Betting tips for West Ham vs Southampton: Premier League preview and odds

Belfast Telegraph

31 March 2023

Betting tips for West Ham vs Southampton: Premier League preview and odds

Our betting expert has three West Ham vs Southampton tips for Sunday afternoon’s Premier League clash at the London Stadium (kick-off, 2pm). Scroll down to see the expert analysis behind his selections.

West Ham vs Southampton betting tips

West Ham to win and over 2.5 goals @ 15/8 with Betfred
Danny Ings any-time goalscorer @ 6/4 with Betfred
Under 39.5 booking points, Jan Bednarek to be booked and under 10.5 corners @ 12/1 with Betfred

Odds are correct at the time of publication and are subject to change.

Already used the Betfred sign-up offer? Check out all the latest bookmaker offers and the best betting sites.

Home advantage to tell for Hammers

Eighteenth plays 20th as the Hammers entertain Southampton on Sunday, and David Moyes’s side will have earmarked this game as one from which they must take three points. Southampton may prop up the table but they start the weekend only four points adrift of 12th-placed Crystal Palace.

West Ham are unbeaten in five at home in all competitions and, while the visitors have lost just one of their last four, the Hammers’ ability to find a result when needed could again prove profitable.

They have often done the business when the pressure has been really on this season, especially at home, where they have beaten Wolves, Bournemouth, Everton and Nottingham Forest and are unbeaten in five games in all competitions.

However, Ruben Selles’ Southampton have a better away record than their home one, winning four times on the road, and can point to a good record against those in and around them, having won at Bournemouth and Everton.

They also won 3-2 on their last trip to the London Stadium in December 2021 but have failed to record back-to-back away victories against the Hammers since 1992. It promises to be a close game but our prediction is for West Ham to nick it and for there to be goals.

West Ham vs Southampton tip 1: West Ham to win and over 2.5 goals @ 15/8 with Betfred

Extra motivation for Ings

Football has an unwritten rule that players often score against their former clubs and that could be the case for West Ham’s Danny Ings.

The 30-year-old was born in Winchester, 12 or so miles from Southampton, and after coming through at Bournemouth and enjoying spells at Burnley and Liverpool, he finally joined Saints on an initial loan in 2018 before signing permanently a year later.

Ings then moved to Aston Villa in 2021 but struggled to find a regular role and switched to West Ham in January. He scored his first two goals for the Hammers in the 4-0 win over Nottingham Forest but has otherwise been frustrated.

However, Saints’ record of 22 goals conceded on the road suggests they are vulnerable and Ings is the type of striker who can find the requisite space to fire home.

West Ham vs Southampton tip 2: Danny Ings any-time goalscorer @ 6/4 with Betfred

Clean game on the cards

The Hammers’ tally of 33 yellow cards is the lowest received by any team in the Premier League this season and they have not received more than one caution in a home game in any competition since November. Saints have also picked up one card or fewer in their last three in the Premier League.

Despite having plenty to play for in this match, under 39.5 booking points in the game appeals when building in some extra contingency for the odd bad tackle provoked by this relegation rivalry.

A player who could be booked is the rejuvenated Jan Bednarek, who has committed two or more fouls in four of his eight starts since returning from his loan spell at Villa, while under 10.5 corners could also be something to look for.

The Hammers average 5.5 per game in the league compared with the Saints’ 4.32, so backing below 10.5 could add something extra for any #PickYourPunt players.

West Ham vs Southampton tip 3: Under 39.5 booking points, Jan Bednarek to be booked and under 10.5 corners @ 12/1 with Betfred