Southampton can beat West Ham to top promoted club accolade

As the Premier League season reaches its final stages, there is little value to be found in certain outright markets, with Manchester United’s 1/200 price to be crowned league winners a prime example.

After scouring the markets though, we believe we have found a stand-out betting opportunity in the top promoted club market.

West Ham are currently odds-on 1/2 shots to finish above Reading and Southampton, but there seems little sense in backing the Hammers at that price.

Although second-bottom Reading, 40/1 in this market, and 13/2 to stay up, look nailed-on to be the third-best of the promoted teams, Southampton have a superb chance to power past West Ham in the table.

The Saints are yet to host the Hammers, and will fancy their chances when they do, on the back of just one league defeat in their last five matches at St. Mary’s.

On that occasion too, Mauro Pochettino’s men will face a side that have lost half of their eight games away to lower-half opposition.

And the contrasting nature of either club’s remaining fixtures also lend weight to the notion that Southampton look good value to be the top promoted club at 7/5.

The Saints are still to welcome the Premier League’s second-worst away side Stoke to the South Coast, and also face a trip to the Madejski Stadium to face the division’s worst defence.

Also, Pochettino’s charges will hold no fears on their travels to Sunderland, who have garnered fewer home points than all but three top-flight outfits this season.

Meanwhile, West Ham are yet to meet five of the Premier League’s top eight sides, and will play the majority of those matches away from Upton Park, where they have been much stronger this term.

Given that the Hammers maintain only a two-point advantage over Southampton, there looks a good chance of that gap diminishing in light of the pair’s respective upcoming fixtures.

Therefore, the Saints appear well-worth backing to finish as the division’s highest-placed promoted side at 7/5.

All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.