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Hammers star wants winning habit

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James Tomkins is hoping that West Ham’s first away win in over a year can kick-start the club’s struggling start to their league season (Hammers 11/8 to be relegated).

The Hammers currently sit rock bottom of the Premier League table, with their only point coming in a 1-1 draw at Stoke last weekend.

However, the side managed their first win away from home in 13 months with a 2-1 win over Sunderland in the Carling Cup third round on Tuesday night.

Goals from Frederic Piquionne and Victor Obinna were enough to give the Hammers the win, and Tomkins wants the players to take confidence from this victory and take it forward into their Premier League clash with Tottenham (West Ham 13/5 to win, Spurs evens, draw 23/10) at Upton Park on Saturday.

West Ham need to make their home ground a fortress if they are to climb off the bottom of the table, but face a tough challenge against a Spurs side sitting in fifth spot and looking for a Premier League top-four finish for the second season in succession (Spurs 11/4 to finish in top four).

“The lads are buzzing. It is good to get our confidence back and start on winning ways. We need to get in the habit of doing this now as in the last few games we had played well but hadn’t taken anything,” said the Hammers Academy graduate.

“We did it against Stoke on Saturday. Not many teams go there and get a draw. We were able to build on that with the victory against Sunderland.

“It would be nice to have a cup run but first it is back to Tottenham in the league on Saturday and that is a massive game.”

West Ham boss Avram Grant paid particular praise to his front two of Piquionne and Obinna after the Sunderland win. He knows that goals have been hard to come by this season and the Hammers need someone to score regularly if they are to win games on a consistent basis.

The club’s striker’s inability to get goals led to the relegation dogfight last season and all the fans around Upton Park are hoping for no repeat this campaign.

Grant claims the club is making progress and he wants his players to continue to perform “with the same style” and convert chances into goals.

Speaking about his front two, he added: “They worked very hard, they moved very well and they played well together – but all the team behind them played well..

“We passed the ball very well in the midfield so it was more easy for them to find space to score two fantastic goals.”

After the Spurs game, West Ham (8/15 to stay up) then face Fulham at Upton Park before travelling to Wolves in their next two Premier League games.

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Inter to face confident Bari

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Bari striker Paulo Barreto says the Galletti (6/1) are full of confidence going into tonight’s Serie A clash with champions Inter (4/11) at the San Siro.

The Brazilian scored his first goal of the season in Bari’s 2-2 draw at Napoli last week, which they followed up with a 0-0 draw against Cagliari at the weekend.

The minnows remain unbeaten in Serie A after opening up the campaign with a 1-0 home defeat of mighty Juventus.

“I have already scored in Milan with Udinese,” said Barreto. “That was against the Rossoneri. This time it could be the occasion to do it against Inter too,” he told La Gazzetta dello Sport.

“When you play in a stadium like San Siro there is no need for motivation.

“It’s stimulating to show yourself in Italy’s most important stadium. If we play like we can then Inter will be in trouble. Playing Bari is not easy for anyone.”

Giampiero Ventura’s outfit must overcome an Inter side who finally appear to be settling down under Spanish tactician Rafael Benitez.

Inter won at Palermo – where the Sicilians hadn’t lost for 18 months – at the weekend and played their best football of the season, showing the old team spirit fostered by ex-bpss Jose Mourinho to come from behind.

The 2-1 win should get the media off Benitez’s back after lacklustre showings against Bologna, Udinese and Twente.

Cameroon hitman Samuel Eto’o struck twice in eight minutes in Sicily, his fifth and six goals of the campaign already, and he is now overshadowing last season’s hero Diego Milito for Inter.

Benitez’s only absentee is Thiago Motta, who is expected to return from injury in two weeks.

Bari’s injury victims include Salvatore Masiello, Jaime Romero and Alessandro Gazzi.

Bari stunned Inter not once but twice last term, holding the treble winners to a 1-1 draw (13/2 in Correct Scores) at San Siro on the opening day and a 2-2 (20/1) draw at the Stadio San Nicola in January, a match they had led 2-0.

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Barcelona’s Villa eyes Gijon goals

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Barcelona (1/7 in Match – 90 Mins betting) striker David Villa says he is not concerned about failing to convert any chances against Atletico Madrid as he prepares to face his old club Sporting Gijon (16/1) at the Nou Camp tonight.

