The second round of Premier League matches concludes with the regular Super Sunday action. In all there are two matches on Sunday with a bit of a derby up in the north-east between Sunderland and Middlesbrough with the second match being West Ham’s first league game inside the Olympic Stadium when they host Bournemouth.
Sunderland vs Middlesbrough
Before I cop a load of pelters from fans of both clubs I know this isn’t actually a derby but with Newcastle out of the way for a while it is as close as you’re going to get this season!
I fancy this one will feel like a derby too. I don’t think either will want to lose not just because of the locality of the sides but also the stage of the season and the respective starts they had where Sunderland lost in the opening week of the campaign and Middlesbrough were held at home. A defeat here wouldn’t be the start they were looking for.
Sunderland are a side I think I’ll need a couple of weeks to properly assess under David Moyes and while I’m sure Middlesbrough will get up and trouble the bigger sides I just wonder how they’ll manage to get themselves up for the lesser sides. To many ponderables to consider for me so I’ll sit this first one out.
West Ham vs Bournemouth
It will be weird seeing West Ham playing a league match in a different stadium to Upton Park but times changes and evolution is revolution and all of that. Both these sides lost their opening match so there is pressure on them both to get something out of this one.
West Ham come back from a trip to Romania for this match and that is never easy so I wouldn’t be too surprised if they are a little jaded and that would have to be a concern for them and their fans as would their injury list which is starting to mount and had Andre Ayew added to it on Monday night.
I have to say I thought Bournemouth looked worryingly flat against Man Utd last weekend but having watched United on Friday night it might just be that they are better at controlling the pace of their opponents this season. Marc Wilson could make a debut for the Cherries in what might be an otherwise unchanged side for Eddie Howe.
Given that West Ham have had a pretty hectic schedule recently I think the obvious, and the right bet is to take Bournemouth on the +0.5 Asian handicap line. This could easily end a draw if everything was equal as West Ham look to get used to their new home but having put in plenty against Chelsea on Monday night and then flown to Romania and back since then it is only natural at this stage of the season for them to be a bit leggy which Bournemouth can take advantage of.
Tips
Back Bournemouth (+0.5AH) to beat West Ham for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
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