Goals aplenty at Upton Park
Betting tips 
/ Andrew French / 17 December 2011 / Leave a comment Bet Now View Market
Back-to-back defeats and a couple of red cards: last weekend meant it was not a good one for West Ham.
Andrew French is fairly confident of it being a goal frenzy when Barnsley meet West Ham this weekend in the Champions League.
Cardiff v Middlesbrough
Match Odds: Cardiff [2.18], Middlesbrough [3.7], The Draw [3.5]
One team who will be more than happy to enter the busy festive period is Cardiff. Right now, they'd probably be happy to play every day of the week. Malky Mackay's side are serious promotion contenders, sitting third in the table and unbeaten in nine games stretching back to mid-October. They have won six of those nine games including their last four at home - add in Carling Cup victories over Blackburn and Burnley, and the Bluebirds have won six consecutive games in front of their own fans, scoring 12 and keeping five clean sheets.
Middlesbrough are still right in the promotion mix themselves, having won their last two - but they went three without a win before that. They have struggled against the top sides, losing to both Southampton (3-0) and West Ham (2-0), and may have run into Cardiff at the wrong time.
West Ham v Barnsley
Match Odds: West Ham [1.61], Barnsley [6.2], The Draw [4.3]
Back-to-back defeats and a couple of red cards: last weekend meant it was not a good one for West Ham. Sam Allardyce will know his side can scarcely afford to lose two games in a row if they are to go back up: they certainly can't be losing three on the trot. They will be well wound up for this one, and may catch Barnsley in something of a shell-shocked state after the Tykes saw a 2-0 half-time lead at home to Ipswich turn into a 5-3 defeat a week ago.
Keith Hill's side have been involved in a few goal-feasts recently: their last 10 games have produced 41 goals, and they have conceded 20 of them. Significantly, their last four away games have seen 20 goals fly in. There have been a total of 17 goals in the Hammers' last six games - and three of their last four at Upton Park would have paid out in the Over 2.5 Goals market.
Bristol City v Nottingham Forest
Match Odds: Bristol City [2.5], Nottm Forest [3.2], The Draw [3.4]
You have to be of a certain age to remember when Nottingham Forest were kings of Europe. So, for many younger football fans, it is far less of a shock to see the one-time Midlands giants preparing for a winter of fighting to save their place in the second tier of English football. Last weekend's 1-0 home reverse to Crystal Palace made it four consecutive defeats for Forest - and Steve Cotterill's side have failed to score in all of them. In fact, Forest have lost and drawn a blank in six of their last eight fixtures - including each of their last three away matches.
Bristol City's revival under Derek McInnes has been slowed by back-to-back defeats, but they were unbeaten in six before that, including a win over leaders Southampton at Ashton Gate. McInnes will know improved home form is key (City have only won two home games in 10 attempts) and this is a perfect opportunity for the Robins.
