Manchester stadium to six wins after City won their remaining three home fixtures at the end of last season.

  

Man City are starting to turn The City of Manchester stadium into a fortress under Mark Hughes, although, the blank cheque did help somewhat. Still, credit where credits due, not only have the City players done themselves proud when playing at home but so have the fans, they’ve come out in their thousands to support their mega rich side in a bid to drive City up the table and in amongst the big boys.

  

City’s defeat last Sunday at the hands of Manchester United will have been a bitter blow to what has been a superb start to the season for Man City. However, with the exception of a home fixture with Arsenal, that was City’s first real test of the season after a more than generous opening few fixtures. However, you can only beat those put in front of you and City have done just enough in each of their opening encounters.

  

Craig Bellamy scored two for City last weekend and it’s just as well that the former Welsh international has regained some form as Emanuel Adebayor will not only miss this fixture with West Ham but also City’s next fixture away against Aston Villa, a very tricky away trip indeed. The absence of the Togo international will be felt by everyone at City as Adebayor has already found the goal in each of his four league starts in a City shirt. He has been the catalyst to City’s early success and the million dollar question is how will City cope without their inform striker. If the United game was anything to go by, they might not struggle as much as we first thought.

 

United may have dented the early momentum City had built but the richest side in the land will still be buoyed by their early success that has seen them win four of their first five fixtures. Scoring hasn’t been their strongest forte with two of City’s wins coming by a narrow 1-0 scoreline. However, City scored four in their last home fixture, beating Arsenal 4-2, whilst their three goals at Old Trafford last weekend now means that City have scored seven goals in their last two league outings.

 

 

 

West Ham United

 

League Position: 16th

Recent Form: WLDLL

 

  

A promising start has turned seriously sour with West Ham losing two games on the bounce and without a win in four games after defeat at home to Liverpool last Saturday. The live encounter in front of the ESPN cameras seen West Ham push Liverpool all the way but unfortunately, like the West Ham of old, the Hammers came up short, losing 3-2 at Upton Park. Although the result was bitterly disappointing, their performance on the day was a valiant one and they should take great heart from their display and out in another battling display away in Manchester.

  

West Ham seem to thrive on the underdog status as they often cause the big sides all sorts of problems when they take on the top four. They pulled off two surprising draws away at Liverpool and Chelsea last season while they gave United a run for their money as well so West Ham certainly have the credentials to pose a few problems on their day. However, West Ham still lack that cutting edge which would enable them to go one further in these tight games and actually record a morale boosting win over a huge side.

  

West Ham have a real talent in forward Carlton Cole and he will net them at least 15 goals this season but, however, they still have tonnes of problems at the back which will let them down throughout the course of the season. Fernando Torres strolled past several defenders to score Liverpool’s first on Saturday while Torres scored a second and eventual winner by out jumping two West Ham defenders. To add to West Ham;’s defensive woes, their best defender in Matthew Upson limped off in their 3-02 defeat against Liverpool and he is a doubt for this game.

 

That defeat at home to Liverpool was their second on the spin and that poor result now leaves West Ham without a win in four games. That’s a bad run and one that has to come to an end sooner rather than later as with every win less game comes a drop in team morale and player confidence. However, this does look another very tough game for Gianfranco Zola’s men and their win drought looks set to continue here as City are the short priced favourites to compound the recent misery of the West Ham supporters.

 

 

 

Head-to-Head:

 

 

Manchester City W: 5 West Ham United W: 3 Draws: 2

 

 

In recent seasons, City have enjoyed themselves in this fixture, especially at home, winning three of the previous four encounters at The City of Manchester stadium. West Ham’s last away success in this fixture came way back in the 2002/2003 season when they narrowly won 1-0. However, City won this meeting convincingly last season when they cruised to a 3-0 victory over the Hammers at this very same venue.

 

 

Over 2.5 Goals: 2 Under 2.5 Goals: 8

 

This is an amazing statistic that just two of the last ten meetings has produced three or more goals. However, both of those two rare goal filled games did come at Eastlands, with the very last meeting ending in a 3-0 win for City. West Ham have failed to score at Eastlands in two of the last three encounters in Manchester, which could be the reason why goals are few and far between.

 

 

 

Match Verdict: Manchester City to WIN –1/2 Expekt

 

 

Despite City’s recent setback, we fully expect them to bounce back against a West Ham side still licking their wounds after losing a close fought battle with Liverpool. Adebayor will of course be out with suspension but Craig Bellamy and Carlos Tevez should be more then suitable replacements to fill the huge shoes of a free scoring Adebayor. Bellamy scored two last weekend while Tevez set up Gareth Barry for City’s first so both are full of confidence after a creditable display last Sunday. City have the talent to make an instant comeback from their weekend woes and we quite the odds on offer for a City win despite them looking very short.

 

 

 

Match Odds:

 

 

Manchester City – 1/2 Expekt

 

West Ham United – 7/1 PaddyPower

 

DRAW – 10/3 Bet365

 

 

 

SoccerBetting Tip: Sean Wright Philips FGS – 17/2 Bet365