The last round of matches in the Premier League begins on Friday night this weekend as Brighton and Hove Albion host West Ham United in what might be a more entertaining battle than it looked at the outset of the campaign.
Both sides head into the match in the bottom half of the table but they can both rise at least three places with a victory so we should get quite a competitive clash to open up a huge weekend of action in the top flight.
Sign up to 888sport this weekend and bet £10 to get £30 in free bets PLUS £10 free on any EPL match! Click the banner above to get this offer. Use code 10FREE. 18+ T&Cs apply
Brighton and Hove Albion
It hasn’t been the tight start to the campaign that we would have expected last season. Last year the Brighton rearguard was tough to break down but this season they have shipped two goals in six of their seven matches and that is something that they will need to rectify if they are to achieve everything they want to over the course of this term.
On the flip side of that, where goals were sometimes hard to come by in the previous campaign, they have found the net on three occasions already this season and look much more cohesive going forward. They usually rely on their home form so they will be keen to get back to winning ways in front of their own fans here.
West Ham United
The Hammers got off to a wretched start this season as they lost their opening four matches but they are now three unbeaten in the Premier League and enjoyed an emphatic Carabao Cup win in the middle of that run and you sense their confidence is beginning to return. They have some very dangerous players in their ranks so they should be looking to move themselves nicely up the table from here on in.
If that is to happen they will need to remain resolute at the back. If they can be tight defensively and not concede too many goals then it will take the pressure off their attacking players. Even with the pressure on them there are usually goals in Manuel Pellegrini’s men so if they can keep a clean sheet they should win more matches than they fail to.
Team News
Dale Stephens could be fit to return for Brighton in this match but his fitness will be assessed ahead of the match. Pascal Gross is definitely out however. Jose Izquierdo is hoping to be unleashed from the start.
West Ham United are without Carlos Sanchez, Manuel Lanzini, Andy Carroll and Jack Wilshere among others. Marko Arnautovic has been passed fit for the match while Javier Hernandez could be included too.
[the_ad_group id=”3624″]
Betting
I think we might see another open and entertaining match here. Brighton are leaking a lot of goals at the minute and there is so much pace in this West Ham United side that they could be frightening but you always feel the opposition will have a chance against a Hammers defence which isn’t the strongest.
As with Sunday’s match, both teams will think they can win this one which always makes for a better game. Both meetings between these two last season contained three or more goals so over 2.25 goals looks a perfectly acceptable play to me here.
Tips
Back Over 2.25 goals for a 4/10 stake at 1.91 with LeoVegas
Back it here:
Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2018
