West Ham v Blackpool: Hammers to continue Blackpool winning run
Published:West Ham enter Saturday’s playoff final as 1/1 favourites to win in 90 minutes, and secure an immediate return to the Premier League.
The Hammers won both regular league meetings against Blackpool this season, but are afforded such a generous price in light of the Tangerines’ sparkling playoff form.
Ian Holloway’s side have won nine of their last ten playoff outings, and so some punters may be encouraged to take on 11/4 odds about them overcoming the London outfit.
It is 12/5 about the draw meanwhile, and this has proved the outcome on one of the four occasions these sides have met in the past 30 years.
In each of the other three encounters meanwhile, West Ham won a game featuring three or more goals, and could be worth backing to do so again at 9/4.
Only Southampton scored more goals than West Ham over the course of the regular Championship season, whilst Blackpool were the division’s third highest scorers.
Therefore, the prospects of both teams finding the net at Wembley look bright, with 8/11 odds about either backline being breached seeming a worthy investment.
A West Ham win in which both teams score is a 10/3 shot meanwhile, and that appears terrific value in light of the Hammers’ 4-1 victory over the Seasiders in their last meeting.
Some could opt to back Allardyce’s charges to continue their habit of putting four past the Tangerines meanwhile, with the Iron 15/2 to notch four or more goals against Blackpool for the third time this season.
The Wembley occasion could see a more tentative affair play out however, and 6/4 odds on two to three Hammers goals could prove better value.
Lengthy odds are attributed to first scorer options in Saturday’s final, as Ricardo Vaz Te and Carlton Cole are joint-favourites to get the opener at 6/1.
Stephen Dobbie may be the visitors’ main threat meanwhile, as a 9/1 hope to break the deadlock, and score in the Championship playoff final for the second season running.