Although the Spanish international striker (7/4 First or Last Goalscorer, 2/5 Anytime) has faced the Rojiblancos before while he was at Valencia, this will be his first match against Sporting in the colours of the Blaugrana.

The World Cup winner spent four years at El Molinon, initially with the ‘B’ team before making the grade, and his career has since taken him through Real Zaragoza and Valencia – who received 40 million euros from Barcelona this summer.

Villa told El Guaje: “Of course it will be a special game. I had to face Sporting with Valencia in the past, and that is great news for me, because that means that Sporting are in the first division.

“I wish them all the best – but after the match against Barcelona!

“People know how I feel about Sporting. I grew up playing there, but it is clear that I will give everything for my current club to help them win the game.”

There are rumours in Spain that Sporting will rest several key players at the Nou Camp and accept their fate against a Barcelona side without Lionel Messi through injury.

The Argentina star hurt ankle ligaments in Sunday’s 2-1 win over Atletico in Madrid, so Villa and the rest of the senior stars will be expected to step up in his absence.

The Barca striker was unable to add to his three goals for the club at the Vicente Calderon when he found Atletico keeper David de Gea in top form.

He said: “What is important is that the team wins, but it is true that I was a bit annoyed at not scoring.

“The coach told me he was happy with me and goals will eventually come, and I think exactly the same way.”

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Ferguson hails new ‘genius’

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Manchester United striker Dimitar Berbatov has now joined Manchester City’s Carlos Tevez as a 7/1 shot for the 2010/11 Premier League Golden Boot.

The Bulgarian boosted his tally for the campaign thanks to a match-winning hat-trick against arch-rivals Liverpool at Old Trafford on Sunday – the Red Devils won the game 3-2 despite seeing a two-goal lead cancelled out by Steven Gerrard – following strikes against Newcastle, West Ham and Everton.

Berbatov’s treble was his first for United following his switch from Spurs two years ago and it was also United’s first against Liverpool in over 60 years, as Sir Alex Ferguson’s men bounced back from draw against Everton and Rangers, the latter of which was in the Champions League.

Berbatov has struggled to justify his £30m price tag since swapping White Hart Lane for Old Trafford and while he stole the headlines, the 29-year-old will also be aware he must back up his performance.

Ferguson admits fans were right to be sceptical about the former Bulgaria captain’s ability to slot into United’s side, but the Scot now hopes a corner has been turned.

“Lots of questions were asked about him last season and he was made something of a whipping boy, to the point where he must have wondered whether he had a future at Old Trafford,” said Ferguson.

“But the man has real ability and he is a Manchester United kind of player.

“I concede at times he seemed to struggle but if you are satisfied about a player’s credentials you must persevere and trust your judgement.

“You must have faith and I think we are being rewarded this season for our confidence in a player who has a touch of genius about him.”

Ferguson added: “We paid a lot of money for him and we should have understood that for whatever reason players do not always settle quickly after a big transfer, especially at a club of our stature.

“Certainly this is a big season for him that could determine the rest of his career.”

Meanhile, Tevez was also on target at the weekend, opening the scoring in City’s 2-0 win at Wigan which also saw summer signing Yaya Toure get off the mark for the Blues.

City are now up to fourth place ahead of Saturday’s home clash against champions Chelsea who have won all five games so far in the Premier League (City 4/6 – Top Four Finish).

Before that, boss Roberto Mancini takes City (4/6 – 90 minutes) to West Brom (7/2) on Wednesday for a Carling Cup third-round clash.

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Kop legend backs Torres

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Liverpool striking legend Robbie Fowler reckons Fernando Torres (9/1 to be Premier League top scorer 2010/11) is “not as far away” from his top form as doubters around Anfield seem to be suggesting.

The Spanish number nine has endured a struggle in 2010, with a catalogue of injuries blighting his year. The latest one he sustained in the World Cup final for Spain means he missed most of pre-season training and has showed signs of lacking fitness during Liverpool’s opening Premier League matches.

Fowler, who scored 183 goals for Liverpool during two spells at the club, claims it is only a matter of time until Torres is banging in the goals for Roy Hodgson’s side as they look to get back into the Premier League top four. (Liverpool 2/1 to finish in top four outright)

The Reds have had a difficult start to the season but showed during the 3-2 defeat to Manchester United at the weekend they are building as a team under Hodgson.

