West Brom v Sunderland: Baggies hoodoo to plague Black Cats again
Published:21/20 for victory, early-season surprise package West Brom will likely be amongst the most popular Premier League sides with punters this weekend.
The Baggies have beaten Sunderland five of the last six times they have renewed acquaintances and boast an impressive seven home wins from 13 games this season.
Having ended a six-match winless run last time out, Steve Clarke’s side will now be hopeful of stringing a number of victories together, with this a fantastic opportunity to start.
In their inconsistent visitors, 5/2 to triumph, they meet a side that has suffered back-to-back defeats, and one that have scored just 14 goals on the road this term.
The Mackems have managed four draws away from the Stadium of Light however, the same amount of stalemates the Baggies have recorded, and so the draw could tempt some at 12/5.
But for value, punters could do worse than study handicap markets in the favour of the home side.
A Baggies win in which they give up a one-goal head-start is 27/10, and would have paid off in the last two encounters of this pair.
And given that West Brom racked up four goals the last two times they opposed the Black Cats, they make some appeal to win despite a two-goal disadvantage at a massive 15/2.
Stingy defensively, the organised Baggies have conceded only 12 home goals this season, and have beaten Sunderland without being breached in the last three Hawthorns meetings.
It is 12/5 they continue that tradition, whilst those who simply fancy the hosts to keep a clean sheet can have 13/8 regarding that possibility.
Meanwhile, at the other end of the pitch, Romelu Lukaku should prove a popular scorer bet, considering his recent impact in the Baggies 2-0 win away to Liverpool.
Lukaku left the bench to wrap up that Anfield success, and is likely to be afforded a start as a result here, with the Belgian 9/2 to open the scoring.
The powerful forward scored in the reverse fixture between these teams earlier in the season, and is 11/5 to register in a Baggies win again.
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing.
