Cardiff v West Ham: Hammers can gain solid first leg footing
Published:Despite home advantage, Cardiff head into the first leg of their play-off semi-final as slight underdogs this Thursday, attributed a 7/4 price to beat West Ham.
Their visitors are unbeaten in their last six Championship outings, and are favourites to win this match at 17/10, as well as heading the betting to gain promotion as 13/8 shots.
The draw could be the way to go on this match though, priced at 21/10, and seemingly having very real chances of occurring given the recent form of either side.
Cardiff have not been beaten in their last ten matches, though that run has been dominated by stalemates, and with a cagey affair looking likely with so much at stake, the teams could cancel each other out.
These outfits traded victories over each other in the regular Championship season, and each was a low-scoring affair, with three strikes across both games and only the winning side finding the net in each fixture.
Therefore, the 1/1 odds against both teams scoring could be worth taking on in Thursday’s match.
The home side could tempt punters to win or draw a game featuring two or less goals meanwhile, which is a 3/2 option, and you can get 7/1 about a goalless draw, which has proved the outcome on two of West Ham’s last four visits to Cardiff.
Those who do believe a clear winner will emerge could instead back either side to keep a clean sheet at 9/4, whilst both are available at 10/3 to win to nil, as Cardiff have done in three of their last six, and the Hammers have done twice in the same time.
Generous first scorer prices are afforded on this tie, with joint-favourites Kenny Miller and Ricardo Vaz Te each a 6/1 chance for the opener.
Carlton Cole has three in his last five for the visitors meanwhile, and is well-priced to break the deadlock at 7/1.