Fowler told Liverpool’s official website that Torres’ performance at Old Trafford, particularly during the second half showed it “was evident” that “he will get results” if his team-mates get the ball to him.

The Liverpool legend, now aged 35 and playing for Perth Glory in the Australian League, is no stranger to injury problems and he told Liverpool fans it can “take time” to get back to your best level after an injury.

“He’s [Torres] had more than his fair share in recent times. Even just a fraction of a percentage makes a massive difference at his level, and in a couple of weeks he’ll probably look a different man again,” said Fowler.

“When he’s at the top of his game then his touch and pace are a deadly combination, but it’s probably not quite there yet as he’s still coming back from a series of injuries that can affect that first explosive moment on the ball.

“You can never question his contribution to the team, because he is prepared to put in a shift up front on his own against some of the best – and toughest – defenders in the world, and believe me that’s not easy.”

Fellow Kop legend Kenny Dalglish, who had been linked with a return to the Anfield hot seat during the summer, has said that Liverpool need to concentrate on winning the Premier League rather than looking for Cup successes.

Hodgson’s side face Northampton at Anfield in the Carling Cup (Liverpool 1/7 to win, Northampton 11/1, draw 11/2) on Wednesday night and the manager is expected to make a number of changes as he gives opportunities for fringe players to impress.

Despite the obvious opportunities for success in the Carling Cup, FA Cup and also the Europa League, former boss Kenny Dalglish has told BBC Radio Merseyside that Liverpool should make it a priority to be “back to where they should be” and winning titles – something they have not done since he was in charge in 1990.

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Toure fires Chelsea warning

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Kolo Toure believes Manchester City (12/1 to win 2010-11 Premier League title) are capable of ending Chelsea’s unbeaten start to the season and feels stopping Didier Drogba is the key.

City are up to fourth in the Premier League following their win at Wigan last weekend – seven points behind Carlo Ancelotti’s men.

The defending champions have made a faultless start to the season, with five wins out of five, but they face their toughest test yet as they travel to Eastlands on Saturday (Man City 21/10, Draw 9/4, Chelsea 6/5 – Match Betting).

City (4/6 Top Four Finish) beat Chelsea home and away last season and Toure admits confidence is high that they can claim the three points again this weekend.

The former Arsenal man said: “We need to make sure we take something from it. If we can get one point that would be great, but if we can get all three like we did twice last season, that would be fantastic.”

Toure has revealed that Roberto Mancini has had his squad working hard in training on the defensive side of the game, which looks to be paying dividends.

City have conceded just two goals in their opening five matches and will need to be at their best again to keep the free-scoring Chelsea at bay.

Toure has pinpointed Ivory Coast team-mate Drogba (6/4f to be 2010-11 Premier League Top Scorer) as the main danger for Mancini?s men and feels the Chelsea striker has been better than ever this season.

The centre-back added: “It seems like he’s getting better with age because he’s such an intelligent player. He’s had to change his game. He knows he needs more help from his team-mates now.”

“I know his game well, but he’s still difficult to play against because he’s so powerful,” he said. “He’s playing so well and with all these assists, he seems to have improved his style of playing.

“At the moment, I’d say he’s on fire. So we’re going to have to defend really well as a team to stop him. We’re going to have to be really strong on Saturday.”

Meanwhile, Roberto Mancini has played down suggestions of a bust-up with Emmanuel Adebayor.

There have been suggestions that the City boss had a row with Adebayor regarding the striker’s current injury – with a dead leg seeing him miss the last three games.

Mancini says the former Arsenal striker trained with the squad on Monday and could come into contention for the visit of the league leaders (Both Teams To Score – 5/6).

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McLeish hails ‘mission impossible’

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Alex McLeish claims it is “nigh on impossible” for his Birmingham City side to finish in the Premier League top six this season (14/1 – top six outright).

The experienced Scottish boss knows expectations at St Andrew’s have increased after last season’s impressive ninth-placed finish last season and also the investment into the side over the summer.

His side have had an up-and-down start to their Premier League campaign this season and sit 12th in the table with six points. They went down 3-1 to local rivals West Bromwich Albion (6/5 – relegation outright) at the weekend after taking the lead through Cameron Jerome.

