Price Boost: Andy Carroll ready to rip into ropey Sunderland

West Ham’s Geordie frontman Andy Carroll won’t need much incentive to go on the rampage against relegation-threatened Sunderland in the pair’s crunch clash at the Stadium of Light.

And for those who believe Carroll will play a key role in pushing Gus Poyet’s side further into the abyss, it’s worth taking note of Ladbrokes’ latest price boost.

The former Newcastle hero has gone from 6/1 to 7/1 to net first on Wearside and follow-up his opener against Stoke in the Hammers’ previous contest away from Upton Park.

West Ham have netted in eight of their previous 15 games on the road in the Premier League this term, opening the scoring in six of those matches.

And with Carroll no doubt eager to put the boot into his hometown club’s fiercest rivals, another fast start could be in store here.

Struggling Sunderland could be the ideal opponents, having lost four of their last five league encounters, with the absence of talisman Steven Fletcher painfully apparent as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.

During their current barren run the Mackems have only managed to score two goals and looking at their collective results so far this season they’re likely to struggle to gain a foothold in this latest fixture.

Sunderland have found themselves behind on 15 occasions in the Premier League and hold the worst home record in the division with just three victories recorded on their own patch and no win at the Stadium of Light in their previous eight contests.

It might be wise then to avoid the 5/4 on offer for a Sunderland victory, with the draw at 23/10 and a West Ham win at the same price offering better value with Ladbrokes.

And with only four of the pair’s last 10 encounters featuring three goals or more, plumping for under 2.5 goals at Evens is another bet well worth snapping up.

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

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