It was tanking down with rain Wednesday when I came out of Aldgate tube station and checked my phone to see West Ham had predictably gone 1-0 down in the 67th minute at White Hart Lane.

A miserable trudge to the local Tesco Metro ensued as I stocked up on overpriced comfort food while bemoaning the Iron’s lack of proper strikers.

Back home I flicked on Radio London to catch the end of the game as the commentator started talking about “disgruntled fans heading for the door”.

I assumed that was the travelling Hammers but then it suddenly dawned on me – West Ham had actually scored twice in ten minutes to win the game.

And the goals came from the perennially under performing Matt Jarvis and Modibo Maiga.

Suddenly it didn’t matter that I was soaked to the skin or my “finest” cottage pie was actually rather average. Victory makes everything taste sweeter.

With Christmas looming it’s time to take a look at what the sports world needs in its stocking:

Sam Allardyce: Before Wednesday night it would have been a P45. Now let’s just settle for a new foot for Andy Carroll.

Marouane Chamakh: A new barber. That has to be the dodgiest barnet in the Premier League.

Roy Hodgson: A sniper’s rifle. It might be the only way of stopping Luis Suarez in our World Cup group game.

Kevin Pietersen: A mirror. Our best batsmen needs to take a long, hard look at himself after the way he threw his Ashes wickets away.

Henrik Stenson: A bigger trophy cabinet. Next year could be huge for golf’s latest superstar.

Andy Flower: A hard hat. Talk about hero-to-villain. Calls for the England cricket coach to go will reach fever pitch if we lose the last two tests.

Cardiff supporters: Good Luck. Owner Vincent Tan seems determined to run the club in his own “unique” style.

Malky Mackay: A top employment lawyer.

Tottenham Hotspur: A manager the board believes can haul them up from the current depths of two points ahead of champions Man Utd.

Christmas is always an expensive time so let’s sign-off with what this column is supposedly all about – a winning tip.

Our festive treble is Man Utd to beat West Ham, Liverpool to beat Cardiff and Everton to win away at Swansea.

That little trio pays a shade under 3/1 which should pay for a few mince pies.

Have a happy punting Christmas and here’s to a successful New Year.

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Running Total for all bets this season to a £10 stake: £-68.00