The Editors' Premier League Betting Battle 2014/15: Round 22

This is what Dan Thomas wants to see on Sunday afternoon

Dan Thomas continued his phoenix-like rise from the dead with another winner last weekend to close the gap on Joe Dyer at the top and he's aiming for another winning goalscorer bet this weekend. Read on to see what the Betting.Betfair editorial tenners are going in round 22 of the battle...

Joe Dyer
Back West Ham Win/Under 2.5 Goal double @ 12/5(Sportsbook)
Sunday, 13:30
Live on Sky Sports 1

West Ham and Hull served up an entertaining 2-2 draw when they first met this season but I'm not sure we'll be in for similar fare in Sunday's early Premier League kick-off. 

Hull are in a funk ahead of this trip to east London.  Though they kicked the year off with a win they have lost both games since without scoring and if we look at wider form to include all of December's matches they have failed to score in six of nine league and cup fixtures. 

The bare stats suggest West Ham are not firing either with no win in their last six, but defeats to Chelsea and Arsenal in that sequence were expected and the Hammers were not disgraced in either game. After those two losses, Sam Allardyce's team have drawn against Everton, Swansea and West Brom, but there's not much to get embarrassed about in that sequence.  

Hull go to the Boleyn shorn of their main attacking threats in Nikica Jelavic and Abel Hernadez so it'll be down to Yannick Sagbo to do the scoring. Sagbo has played 23 minutes this season without scoring, and featured for 1,503 minutes last year notching twice. Of the outfield players who are definitely able to play, James Chester has scored twice, Jake Livermore and Ahmed Elmohamamdy once apiece. 

This is therefore a great chance for the Hammers to pull off a win to nil and my chosen route of backing that eventuality is the Home Win/Under 2.5 double on the Sportsbook which can be backed at 3.412/5. I will get a payout if it ends 1-0 or 2-0. 

Joe Dyer 2014-15 P/L +70.50

Dan Thomas
Back Alexis Sanchez to score v Man City at 7/4 (Sportsbook)
Sunday, 16:00
Live on Sky Sports 1

Harry Kane did the business for me last time out with a trademark finish at Selhurst Park and I'm sticking with on-fire north London based forwards for my selection this weekend.

Alexis Sanchez was in irresistible form against Stoke last weekend, scoring twice and laying on the other in a straightforward 3-0 win, and he will be heading up to Eastlands in confident mood.

While Arsenal's away form against the bigger sides makes for grim reading, I fully expect them to notch against a City side who have conceded twice against both Burnley and Sunderland at home in recent weeks and also failed to keep a clean sheet when hosting Championship side Sheffield Wednesday (admittedly with a second string defence).

And if the Gunners are going to score, it's more likely than not that player of the year candidate Sanchez will be the one to do it, with 12 goals in his 19 league appearances so far. A price of 7/4 is good enough for me.

Dan Thomas 2014-15 P/L: +18.75

Mike Norman
Back Burnley @ 2.546/4 to beat Crystal Palace
Saturday, 15:00

Burnley put up a spirited performance at White Hart Lane in their FA Cup replay in midweek, scoring two early goals before eventually losing 4-2.

But it's the fact that Sean Dyche's men are scoring goals regularly that makes me want to back them here; the Clarets have failed to score at Turf Moor just once since September, and that was against Liverpool when they were extremely unlucky not to find the back of the net.

Dyche's men are a hard-working side who know exactly what their job is, and a home game against Crystal Palace gives them an excellent opportunity to move up the table.

The Eagles got their first league win under Alan Pardew at home to Spurs last week but prior to that victory they'd been in poor form, especially away from home. In fact Palace have scored just one league goal on the road since October (six matches) and most recently they drew blanks at both QPR and Aston Villa.

I wouldn't be surprised if this were to be another low-scoring affair, but Burnley are by far the most likely side to get on the scoresheet and that's just one of the reasons I'm backing them to win this weekend.

Mike Norman 2014-15 P/L: -35.80

Luke Moore

Back Man City and Both Teams to Score in Man City v Arsenal at 3.185/40 (Sportsbook)
Sunday, 16:00

Man City have been in pretty imperious form of late, winning eight of their last ten Premier League games, but they've only kept four clean sheets in that time and haven't managed to stop their opponents scoring in any of their last four games.

In addition to this, Arsenal have some forward players in pretty rude form at the moment, not least Alexis Sanchez who has been irresistible of late, and who, on his day, is essentially unplayable.

I don't think Arsenal have enough quality or belief to win at the Etihad - I feel City are too strong - but I don't see any reason why they can't breach the home side's defence and get on the scoresheet. To that end, City to win and both teams to score on the Sportsbook is a nicely priced bet at 3.185/40.

Luke Moore 2014-15 P/L: -48.70

Editors 2014/15 Season P/L

1. Joe Dyer: +70.50
2. Dan Thomas: +18.75
3. Mike Norman: -35.80
4. Luke Moore: -48.70