Football betting: Premier League - Blackburn vs West Ham

Blackburn Rovers can be trusted to continue their impressive start to the season with a home win against West Ham United in the live game on Sky Sports on Sunday afternoon. Click here for your free £30 to use on Paddy Power poker Although they do succumb to the occasional inexplicable result, such as their 4-0 trouncing at home to Aston Villa recently, Blackburn are in that clutch of sides including, Villa, Portsmouth, Everton and Manchester City that could make a charge into the top four this season. Mark Hughes's squad may be a little short to go the distance, but the fact that they were knocked out of the Uefa Cup early has helped their domestic cause no end. So has David Bentley's much-castigated decision not to go to the Under-21 European Championships this season - a choice that is already beginning to pay off. Bentley strengthened his international claims with another fantastic performance at the weekend - a display crowned by two spectacular goals in the 3-1 defeat of Newcastle. Probably the only player to have improved after having left Arsenal, the 23-year-old has become a leading light in the Blackburn side, scoring six goals this Premier League season. Unfortunately the midfielder is suspended for the visit of West Ham, but with Benni McCarthy (eight goals) and Roque Santa Cruz (six goals) forming a lethal strike partnership in the Premier League, the hosts should still shade it against against the toothless visitors. As Roque Santa Cruz hasn't scored for seven games, Paddy Power have opted to take him on in a Special Money Back Offer, fittingly referred to as the Santa Clause. If the Peruvian scores the last goal in this game, Paddy Power will refund all losing first/last goalscorer, correct score and scorecast bets on this match. West Ham battled valiantly at Chelsea last weekend and were a touch unfortunate not to come away from Stamford Bridge with a point but, with Craig Bellamy injured and Dean Ashton still not fully match fit, its difficult to see where the Hammers goals are going to come from. Blackburn have the sixth-best home record in the league and with Bentley out, Rovers should nonetheless have more than enough in their tank to seal another win at Ewood Park. Morten Gamst Pedersen, a shadow of his prolific former self this season, will be aiming to take his first-team chance and at 8/1 is the man upon whom to take full advantage of Paddy Power's Santa Clause promotion. Verdict: 2pts Blackburn to beat West Ham @ 11/13 (Party Bets); 1pt Morten Gamst Pedersen to score first in Santa Clause Special @ 8/1 (Paddy Power). Click here for your free £30 to use on Paddy Power poker