Eng. Championship
2012-01-31 - Ipswich Town vs West Ham United
A Sports Betting Pick by ArmchairPunter
Football – England – Championship
Tuesday 31st January 2012 – Kickoff: 1945hrs
Ipswich Town take on Championship league leaders West Ham at Portman Road on Tuesday night with both teams looking for a valuable three points.
Ipswich Town (21st)
HOME : 5-1-7 20/22
21st placed Ipswich Town are currently just four points above the relegation places following a dismal slump in form which has seen the Tractor Boys without a league win in their last six whilst earning just 2 points out of the possible 18 on offer.
Recent losses to Reading, Birmingham City, Leeds United and the biggest concern of all, a 1-3 home defeat to relegation rivals Nottingham Forest means that Paul Jewell’s men are in for an anxious second half of the season. Their home record stands at a disappointing 5-1-7 20/22, and have recorded just one home win in their last seven which was a narrow 1-0 win over Derby County.
Striker Michael Chopra (7 goals, 2 assists) leads the way along with Jason Scotland (4 goals, 3 assists) and Aaron Cresswell (5 assists) providing the bulk of the ammunition. However, Jewell will be disappointed with the returns of his strikers so far, while influential midfielder Jimmy Bullard (1 goal, 2 assists) needs to make more of an impact for the run-in.
Hearts midfielder Ryan Stevenson (2 goals, 1 assist) has just been signed by Ipswich and could figure on Tuesday night pending clearance.
West Ham United (1st)
AWAY : 8-3-3 21/11
West Ham were undoubtedly one of the promotion favourites prior to the Championship season commencing and they haven’t disappointed yet – currently top of the league above surprise package Southampton, Sam Allardyce’s men look a solid outfit and promotion is theirs to lose I reckon.
The Hammers’ current form has suggested that they’ll make a swift return to the Premiership on the back of recent wins against Coventry City, Portsmouth and Nottingham Forest, dealing with the lower end teams with efficiency while grabbing a point at Birmingham City and previous to that a solid away win at Middlesbrough.
Their away record stands at 8-3-3 21/11, and they returned to winning ways on the road at Portsmouth in their last outing which ended a three match spell without a win following losses at Reading and Derby County. They will be wary of an Ipswich side looking to turn things around but they do possess some Premiership quality personnel;
Carlton Cole is their leading scorer with 8 goals (and 2 assists), but he’s well supported by the midfield duo of Mark Noble (6 goals, 2 assists) and skipper Kevin Nolan (6 goals) who has looked a cut above everyone else in the Championship this season.
Throw in forward Sam Baldock (5 goals) and the influential, considerable frame of Papa Bouba Diop in the midfield and you have a pretty formidable line-up.
The Betting Verdict :
Ipswich’s confidence will have been dented in recent weeks and face an uphill task of getting something off West Ham who possess far more quality and depth – should be an away victory for the league leaders here, West Ham 1-0.
The Pick :
Ipswich 0-1 West Ham
BEST BETTING TIP :
Main Pick :Take West Ham to win @ 2.00
