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Hammers aim to upset the odds

Author: Lynda Collins
Date: 20/12/2009
Football betting

Chelsea have endured a torrid December but remain at the top of the Premier League table as they prepare for Sunday's London derby clash at struggling West Ham United.

However, they beat sportsbook favourites to finish bottom of the Premier League Portsmouth 2-1 in midweek to end a four-match winless streak and have emerged victorious on their last four league visits to Upton Park.

The Hammers have lost their last three league matches, scoring just one goal in the process, and languish second from bottom in the Premier League table following a key 3-1 defeat at relegation rivals Bolton Wanderers in midweek.

To further compound Gianfranco Zola's troubles, he has to contend with a lengthy injury list that includes top scorer Carlton Cole (knee), captain Matthew Upson (hamstring), Valon Behrami and Zavon Hines (both knee) and Calum Davenport (thigh).

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Birmingham City try to equal a club record of six top-flight wins in succession when they travel to Goodison Park to play Everton, potentially matching a record set between January and March 1959.

City are level on points with Liverpool heading into the Christmas period, something that has no doubt surprised and delighted fans of the Second City side.

Everton, in contrast, have won only one of their last ten Premier League games and have conceded at least two goals in each of their last five league encounters.

Birmingham have no such worries though and their total of seven clean sheets can only be bettered by leaders Chelsea (nine).

Everton's injury list continues to send shudders through the club, with Phil Neville, Joseph Yobo, Victor Anichebe, Phil Jagielka and Mikel Arteta all definitely out of contention.

Meanwhile, Birmingham will continue to be without Stuart Parnaby, Garry O'Connor and Teemu Tainio.

Wolves face Burnley at Molineux having won two of their last three Premier League matches, but manager Mick McCarthy was heavily criticised on Wednesday night after making ten changes to his starting line-up for the trip to Manchester United.

McCarthy decided to rest all of the team that shocked Tottenham Hotspur at White Hart Lane last Saturday - bar Marcus Hahnemann in goal - and the decision didn't pay off as they suffered a 3-0 defeat at Old Trafford.

Burnley have no new injury concerns coming in to the game and should be full of confidence following a great 1-1 home draw with Arsenal on Wednesday night.

The Clarets will be hoping to end a six-match run without a win in the top-flight, but will take encouragement from that fact that they have only suffered two defeats in seven Premier League games.

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