Burnley travel to Premier League West Ham on Monday evening in the fifth round of the FA Cup and they are more than capable of forcing a replay (West Ham 10/11, draw 5/2, Burnley 3/1 – Match Betting).
The Championship outfit have the better form of the two sides, having won five of their last nine games in all competitions, losing only once. This was a 1-0 defeat at Doncaster at the start of the month.
Since installing new manager Eddie Howe, the Clarets have lost just once in six games and are making a concerted assault on the play-off places. This may still be their top priority for the rest of the season but there is clearly a winning mentality at Turf Moor and Howe will be desperate to keep the momentum he has built up.
Meanwhile, relegation threatened West Ham have only won two in their last seven but will be buoyed by their stunning second-half comeback against West Brom last weekend in which they overturned a three-goal deficit to draw 3-3 at The Hawthorns.
In fact, despite their lack of wins, it is clear that the Hammers have significantly improved in recent weeks. This is backed up by the fact that they have only lost once in their last five games.
One of the main reasons for this is a renewed spirit. Avram Grant’s side looked dead and buried before Christmas but inspirational captain Scott Parker has led by example on the pitch and his enthusiasm and appetite for the battle has now begun to spread to other players.
West Ham were unlucky to be knocked out at the semi-final stage of the Carling Cup to Birmingham City and will have a strong desire to go as far as possible in the FA Cup to avenge this defeat.
Goals could be guaranteed at Upton Park as the Hammers have scored three times in three of their last four games. Meanwhile, Burnley have netted six times in their last three fixtures, including grabbing three at Watford.
Chris Eagles is Burnley’s form player in the FA Cup as he has already scored three goals in the competition. He scored the third goal in the Clarets’ 4-2 defeat of Port Vale in the third round whilst he bagged a brace against Burton Albion in round four.
West Ham will be stiffer opposition than those two sides and Eagles will need to be on top form if Burnley are to sneak a win. However, he clearly likes this competition and 11/4 to score at any time against a defence which has conceded 48 goals in the Premier League looks good value.
Indeed, the Hammers’ defence is of significant concern as they have conceded 19 goals in all competitions in 2011 already. With no clean sheets in eight games, backing Burnley at 4/1 to score in both halves looks tempting.
West Ham played Championship opposition in the fourth round, scraping past Nottingham Forest 3-2 at Upton Park. A Victor Obinna hat-trick provided the goals and he is 40/1 to do the same again. Whilst this may seem unlikely, a small nibble on 8/1 for him to net a brace looks like a good option.
Burnley will not fear West Ham as many of their players have experience of playing against them in the Premier League last season. Furthermore, the Clarets are currently eighth in the Championship meaning there are few rungs between them and West Ham in the football pyramid.
Should the north west outfit force the Hammers back to Turf Moor, it will be seen as a real achievement, so the 5/2 on offer for the draw looks another strong bet.
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