Southampton v West Ham: Low-scoring draw in the offing

You’ll probably hear a collective groan around 4pm when the country settles in for it’s weekly dose of weekend football, and realise it’s Southampton and West Ham that are taking over the tube.

It’s hardly a game to re-whet the post-roast appetite, and has what law enforcers call “previous” when it comes to serving up dreary encounters.

Only one of the last eight matches between the Saints and Hammers has seen over 2.5 goals scored, a 4-1 West Ham win in London last season, and given that both sides have only managed two goals each in their three games this league campaign, another unfulfilling encounter looks on the cards.

But if the 3/4 on there being under 2.5 goals in the game doesn’t have you clambering for the bet slip, perhaps dabbling in our total result market will light your betting fuse.

Unlike the Hells Angels, West Ham are far from threatening on the road and have only won on one of their last 15 Premier League away days, losing 10. They are also winless in their last four trips to St Mary’s.

Before you lump on the 17/20 for Southampton to win though, consider that they’ve hit a bit of a slump in front of goal, having breached the sacred white line just four times in their last eight league games.

And if any further weight needs to be added to the total result scales, three of the pair’s last five games have been drawn, with the goal tally falling shy of the 2.5 line.

It makes the 29/10 available on a fourth under 2.5/draw tandem in six games the footballing equivalent of printing money.

Should a goal come West Ham’s way, Mark Noble is likely to get it. The midfielder has three in his last three appearances against Southampton, more than against any other team.

Noble is 5/1 to be on target at any time in the 90 minutes and his prospects are boosted by the fact he is almost certain to be on West Ham penalty duties.

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

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