Tottenham are now odds on across the board to gain the win they need on Wednesday to take them to the top of the Premier League table for the first time this season but that is plenty short enough and I am opposing them at the prices.
Leicester City’s 2-2 draw with West Bromwich Albion on Tuesday has opened the door for a rampant Spurs to move to the English football summit, they would do so on goal difference if picking up three points, but there’s few tougher assignments than a trip to Upton Park and West Ham would love to cause an upset.
Tonight’s match is the first of two huge fixtures inside four days for the White Hart Lane club who host great rivals Arsenal on Saturday lunchtime in the capital. Spurs are certainly up to the tasks in hand, it is currently six consecutive Premier League triumphs, but spotting value is what this game’s about and the upcoming hosts certainly represent that.
While Spurs haven’t lost on the road in the top flight since an opening day defeat at Old Trafford, the Hammers are also unbeaten on their own ground since August.
Six wins and five draws in 11 matches since losing out in a seven-goal thriller to Bournemouth sees Slaven Bilic’s side sit in sixth place in the standings and it is just four defeats in 29 matches in all competitions after that reversal at the hands of the Cherries.
That is a terrific run by anybody’s standards and Spurs will have to be all too careful of the threat posed by Dimitri Payet who will be keen to impress once more on the biggest stage.
The Frenchman has been the signing of the season in England and Bilic will be confident his star man can hurt what is by some distance the stingiest defence in the Premier League.
With West Ham boasting four clean sheets in six matches on home soil themselves, I am not expecting too many goals in East London and the visitors would probably be satisfied with a point if then following up against the Gunners with the maximum.
That’s no guarantee of course but I am convinced any away team don’t merit being odds on at the famous ground right now and that includes the potential league leaders.
2pts Lay Tottenham (vs. West Ham) @ 1.98 (Betfair)