West Ham vs Southampton
England Premier League.
Date: Sunday, 25th September, 2016
Kick-off: 16:00 UK.
Venue: Olympic Stadium
West Ham have had a dreadful start to the new season after managing to sustain a challenge for the top four for the majority of last season. They began the campaign with a Europa League victory over Domzale, winning 4-2 on aggregate. That dream was short lived as Astra dumped them out at the playoffs for the second year running, which followed on from an opening weekend defeat to Chelsea in the Premier League.
They managed to get a slender 1-0 victory at home to Bournemouth in gameweek two, but since then it’s gone from bad to worse. They lost 3-1 at Manchester City and then relinquished a two goal lead at home to Watford to lose 4-2. They visited West Brom confident of their ability to contain their limited attacking threat last weekend, but their confidence was unfounded as they lost 4-2 for the second week in a row.
West Ham did at least get some respite in midweek when they hosted Accrington Stanley in the League Cup. They managed a victory here, but it took a ridiculously late 96th minute Dimitri Payet goal to get the 1-0 win.
Southampton didn’t start the season in the best of form either as they failed to win any of their first four games. They drew with Watford and Sunderland at home either side of a 2-0 defeat at Manchester United. Arsenal then beat them 2-1 at the Emirates, but a 3-0 win over Sparta Prague in the Europa League group stages kickstarted their season.
They earned their first Premier League win of the season
last weekend at home to Swansea, and they followed that in midweek with a 2-0 win against Crystal Palace in the League Cup.
West Ham are in an awful spell of form at the moment and they’re coming face to face with a Southampton side who have won their last three matches. The visitors may not yet have won away from home, but their only two matches have been against Manchester United and Arsenal. I’m backing a Southampton 0.0 Asian Handicap at 1.825 along with a 3-1 correct score prediction at huge odds of 22/1.
Key Facts
West Ham is currently on 3 league games losing streak. The hammers have won one of their last 5 competitive games, and are the second highest conceding side in the league with 13 goal conceded so far.
Southampton is currently on 3 games winning streak. The Soton have won just one of their first 5 league encounter.
West Ham: Predicted Line-Up (4-2-3-1)
Adan: Arbeloa, Byram, Ogbonna, Reid: Noble, Kouyate- Antonio, Lanzini, Payet: Zaza
Southampton: Predicted Line-Up (4-4-2)
Forster: FOnte, Cedric, Ryan, Van Dijk: Rone, Clasie, Davis, Tadic: Austin, Long
West Ham vs Southampton: Head to Head
Westham and Southampton shared the spoil in their two legged affair last season. Both side produced a 2-2 aggregate score line over two legs in the 2015/2016 season.
Moreover, in the last 10 meetings between these 2 sides, both teams have 3 victories each. In addition, West Ham have lost just 1 of their last home clash with the Sotons.
West Ham vs Southampton: Prediction
Two sides with equal strength and almost similar league forms. The Hammers have produced 50:50 performance in their first 2 league games at home, wining 1, and losing 1, while Southampton have lost their 2 away games so far this season.
Therefore, West Ham and Southampton have 50:50 chances to get a victory. I will however, predict 80% chance of the game ending in a draw, with a 20% chance any of the team walking away with the maximum point.
West Ham vs Southampton: Bet Tips
Draw at 23/10 (3.30)
Both Teams to Score at 7/10 (1.70).
