West Ham's run of Monday night success will hit the buffers when they visit bubbly Bournemouth
12/15/2024 07:54 AM
It’s Monday, so West Ham must be playing somewhere in England's green and pleasant land.
The Hammers are in the spotlight for the first match of the week, or last game of the weekend if you prefer to look at it that way, for the third time in a row when there has been a Premier League Monday night showcase.
So far their record is pretty good with a 2-0 win at Newcastle followed by a 2-1 victory at home to Wolves but this is a tougher assignment as Bournemouth are a decent side this term, especially when they are on the south coast where they have beaten Tottenham, Manchester City and Arsenal on their own patch.
The Hammers look a bit suspect with their two Monday night successes bookending a 3-1 defeat at Ruud van Nistelrooy's Leicester City and a 5-2 walloping at home to Arsenal and, although they are six points above the relegation zone and surely too good to go down, this could be one of those frustrating nights which keeps them on the fringes of the race to reach safety.
There have only been 16 league goals witnessed at the Vitality Stadium this season and as West Ham have scored a below average eight on their travels so this looks a low-scoring affair at a quick glance.
However, there have been three or more goals in five of the Cherries' last six matches and in all of the Hammers' last three.
A fistful of goals would break Bournemouth’s home trend but with European football in sight for Andoni Iraola's well structured team and little hint of them finishing among the strugglers, the shackles are off and they can play an attacking game.
Bournemouth are 7/10 with multiple firms to win, over 3.5 goals is 29/20 with BetMGM and a 3-1 success for the Cherries is 12/1 with William Hill and bet365.
Meanwhile, Dango Ouattara, who grabbed the late, late winner at Ipswich last Sunday, is 11/1 with the latter firm and Unibet to open the scoring and 4/1 with those two bookies to get on the scoresheet at any time. Jarrod Bowen is 3/1 with the same firms to grab what proves to be a consolation for West Ham at some point.
• We’ll have an each-way bet on Michael Smith, the champion two years ago, to win the World Darts Championship at a tasty 33/1 with Ladbrokes and Coral. They both offer 5/1 he wins the third quarter of the draw.
• Jordan Addison scored three touchdowns as the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Atlanta Falcons 42-21 last week thanks to some superb passing from quarterback Sam Darnold, previously a bust with the wretched New York Jets.
Addison is 9/1 with William Hill and Sky Bet to be the first player to haul in a TD when the Chicago Bears roll into town for a Monday Night game and 7/4 with StarSports and Betway to score at any time. The Vikes are 4/6 with BoyleSports and Betway to win by more than 4.5 points.
MORE: Manchester United open to selling £57m star as Real Madrid consider shock move
MORE: Manchester City make approach to sign former Man Utd star on free transfer
MORE: Rasmus Hojlund responds to Amad Diallo message after Manchester United bust-up
