Expect a dud as goal-shy West Ham head to Southampton

Southampton and West Ham have made very similar starts to the season, with opening-weekend wins followed by a draw and then a defeat in their last match before the international break.

Each has been poor in front of goal, with four goals between them in six games, and backing less than 2.5 goals at 3/4 looks a safe bet at St Mary’s.

West Ham scored twice against Cardiff in their 2-0 win at the Boleyn Ground, but drew a blank against each of Newcastle and Stoke.

The Hammers also managed just 11 goals on the road in the whole of last season, of which only six came outside London, and they failed to score in nine of their away games.

Sam Allardyce has recognised his team’s problems going forward by tightening up further at the back, with West Ham only conceding once in the league this campaign.

Southampton lost 1-0 in their last Premier League match, away at Norwich, and drew 1-1 with Sunderland in their only home game so far this season.

All six games that the pair have played in the league this season have stayed below 2.5 goals, and with four of them going below 1.5 it might even be worth backing that at 9/4.

The two sides have played four times in the past two seasons in the Championship and the Premier League, with only West Ham’s 4-1 win at the Boleyn last year going above 2.5 goals. Going back further that is the only result with over 2.5 goals in their past eight meetings.

Southampton are 10/11 favourites to win the game, but backing the draw at 5/2 is the better option in what will be a low-key affair.

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

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