There are a number of club fighting for a top-10 finish this season and the Premier League looks as being competitive as it has been in recent years, and McLeish has poured scorn on suggestions Birmingham could finish in the top six by stating it is “ludicrous to suggest that”.

The likes of Manchester City, Tottenham, Liverpool, Everton and Aston Villa (5/2 – Premier League top six) are all likely to be fighting for a top four spot and McLeish knows his side would have to finish above a couple of these to secure a top-six spot.

He has said that he knows the “whole squad” at Birmingham are capable of playing in the Premier League, but he needs to be honest about their aspirations for the season.

“My experiences in the game tell me it is nigh on impossible. We can all dream and have ambition but there are about eight teams in there who, over a length of the season, will always come to the fore,” said the boss.

“Then the rest are fighting for the other places. If we come ninth again, it will be phenomenal.

“I would judge that even better than last season. Finishing in the top 17 is our priority again.”

McLeish is preparing his side for a Carling Cup tie with League One side MK Dons (Birmingham 2/5 to win, MK Dons 5/1, draw 10/3 – 90 minutes) at St Andrew’s on Tuesday night and he is set to give starting spots to summer signings Nikola Zigic, Matt Derbyshire, Jean Beausejour and Martin Jiranek.

The likes of Keith Fahey, Michel and Alexander Hleb are all set to start also and the manager has admitted “the gauntlet is being thrown down” to these players to show him they are worthy of stating in Birmingham’s next Premier League game against Wigan at the weekend.

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Spurs ‘the bigger club’

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Rafael van der Vaart has stoked the fires ahead of Arsenal’s trip to White Hart Lane in the Carling Cup third round (11/8 – 90 minutes) by insisting Tottenham are the bigger club.

The north London rivals have been paired together in the tie of the round and while the match is unlikely to feature all the top stars from both clubs it’s likely to be a competitive affair.

Overall Arsenal have the better recent record against their local counter-parts, although they were beaten 2-1 by Spurs on their last trip to White Hart Lane.

The last time the two sides meet in the Carling Cup it was Tottenham who came out on top again, drawing the first leg of their semi-final 1-1 at the Emirates before spanking the Gunners 5-1 at home as they went on to lift the trophy in 2008.

Despite the opportunity to add some much needed silverware to their trophy cabinets the Carling Cup is likely to take a backseat with both sides in the Champions League this season.

Each side also have injury concerns to deal with and are unlikely to risk anyone who isn’t 100% fit for the game.

Tottenham (12/1 Carling Cup outright) will more than likely be without Ledley King, Jermain Defoe, Michael Dawson and Jonathan Woddgate while Arsenal (16/1) won’t be able to call on Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott and Thomas Vermaelen.

Despite the lack of star players on show White Hart Lane is a sell out and new signing Van der Vaart says he has been made aware of the importance of the game by Holland team-mate Van Persie.

The Dutch midfielder only joined Tottenham three weeks ago but has already settled into life in English football.

Van der Vaart tucked away a penalty on Saturday to help Spurs on their way to victory over Wolves and has further endeared himself to the Tottenham faithful with his comments about Arsenal.

Despite Arsenal’s success since the Premier League was formed Van der Vaart has stated that Tottenham remain the bigger club in his eyes.

“Spurs are the bigger club,” said the midfielder.

“Everybody has been talking about the Arsenal match all week.

“Robin told me when we were together in the national team what a big game it is. I’m really looking forward to it.”

Tottenham (11/4 top-4 finish) have made a solid start to the season, picking up eight points from their first five matches to leave them fifth in the Premier League.

Van der Vaart says he is really enjoying himself at Tottenham having been frustrated with his lack of first team opportunities while with Real Madrid.

“We are a team who love to play football,” he added. “Although I have only been in England two weeks, I love it.

“The speed of the game is much higher than in Madrid. Teams like Wolves are really strong and run all the time. You don’t get a break.”

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Ancelotti expecting tougher tests

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Carlo Ancelotti said tougher games await his Chelsea team after their victory against Blackpool ahead of a run of fixtures which will see them play Manchester City (12/1 Premier League outright), Arsenal (11/2) and Aston Villa (300/1) in consecutive matches.

The Blues have won five out of five in the league thus far and already boast a goal difference of plus 20 in what is a record breaking start by the west London outfit.

Ancelotti’s side were too good for Blackpool on Sunday as they rattled in four goals in the first half.

