Two games take place on Sunday in the Championship, starting with Sam Allardyce’s West Ham making the trip to the City Ground to take on Nottingham Forest. The other game sees Watford host Birmingham, who qualified for the next stage of the Europa League on Thursday evening.
Nottingham Forest v West Ham (13:15)
Two of England’s well established managers clash horns at the City Ground on Sunday as Steve McClaren hosts Sam Allardyce’s West Ham.
West Ham should be taken at 8/5 to get the better of Forest, who have been unconvincing so far in their league campaign.
The Hammers were unfortunate not to hold onto three points at home to Leeds last Sunday – a last minute equaliser from the Yorkshire side shared the spoils at Upton Park. The hosts were on top for large amounts of the game and deserved to pick up three points for their efforts.
Allardyce’s men were clinical on their last trip away from home – dispatching Watford 4-0 in a very impressive display.
You will struggle to find a forward line better than Carlton Cole and John Carew in the Championship. Both players with bags of Premier League experience and proven goalscorers in the top flight.
Cole is a 6/1 shot to score the first goal in the game and looks the obvious choice to open the scoring and add to the two goals he has already scored this season.
The East London club have been boosted by the signing of Sam Baldock ahead of the game. The 22-year old has been very impressive for MK Dons in the past few seasons and will be a key figure in the Hammers fight for promotion back into the Premier League.
West Ham are a 10/1 shot to win the game 2-1 and is the likely correct score as both sides are capable of finding the back of the net.
Watford v Birmingham City (15:00)
Watford have had a miserable start to the Championship campaign so far and it is likely to get worse as Birmingham are 21/10 to get their season up and running with a win at Vicarage Road.
Birmingham are a better side than their league position of 18th suggests, but they have had a tough start to the life in the second tier.
Chris Hughton has a decent squad at his disposal with the right blend of youth and experience. Adam Rooney and Nathan Redmond will both have the opportunity to shine for the Blues this season. The latter, who is 10/1 to score the first goal, scored in Europe on Thursday in their 3-0 victory over Portuguese side Nacional.
Watford’s team got ripped apart in the summer, adding to boss Malky Mackay’s exit to Cardiff, with Will Buckley departing to Brighton and Danny Graham moving to newly-promoted Swansea City.
The side from North London will be one of the favourites to be relegated from the Championship this season and are going to struggle in what is a very competitive league.
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