I’m a bit late with this one, so will keep it brief.
This is a really tough test, as many sides have found out this season, as West Ham have been playing consistently very well. They’re very strong on set-pieces, especially with their heading too, so our marking and aerial defence will have to be at it’s best.
Straight to squad news and nothing has changed, with only Nakamba not training.
As for West Ham, Jared Bowen limped off last week and missed their Europa tie midweek, so might be doubtful.
Vladimir Coufal and Angelo Ogbonna are definitely out and Andriy Yarmolenko has been excused from playing for the last two games, so maybe won’t play either.
I think Steven Gerrard would like to play the same team that got the convincing win at Leeds, but would imagine he’s going to have to make at least a couple of changes purely to rest any players who might be feeling it.
I still don’t understand why players can’t play twice a week, even if the last game was only on Thursday, but there you go.
I’d like to think we can win this and you never know, we might.
But I have to be realistic in hoping for a draw, which would be a very good result.
We lost 2-1 at home last time we played them, but Konsa got sent off, which gave them the advantage.
Mind you, we can never seem to take advantage when we have an opposing player sent off, but that’s a different issue.
I’m going for a 1-1 draw.
UTV!
The difference today for me is declan rice. Just shows how beneficial a real good top DM is for a team.
Was Bailey to blame?I think we are too lightweight in the forward line. One day it will come .
OK – I was wrong about not scoring 🙂
Trying to cook dinner for the family anyway.
Ramsey clatters it after good work from Buendia.
2-1
It was obvious when Yarmolenko came on that he would score courtesy of the ever generous AVFC. It was a well taken goal TBF. Disappointed we lost but it shows we still have a lot to do to challenge at the top end. Buendia and Bailey injected some potency to our forward play but Watkins and Ings offered very little all game.
Bit harsh Holte – easy to criticise Ings and Watkins but they had rubbish service all game (well at least until the 70th minute when I retired to the kitchen 🙂 )
Fabianski also made a great save from Ings when it looked odds on he’d score.
Overall didn’t think we played that well.
I don’t think I’m being harsh Hitch. It’s the way I saw things today. The last few games they played well but Watkins especially failed to hold onto the ball and bring the rest of the team forward. I admit that they came up against a well drilled defence and the two up top didn’t work for us.
Ps. Gerrard out! Feeling fickle again 😉
Ffs 9th at best this season would love Toney or Abraham next season but probably won’t happen could be worse though we could be Everton