West Ham are set to face a better structured team in Ipswich today, warns Chris Sutton.
The former player turned pundit Sutton, who has been openly critical of the club so far this season, says the Tractor Boys are a better balanced team at present than West Ham.
He does however predict in his column with BBC Sport that the quality West Ham possess will finally tell this season.
“This is hard,” stated Sutton. “I don’t like to give credit to Ipswich if I can help it, but they have really impressed me.
“At this moment in time, they are a better structured team than West Ham. They showed it with the way they finished their draw with Aston Villa last week, and the only downside from the way they have started the season is the fact they don’t have a win yet.
“With the quality the Hammers have got, eventually it has to click for them, but it has not happened yet.
“As much as I hate to predict an Ipswich defeat, I am going to stick my neck out and say the Hammers will get their act together this time.
“Basically, I am backing them to produce a performance that they have not managed all season under Julen Lopetegui.
“They have to really. There was so much made of him taking over from David Moyes, that he really needs a result – West Ham fans are not always the most patient bunch, and they are expecting more than they have seen so far.”
Sutton predicts a 2-0 win for the Hammers today – although there is no denying that Lopetegui’s side will need to showcase a far improved display if that is to be realised.
