West Brom v Sunderland: score draw likely as entertainers meet

Buoyed by their 5-1 derby day success away to bitter rivals Wolves, West Brom might fancy their chances of overcoming Sunderland at the Hawthorns at 7/5.

Sunderland have shown remarkable improvements since the installation of Martin O’Neill as manager, winning 11 out of 16 matches, including four on the road, and they are 7/4 to make that five here.

It is 23/10 that the sides play out a draw, and that could certainly be worth some interest, as the inconsistent nature of the home side lined up against the battle hardened attitude of O’Neill’s travellers could very well see the sides cancel each other out.

West Brom are keen to certify that they aren’t dragged into a relegation dogfight, while Sunderland’s European ambitions are now very realistic, yet caution is unlikely to be evident in either side’s play from the kick off.

That said, 12/1 odds on a 2-2 draw look massive, and the 1/1 for over 2.5 goals to occur in the match appears tremendous value also.

The travelling outfit have scored at least two goals in half of the games since O’Neill’s arrival, and so many will be tempted by the 13/8 price attributed for over 1.5 Sunderland goals in this game.

As each side have been drawing in well over half of their games by half-time this season, it may pay dividends to look closely at half markets on this match.

4/1 is available for the sides to be level at half-time with a stalemate the full-time result too and this deserves attention.

In the first scorer markets, Peter Odemwingie is 9/2 favourite for the opener, and will be brimming with confidence following his hat-trick at Molineux in his last appearance.

Stephane Sessegnon is in fine form for the visitors meanwhile, and the tricky forward could find the net first at a tempting 6/1.