User Review
( votes)West Ham United v Tottenham Hotspur EPL Match Preview
This thrilling Premier League season boasts another huge week of matches and the visit of Spurs to Upton Park to face West Ham United is one of the star attractions.
HAMMERS CONTINUE TO IMPROVE
West Ham United are having their best ever Premier League campaign and a place in next season’s Champions League is still a distinct possibility. The Hammers currently sit in sixth position in the table, only four points from fourth-placed Manchester City who have a game in hand. Coach Slaven Bilic is keeping his sides feet firmly planted on the floor however, stating to the club’s official website that; “We try and win every game, no matter who we play, there’s a long way to go this season. Okay, for now, 43 points we are in a good position.” Last weekend, a side renowned for playing attractive football, had to win ugly at home to Sunderland and they did just that thanks to Michail Antonio’s goal which capped a man-of-the-match performance. If you think the club from East London will appear in European club football’s biggest competition next year, the best football betting sites will currently give you odds of *34.00.
A PIVOTAL WEEK FOR SPURS’ TITLE CHALLENGE
Not since they last won the league title back in 1961 have Spurs had a better chance of winning English football’s biggest prize. Currently sitting two points from the summit, Mauricio Pochettino’s men now enter their most important four days for 55 years. It all begins in the capital on Wednesday night and culminates at White Hart Lane on Saturday lunchtime with the visit of bitter rivals Arsenal. Unbeaten in their last 12 matches on the road, Spurs will be all too aware of what a dangerous opponent Wednesday night’s adversaries will be and they will want to prevent a repeat of Sunday’s nerve wracking 90 minutes against Swansea City; as they came from behind to win 2-1 thanks to goals from Nacer Chadli and Danny Rose. No-one has claimed more points from losing positions as Spurs this season, Pochettino will hope for a more straight-forward victory at Upton Park.
TEAM NEWS
For the hosts, defender Sam Byram is suspended, while Joey O’Brien and James Tomkins are both injured. Winston Reid and Diafra Sakho could be available for Bilic but Enner Valencia is unlikely to be ready as he continues to recover from an ankle injury.
For Spurs, midfielder Dele Alli will have a late fitness test on a foot injury he picked up at the weekend whilst Mousa Dembele, Tom Carroll, Jan Vertonghen and Clinton N’Jie all remain sidelined. England striker Harry Kane likes playing West Ham, having scored three in his last four league appearances against them. The best sports betting sites are offering short odds of *2.20 for him to continue this good run on Wednesday.
THE UPTON PARK SQUADS
West Ham (from) Adrian, Cresswell, Ogbonna, Reid, Collins, Kouyate, Noble, Lanzini, Antonio, Payet, Emenike, Randolph, Sakho, Oxford, Henry, Moses, Obiang, Song, Carroll
Spurs (from) Lloris, Walker, Wimmer, Rose, Alderweireld, Lamela, Eriksen, Son Heung-Min, Dier, Alli, Kane, Mason, Trippier, Davies, Bentaleb, Onomah, Vorm, Chadli
HEAD TO HEAD
Spurs have the edge in their last 10 Premier League meetings with five wins to West Ham’s three. The two sides have rifled in 101 goals between them this campaign, so a 0-0 result is highly unlikely. An Eric Dier goal gave Spurs all three points in the corresponding game last season and the North London club were convincing 4-1 winners in the reverse fixture back in November.
*MATCH BETTING
West Ham United 4.00 Draw 3.60 Spurs 2.00
*odds courtesy of Bet365
By: Steve Mitchell