The Goalscorer Gamble: Sakho will smash Sunderland

Can Diafra Sako continue his scoring form when West Ham face Sunderland?

Dan Fitch is on hand with five goalscorer picks and is backing Diafra Sakho to score for West Ham against Sunderland.

Like a powerful engine the Goalscorer Gamble is rumbling through the gears, as we gradually approach full speed. Last week saw three of my tips landed and like a turkey waiting for the inevitable, the prices are getting plumper and plumper.

The ever-reliable Charlie Austin and Alexander Meier both delivered at 2.47/5, while Wilfried Bony scored the first goal at 6.5n/a. If your Christmas funds are running low, take note of my current soothsayer status and in particular this week's tips.

We start in the Premier League with Sunderland's match with West Ham. The Hammers are flying high in third, compared to a Sunderland side that are more predictably bumbling along in 14th. 

The odds in no way reflect the disparity in the form of the two sides, with West Ham being only the fairly narrow favourites. More importantly to us, the price of the goalscorers in action are also inflated. 

Diafra Sakho has scored seven goals in his last eight Premier League appearances and faces a Sunderland side that have conceded in five of their seven. Sakho is 3.02/1 to find the net, which amounts to a written invitation to lump on.

We stay in the Premier League for a game that on the surface looks more evenly matched. Scratch slightly below that surface however, and an advantage will reveal itself.

Swansea are the third best Premier League team at home this season, while Spurs are the fourth best away side. Yet the results do no tell the full story of Tottenham's season. They have won three away games but were fortunate to emerge with maximum points in all of them. 

Spurs are also guilty of frequently conceding the first goal. Five of their last six Premier League games saw them go behind. Wilfried Bony has scored the opener in three of his last four games, so looks great value at 6.25/1 to be first goalscorer.

We stay in England for today's early kick off between Middlesbrough and Derby. Both sides are fighting for promotion, with Derby in second and Middlesbrough fourth. 

It is Derby who are currently in ruder health. Boro have only won three of their last eight but Derby have four wins from their last five. 

Derby's main man in front of goal is Chris Martin. The former Norwich striker has 12 goals in 20 games this season and in total has 41 from 78 appearances. Martin scored a brace in last week's 3-0 win over Brighton and should be backed at 3.02/1 to add to his tally.

Over to Germany now for Mainz against Stuttgart. The home side's Shinji Okazaki is one of the Bundesliga's top scorers with eight goals in 14 league games this season. 

Mainz are in terrible form and are without a win in six, yet Okazaki just keeps on scoring, with goals in three of those six games. Against rock-bottom Stuttgart they might finally get the win they crave, so take a punt on Okazaki at 5.95/1 to score the first goal. 

We conclude in Holland now for Ajax's home game with Utrecht. Frank de Boer's side are currently second in Eredivisie where they are fighting for the title with leaders PSV. They are unbeaten in their last eleven league games, winning eight.

Utrecht are in tenth and in the sort of mixed form that their mid-table position suggests. Their last five games have seen two wins, two defeats and a draw.

There should be goals aplenty. Utrecht have averaged a whopping 4.5 goals per game in their last ten matches, while Ajax averaged an only slightly more conservative 4.3 from their last six. Ajax's chief threat is Arkadiusz Milik, who has eight goals from nine league games and 17 in 16 from all competitions. Back him at 2.05n/a to find the net.

Best Bets
Recommended Bet: Back Sakho to score at 3.02/1
Back Bony to score first at 6.25/1
Back Martin to score at 3.02/1
Back Okazaki to score first at 5.95/1
Back Milik to score at 2.05n/a