Tottenham have a terrific recent record against West Ham and are clearly the most likely winners when the pair clash on Saturday but they are short enough and I’ll be taking them on.
Spurs rallied late on last weekend from a goal down to beat Wolves 3-1 on home soil to keep just about in touch at the top but it has been far from plain sailing so far this season and I remain unconvinced.
This should have been the summer, having qualified for the Champions League, that the North London club attempted to kick-on an and establish themselves as a force in English football once more.
However, injuries to key men have arguably made Harry Redknapp’s weaker this time around and Spurs are worth opposing in Saturday’s derby.
Redkanpp will once again be without Huerelho Gomes, Michael Dawson and Jermain Defoe for the match at Upton Park but will make several changes from the shadow side that crashed out of the Carling Cup in midweek.
Spurs fans will have been hurt by a 4-1 loss to Arsenal on home soil but, while the White Hart Lane outfit were succumbing to their fierce rivals, West Ham might just have been turning their season around in the north-east.
A 2-1 win for the Hammers against a strong Sunderland side, so difficult to beat at home, would have restored some much needed confidence and Avram Grant’s team also picked up a valuable point at Stoke last time out in the Premier League.
It is certainly not too late for West Ham to save themselves this season and, with captain Scott Parker currently at the top of his game, I expect the hosts to start on the front foot this weekend.
While Spurs have won each of the previous four meetings between the pair there are enough reasons to suspect that West Ham can halt their slide, maybe even with three points, and you never quite know which Tottenham side is likely to turn up at the moment.
With Dawson joined by Ledley King and long-term absentee Jonathan Woodgate on the sidelines, the visitor’s defence certainly looks vulnerable and at a best price 2.10 with the bookmakers Spurs must be taken on.
Harry Redknapp will also have more than one eye on next week’s crucial Champions League clash with FC Twente and a home win wouldn’t in the least bit surprise.
2pts Lay Tottenham (vs. West Ham) @ 2.20 (betfair)