West Brom remain good top-half value despite City defeat

Becoming just the second top-flight team this season to allow Manchester City to win away isn’t exactly a glowing endorsement for Steve Clarke’s West Brom, but despite that defeat the midlands men are still a good price to finish in the top half this season.

Tipping up the 12/5 shots to finish above the fold for the second time in succession may seem strange given that Albion haven’t won a match in four attempts but, once the magnifying glass is waved over their recent fixtures, it’s clear that it shouldn’t be a reason to shun them.

The truth is the Baggies have just passed through a tunnel of nine fixtures full of stinging nettles and barbed wire, emerging the other side with less scratches and scars than they would have expected.

Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea, Newcastle and City have all been on Clarke’s agenda in that time and, from a possible 27 points, his side managed to collect a very respectable 10, losing just three times.

That sides like Newcastle and Aston Villa have picked up form, and points, in recent games has seen the Hawthorns-habitants slide down the table and their odds swell.

However, the fixture path that lies ahead is a bed of roses compared to what they have just been subjected to, with only a trip to White Hart Lane matching the difficulty of their previous gauntlet of games in the next five.

Sitting just four points away from 10th spot, a string of three-point hauls will see Saido Berahino and co rise back towards the upper half of the table. With their price going the other way as a result, there isn’t a better opportunity to pick up some value in the top 10 market.

Staying in the country’s middle band, Aston Villa are an attractive, yet skinnier option at 11/10 in the same market after putting a run of five unbeaten league games together.

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

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