support

Fri 16 October 2015 14:18, UK

Sam Allardyce always wins his first Premier League match at a new club, and West Brom are unlikely to stop this…
Get the best odds and a £30 free bet now by clicking here
West Brom 2.10 v Sunderland 4.20; The Draw 3.40
Saturday, 15:00
West Brom
It is only mid-October, but it already feels as though there have been three phases to West Brom’s campaign. The first was the August uncertainty with Saido Berahino’s future unclear and signings bedding in, the result being a winless start and three blanks in four games across all competitions.
Then came the resurgence, a run of three clean sheets in which midland rivals Stoke and Aston Villa were beaten away, Southampton were held at home and Berahino re-ingratiated himself with fans.
The expectation was that they would progress from there, yet instead a 3-0 Capital One Cup loss to Norwich, a reverse from 2-0 up against Everton and a 2-0 flop at Crystal Palace followed to create fresh concern of a difficult season. They are 17th, albeit with Aston Villa, Sunderland and Newcastle’s struggles keeping them four points from peril.
However, it isn’t all doom and gloom. Four Premier League clean sheets indicate that Ben Foster’s long-term absence hasn’t been as problematic as feared, and fellow injury victims Jonny Evans, Jonas Olsson and James Morrison have a chance of recovering in time for this fixture.
Sunderland
After leaving in the summer, returning and then speaking at least once a week about resigning, Dick Advocaat finally fled Sunderland at the beginning of the international break with a tally of three points from eight matches and a warning that he judged them to be beyond salvation.
Sam Allardyce ruled otherwise and opted to put his record of four Premier League employers and zero relegations on the line. The 60-year-old goes into his first battle without Adam Matthews (injured), Sebastian Coates and Jeremain Lens (suspensions) and with doubts over whether Younes Kaboul, Yann M’Vila and Ola Toivonen will be fit.
Match Odds
Allardyce has won his first Premier League match at each of his four prior top-flight clubs, thrashing Leicester 5-0 away with Bolton, winning 3-1 at Bolton for Newcastle, defeating Tony Pulis’ Stoke 3-0 with Blackburn and Aston Villa 1-0 for West Ham.
West Brom are the poorest-performing hosts in the division this term, taking a point from a possible 12 and being held to a goalless draw by Port Vale in the Capital One Cup too.
The Black Cats are unbeaten in three meetings with them and have also lost just three of their 14 road trips to teams placed eighth or lower since the start of last season.
Pretty much the sole worry is Allardyce’s recent results against Pulis, losing three clashes across 2013/14 and 2014/15 in which the Englishman was in charge of West Ham and the Welshman was in either the Crystal Palace or West Brom dugout.
Yet, as mentioned earlier, Big Sam outclassed a Pulis side on his Blackburn debut, which was the only other time that he took over a Premier League club mid-campaign. He claimed three points at the Baggies boss’ expense at Stoke in 2012/13 as well, so there is no evidence of a long-term issue. The new Sunderland boss also triumphed on his last league visit to The Hawthorns last December.
Recommended Bet:
Back Sunderland to win @ 4.20
Get the best odds and a £30 free bet now by clicking here