Richard Walker / 07 December 2008 Free Bet

Gianfranco Zola has enough tactical acumen about him to have already seen that the way to keep his happy Hammers away from danger is to stop the goals leaking in.

They've got enough about them going forward to win games - but it's three consecutive clean sheets which, more than anything, has set about steadying the already listing ship that is West Ham United.

Good old 'Arry is back to his old stomping ground for this Monday night Setanta offering, and a cracker I reckon it promises to be. He's a shrewd old bugger, Redknapp, and will be keen not to lose in front of the crowd that once idolised him as their manager.

Neither side are particularly troubled by noteworthy injuries. You could say Dean Ashton's absence is a blow for the Irons, but then he's out most of the time anyway. Lee Bowyer's battling to be fit while, for Spurs, Alan Hutton and Giovani dos Santos are out but Ledley King was rested in the week and therefore should start.

A high-scoring draw is what I have on my agenda, though readily conceding that the game could well swing in favour of either of these two current Premier League strugglers.

Goals are the one thing I won't be swayed on, though. For all West Ham's resoluteness of late, an early(ish) goal here and things will soon open up with both managers' attacking instincts to the fore. So Over 2.5 goals at [1.98] is a must-include for me, with Unders at around [2.0] for those who disagree with me.

The Draw is a [3.5] chance with, like a good few games this weekend, both teams hard to split for victory at around the [2.75] mark. Play your hunch, of course, but with all three results seemingly holding every chance, why not avail of nearly a point better?

Two apiece and 3-3 are my Correct Score choices, with a very small cover on Any Unquoted. The prices are [17.5], [75.0] and [12.0] respectively. And at those odds, some in-play recovery might well be possible if it turns into an unlikely game of chess. I don't see it that way, both sides will view this as one they've got to win.

Half-Time/Full-Time aficionados just might have their day with this one. I think small percentage stakes must be placed to cover West Ham/Spurs and Spurs/West Ham, both rating a [36.0] chance. West Ham/Draw at [17.5] and Spurs/Draw - both around the [17.0] mark - are my two main choices. By way of stake-splitting example, I would play 10% twice and 40% twice on those four selections.

I think Spurs striker Roman Pavlyuchenko is a sensible To Score play, at around [3.5]. He's hit a bit of form and it's the sort of game where he'll surely feature at some point. I'm taking Mark Noble for West Ham, at roughly [6.0], to weigh in for the hosts. Their regular penalty-taker, he's no slouch at getting into the box with a late run.

Strap yourself into your armchair Monday night - with your laptop handy for some in-running action, of course- this'll be a good 'un.