Deportivo Hammer
18/01/2019

What a great win last time out, beating Arsenal 1-0 in a game where I never really felt they were going to get back in the game. Usually when leading by a goal we have a habit of inviting pressure onto us in the last moments of the game. But I really felt we held them out comfortably in the end. The game was not without incident of course. Star striker Arnautovic gave the crowd a wave goodbye to fuel speculation that he might not be with us very long. But enough about him, lets talk about the game.

Bournemouth are struggling a bit of late which shows in their recent run of form. Just the one win in their last 6 games and 4 defeats. They stand 12th in the league 4 points behind West Ham. Last time out they went down 2-0 away to Everton which really feels me with promise as we don’t often do well against Bournemouth.

On the other hand West Ham are in good form and playing well. I must say I feel even more confident than usual at the moment on us getting a result. Regardless of who is available for selection I think Pellegrini has finally got us playing the way he wants and getting the best out of the players. There are 5 teams now all within 3 points of each other vying for that 7th spot. Will be very interesting on who can keep it going to the end of the season.

Eddie Howe has a few injuries to contend with. New signing Solanke is missing as well as Francis, Smith and Cook. Callum Wilson another striker rumoured to be moving on this window could miss the game due to injury which is great news for West Ham as he has a very good record against us 5 goals in 5 games.

The good news for West Ham is that there are no new injuries which means Sanchez, Reid, Lanzini, Balbuena, Fredericks and Yarmolenko are all still missing but the big story will be Arnautovic not being in the squad. Not sure how this will all end but not looking good at the moment.

Predicted Line up :

Bournmouth : Begovic, Cook, Ake, Smith, Clyne, Brooks, Gosling, Lerma, Fraser, King, Ibe.

West Ham United : Fabianski, Zabaleta, Diop, Ogbonna, Cresswell, Noble, Rice, Nasri, Antonio, Anderson, Carroll.

Usually when a team is on a bad run of form playing West Ham at home is the fixture you would normally want. But now the way I think we are playing I don’t think we need to worry. Last week I predicted a high scoring game and it wasn’t. So this week I’m going to go for a smash and grab 0-1 win to the Hammers with Carroll getting the goal