Welcome back to Extratips, where today we're diving into the upcoming clash between Sunderland and West Ham on August 16th at 14:00 in England's Premier League. Sunderland, sitting in a tough spot in the Championship, recently drew a blank against Sheffield Utd and lost to Oxford, clearly struggling for goals at home. West Ham, currently mid-table with recent wins against Ipswich and Manchester United, have shown decent away form but haven't been blowing teams away either. The odds from bet365 tell us West Ham is the slight favorite at 2.20, with the draw at 3.30 and Sunderland at 3.25 — a real toss-up. Sunderland’s motivation might be a mix of desperation and home pride, but their recent form suggests sticking to a cautious game. West Ham, firing in 44 goals this season, will look to exploit any defensive lapses. The last five head-to-heads reveal a bit of a pattern: W and D results, with West Ham usually grabbing at least a point. Sunderland’s home games highlight their issues in attack, while West Ham's away matches show resilience. Expect the game to hinge on set-pieces and counterattacks. Might we see West Ham edging out Sunderland? Possibly, but don’t rule out a tight draw. Key factors include Sunderland’s attacking woes vs West Ham’s clinical strikers. An intriguing storyline: can Sunderland’s defense withstand West Ham’s firepower? Or will the visitors’ away form give them just enough to snatch three points? Let's look at predictions: a narrow West Ham win, both teams scoring, or a low-scoring home draw. All in all, this clash promises some competitive football, with potential for surprises on both sides.