They also missed a hatful of chances to further boost their goal difference before the Seasiders mounted something of a comeback in the second half.

While Chelsea might have been fortunate with their run of fixtures at the start of the season they have certainly shown their dominance after claiming their third Premier League crown last season.

However, a test of the champions’ credentials is likely to come at Eastlands next weekend when they square off against mega-rich City.

Roberto Mancini’s side are expected to push the Blues and the other title contenders all the way after another summer of spending.

It doesn’t get any easier after the trip to Manchester with Arsenal (1/5 – top 4 finish) making the short trip to Stamford Bridge on October 3, followed by a trip to Aston Villa (10/1) on October 16.

Ancelotti says he is expecting his side to be sorely tested in the coming weeks and claims he is hoping Chelsea will do better in their clash against City this season.

“I learned that we are in a good moment, we’re showing good play, we are fit, everything is okay at this moment,” he told Sky Sports.

“But we will arrive at more difficult games and we have to be ready for the next game.

“We wanted to start like last year, we had a good start last year, and we are doing that [again], now we have to look forward.

“Last year we lost a big game against Manchester City and this year we want to do better.”

The Italian revealed the Blues are expected to be boosted by the return of Frank Lampard and John Terry for the game against City on Saturday.

Both missed the visit of Blackpool last Sunday with their respective hernia and rib injuries but should be back at the weekend.

Chelsea welcome Newcastle (8/1 – 90 minutes) to Stamford Bridge for their Carling Cup third round clash on Wednesday.

Ancelotti is expected to start a number of youngsters in midweek and rest some of his big names ahead of the trip to Eastlands and the return of the Champions League next week.

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Mancini eyes Tevez improvement

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Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini says he expects captain Carlos Tevez to get better this season after handing the Argentina star the armband in the summer (City 12/1 – Premier League Outright).

Tevez was on target at Wigan on Sunday in a 2-0 win as the Blues surged into the top four of the Premier League which is widely thought to be the minimum requirement for Mancini this season.

City’s ambitious owners – the Abu Dhabi United Group – are desperate to secure Champions League football for next season and, as Mark Hughes discovered, perceived failure is not an option.

Mancini settled on handing Tevez the captaincy after talks with the forward during the summer and he has since weighed in with three league goals for the Eastlands outfit.

However, the Italian does not feel the former Manchester United and West Ham United is anywhere near the peak of his powers yet following his exertions with Argentina at the World Cup finals in South Africa (Tevez – 7/1 Premiership Top Scorer).

On the captaincy, Mancini said: “I thought about it during the summer and I spoke to Carlos about it.

“He is an important player and he can improve as captain and we can have more of him.

“I’m very happy for him because at this moment he probably isn’t at 100% of his form.

“Maybe his goal (at Wigan) can help him and it is fantastic he got it today.”

City’s other goal came from Yaya Toure as the Blues eased past the Latics at the DW Stadium at a canter to leave the home side third from bottom on goal difference.

Meanwhile, Mancini has admitted he will reluctantly allow out-of-favour goalkeeper Shay Given to move on during the forthcoming transfer window.

The 34-year-old Republic of Ireland international has fallen behind England number one Joe Hart in the pecking order and appears resigned to the fact his first-team chances at Eastlands have come to an end.

Given will also be aware of the need to stay sharp for his country’s Euro 2012 qualification campaign as the Irish look to make their first major tournament since the 2002 World Cup in Japan and South Korea.

For now the former Newcastle favourite is kicking his heels in the reserves although talk of a return to St James’ Park might surface after Magpies keeper Steve Harper suffered a shoulder problem against Everton.

Mancini said: “I have a lot of respect for Shay and I told him the situation before the finish of the [transfer] market.

“I told him: ‘Shay, you can choose. I hope that you stay here but I respect your decision and if you want to leave you can.’

“He decided to stay here and until January he must stay here.

“I understand his frustration but I need that Shay stays here and puts in 100%. In January if he decides to leave I respect his decision.”

Harper is set to miss weeks if not months with ligament damage which is a cruel blow for a player who has been forced to wait until his 35th year for a crack at the Premier League on a weekly basis.

The Easington-born keeper has made just 138 appearances for Newcastle since 1993 having acted as back-up to Pavel Srnicek, Shaka Hislop and Given over the years (Magpies 11/2 – Relegation).

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