The Sunday Double

Four teams who are yet to win do battle on Sunday afternoon and I’m simply backing the two better sides to take three points at odds of 4/1. West Brom have been nothing worse than a mid-table side since Roy Hodgson took the helm and nobody should lose sight of that just because of a slow start this campaign. They have more Premier League quality and experience than newly promoted Norwich; a win at best odds of 15/8 can kickstart the Baggies’ season. Fulham are formidable opponents at Craven Cottage and they should beat Blackburn with something to spare. The double is 4/1 with Totesport.

In fairness, Norwich will claim with some justification that they have been better than their two point return suggests in their first three games back in the big time. They acquitted themselves superbly at Stamford Bridge but naivety has been costly in every game thus far. This doesn’t look like a good time to have a Premier League novice in goal but 20-year-old Declan Rudd will make his first start at this level. John Ruddy was sent off against Chelsea - the second dismissal in consecutive matches for the Canaries who have also conceded a penalty in every match.

West Brom wouldn’t be the only side to find themselves pointless after fixtures against Man Utd, Chelsea and high-flying Stoke. But in reality Hodgson’s side have held their own in every game. Goals conceded in the final 10 minutes of each encounter have been the only difference. The former Liverpool boss is far too shrewd an operator to allow that trend to continue. He’ll know that his side outplayed Stoke for long periods last time out and were only beaten by a sucker punch right at the death. Goals have been hard to come by but Shane Long has settled quickly and Peter Odemwingie is in line to make his first start of the season after he notched 15 last campaign. Those two can fire WBA up the table, starting at Carrow Road.

Blackburn are the other side without a point to their name but unlike WBA, their future looks bleak. Results have been pretty dreadful for most of Steve Kean’s tenure and the manager is under serious pressure from fans and owners alike. The stats speak for themselves in this fixture. Fulham have only lost one league game at home in all of 2011. Rovers have lost seven of their previous ten on their travels, keeping just one clean sheet in 22 games. The hosts will also be invigorated by the debut of £10.6m signing Bryan Ruiz.  The Costa Rican striker scored 33 goals in 61 league games for FC Twente and he will surely add some potency to Martin Jol’s frontline.

Back WBA and Fulham to win as a double at a best price of 4/1 with Totesport. Just click on the odds, sign up, and claim your free bet.