Manchester City vs. West Ham United -England Premier League Match Preview, Etihad Stadium, Manchester England 12 PM EST Sunday May 11, 2014
By Jason Green, Soccer Handicapper, Predictem.com
Match Odds: Manchester City 1.12 / West Ham United 15.00 / Draw 9.00
Moneyline: Manchester City -800 / West Ham +1400 / Draw +800
Over/Under: 2.5 goals
With only one more match remaining things look good for Manchester City, as if they win they will capture the Premier League title. With Liverpool’s shocking draw in their last game, where they were up 3-0.
City is 2 points clear of the Reds so if they win the title is theirs. For them to lose the league crown they have to lose and Liverpool will have to win this Sunday, which they should being at home facing Newcastle.
Even if Man City plays to a draw and Liverpool wins City will win the title, as they will have the same point total as the Reds, but have the goal differential advantage.
Can West Ham pull of the HUGE upset? They are massive betting underdogs, but they did snap their 4-game losing streak in their last match facing a solid Tottenham side. Still, West Ham is only in 12th place in the league table and they lost badly at home 3-1 earlier this season facing Man City.
The key to West Ham pulling off the upset is playing solid defense. That is easier said than done facing a City attack that has scored the most goals in the EPL this season.
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On the season City has scored 100 goals and only allowed 37 while West Ham has scored 40 and conceded 49.
Last season at home Man City beat West Ham 2-1.
West Ham has a tall task facing the dynamic offense of City that is led by Yaya Tour, Edin Dzeko, and Sergio Agero. This trio has accounted for 53 goals this season, which is 13 more than the entire West Ham squad. Agero is a question mark in this match due to a groin injury.
Not only has City beaten West Ham in league play, but they also crushed them in the Capital One Cup semifinals winning 6-0 at home and 3-0 on the road.
Kevin Nolan and reserve Carlton Cole have combined for 13 goals this season, but West Ham does have a balanced squad with 6 players that have scored at least 3 goals this season. However, will they get scoring chances? City has a much better midfield and even on the road they dominated West Ham in the time of possession battle 62% to 38% in their away league match earlier this season.
West Ham will look to pack the backfield to thwart the City attack and their main chance to tickle the twine will definitely come from the counter-attack.
West Ham has nothing to play for, as they will not be relegated and they cannot move up in the standings to get a Europa League berth for next season.
Don’t expect West Ham to have too many scoring chances facing a City defense that has 2 clean sheets in their last 3 matches.
Man City has scored 12 goals in their 4-match winning streak.
In their last 10 matches Manchester City has an O/U 2.5 goal record of 8-2 and West Ham is at 5-5.
Manchester City Recent Form
4/16/2014 Manchester City 2 Sunderland 2 (Premier League)
4/21/2014 Manchester City 3 West Bromwich Albion 1 (Premier League)
4/27/2014 Crystal Palace 0 Manchester City 2 (Premier League)
5/3/2014 Everton 2 Manchester City 2 (Premier League)
5/7/2014 Manchester City 4 Aston Villa 0 (Premier League)
West Ham Recent Form
4/6/2014 West Ham United 1 Liverpool 2 (Premier League)
4/15/2014 Arsenal 3 West Ham United 1 (Premier League)
4/19/2014 West Ham United 0 Crystal Palace 1 (Premier League)
4/26/2014 West Bromwich Albion 1 West Ham United 0 (Premier League)
5/3/2014 West Ham United 2 Tottenham Hotspur 0 (Premier League)
Jason’s Prediction to Win: Yeah, all the pressure in on Man City, but they are at home and they will not waste their chance to capture the EPL title. Look for City to win, but they will play a conservative match winning by a score of 1-0 or 2-0. Find the absolute best wagering odds for this match at 5Dimes, where favorites cost less and underdogs pay more! Check it out and you’ll be a believer!