West Ham v Burnley Betting Tip 1 – Saturday 2 May

Premier League Tips

It has been a very disappointing 2015 for West Ham after what was a hugely encouraging first half to the season. There was ambitious talk of Champions League football at one stage, such was their form, but the Hammers have been unable to sustain the same level of performance. They come into this game having won only once in 13 league games. Compare that to earlier in the campaign when they won nine out of 16 at one stage. The talk of any sort of European football has long faded and now it’s just a case of seeing out the season, attempting to finish in the top half of the table. After Everton’s win last weekend, West Ham dropped out of the top for the first time since September so they will be determined to at least climb back into a position they have held for the majority of the season.

Things are beginning to look very bleak for Burnley who now sit bottom of the table following last weekend’s defeat at home to Leicester. When previewing that match, I alluded to how difficult it has been for Burnley to score goals and that was the case again. Despite being presented with a glorious opportunity in the shape of a penalty, Matt Taylor was unable to convert and the Clarets paid the price only minutes later – conceding the only goal of the game. With only four games left they are five points from safety and in desperate need of a change in fortune if they are to remain in the Premier League next season. It doesn’t take much to cancel out that gap of five points but such has been their form and inability to score goals, that you begin to fear the worst for Sean Dyce and his team.

There is no doubt that the injury to Andy Carroll back in February has really hindered Sam Allardyce’s side. It came at a time when West Ham were just beginning to struggle and the manager would have loved to have had the services of his striker as it would have allowed him to alter the team’s style of play. For much of the first half of the season West Ham played an expansive brand of football which was most welcome by the supporters. However, when the defeats started, having Carroll fit would have enabled them to play more direct and because that option has not been available to them, it has been very difficult to regain that winning thread.

When Burnley defeated Manchester City in the middle of March, the majority of people felt that it would act as a catalyst for the remainder of the season. Few could have anticipated, that following that famous victory, they would not have won another game. The loss to Leicester means it is now four defeats and a draw in five games – failing to score in all of those. It goes without saying that something has to change if they are to finish outside the bottom three, with the most obvious thing being the need to score goals.

I think this fixture epitomises the difference of opinion on end of season games. West Ham are odds against at home to the bottom of the table as it is perceived they have little to play for and face a team fighting for their lives. The home team, themselves, are not in the best of form but they are 18 points better off than this weekend’s opponents for a reason, and with Burnley’s failings in front of goal there for all to see, I think the price for a West Ham win represents good value. Their results against at home to sides in the bottom six have been decent with wins over Leicester, Sunderland, QPR and Hull, and a draw with Aston Villa. I think there is enough in the odds to take a risk that they can recapture some of their earlier season form and inflict more misery on Burnley, pushing them close to the Championship in the process.

West Ham 5/4 @ Betvictor