Expect West Ham to iron out home win over Hull

West Ham have lost to Hull City at home just twice in history, so they start 13/10 favourites for a win that would see them leapfrog their midweek opponents.

Steve Bruce’s Tigers are far from an away day vintage either. They have picked up just a third of their Premier League points (11 out of 33) on the road, and that adequately explains their status as 12/5 outsiders for victory at Upton Park.

A draw is a tempting 11/5, but you have to go back to 1956 for the last time the spoils were shared in this fixture in east London. Carlton Cole is the Hammers’ horse for this particular course, with four home goals against Hull in three appearances.

Back him at 13/8 to net anytime, especially as target man rival Andy Carroll has never netted when unleashed on the Tigers. Punters can get 7/1 on a 1-0 West Ham win, so why not combine that with Cole getting the only goal and enjoy an exceptional 22/1 price.

Winger Matt Jarvis and defender James Tomkins are injury doubts for Sam Allardyce’s side. The Hammers, who boasted one of the tightest defences as winter drew to a close, have failed to seal a shut-out in four, though all of their opponents in those are currently in the top half.

If you fancy a reversion to type from Big Sam’s boys, take odds of 2/1 on the hosts keeping a clean sheet. A West Ham win to nil is attractively priced at 3/1, and total goals being under 1.5 is also decent value at 12/5.

There are reasons to be cheerful, however, for the home side in this Hull encounter as neither of Steve Bruce’s front two, Nikica Jelavic (13/8 to net anytime) and Shane Long (7/4), have ever scored against West Ham. If punters think this will change here, then back either at 6/1 to grab the opening goal.

Smart money is on a Hammers home victory, and you can combine this with wins for Liverpool (against Sunderland) and Celtic (at Partick Thistle) in Coral’s special enhanced treble at 3/1.