12 Jun 2019
The Premier League kicks off on Friday evening with two big games. West Ham face struggling Fulham at the London Stadium, while Cardiff hope to ease their relegation fears when they host Watford. We offer all the odds and trends.
WEST HAM UNITED vs FULHAM
It is common knowledge that teams wishing to avoid relegation aim to secure at least 40 points before they can breathe easily. West Ham, who have not won in five games, are still seven points off that golden mark, but sit in the top half of the table in 10th spot.
They are just nine points above third-from-bottom Southampton, such is the parity outside of the top six.
Fulham have won just three of their 15 games since Claudio Ranieri took charge (D3 L9) and they are eight points adrift of safety in 19th spot, with a swift return to the Championship on the cards.
Their defensive problems are there for all to see, having leaked 58 goals – 10 more than bottom-club Huddersfield and more than any other team in the Premier League.
West Ham have ensured another difficult season with injuries – Fabian Balbuena, Winston Reid, Carlos Sanchez and Jack Wilshere may be ruled out for this London derby – but after a run of three defeats, including an FA Cup exit at AFC Wimbledon, at least managed to stop the rot with successive 11 draws at Crystal Palace and at home to title-chasing Liverpool.
The GetingBet football odds have the Hammers at 17/20 to win. The Premier League odds for a Fulham win are 16/5, with the draw available at 14/5.
The Cottagers have won three of the last 15 meetings in all competitions against West Ham (D4 L8), but those three wins came at Craven Cottage and they have not won at West Ham since a 3-0 FA Cup win in 2004. They will be without injured Marcus Bettinelli, while Harvard Nordtveidt and Lazar Markovic are also doubts.
It is no surprise that Fulham have conceded in each of their last seven games, while West Ham have shipped at least one goal in each of their last five. Both teams netted in eight of their last 11 meetings and it is no surprise to see the odds for both sides to score at 8/13.
With both sides seemingly struggling defensively, one historic trend may be worth noting – no fewer than 14 of their last 18 meetings saw three or more goals scored, and it is 7/10 that over 2.5 goals will be scored this time.
West Ham have conceded the first goal in four of their last five games and it is 7/5 that Fulham net first, with Alexander Mitrovic at 5/1 to score the first goal. His aerial ability is likely to trouble West Ham’s defence and the Serbian, who is said to be on Tottenham’s wanted list, is 13/8 to net at any time. He has scored 10 of Fulham’s 25 league goals this season.
The hosts won 2-0 at Craven Cottage earlier this season and while they should arguably be shorter odds to record the double, they seek a third successive home win over Fulham for the first time since 1957.
West Ham are also looking to win three home Premier League London derbies in a single season for the first time since 1999-00, having already beaten Crystal Palace and Arsenal at the London Stadium this term. With a tricky trip to Manchester City next, they will be keen to give their supports something to shout about and are 14/1 to gain a third successive 3-0 home win over Fulham on the Correct Score market.
For all the odds on this big Premier League game, click here.
CARDIFF CITY v WATFORD
While some question the merits of having Premier League action on a Friday night, a win for Cardiff will certainly put the pressure on fellow strugglers such as Southampton, Burnley, Newcastle, Huddersfield, Brighton and Crystal Palace, who all play over the weekend.
The Bluebirds have recorded back-to-back wins over Bournemouth and Southampton to clamber out of the bottom three and are now as big as 4/5 to be relegated. They are a point above third-from-bottom Southampton, but have a vastly inferior goal difference.
Neil Warnock’s Cardiff are 2/1 to win a third consecutive top-flight victory for the first time since February 1961.
Watford are enjoying a great season. They are currently eighth in the table and a win would put them 10 points behind sixth-placed Chelsea. The Hornets are also in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup with a winnable clash against Crystal Palace in the offing. They have lost two of their last 11 (both to top six teams) and have kept a clean sheet in three of their last four league games. The Genting Casino Premier League football odds have Watford at 7/5 to win at Cardiff. The draw is available at 23/10.
Watford have a modest record against the Welsh side, having won just three of their last 14 meetings (D5 L6) including the last two.
Despite Watford’s recent spree of clean sheets – they are 15/8 to stop Cardiff scoring – games between these two usually involve plenty of goals and 14 of the last 17 meetings saw both sides score. It is 3/4 for this trend to continue.
Furthermore, 16 of the last 21 meetings saw three goals or more scored and it is 19/20 for over 2.5 total goals to be scored in the game.
Watford have scored as many goals away from home as they have at Vicarage Road and have also conceded fewer away from home than at their own stadium, and while they will be without suspended Jose Holebas, they are a side with plenty of goals in them. Troy Deeney was a transfer target for the Bluebirds in the summer and he would have joined Warnock’s side had Watford agreed terms. However, he stayed and has started 20 of 26 league games and has chipped in with six goals. He was a constant menace when Watford won 3-2 in the reverse fixture and the scoreline flattered Cardiff. Deeney has never been a prolific scorer but his odds of 21/10 to score at any time may tempt some.
For all the odds on this important Premier League clash, click here.
