I think Manchester United have drifted to a decent price for their Saturday lunchtime clash at Upton Park and the Red Devils can pour the pressure on Arsenal in the title race with three points.
It’s always hard to know just how a team will react following the international break but, for once, Sir Alex Ferguson will have been grateful for the interruption given defensive injury concerns. Nemanja Vidic, a colossus this term, came through Serbia’s latest outing and the presence of the Red Devils’ captain alone is a huge plus.
United, five points clear at the summit, have a tricky run-in, they are still to play both Arsenal and Chelsea, and Ferguson knows that the maximum haul in east London is a must.
It won’t be easy, the Scot has seen his side come unstuck here in the past, but West Ham were battered at White Hart Lane for 90 minutes, somehow escaping with a point, and the hosts might not be so fortunate this time around.
The emergence of Mexican striker Javier Hernandez this season has been a huge plus for Sir Alex, ‘Little Pea’ has been preferred to Dimitar Berbatov in recent weeks alongside Wayne Rooney, and the Scot will also be boosted by the return of Antonio Valencia from long-term injury for the last dozen or so matches of the campaign.
Valencia and Luis Nani, another who has enjoyed a terrifically productive year, give United excellent options out wide and it would be no surprise to see that pair have a major influence on the outcome at Upton Park.
West Ham looked doomed a month or so ago under Avram Grant but the Israeli must be credited with their upturn in fortunes and he owes plenty to the sensational form of Scott Parker.
Parker, recognised with an England start in Cardiff last week, deserves to be considered for Player of the Year honours given his efforts in a substandard side and Grant also now has plenty of first team players back following injury lay-offs.
There is still plenty of work to be done before the Hammers can relax but they are upwardly mobile at present and eight points from their last four Premier League matches has been a terrific return. That said, United have a point, or three to prove, and an away win looks likely.
2pts Back Man Utd (vs. West Ham) @ 1.83 (Will Hill)