Man City v West Ham: Mancini's men to bounce back in style against travel sick Hammers

Roberto Mancini will be desperate for his side to put the disappointment of the last week behind them

Jonno Turner takes an in-depth look at the best betting value in Saturday's early kick-off between Manchester City and West Ham United...

We're focusing on action down at the Etihad Stadium - as a disappointed Manchester City side host West Ham United in the north west, looking to take a morale-boosting maximum points.

The Blues' fate was finally sealed on Monday night, as rivals Manchester United were named Barclays Premier League Champions for the 20th time - and that will have hit Roberto Mancini's side hard.

But the hosts must put that knock behind them as they welcome their East London opponents, and look to secure their 10th win from 11 home outings.

Mancini will also have one eye on the looming FA Cup Final with Wigan in May - and will be keen for his charges to take some real confidence and momentum into that tie.

The visitors travel up the M1 in miserable form on the road - and just one win from their last 13 away from Upton Park leaves the Hammers sitting 10th in the division, which is a shame, as their home results are probably deserving of a higher finish.

Indeed, just one loss from seven on their own patch shows just how Jekyll and Hyde Sam Allardyce's side have been this campaign - and that is an Achilles heel that the away boss will be keen to correct for next year.

Manchester City Clean Sheet

A quick glance at recent results tells no lies - City's defence has been outstanding in Manchester of late. In fact, Mancini's side could secure their 10th clean sheet from a dozen home outings in this clash.

That is testament to the home side's incredible strength in depth at the back, where Roberto Mancini has been able to call on the likes of Matija Nastasic and Kolo Toure to drop into the heart of defence alongside Vincent Kompany and Joleon Lescott.

Add to that the barren attacking form of the visitors, and a clean sheet for the home side looks a real value bet.

The Hammers have only managed nine goals in their last 16 top-tier clashes with their weekend opponents, and have never notched more than one in that time.

Misfiring forwards cost West Ham dearly in the reverse fixture of this game earlier in the campaign - and Allardyce's side didn't manage a single shot on target that day, giving City keeper Joe Hart one of his easier days at the office.

I think that there is real value in the 2.0621/20 available on Manchester City to come away from this encounter without a blot on their copybook.

First Goalscorer

In any encounter featuring the hosts, there's never a shortage of viable options for first goalscorer. Carlos Tevez is probably the obvious choice at the moment - and the Argentinian is certainly in something of a purple patch having gotten the ball rolling in his last three appearances, and notched five in his last seven on home turf.

He is priced at a short 4.216/5 to break the deadlock, with only his fellow countryman Sergio Aguero getting more attention from punters, at 4.1n/a.

Samir Nasri is available at a much more reasonable 8.07/1 - and with two goals in his last three games, could be worth a back to notch from deep.

The visitors' Andy Carroll will be full of confidence ahead of this clash - and having bagged four times in the past, the big Geordie has scored more goals against the Blues than any other Premier League opponent.

If you fancy him to be first on the scoresheet, he's 14.013/1 to do so - and that's not bad value at all, as, if the away side are to offer any threat in the final third, the likelihood is that it will come through Carroll.

Manchester City Half Time/Full Time

I reckon that the dethroned champions will be desperate to put in a positive performance in this game - and I expect them to come flying out of the traps right from kick off.

A bet on the Blues to be winning at both half time and full time would've paid out in nine of their last 14 home wins, and with the likelihood being that West Ham will set up to defend in this clash, the home side will have plenty of space to play in front of their rearguard.

West Ham have struggled defensively of late - and have kept just two clean sheets in 10 on the road. Of the last 11 games where they have conceded away from home, they have shipped at least one goal in the first half on nine occasions.

Odds for Mancini's side to go in happy after both 45 and 90 mins are a reasonable 1.845/6 - and that's decent value considering that the visitors are unlikely to offer much threat in the final third.

Recommended Bets

Manchester City Clean Sheet @ 2.0621/20
Samir Nasri First Goalscorer @ 8.07/1
Manchester City HT/FT @ 1.845/6